Waiting for Amber Skyy

Chapter 18

I gasped as I gripped the sand the best I could, pulling my body forward. My breathing was changing back to normal, but my heart would not stop racing. I don't know how long I swam for, but it felt like I spent three days in the water. My legs ached, no, all my muscles ached. Despite being part fish, my endurance wasn't one-hundred percent.

Once I felt my feet scrape against dry land, I flopped against the ground, breathing heavily. It was nearly dusk, indicating that I practically swam the entire day away. No wonder I'm so tired. I breathed, resting my head against my arm so sand wouldn't stick to my wet hair. I needed to take a break, then I would be able to fly again, hopefully enough to find the next closest town to get more food. It was like every waking second I was hungry. My body, well, my new body must require more calorie intake per day than any normal person.

While I let the remaining rays of the sun dry my skin, I moved my arms to push myself up despite the soreness. But as soon as I did that, I felt something hard poke my head, making me freeze.

"Don't move," a gruff voice demanded.

You have got to be kidding me, I thought as my heart picked up again. My body shivered as the gun kept close to my head, ready to blow my brains out.

"I said, don't move," I heard a click and couldn't help but close my eyes. This was it. I was over. They caught me. I heard multiple whispers and realized that the gunman wasn't alone. I heard a girl's voice uttering about how they were going to transfer me back. Wait. I know that voice.

I looked up and my mouth dropped open in surprise. It was a gang, literally, who had guns slung over their shoulders or in their hands. There were five of them, varying in size, but all wearing the same uniform consisting of jeans and a black, thick jacket. There was no doubt they wore a bulletproof vest under them; I could see the outline. They were clearly after me, since they all glared at me like I was a piece of meat.

Except for one.

She was small, almost baby like, but she was wearing the same gear as everybody else there. Her hair was dark and disheveled, like it was cut by herself with scissors. It barely touched her shoulders, but contrasted against her skin, which seemed to be covered in oddly shaped circles. When I looked her in the eyes, she pointed the knife in her hands at me, her face contorting to a frown but her eyes didn't change. She recognized me. I recognized her.

"Speck?" I choked out, only to have the barrel butt against my head, hard. I cursed and fell to the ground, my world spinning.

"I said, don't move!" the guy shouted. But he didn't pull the trigger. What is he waiting for?

"Raiden! Do you have any idea how to handle a hostage?" a deeper voice spoke. I lifted my head ever so slightly just to have a boot step on my cheek to hold me down. I squirmed, but he managed to keep me down. All I could see was his other boots.

"Now listen, when handling a hostage, you surround it first," said the guy with the boots.

Confused, I heard the bustle of the others surrounding me, pointing their weapons at me as I stayed there, pinned. I could barely see Speck's legs, which were so skinny they almost looked like twigs. But she wore knee-high combat shoes, making her 4-year-old stature scary.

"And since none of you have actually handled a hostage before, I'll show you," I felt a hand grip the striped shirt I was wearing and lift me up to be face to face with the guy. He had dark skin and deep set eyes, but had short, curly blonde hair. "You have to intimidate them enough to be weak to your power," his breath stank of rotten meat, making me gag and try to release his grip on me. He must be one of those wolves. He was big enough and strong enough for it.

The group around him nodded like they were in an army. The army... that's it. This was a training exercise. Now that I was off the ground, I could look at the group better now. Next to Speck was a younger boy who had striking cheekbones and menacing eyes. He growled at me and readied the AK-47 in his hands. Another girl, about my age, who had her hair tied up into a messy bun was blowing some blue bubble gum. She had a handgun in one hand, and a duffle bag in the other. She had spots all over her, similar but smaller than Speck's. The last kid looked like the big guy's younger brother, but he held a type of gun that I couldn't recognize. He also had something behind his back, which made me gasp a little bit but the leader gripped me tighter, bringing me back to look at him.

"This subject just escaped," he started. "Anybody know her numb-"

"Subject 4MB3R-001," the winged boy said.

The big guy nodded, "Good, and the reason for capture?"

The older girl halfway raised her hand, "She ran away."

"Escaped would be the better answer there, Keira."

She shrugged and continued to pop another bubble.

Oh great, now I'm a lesson.

"Wouldn't it be best to just subdue her now?" the menacing looking kid growled, eyeing me up and down. I was still shivering, and the sun was just barely touching the horizon. "She swam the entire day, we tracked her. She must be weak by now."

"Good observation Raiden," I glanced at the boy again, who grinned devilishly. He had the eyes of one of the wolves. Dear god, they train them young. My eyes darted to Speck, who quickly looked somewhere else. Really young, what is she doing here?

The leader kept his grip tight on my shirt, and I felt the neck area rip a bit, since I was dangling above the ground. He turned to her and gave her a once over, "Kid, you haven't said anything. Someday you're going to be doing this, you know."

Speck didn't answer, she just looked down at her feet and twirled the knife in her small hands. The knife's blade never cut her skin, like she knew how to wield one for a while. My eyes widened just slightly. She wasn't dead. I believed she was, but no, she has been alive, training... training to be one of them. My heart skipped a beat. She wasn't even six years old. She still didn't even know how to speak!

"Speck!" the man growled, pulling me around and ripping the hole even more. My body swayed above the ground and an idea popped into my head. But I had to do it at the right time. Speck jumped at his voice and bowed her head a little bit.

"Sorry sir," she spat out, surprising me greatly. She could talk. When was the last time I heard her say something? Other than our names? I looked her over again. Maybe she isn't as young as she looks?

"Sorry don't cut it, now go get the truck," he pinched the bridge of his nose with his other hand.

Her eyes widened, "But... but I don't know how to drive!" Her voice was high pitched, a voice I never heard before. When she talked to me back in the cages, her voice was raspy and quiet, just like any other kid in that situation.

"Then you'll learn! Sam!" The winged boy stiffened and looked at his leader.

"Yes sir!" he squeaked, a blush appearing on his skin. Keira giggled as the leader barked at him again:

"Go with Speck and set her up with the van." Sam nodded and jogged out of sight with Speck, who gave me a glance before taking off. While the rest of them started to talk about my capture, I decided to swing my legs just ever so slightly, ready to kick myself against the guy and fight my way out. But there were five of them. No, I can do this.

Once I got the momentum I felt a tug on my tail, causing a squeak to also escape my mouth. I could feel my face flush and Keira laughed out loud, and a deep chuckle came up from behind me.

"The creature has a weak point," Raiden taunted, his hand gripping my tail and giving it another pull. "And it squeaks just like Sam, maybe even better." Keira continued to laugh as I tried to wriggle myself out of the situation. But no, with the leader's grip on my pretty durable shirt and Raiden holding my tail, I was trapped.

The leader grinned at me and nodded to Keira, "Get the ropes, they should be coming with the truck any minute now."