Gray Feathers

Chapter 5: The Days Of Horror

I yawned and rubbed my eyes, taking in the underside of the top bunk bed above me. Checking the time, I saw that I had woken up five minutes before my alarm clock went off. Instead of waiting, I turned off the alarm and got up. Tossing back the covers was the hardest part. The rest was easier.

I got to the cafeteria and grabbed some breakfast.

“Good morning, Nex,” smiled one of my non-binary friends, Mercury. I sat down next to it and put my tray down.

There was a thirty minute period for early risers for breakfast in the cafeteria. Before all the other students arrived.

“Hello, Mercury!” I smiled at him while taking a bite of egg. “How was your patrol yesterday? I hope it went better than mine.”

It stifled a yawn before answering, “It was literally so boring, all we did was go in circles, over, and over, and over! The most boring shit ever! I fell asleep, twice! Gosh, I hate patrols. Nancy was so bossy the whole time, and William was whining for most of the trip. What about your patrol?”

I carefully explained what happened, leaving out little bits and pieces. Once I was done, Mercury stared at me with wide eyes. “Hot damn! Is everyone from your party okay?”

“Yes.”

“Thank goodness, I should check up on Ethan, see if he’s doing okay. Glad to know you're okay after that. See you soon Nex!”

“Bye, Mercury!” He waved bye back, almost dropping its tray. I quickly ate the rest of my breakfast, and got all my stuff for personal training.

I was hoping we were done with basic flying forms and could finally head into how I could fight in the air. You’d think after a year, we’d already cover this, but John wanted to “take it slow” and Nine, being the bitch he is, agreed. Their excuse was waiting for my second Legacy, which is a bullshit excuse.

I got out to the outdoor gym and walked over to Nine, who was standing, looking off into the distance. I waved at him, putting my bag down, “Hello, Professor Nine,” I bowed mockingly, which got a smile from his stern face. “What’s today’s lesson? Are we flying through obstacles? Fighting with swords?”

“No,” Nine sighed softly, moving his hair out of his eyes, which were a little red rimmed. “Today’s lesson is a little different. It’s about patience and trust.”

“I trust you, Nine.”

“I don’t know if you will after this, Nex, it's a brutal test, and you will feel betrayed.”

“Nine? What the fuck are you talking about? What’s going on?”

“I’m so sorry Nex, I tried to prove your innocence but not enough people listened to me. Please, trust me, okay? Trust me to get you out.”

“Nine-”

I realized that no one else was outside in the gym, no one was watching. Suddenly, the doors to the gym burst open and many soldiers poured in. Scared out of my mind, I opened my wings to flee the scene. But a net was thrown and it got caught in my wings, tangling them.

“Nex, you are a suspect for assisting a terrorist and letting a shooter onto the premises of the school. You will be arrested and further judgement will be decided should you be proven guilty of this crime,” one of the soldiers said.

“I’m not guilty! I would never do something like that!” I clawed at the net. I could feel it only tighten around me and my wings, it hurt like hell. In desperation, I turned and looked up at Nine, “Please, please tell them I’m not guilty! Please, Nine, please!” Choking up on my own panic, I began to hyperventilate. “No! No! Please stop, it hurts, no!”