The Perks of Being a Freak (Editing)

11. Mind Reading And Stitches. Sounds Like A Party

                I have wings?

You have what?! Tony’s voice was sharp, and I ignored him to peer over my shoulder.                 Sure enough. Hanging limply from my shoulder blades were two sandy-colored wings.

At their darkest point, the feathers were a heavy, rich brown. At the lightest they were white, and the rest of them ranged from any color in between.

I have wings, I thought softly. Shock was a thick white comforter that smothered them all. I’m a freak.

We’re all freaks now, sweetheart, Tony said. We can read each others minds.

Well, thats not so much a physical thing as a mental thing. So far Lia is the only one with a physical change, Raj pointed out. I didn’t even hear a word.

Wings.

They had put wings on me.

What.

The.

Hell.

Why were these bastards playing God? Why had they chosen me? Why was Emily crazy now? How long had I been out cold in a hospital bed?

About a week, Benny replied. And Emily isn’t too bad. When you woke up there was a lot of pain, but now that that’s over she’s… tolerable.

Broken toys, Emily was back. Broken toys lying out on the sidewalk. Kid’s walk by. No one wants us. No one wants the broken ones. Different kinds of broken, but broken all the same.

Tolerable, Tony growled. Not likeable.

I didn’t care if Emily had stepped off of the sanity train. She was still my best friend, and I would defend her until the end of the earth. I singled Tony out, and sent him a message as privately as I could manage. What is your problem? I snarled. This is all hard enough to deal with as it is. We don’t need your smartass comments and horrible attitude.

You don’t get it! He yelled back. None of you get it! You all live such perfect lives, all free and happy! I DONT! I have responsibilities. I have obligations and people to take care of! I need to get home. They can’t… They won’t survive without me.

I know, my anger melted like snow in the summer. I know all about your brother and sister. When we first came here, and first found the Dark Space… well I sorta fell into your territory, and saw… some things before I got back in and closed the walls up.         

You read my mind? Tony sounded dark and dangerous.         

Unintentionally! I tried to reassure him. And I only saw the thing about your brothers and your sister! I promise!         

Thats all you saw? Now he sounded less angry and more curious.         

I invaded your privacy, stared into your deepest secrets for a split second, and you’re wondering why I didn’t look around?        

Kinda, yeah. I woulda. 

My amusement made them all smile. The halls of the facility were blindingly white in comparison to the Dark Room. As Nurse Moody and I walked, I tried to mentally map out the floor they were on.