The Red Bird

Chapter 20-The Red Bird Is Almost Ready

I just lay there for a while before Gladys wheels over.

"I'm sorry... I didn't mean to take it that far..." she beeps, her concerned face showing on her screen.

"It's fine... At least Scott was there to catch me."

"He came out when he saw us arguing outside. Then he ran over to the cliff when your little fire display was going on. And then you know the rest..."

I just close my eyes and try not to think about him for a moment. 

"Why are all of my training sessions ending so horribly? Maybe it's a sign..." I say, finally sitting up. I wrap my hands around my knees and stare at the city beyond the edge of the cliff.

"I don't know, Carol... I think that none of us know what to do... Your mom never trained with any of us; she just did her own thing. And you're so different from her..."

"Am I? How so?"

"Well, for one thing, your mom never had fire shooting out of her like a blowtorch..."

I roll my eyes.

Gladys giggles and says, "Although, I have noticed that you two share a love of sarcasm."

I smile and turn towards her. "We do?"

"Yes," she says, smiling now.

I nod and turn back to the cliffside, staring at the black castle in the middle of the city. It looks so out of place... 

I stand up abruptly and take out my feather. I twirl it between my fingers and study it for a while. I then look back up at the castle and turn into the Red Bird. Despite how unstable I've been lately, I'm more sure than ever that I need to do this now.

"Carol? What are you doing?" Gladys asks, worry seeping into her tone.

I don't answer. Instead I swan dive off the cliff and come back up, flying towards the castle, more determined then ever.

Gladys is beeping angrily at me. I've learned to tune her out though, so I no longer hear it. I hear Heather and Scott's dad yelling now too, but I tune them out as well.

However, there's one voice that I could never tune out.

Scott sounds so desperate that I dare to turn around and go back to him. I shake my head though and continue. 

It's now or never.