Wings Below

Chapter 2

I walked into the crowded subway and swiped my train card at the toll gate. The holo-barrier flickered out and allowed me to walk through. Sigh, this feels like a dejavu . I looked at a clock on the tunnel wall and it read '6:45 A.M' I had plenty of time before school started, but it would be better to leave early than to be running through the train tunnels like a drunk man being chased by wolves.

Since I had plenty of time, I decided to stop by my favorite patisserie. It was a short walk from the entrance which required no turns, but for some reason, this area was never crowded even in the rush hours; the reason why I love visiting it.

"Morning Adri!" Trix greeted. 

Trix was one of the survivors of the first plague. She's been in New Singapura  since humanity started rebuilding. The sight of one of the survivors usually makes me think how lucky I am to be born in a world after the virus. 

"Thanks, I'll take the usual." I said, taking out my purse and placing a 2 dollar note on the counter. 

Trix didn't look at me or mind me until she was done placing the final touches on my cake and putting it in a box. She took the bill and placed it in the cash register. My phone beeped which meant the receipt was in my inbox. "Wow, how many 2 dollar bills do you have?" she laughed. 

"That, my friend, is a mystery to the world," I chuckled. "Anyway, I must get going. Unfortunately, time pressures me to leave. I bid ye farewell." I walked out of the cake shop, contented.

On the way to the platforms, I bumped a man wearing a thick brown trench coat with a hat covering his eyes. He yelped and stared at me. I could get a small glimpse of his facial features at this distance. His face has an oval shape with a sharp chin. His eyes were yellow.... Wait! His eyes were yellow! I ran away and slammed the emergency communication button. 

"Code Red!" I shouted into the device. 

Everyone within hearing range started panicking and trying their best to run away. I stood as close to the corner as I can with the fear of being trampled in the stampede. The emergency sirens started blaring and all holograms glowed with a bright neon orange to signal an emergency. 

"This is not a drill! I repeat, this is not a drill!" the announcer said through the radios

Quarantine officers approached me and asked, "Girl, we need proof." I pointed at the man in the trench coat who was trying his best to blend in with the chaotic crowd.

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I was stopped on his way out by some men with gas masks. Argghhh, not again. I don't want to go around killing people here. 

They brought out the tasers and pointed it at me. I guess this is considered as an emergency. I took off my trench coat and stared them in the eye. I took a deep breath and the four retractable metal-coated limbs sprouted out of my back. The golden markings appeared on my skin. Someone shot me at the back and I felt the pain. 

"Sorry." I whispered as I slit two of their throats.

They shot me and I just stood there. They gasped in surprise maybe thinking that I was invincible. To tell the truth, I'm not. I felt every painful shot. I'd be happier if they could kill me though. This life's not worth living. I sighed as I stabbed three men in the heart. Why does it have to be me? I swung their carcasses at their mates. A girl whimpered  in the corner. I looked around at the damage I've done and a tear fell from my eye. I'm so sorry! I approached the girl and hid my extra limbs.

Her eyes widened in fear, but she did a brave thing and kicked me where it hurt the most. (a/c's useless comment: Ahem, er.....). It felt like someone stabbed an icicle in my abdomen and twisted it. It hurt a lot but I didn't collapse. This cursed form cannot collapse or faint or fall to other diseases that it makes me wonder why mother nature is so cruel. 

I looked away and opened a portal. I was ready to accept defeat from my father. I mentally surrendered and opened a portal, but before I was ready, a very heavy person slammed into me and we both fell through. 

"What the hell are you doing!" I shouted as we plummeted into the abyss.