Crimson Feathers [On Hold re-doing chapters]

Chapter 3: Birds of a feather

I groaned loudly as my back protested. The action alone bringing my consciousness back from slumber which is oddly still stuck on round yellow eyes and flecks of feathers. Ugh. My tongue felt like it's been glued to the roof of my mouth for far too long. Grimacing in bitter taste, I tried to take a deep breath through my mouth only for it to get caught in my dry throat. My lungs seized as I twisted in a hurry to cough onto my arm. My head felt oddly stuffed, like the one time I manage to sleep beyond fourteen hours... or the other 'one time' Nayeli brought a 'special' drink from Mexico.

Ugh. Guess I didn't learn from last time.

Despite feeling extremely heavy, I moved my arms in front of my face in an effort to block the bright light. The small movement made my back flare again in pain, leaving me oddly light headed and queasy. After a few moments the pain left yet an uncomfortable itch took its place, right along my shoulder blades and down my back. Swallowing something that felt like sandpaper, I tried to slowly open my eyes.

I groaned once again as my nose started to twitch and itch as well. Even with my eyes somewhat open everything looked blurry and disproportionately sideways. In fact everything seemed to be larger than-"AHH-Choo!" My eyes started to water at the sneeze as my throat and back protested in pain. When-

"Bless you."

"What?" I croaked in surprise. In my haste I never thought to look around more thoroughly because as soon as I stood up my forehead smashed across iron bars. Pain exploded across my head as I slammed back down against the floor. My hands flew to my head in an effort to lessen the pain that seemed to radiate from everywhere.

"Ow, my head! That hurt!"

Someone far away laughed but I was more swayed away at the heaviness that would not leave my back. Being more careful I finally noticed the thick iron bars that seemed to incase me from all sides. The only anomaly was the small door that was in front of me.  In fact, I could sit up and my head would barely touch the roof. I guess standing up is a no-go. I pressed a hand against the small door and notices it wouldn't budge. "Wait. Is this a cage?"

Palms sweating, I give one of the iron bars a shake instead. Feeling nothing give away despite my weak attempt, I look beyond my prison to see blinding white walls wrap around the whole room. One door to the far right. No windows. Yet all the blinding light is coming from artificial lights that hang from the ceiling. A small part of me hoped to see the usual lightbulb that swings in horror movies to indicate a horrid place, but here... everything seemed sterile despite the cages. Like a hospital. A hospital with a sick sense of humor.

The itch on my back brought me back from my wandering thoughts. I slowly sat up minding my head as I twisted my hand in an attempt to scratch the crazy itch that would not leave me. Oddly enough my fingers did not reach my back since something was blocking my way. Leaning forward I give a small tug at the material and it came off with relative ease. Bringing my arm forward, I could not help but stare in confusion. Gripped in my hand was a thick piece of bandage that was not only smeared with blood... but feathers? The scent of copper reached my nose as I faintly twist my head to see where the bandage was ripped from.

My breath came out slowly as my shock registered in my brain. I could not help but think the whole situation is getting to my head... from the cages to the sterile environment... thinking back how did I get here? Slowly everything came back from Mr. Brower to the school lights going out. Just... Where the hell am I?!? No SANE person could have...

Think myself to be delusion, I gave myself a big pinch. One would think that smashing my head into a bar would give me a clue that the situation is not a dream. I hissed as everything started to sink in. Gathering my declining strength, I reach over to touch the new appendages that I'm apparently SPROUTING from my back. Despite all the blood, I'm surprised to feel the softness of the feathers. Some of them were even longer than my fingers!  Spending a few more moments combing through them, I decided to try to flex... my um... wings.