Wings

Prologue || The Escape of a Subject.

The night was silent, with only a few tittering insects hiding in the vast and dense undergrowth. Trees towered overhead, seeming almost magical. Unreal. But it very much was real, if the pain in her side was any indication. Panting, she leant back on the tree- a sob caught in her throat as she tried vainly to be so very, very quiet. A low siren started, and the breath practically fell out of her body as she heard dogs yelping and barking. A shard of moonlight shattered and flickered at the dense and wet undergrowth beneath her feet, and she gasped.

They couldn't have found her. Not yet. There was no way.

Panic welled in her stomach, cramping it as she clamped a hand over her mouth- bile foaming at the back of her throat. A skittering in the undergrowth had her paying closer attention, and she almost cried out in relief. It was a small pack of foxes, the mother and her three cubs. Caught like dear in head lights, they stopped before regarding her keenly with intelligent eyes. It seemed they deemed her no a threat before flowing back into the silent forest.

She swallowed, if only she could mold herself to the darkness as they could. Her hand dragged through her hair, her teeth catching her bottom lip. As it was now, she could probably disappear for a few moments. Her hair was a deep coal black, so they would not see it in the darkness. Though it was snarled and ragged, and she couldn't remember the last time she brushed it. If she had to run, she would have to hold it, as it reached her ankles and would attach to anything. But her almost white skin was sure to stand out. Even before she had been captured, she searched her mind and came up blank, for a non-descript number of years- her skin was pale but before she had made an effort to not look like a glass of milk.

But it didn't matter anymore, her skin was marred through many lashings and beatings through no fault of her own. There was no help for the angry, pink and still healing lacerations on her legs and back. That will be in the past, she told herself, looking after those injuries and tanning could wait. The rags she was wearing were barely held together, an old ratty tank top soaked with old sweat and blood hug off one shoulder and clung to her body like a lifeline. Her trousers were in the same state of disrepair, ripped and torn at the knees and threadbare in most places. Too big, she added in her mind, ignoring the way her hands pressed against her hipbones and almost came away bleeding. Far too big. Her feet were bleeding, she realized after a moment of pain flashed through her after shifting against the tree, no shoes had been provided in the lab. Quickly, she glanced back at the base and winced.

Once cloaked in darkness, no on would dare draw near the imposing structure. Small and squat, it was almost impenetrable- its doors triple locked and guarded by two men at all times who worked on a rotation system that changed daily. It was honestly a wonder that she had even managed to escape, though it was not only her own efforts that caused her to prevail. It was bathed in a low light, a now high-pitched, screeching siren filling the air above and pressing down on her body like an oppressive force. She felt the will to go back, but resisted. No longer would he have power over her, she wouldn't allow it.

Coughing, she pressed her back against the tree and allowed air to fill her lungs. Exhaling slowly, nerves caused the back of her neck to tingle and she sprung off the tree- hitting the ground running. Quietly, almost silently- she pushed her body to move faster and faster. A bark sounded to the left of her, but it only encouraged her to move further off the property and reach the motorway. Arms pumping, the blood in her body rushed and flowed as dull agony filled her; her older injuries smarting at the sensation. Biting her lip to keep from yelping, she realized almost immediately that though she should be terrified out of her wits (and was dammit) she felt more alive than she had in years and was struggling to keep a smile off of her face.

They couldn't touch her if she reached it.

The motorway.

Air deftly filled her lungs, her chest expanding and contracting rapidly- fear was a norm in her system and she almost tripped over her running feet when hope flowed and warmed her. It sparked her adrenaline, and again, her thighs burned and her chest burned and her throat burned but she pumped her arms and pushed and pushed and pushed. The energy in her system was unbound, almost unfathomable to the men who had seen her tortured hours earlier but the exhilaration of being free made her want to cry. She would not stop, even if they caught her she would not stop and she would not break; that was enough for her to push her legs to move faster. Wind, harsh and broken, whipped through the air and lashed at her skin. But she was unbridled, leaping over logs with dogs at her heals and though it was so very cold, with frost lapping at the ground and cold, frostbitten air gnawing at her bones as she shivered- her fingers numb as she ran- she was so delightfully warm.

BANG.

A shot rang out in the air, and her heart froze, stuttered before becoming like a deer almost vaulting out of her chest. Again, a shot ran out and she cursed- tears welling in her eyes. Goddammit! She was so very close, she could almost envision the cars whizzing past and she choked again.

Her arms moved with renewed vigor.

So. Fucking. Close.

A shot cracked across the air and hit her thigh. Cursing, her stride breaking- she pressed her hand against the wound. Blood trickled down her fingers and she started limping- pulling her broken body across a patch of grass that separated her and some trees from the motorway. She heard the men coming close, heard their commands as her eyes burned and she felt the injustice of it clamp her throat shut.

Stopping, she closed her eyes and breathed.

Never, she would never go back.

Even the very thought of it made her stomach grow numb with an almost frantic terror, made her palms slick with sweat and her feet tingle. Dark eyes grew crazed, blood welled under her cracked fingernails and huge plumes of white air filled the space around her. Smoke grenades, they were going to choke her out. Distantly, she waved her hand and the air was sent high- no longer a problem. Obviously, these men knew not of her capabilities. But still, dread filled her as men flowed out from behind the trees, each holding a gun, each dressed up in riot protection gear. Swallowing, she knew in her gut this was what he wanted. He wanted to see her reduced to her most primal state, no running, no hiding, no careful tactics- he wanted to see her kill.

Simple.

Chuckling, she felt her chest quake as they shifted with their guns. Waiting for a cue that was to never come, she suspected. She was never in any real danger, he just manipulated her emotions and allowed her to escape.

Crazed laughter bubbled in her chest again and she shifted, raising her hands to each side of her body before cracking her neck- if he wanted a show; she was most gratified to supply. Her change bubbled through her, and she felt her wings crackle under her skin as they shifted to burst from her back. Running her hand through her hair, she felt the tugging as the strands glowed before turning to a pearlescent white; felt it as her pupils expanded and lightened and turned gold. Turning her head to the dark sky, her mouth fell open, showing a row of razor sharp teeth before an eardrum-rupturing scream tumbled from her chest; causing the men to jolt and shiver.

She would escape, and Heaven help those who tried to stop her.

x-X-x-X-x-X-x

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