Project Raven

Distant Stars

Harley's POV

I flew through the cold air, tears flying. The ice hitting my face didn't bother me. I felt a little bit bad for yelling at Steve and my aunt. We had all known Noah was a target. Not as big as an irritation for Cascade as me, but more like a mild itch that you can't scratch. A missing piece. My earpiece rang in my ears. "Noah was last seen in a white van heading towards Illinois. They're going fast. Reconnisance only, Harley. We need to find their other facilities. The Raven doesn't need to fall back into Cascade's hands. They'll extract your DNA and cut off your wings, then kill you." I sighed. "Look, I'm sorry. But we'd known he was in their sights for a while. His brother was the last unsuccessful experiment, and they'd already failed to take him. They'll want to know if his DNA is able to handle it or not." Steve sighed on the other end. I curled my wings in, forcing them to spin in a sprial so I'd shoot like a bullet.

~

I spotted the van on a highway. We were somewhere in Ohio, near the capital. I knew it was right. I dove towards it, hitting the top with my hands. I shot a bold of electricity through it, and the van skidded to the side of the road and stopped. The doors opened and I saw Noah sitting unconscious in the back. "Noah!" I yelled over to him. A team of heavy armed men came flooding through the open door. They shot at me, but I dodged them. Three or four got into the very back and pulled out a batting ram type machine. It dug into the ground and a metal spike poked through the opening. The other soldiers continued firing at me, while the others powered up the machine. One cut his hand and poured blood into a hole in the top. It hummed and the sides glowed. The spike shot out, cutting into my right wing. It klinked and I realised it was a grapling hook. It started pulling my wing towards it, but I pulled back. I screamed out in pain and Noah blinked. "Noah!" I repeated. I continued to hover around eight feet from the ground. A man took out a large gun and shot a special bullet. It pierced my stomach and I looked down. Blood poured from the wound, and I realised too late it was poisoned with heavy sedations.

~

I floated in empty, dark space. I saw stars twinkling around me, but I couldn't move to touch them. They were clearly too far away to reach, though. I laid there, paralyzed. My black hair and wings spread out around me.

So this is it, huh? This is what I get for trying to play hero? For living, and fighting? Am I just a pawn, a chess piece? My life flashed before my eyes.

So this is what death feels like?

I felt the weight-lessness around me shatter. I fell into the darkness, wings wrapping around me and my hands lunging for the brightest star.

And my world went black.

~

I heard a low buzz in my ear. I couldn't see anything. Steve's voice played in my head. "Harley? Are you there? Harley!" He yelled. I realised I still had the earpiece in.

I wasn't dead!

His voice faded as someone pulled out the earpiece.

I could still fight.

I am alive.

And I am the Raven.