Weightless

Stranger Danger

Falling took longer than anticipated and Koda got bored. She slapped the chilled winds back with her powerful wings and regained control of her flight. She soared above the city nostalgically; the lights shined brighter up close. She wondered where the other angel she'd seen had gone. If he was a schemer like herself, he'd be cool to hang out with!

She realized it wasn't wise to be flying in the open air, where mortal eyes could catch a glimpse of her. She dove downwards and landed soundlessly on a concrete sidewalk between brick buildings, surrounded by putrid green dumpsters swarming with flies. She covered her nose disgustedly.

The building to her left was designated Night Club by a neon sign adorning the wall above its front window. People stumbled out of it, a girl and two boys. One guy laughed and slumped drunkenly against the side of the club, then to the ground.

Koda quickly hid behind one of the dumpsters, but the man was already out cold. She couldn't let them see her, or, at least, her wings. She figured an average girl, aside from bright green hair, shouldn't be a problem if spotted. She willed her feathers to disappear. While they faded from view, Koda tucked them as close to her back as she could so that she wouldn't accidentally smack any mortals with them. But, now that she thought about it, that would be pretty hysterical!

She poked her head out from behind the dumpster to watch the huddle again. She had passed away when she was still far too young to drink, so she was quite intrigued by this drunken band. The girl was making retching noises between a couple trash cans. The other guy was staggering down the sidewalk with his arms waving around as if he was walking a very wobbly tightrope. Koda wondered what it felt like to be that intoxicated. She knew it wasn't fun, but still thought it could've been a humorous experience to have, a funny story to tell.

She didn't want to think about the possibilities anymore. It made her sad, and sadness was a feeling she did her best to avoid.

Koda crept out from her hiding place. She approached the sick girl and gently gathered the other's long brown hair in her hands, holding it away from her face and the, er, line of fire. The lady coughed and turned her head slightly to look at Kodalinn. She had freckles strewn across her nose and cheeks, and her glazed eyes were different colors: one emerald, one sapphire. She looked barely older than Koda, a teenager, not near old enough for alcohol. Koda wasn't sure what to say. She assumed drunk people didn't converse normally anyway, but thought it was worth a try. Maybe the other would say something funny.

The girl's face turned green as Koda's hair.

"Hey! Aim away from me!" Koda yelped as she yanked the girl's hair a little to turn her back to the trash bins. Puke would be horrendous to get out of one's wings!

Koda waited patiently and patted her back softly. Once she'd seemed to have finished, Koda asked awkwardly, "Uh, you okay?"

"W-why are you... h-helping me?" the girl responded through hiccups. Her voice was oddly familiar.

"I... don't know. Just looked like you could use it, I guess!" Koda said.

The guy who had been slumped over against the brick wall suddenly shot up as though he had been electrocuted. "S'cuse me! Why you t-touchin' my g-girl? Get'cher hands offa her!" he bellowed in a gravelly tone, leaning forward. His facial muscles scrunched up in anger, but his eyes were devoid of any emotion, like someone had only lifted his eyelids while he was asleep. Koda noticed his aura was darker than before, and his presence felt somehow more sinister.

She decided he was a great target to mess with at the moment.

Koda turned to face him and plugged her nose mockingly. "S'cuse ME, barf breath, she ain't yours! I think she wants ta hang with me for a while!" She imitated his drunken slurs with her free hand on her hip.