Unbound

Prologue

A/N: Hey guys, I'm Arden, and this is my first story on Wattpad. I just want to see what you guys think about this and share your thoughts. So, yeah. Here's the first part to Unbound.

The boy knew he shouldn't have taunted the soldier. But how was he supposed to know the guy was an undercover agent?

But it was too late now.

He sprinted through the crowd and dove into a stinking alley. The soldier barreled past him and into some people, causing them to shout and scream. He screamed orders into his radio and waved his gun around to get people out of the way. They all looked back to stare or take a picture. It's not every day you see an armed assassin charging through New York City.

The boy let out a loud breath and looked around. He sat down, trying not to disturb any other creature that may have taken refuge in the alley like he has. He was greeted by a soft meow and a furry body jumping into his lap. He scratched the cat's back and it let out a soft purr.

"Hey there little guy,"the boy said. "At least one of us can relax today."

The cat looked up at him with one yellow eye, light glinting off its slit pupil. The other half of his face was covered by a long,pink scar. It reminded the boy about his own scars.

"Hey there kid. Long time no see. Nice cat. A filthy animal, just like you."

The cat gave a hiss and ran. The boy jumped at the cold voice. Bad time to reminisce. He recognized the voice and the man it belonged to. After all, it's hard to forget someone who kept you locked in a cell for 3 years. A towering man blocked the boy's escape. He had short, dark blonde hair that was shaved in a buzz-cut and pale blue eyes, making them look like ice. His thin mouth was twisted in a menacing sneer. To a normal person, they would forget the man's face in a heartbeat. But to people like the boy, he gave them nightmares. There was no way he would be able to get past the muscled man.

"Now, you're going to tell me where your Unbound is and come with me or my sniper will start shooting the crowd," the man said, gesturing toward the armed soldier on the rooftop.

"You wouldn't."

"Try me."

The agent said something into his radio and the sniper tensed up. He moved his finger toward the trigger reluctantly and-

"Wait! Stop! I'll tell, okay? Just- just leave them out of it."

The agent turned around and waved at the sniper. The boy could almost sense the soldier's relief as he slumped his shoulders and waved back. The agent looked back at the boy. "Predictable, as always. You disappoint me," the man said in an almost sad voice. "Now, where is the Unbound?"

The boy grinned, adrenaline pumping through his veins. "Right here."

The boy threw his pack on the ground and zipped it open. After a long pause, a small rhinoceros beetle climbed out. It's body was covered in a shiny shell and was the color of silver, making it almost reflective. It buzzed it's wing coverings, revealing it's translucent emerald-colored wings. It faced the agent and emitted a low growl. It's horn started to faintly glow green in the broad daylight. Totally normal. The agent started to back away slowly, remembering the last time he tried to handle this one. "Now, now. You don't want to let the people pay for anything you try, do you?" He attempted to hide the fear in his voice, but the creature sensed it anyways and it's horn glowed brighter.

"Actually," the boy said, his grin getting wider. "You may want to check on your sniper."

The agent spun around and looked for the sniper. Sure enough, the sniper was now ensnared by thorny vines that were cocooning around him, struggling against the plants. A girl stood next to him, a small badger-like creature standing next to her. She flashed the agent a smile and waved.

"Vic, here boy!"

Startled, the agent turned back just in time to see the beetle fly at the boy and cling around his neck. The boy opened his eyes, which now turned from a dark brown to the same emerald green as the beetle's wings. The agent barely had time to react before a storm of twisted metal daggers flew at him and impaled him.

The crowd erupted into chaos. Luckily, no one saw how the man got hit and were too worried about the blood seeping into the streets to look into the alley. The boy beckoned the girl over and she swung between the rooftops on a vine, the badger jumping the entire distance to follow. "Come on James, before the cops get here. Do you need a lift?" she said, her eyes darting between the street and the boy, James.

"It's fine Lily. I got this."

The boy extended his hands and trashcans were ripped apart, the shards zipping towards him. Soon, James had a crude metal harness attached to his back, with beetle wings attached to the harness. James put his hand to the harness and the metal began to smoothly buzz. He jumped up, the wings propelling him towards the roof of the three-story building, landing him in front of the dazed girl.

"Show off," she muttered.

"You're just jealous," James said with a satisfied grin.

"Puh-leaze,"Lily said. "I can do way better than that. Orion, lets fly."

The badger/cat started to glow green, like the beetle had, but it was the color of leaves rather than emeralds. Plants grew in the alley below, stretching towards Lily. They wrapped around her body, the leaves taking shape and growing in size. Suddenly, she had her own pair of wings, the leaves and stems having grown intricate swirling and spiraling designs. Orion gave a smug smile- if you could call it that- at Terminus, the harness and wings more superbly crafted than the crude scraps that surrounded James' body. The beetle glared back from James' neck.

"Now who's the show off," James grumbled in defeat.

"Come on, crybaby. You can complain once we get to the next town."

James sighed and buzzed after Lily, who had already started leaping between the rooftops with Orion following behind.

"Where are we going next anyway?"

"I don't know. Someplace in Texas called..."