Fly Free

Chapter 19 Iris

"As wake up now. You're starting to freak me out!!" I yell as I shake Az's motionless body. I shake her back and forth frantically trying to get her eyes open.

'I know I'm going to regret this later.' I think as I look away and sleep her hard in the face.

I look back at her face in eagerness. She still lays still, but with a giant, red hand print where I slapped her.

'Oops.' I think.

"Ah, come on Az. Wake up!!" I yell and think about my next move.

"Shit!" I exclaim under my breath and punch her in the face.

Her face ripples as my cold knuckles hit her fragile face. She flinches and leaps up.

"Ouch!!!" She exclaims as she sits up and looks at me. Her hand covering the spot where I slapped her and where I punched her.

"What the fuck was that for?!?!" I lend her a hand as she looks at me with an angered face.

"Well, you were scaring me so I didn't know what to do." I say as I look down ashamed. What else was I supposed to do? Let her lay there, not even knowing if she's alive or dead?!

"Thanks," she says as she unfurls her wings. She looks at me and releases her face. The red mark if almost replaced by a couple bruises. "Come on let's go home." She says taking my hand. We take off in the matter of seconds, flying over the overcrowded, busy, smelly streets of Chicago.

~2 days later at Choosings~

"So did your mom ask about your cheek when you got home?" I ask as we meet at the Choosings ceremony early.

"Not really, she was watching her shows. I didn't really see her yesturday either." She says acting like it was nothing for her to not even care. Even if she got hurt. She may care a bit if she got killed, but she would get over it in a snap and watch more shows. "I think she's catching up on Dexter or Game of Thrones." She shrugs.

"Hey sis. You ready for the Choosings?" A way too familiar voice says from behind me. I zip around to see Zuriel standing there. WITH CASSIUS!!

"Zuriel!" I dash 2 feet and smash into her hard. My scream was mixed with all sorts of emotion. Happy, scared, confused, grateful.

"Cassius!!" Says Az as she uses her wings to get a bit of speed to attack Cassius. She crashes into him and the both fall backward. Az starts crying uncontrollably. She's laughing, but her emotions are mixed and playing tricks on her.

She's so glad to see him that she's scared he'll go away again. She'll never see him again. Ever again!

Zuriel manages to pry herself from my sting hug. I just didn't want to let her go. Never ever again!

"Choosings are about to begin." She says as she looks back at Sam who is staying to show her how it's done. She looks back at me and puts a strand of hair behind my ear. "You'll be okay alright. Just..." she stares at me as I try to hold the tears in.

"It's okay. I will be up there helping you." She says as she kisses the top of my forehead. It comforts me that for once she isn't stuck in a book or getting into trouble. It helps me relax knowing that she found Cassius and he truly loves her and she truly loves him.

"Wings from near and far please father closely for the Choising to begin." Says Sam next to Zuriel. Sam is trying so hard not to blush, but it doesn't work. It is dark so hopefully he doesn't embarrass himself too much.

"We will start by alphabetical order." Zuriel takes over. "We will give you 5 minutes to say your goodbyes." She says and turns her back to the crowd.

I rush towards Az and hug her as tight as I can. She tries to get me off of her, but.. I hate to admit this but, I'm scared. I'm scared that we won't ever see eachother. Ever ever again.

Tears roll down my cheek every half second. I can't even see out of my eyes from all the water. I couldn't dare to have her see me crying over her like this. I am balling in her shoulder.

Wings begin to stare, but I don't care. All I want is to stay like this for eternity. Never letting go of anything precious in my life.

"Come on Iris. Come on let go." Az tries to haul me off of her, but I didn't want her to. She tries over and over again. I cry more and more as she tries. Her effort gives me the desperation to hold on tighter.

"1 minute left." Announces Zuriel looking back and forth at her black, leather watch.

"Iris please let go. You can't stay like this forever." I know she's right as she says these word, but somehow I don't believe it. Or at least I don't want to believe it.

"Times up." Zuriel says turning back to the crowd of mostly crying parents.

I let go sorrowfully and Az winces at the sight of me balling. She puts her hand over her mouth and gasps.

"Iris don't worry." She says to comfort me, but it only makes it worse. The more time I spend with her the bigger the hole grows in my chest. The hole of reality that will always be there once she's gone.

"Starting with..." Zuriel pauses and flips through numerous sheets of paper. "Amber Barker. Please step forward Amber." She looks up from her sheets as a red faced, short girl slowly steps up into the clearing.

~5 Wings later~

"Iris Fritz." Zuriel says choking back multiple times as I walk up. Her hand is placed over her chest as it rises and falls violently. "good luck Sis." She say hugging me one last time. She lets out a few tears, but then remains a straight face.

Sam gives me the chalice. I look down into the depths of the golden cup holing it in my shaking hands. I hesitate at first, but then remember what I'm supposed to do.

I take a small sip then wearily give it back to Sam. I feel incredibly loopy like I've just drunk 30 bottles to beer. My weight shifts as I feel myself fall onto the grass.

White. Voices. Hums. Harps.

"Heaven." Says a voice from within the white space.

'I'm alone.' I think in my head as I look around the blank space.

"No you're not." Says a voice right behind me. I know that voice way too well.

I turn slowly and there she is. Shining like she has never before.

We are together forever.

Never flying caged or alone. Scared or distressed.

We are going to fly free from everything for eternity.

Together.

Well I hate to say this, but it's done!! Fly free is officially finished. I really hoped you liked it. Comment if you want me to write a sequel or I may be able to write a prequel. If you don't want me to add anything to this story, then comment what you want me to write about next. I really hope you enjoyed this book and all of its twists and turns. Share with your friends and maybe read The Wolf Offer. It's my other story so if you would like check out that. THANKS!!
-Angel