Aviator

Nova: 1

I rested at the edge of the sea with the waves crashing around me and sprinkling my clothing.  As each wave crashed, I could see every droplet soar through the air and come down again.  It was nearing dusk, and the seagulls started quieting down.  The sunset shone and the water caught its glow as a fire to a match.  Every boat was being docked and everyone was wading to shore.  I stood up, the barnacles steadying my feet.  

As I brushed off the sand, I felt something brush against my shoulder.  Naturally, I tried to slap it as if it was a bug.  In return, I felt a hand grab my arm.

 Startled, I turned around and the hand was forced to let go.  In front of me was a boy not much older than myself towering above me.  Around his eyes sat black rimmed shades and his blonde hair flew in all directions.  “What do you want?” I asked, my voice cracking.  He stared at me for a minute as if he had never seen a girl before.

 “Excuse me,” he said with a strong voice and turned around.

 I stared at him for a second, and my eyes grew wide.  On his back were two wings, feathered and grey.  I screamed in surprise and he turned around and covered my mouth.

 “Get out of here,” he whispered into my ear.

 I jerked away from him and ran towards the bushes where the sand turned to dirt, sand caking in my toes.  I felt a burst of wind and he stood in front of me with his arms crossed and wings spread wide like a dragon.  “Do not tell anyone we have met,” he said. “I have a dangerous task that does not involve measly humans.”

 I walked up to him and slapped him in the face.  Not phased, he stayed in the same place, staring at me with authority in his eyes.  “Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to search this area,” he said. “Run along,”

 I walked to the nearby rock that was washed into the sand.  Crouching down, I watched as he walked down to the shore.  He pulled back his broad shoulders and held his head upright.  His steps were twice the size of mine and when he stopped walking it was without fidgeting.  He lifted up his wings and stared at them, probably seeing if they had been hurt or damaged.  I rolled my eyes and continued watching him.  Every once in a while, he would crouch down and talk to the ocean.  Then, he would pick up a pebble and throw it into the depths, watching intently for something.  I observed as he squeezed a pressure point at the base of his wings, making them fall off.  He laid them at the edge of the shore along with a note I could not decipher from where I was.

 The wings looked lifeless on the sand.  When he had them on his back they arched with power, but now they looked inanimate, detached from the leadership of their master.  I saw him step into the water.  Step by step, he trudged down into the depths like a ball and chain was on his foot.  Each step became more timid, unlike the confidence he had shown before.  His head was going down further and he was slouching.  

 For a while, I just thought he was scared of the water.  But seconds later, I saw him stop and his body looked like a puppet being jerked.  He looked down in the water timidly.  Before he could come back to the shore, I saw his feet being pulled from below the waters.  I sat there in shock, waiting for him to come back up.  Sadly, he never did.  But I wish I could say I had seen the last of him.

 I trudged over to the shore and picked up his note.  Peering at the paper, I saw writing.

 To whoever acquires this message and my wings,

 I truly apologize for not being here to explain this myself, but if these items are detached from me, I am no longer in your world.  Please take heed of my instructions, they may be the only way for survival.  Hold my wings to your shoulder blades and they will attach.  Go right behind the Moon planet and you will find a strange cylinder building.  Fly in it and attempt to be one of my kind who takes residence there.  I cannot explain more for fear of the enemy attaining this note.

 Best Wishes,

 Ajax