Wings

Chapter 1

"Wake up Lindsey," my mom said, shaking the bed. I pulled off the covers, grumbling madly. Even though it was the beginning of summer, my mom wanted me to wake up early so me and my younger brother Graham could travel to the Rocky Mountains. Every summer we went there and were able to spread our wings without worry of being hunted or killed down. We also don't have to hide our wings behind jackets or baggy shirts. The mountains were our summer safe haven.

I still moaned though, because waking up early was not my thing. Mother was lucky, since she didn't have wings and didn't have to hide from hunters. But Graham and I did, and our father had to once too, before he was killed.

Mom grabbed my bags as I crawled downstairs, Graham following behind and yelling at me to get up.

"Never!" I said, finishing my way downstairs on all four. Mom gave me a frustrated look, and I fell into her trap and stood up. My bones ached, and I stretched, my wings spanning their full 8 feet.

Graham started to choke on my feathers since he was right behind me. My white wings were a strange contrast to his black ones, but I considered mine to be prettier. He tangled his way out of my wings and stood in front of me. I started to scream just as he opened up his pitch black wings.My eyes were filled with black feathers, and it seemed for a moment that I was blind.

"Stop messing around!" Mom yelled, dropping our bags. She hardly ever screamed, but when she did it was important. Graham pulled back his wings as we picked up our bags and headed to the garage. We put them away and loaded into the back, my mom following behind us.

The car drove out of the town, away from our California home, and to the wild mountains.

~~~~~

The trip was over 5 hours long, with the occasional arguments between Graham and I, and a few trips to McDonalds (for restroom and food). We at last reached the cabin we normally stayed in, dragging our bags inside as we made ourselves at home.

I ran upstairs into my room and raced to the outlet. My phone was plugged in right before it died, allowing me to listen to more music. Before I could triumph, though, Mom came in and had to pull my phone away.

"You and Graham need to fly," she said, putting my phone in my pocket. I tried to grab for it, but she just stepped back. "You haven't stretched your wings since August."

Once I got outside, my mind changed. The weather was perfect for flying, and it was one of my favorite things. Graham and I stood on the edge of the rock where our cabin rested, staring at the open wilderness. Pine trees as tall as skyscrapers rose around the area, and the beauty of it all came back from all the summers we'd spent here.

Graham made the first move, jumping off the hundred foot drop and diving straight down. I followed behind him quickly, soon catching up. The wind rushed through my face as I smiled, my cheeks fluttering around as I dive further. Moments before hitting the ground I pulled up and stretched out my wings, soaring miles high.

The feeling of flying was indescribable, no matter how many times you did it. I remained in the same position the whole ride, looking over the vast mountains.

"I love flying,"Graham said, looking back at his wings.

"I do to," I answered simply. That being said, it made me question why humans wanted to kill us so badly. What was wrong with us? We couldn't help what we'd become, and was it really a flaw?

It must have been a few hours before Graham told me we should get back.

I landed smoothly back on the cliff, where as Graham had a less delicate landing. He was so thrilled after the fly that he came in too quickly and ran straight into a tree. I laughed at him as I ran back into the cabin.

Graham walked in with a bruise on his forehead, slouching to his room. Just as I had sat on my bed to rest, I heard a loud knock on the door. My mother was quick to answer it, and I watched from the safety of my door as she opened it.

Standing there were a handful of cops, each holding a flashlight and gloves. Shock read all over my face as I quietly closed the door. I ran to my bag and threw around my clothes, searching till I found my jacket. I retracted by wings and grabbed some bondage to hold them down. I slipped on my jacket and opened the door, sneaking to Graham's room.

The cops were all downstairs searching, so I managed to make it to his room unnoticed.

"Graham," I whispered as silently as possible.

"What?" he said looking up from his phone.

I told him what was going on downstairs. He gave me a fearful look. I have him a reassuring pat and hugged him.

"It's ok, you just need to get your jacket," I said, standing up. Graham stuttered and fumbled with his hands.

"I didn't bring a jacket."

I opened my mouth and slapped his wrist.

"Really Graham?" I yell-whispered, grabbing his hand and opening the door. As soon as I opened it, I found a cop standing outside the door. Graham gulped as the man entered in slowly.

Thank heavens Graham had his wings tucked in, but any slight move of his wings and they would come out. I pushed him against the wall when the cop wasn't looking so they couldn't see his back.

The man left and I heaved a sigh, glaring deadly at Graham.

"We'll talk about this later," I whispered, leaving him upstairs to listen in on them.

"Let's go boys," said a man that was clearly the leader of them. "We'll run back miss." I heard the door shut, then sank to the floor. That was close.

~~~~

"It's not safe here," my mom said, pacing around the kitchen. Graham and I were sitting patiently as she gave us serious talk.

She rested her hand on her chin, staring out the window. Her eyes found their way back to us as she stood straighter.

"Lindsey, Graham, I love you both," she said, hugging us. She buried her head in our necks in a motherly way. "Which is why you have to leave me." She paused and choked up before continuing.

"There is a group of winged people like you," she said, pointing outside to the north. "They're called flocks. You're dad was in one, and there are tons of them. There is one seven miles north of here. I'll give you directions, and there's a hide out where they stay."

Graham and I looked at her in disbelief. I couldn't join a bunch of random people, not to mention the fact there are so many, let alone leave my mother. She was the reason Graham and I were alive. She's protected us for so long.

"I can't," I cried. "I can't leave you, mom." Tears streamed down my face, as with Graham.

"They'll come back," mom said, her eyes watering. "They'll hurt you, and I'd rather them take me then you." The family was in full break down mode, and salty tears were splattered all on the floor.

Against our will, mom packed our bags as we were sleeping. She left two copies of directions in Graham and my beds, but I didn't even look or study it. I was not planning on going there and leaving mom.

Mother came into each of our rooms, kissing our foreheads like it was the last time she'd ever kiss us. I drifted off, my pillow wet from the painful tears.