Gods and Monsters

Ch. 22 Almost

It was eerily quiet with only the caw from a crow or the sound of someone shifting to break the silence.

Sage didn't know why they were still in here, he didn't know what was going on or why there were so many birds. He did know however that he couldn't stay here any longer.

Shifting slightly, he felt the way his body tingled from the contact with Brandon who was still covering him completely. Maybe in a different situation, he could have enjoyed their position but now he was trying to wiggle out from under him.

Golden eyes pinned him into place and Sage paused in his attempts to get free. He was trying to communicate with only his eyes, trying to portray his need to get up. Somehow it worked and Brandon slid to the side some, still half covering him but now Sage could see around the classroom.

Crows were perched on every surface, the bookshelves, the desks that were turned over or had students hiding under. Sage met the eyes of a girl, she had a bloody scratch on her cheek and her brown hair was all over her head.

Slowly, Sage flipped over onto his stomach aware of the shards of glass around him. Looking out the broken window, the sky was dark but now from thick gray clouds and not birds.

His backpack laid under the window and Sage reached out for it. Glass fell from it when he pulled it to him and the ruffling of feathers made him pause and look up. Beady black eyes watched him, its head tilting from side to side. He found himself copying its movements until he was on his knees staring at it.

It's black feathers had a blue shine under the fluorescent lights and it reminded Sage of something he couldn't think of.

His eyes left the bird as he looked around. Every bird and person in the room was watching him, waiting to see what would happen. Thinking he was either brave or stupid, Sage thought of himself as determined. Seeing the others who were bleeding from being pecked at or clawed by the birds talons, all he could think about was his siblings. They wouldn't have someone like Brandon who had gotten him down in time and covered him from any attack. They could be hurt, they could be bleeding.

Sage stood slowly, more glass falling from his backpack. So far no bird moved to attack him but they watched, their wings ruffling and their talons tapping against desks. The sound reminded him of the thing he'd seen that morning.

Sage jumped when he turned around to see Brandon hovering over him. He hadn't even noticed him getting up. His eyes seemed to glow in an unnatural way. Sage knew he wasn't seeing things and he no longer thought it was the play of light. No, his eyes were definitely glowing a golden hue. Brandon looked down at him and the light within his eyes seemed to fade until they returned to their dark amber tone.

Sage didn't think this was the time to question it. He was kind of standing in a room full of aggressive birds that had flung themselves into windows until they'd broken them and gotten through.

Glass crunched under his converse and a bird cawed loudly. At least none had flown at him yet. He didn't pause again and maneuvered himself around knocked over desks and scattered backpacks. By the time he reached the door, more birds had joined in on cawing until the sound was deafening.

Birds rested on the lockers in the halls, their beady eyes following his every movement. The reassuring hand on his back kept him moving. Sage didn't understand it but he knew nothing would happen to him as long as Brandon was around.

"Where are you going?" Brandon asked, thinking Sage would turn to the exit and not down the hall.

"Elias." He answered shortly.

"He's not here."

Sage turned to look up at him, his brows pulling together in confusion. "How do you know?" Elias hadn't missed a day of school since he was ten and had the flu. Even then he had begged Sage to let him go and he couldn't stand without becoming dizzy and puking.