Blue Wings {COMPLETE} {UNDER EDITING}

Chapter 6 - Liz

My heart beats violently in my chest, and I struggle to breathe, taking in shallow breaths. Scarface's words echo in my mind, "We will find you." The lab had found me multiple times, but I had always managed to escape. What made him so sure that they would capture me?

The bus bounces in a pot hole, jostling Mack who sleeps limply next to me, breathing calmly. I let out a quiet whimper, curling tighter into my ball until darkness engulfs me. The feelings that grip at my stomach confuse me and I hide my face in my knees, resisting the urge to whimper again. Instead, I take a couple quick breaths, forcing myself to uncurl and place my feet on the bus floor again, gently so I don't disturb Mack. He snorts in his sleep and leans over, resting his head on my shoulder.

The headlights of passing cars shine in my face as I look out the window, a black sky staring back at me. I glance down at my watch briefly. The green numbers that shine back at me read 1:47 a.m. We first hopped on the bus around 8:30 p.m. in Baltimore, Maryland and considering the speed the bus has been going, that makes us halfway across Pennsylvania. I groan to myself, sitting up straighter in an attempt to relieve the pain in my back. My wings ache from holding them closed so tightly under my sweatshirt for this long. I can hardly wait to get off this hell and back into the safety of my home, where I can leave my wings open as long as I want. Eventually, I decide to rest, hoping it will bring home quicker. I lean my head back against the seat, closing my eyes.

"The warm heat tickles my skin and the crackle of fire causes me to open my eyes. I stand in the middle of a deserted road that runs empty far from view. Alongside me, New York's buildings lay in ruins, black smoke billowing from many of them, and fragments of support beams, cracked and broken, fall to earth, shaking the ground.

I glance from building to building, but find not a single person in sight. No screams for help or scared cries, only silence. The cold touch of a handle comes to my senses, and I grip the metal tighter as warm, sticky liquid rolls down my hands.

I look down at myself. Crimson blood drips from my fingers, flowing down the sharp blade that I clutch tightly, and pooling at my feet. More blood soaks my face and I begin to tremble, dropping the knife from my hand. It clangs on the ground echoing off the buildings, and sending shivers down my spine.

I slowly turn around, following the trail of blood around my feet. When I look up, a sob escapes from my throat. Broken bodies cover the streets, coated in their own blood, different levels of agony shown on their faces. Mouths open in screams and wide eyes stuck forever in fear. I stand frozen in place. Every single body that I can see, shows different stages of mutation, but each one identical to the next. They were mutated to be bird hybrids. The mutation killed them.

I killed them.

I collapse to my knees, crumpling on the ground. Tears stream down my face and I scream, piercing the silence."

Something shakes my shoulder and I look up, jumping violently and almost smashing Mack in the face, but he quickly moves out of my fist's path. He grips my arms hard, eyes tight with worry. Glancing around him, I find that I am back in the bus and multiple people stare at us. I take a shaky glimpse at my hands. Not a single drop of blood cover their pale surface and I inhale deeply. It had just been a dream. Mack still holds me, and I throw him a shaky smile.

"I'm fine. You can let go of me now." I assure him. He hesitates, but drops his hands, crossing them in front of his chest.

"Nightmare?" He questions, looking directly at me. I nod, burying my head in my hands and bringing my knees up to my face. Mack scoots closer to me, wrapping his arm around me tightly. I feel his warmth as he pulls me close, curling tighter into my cocoon as the dead faces of the people from my dream flash in my mind again. Tears pool in my eyes and I can't hold them back anymore. I let them go, crying quietly in Mack's arms. He rests his head on top of mine, letting me cry. I eventually settle, but do nothing to make Mack move, leaning into him.