Life Catcher

Chapter Nineteen: Erik? Your Name is Erik?

19.

I reach the end of the vent. Thank goodness the heat was on because by the time I reached the end of the vent I was as dry as a dessert. I kick the vent with my legs but it wouldn't budge. So close to freedom, yet so far away. I kick again and hear another screech.

This time it was closer. Dangerously close.

I turn around and push my back against the vent . Then I let out my wings and push them out as hard as I can. I hear a crack and the scraping of metal. I smile and push harder.

Big mistake.

The vent gives way and I'm sent hurtling a good ten stories down, down, nowhere but down. I hit the ground and I hear a loud crack, and I send pieces of the ground hurtling everywhere. That better be the ground and not my spine, I think to myself. I stay still because I'm scared that if I move I'll screech louder than Screech. I sigh and look at my hands. They're not bloody. That's good. Now I've got to worry about my back. I look up at the stars and wonder if Winter Blade is kicking Screeches butt. Passer-byers are running every which way and clicking buttons on their little metal machines. Then Sam's head pops into my view and he lifts one eyebrow.

"Why are you laying on the ground?"

"What do you think Sam?" I whisper and point up at the vent that I personally deconstructed. Does he not see the big dent I created?

"Whoa! Who did that?" He says and reaches out his hand.

I get up slowly but I feel no pain.

"Yours truly," I say plainly. "Where's Winter Blade?"

"Oh, him. He's kicking Screeches butt. Everyone has been evacuated and some people report seeing a girl with demonic wings. You'd think your little secret could be kept." I quickly retract my wings before Sam sees them.

When I'm on both of my feet Sam grabs my hands. Both of them.

"Cleo I-"

"Sam lets settle this later. We've got to help Winter out. You saw how badly scratched he was when he fought her before-"

He pulls me toward him and kisses me. I flinch and he puts his hands around my waist and tilts his head. I close my eyes and wrap my arms around his neck.

You freaken idiot! Get your chicken lips off of Samantha and help me!

I immediately let go of Sam. I remove my lips from his.

"Winter Blade needs us," I say and take a step back.

"Yeah, but I need you," he says and looks into my eyes.

Oh, for Pete's sake. I push past him and spread out my wings. I bolt into the building and immediately see Winter in his wicked black suit. Sweet.

He throws his silver sharpened disk at the flying shadow and turns to look at me. He shakes his head.

"You're such a moron," he says and I smirk.

"Speak for yourself," I call and fly up to Screech. She shrills and I spin kick her but my legs go right threw her.

"Did you not listen to what I said before? Must I sing it to you? You'll just fade right threw her. Here," Winter says and throws me a black disk.

I catch it and it flows up onto my arms and consumes my whole body.

"What the. . .," I begin and catch a glimpse of my reflection in a big piece of broken glass. Except my whole body is the color of my wings except my eyes are silver.

Before I can react Screech hits me with the edge of her shadowy tail and I fly into the popcorn case and it shatters sending popcorn confetti everywhere. Winter jumps her from behind with a spin kick and ricochets off of her onto the adjacent wall. He flies back at her with a blur of punches until her body forms back into a blonde haired little girl. She falls to the ground hard causing the ground under her to crack. Winter lands on the ground on one knee and looks back at me.

"If you're going to get distracted by every little thing then you might as well leave all the butt kicking to me," He says. I study my body ignoring his comment. He walks up to me and touches my elbow and the blackness flows to his fingers turning back into a disc.

"W-what just happened," I asked.

"That disc that covered you could have kept you from phasing right through her," he says and shakes his head. "Nice outfit by the way. The belt suits you."

"Well you could have told me," I say ignoring his compliment. "How was I supposed to know what it was?"

We hear a moan and we both turn our direction to Screech.

Me and Winter walk up to her. Blade crosses his arms and and I put my hands on my hips.

"Why cant you just die?" Winter Blade says and picks her up by her girly shirt collar. She turns into a shadow but he punches her in the gut. Hard. I wince. Don't be a coward, I think to myself.

She gasps for air as Blade grabs her neck.

"I swear. I will kill you Winter Blade," she croaks.

Winter squeezes her tiny neck and she gags. He squeezes harder and her eyes become blood shot. She desperately claws at his fingers, and tries to speak but all that comes out is a sad squeak. Her face turns a reddish purple color and I cant stand it any longer.

"Okay Blade, that's enough," I say and place my hand on his shoulder. He looks back at me and I look into his white eye slits. He sighs and she drops to the ground gasping for air.

When Screech tries to stand up, she falls to the ground and blacks out.

"What's wrong with you cupid?" Winter Blade asks after a minute of silence.

"She's just a little girl-"

"Yeah. A little girl who wants to freaken dance on your grave-Cleo, she doesn't deserve to live and. . .," he trails off and looks at me. Yes, I'm crying.

"Ooookay. . .uh. . .," he trails off.

"Can we go home now?" I say quietly.

He sighs and hit's a button on his neck brace. His suit turns back to it's pure white color and dissipates showing a perfectly colored African boy. His silver eyes is the first thing that catches my attention. But they turn a mocha color.

"Whatever. Lets just leave before I change my mind," he says and walks toward the door. I follow him out of the now trashed movie theatre.

By now, the parking lot is clear of all cars and people. I hear sirens in the distance. But the Walker's car is here. Luke suddenly walks out from behind the building and jumps surprised to see me. I fold my wings before he notices.

"Yo," says Winter.

"Uh. . .what just happened?" Luke says and walks up to me. "And why did you trip me-"

"Cleo!" yells a familiar voice.

Amy comes running up from behind and hugs me.

"I thought. . .I just. . .you were-"

"She's fine," sighs Winter Blade.

She releases me and studies Winter.

"Who. . .?" She begins.

"The names Erik Winters. It's somewhat of a pleasure to meet you Amelia Walker," says Winter.

She looks him up and down and nods. "Nice to meet. . .you too. Wait. How do you know my name?"

"What in the world happened in there? I heard a lot of yelling, and the place is trashed! And where in the world did this guy come from-" starts Luke.

"Well. We'd better be heading out. Nice meeting ya," interrupts Erik. He nods curtly, grabbing my arm and pulling me down the walkway.

Luke comes running up to us and grabs my other arm.

"Wait! Why in the world are you taking her? She belongs with me-"

Winter drop-kicks Luke in the gut, catapulting him into the theater. He then sighs and continues walking taking my arm with him. I look back and see Amy's face covered in confusion. I wave at her and smile.