The Flock

Chapter Seven: Disaster at New York

The President looked out the window of his office. The rain pounded against the glass. Lightning struck down from the heavens. Just a few minutes it was sunny, but now it was pouring outside.

"We've tracked them down Sir," a man in a black suit wearing black sunglasses said as he came into the President's office.

"Good. Where are they?" the President asked looking out the window.

"Their in California but they're headed to New York," the man replied.

"Catch them!" the President bellowed.

"We're on it Sir," the man said.

"Stupid mutant freaks," the President said as he watched the rain fall.

We all dodged the lightning as we flew. The drops of rain hit us, but we didn't care.

"Wasn't it sunny just a minute ago?" Sol said confused.

"It was till I made it rain?" Katheryn smiled.

"Why'd you make it rain?" Luna asked for Sol.

"Just in case helicopters, planes, or jets are out. The pilots and passangers wouldn't be able to see us as easily," Katheryn said.

"Good call," Skylar said with a smile. Katheryn nodded her head and smiled back. I saw the city of New York in the distance. I couldn't help but grin. This flock, our flock. We were making it out okay after all. Just to know that we were all breathing made all my worries just...disappear. Peter looked over at me as I looked towards New York. He gave a small smile and grabbed my hand. I looked at him then smiled a bit. His cheeks turned bright pink.

"Aww...that's so cute," SkyBird said in a sweet tone. Peter and I both looked back at her. Both of our faces were pink and we became flustered. Sapphy chuckled.

"It's okay," Aisha smiled. I looked at her and nodded.

"Love is a wonderful thing to have. Treasure it and hold close to your heart," Ray replied. I smiled at Ray. She was a delicate person. Calm and caring. Strong and determined. A friend and an avian I could count on. I looked around at all the other flock members. We were all so different from one another. We were all unique in our own ways. Yet we were one big family. A happy family at that.

"Look!" Naxtern shouted out as he pointed to some helicopters coming right at us.

"Get out of the way everyone!" Keno and Autumn screamed at the top of their lungs. Once everyone heard their words we all flew in different directions. I saw Sapphy and SkyBird fly up and to the right. Autumn, Keno, and Naxtern went to the left. Skylar and Ayame went to the right. Katie, Katheryn, and Rowan went down towards the city and flew to the left. Aisha, Ray, and Peter flew just above the helicopter. I couldn't tell whether any of them got hurt from the helicopter's blades. Luna and Sol pretty much followed Katie, Katheryn, and Rowan. I was left flying by myself. I flapped my wings with great force and flew towards some trees. I would be safe from the helicopters and the rain. I landed and watched in horror as my friends were dodging bullets and the helicopter.

"This is all my fault," I said to myself. The rain kept pouring as if agreeing with me. If it wasn't raining then the tears on my face would be seen. Heroes aren't supposed to cry. Hereos aren't supposed to be scared. I wiped the the tears and raindrops off my face with my arm. All of a sudden someone tackled me to the ground. The person grabbed both of my arms. I gritted my teeth and forced myself to my feet. I let out a scream and tried to get from away from the person's grip. They wore a black army-like suit. I couldn't see their face because they wore goggles, and a helmet.

"Hero!" Ray shouted as she flapped her wings and raced to help free me.

"NO! Don't! Just get the others and go! Get out of here and show the world how beautiful it is to be different. Do it for me. I'll be okay. I promise," I said trying to be brave.

"I won't let you do this! I'm not gonna leave you here! Your my friend! Your like my family! I will not leave you here like this!" Ray sobbed.

"No. Go. It's better this way. Don't worry I'll get out and I'll find you all," I said with tears falling from my face. Ray flew towards me. Peter and Aisha grabbed her back. I smiled at them. SkyBird was crying while Sapphy held her back from also trying to get to me.

"SkyBird, Ray please don't cry. I'll be okay. I promise I'll find you all. Now go. Get everyone out of here," I said with a sad smile.

SkyBird screamed and tried to break free from Sapphy's grip, but it was useless. Peter and Aisha rounded everyone up and flew away. The helicopter tried to follow them but they were too fast. I smiled through my tears.

The man in the suit had other men now with him. One man had a syrringe in his hand. I shook my head and kicked, punched, clawed, bit, and did anything I could to break free. The man jabbed the syringe into my leg. My world was began to go blurry. Noises faded away from me. I felt floaty. The men let go of me. I stood up and felt dizzy. My knees buckled and I fell to the ground. My world went black. I could hear a faint voice in the distance.

"It's okay to be afraid. Heroes aren't heroes because they are strong, they're tough, they're fearless, or brave. They're heroes because they are willing to die protecting others. A hero can cry, be afraid, have hallucinations, and be an outcast. Don't ever think that you're not a hero. You are and don't ever forget that no matter what happens you'll always be a hero," a voice said to me. I held onto every word that it said and had a feeling inside. A feeling that I had never once before felt. I felt successful, like I had just won a prize or the lottery. I held onto that feeling and treasured every moment of it. Even though I couldn't psychically move or see I wasn't scared. I knew that everything would be okay. The good guys always win. Right?

Everyone was quiet as they flew through the sky. SkyBird's face was red from all the crying she had done. Ray's face was also red from crying too. Aisha looked destroyed. Peter had some tears streaming down his cheeks. Skylar looked down at the ground not saying a word. Luna and Sol clung to each other. Keno's ears were down while Autumn silently carried him without saying a word. Naxtern also stayed as silent as ever. Ayame had a few tears but brushed them away with her arm. Sapphy was busy trying to calm SkyBird down. Katheryn looked ready to cry but stayed strong and held back her tears. Katie stayed quiet and tried to look calm on the outside. Rowan looked upset and scared. Nobody talked. Everyone just kept flying silently like the wind.

SkyBird clenched her fists and looked at the sky. The rain had stopped, but the sky was a gloomy grey. There were no rainbows that came like they're supposed to after it rains. The sun hid behind the curtain of clouds.

"You better keep that promise and stay alive Hero," SkyBird said quietly to herself. She took off her crystal necklace.

"What are you doing?" Sapphy asked watching SkyBird.

"This," SkyBird replied as she threw her necklace backwards.

"Why did you throw your favorite necklace behind?" Peter asked while calming down Ray and Aisha.

"Just in case," SkyBird said as a tear rolled down her cheek.

"Let's just fly away from here," Rowan said with a sad smile.

"Yeah," SkyBird said looking back to where she threw her necklace.

"Why does the world have to be so cold?" Katheryn asked.

"I don't know. Hero always loved this quote and it might help explain that. They say it rains on those who need sunshine the most," SkyBird replied.

"That makes sense. It's kinda like a test to see if some are stong enough to go out into the world I guess," Rowan guessed.

"Hero added her own part to the quote. Do you wanna hear it?" SkyBird asked.

"Sure. Go on," Ayame answered.

"They say it rains on those who need sunshine the most. But how can the sun shine if it always rains?" SkyBird said.

"That seams to make sense cause if it's always raining the sun won't come out," Naxtern replied quietly.

"Yeah," SkyBird nodded. They all flew on into the sky. They looked like angels as they soared.

"Please be okay Hero. Please just be okay," SkyBird thought to herself as they flew.