The Hawking

Chapter 3: The Lab

Hey there! My name is Star! Star Starlow! I'm seven years old, and my big brother tells me that I am a starling bird! I love my big brother very much!

The big hawk bully carried me for a long time. Everytime I tried to escape, he would grasp me tighter. I figured fighting it wasn't helping my situation, so I sat peacefully.

We eventually made it to a big building with letters painted on the side. I tilted my head so I could read the words. "The Lab". I remember this place. This is the place Big Brother told me I was born at. I have heard many stories of this place. Maybe I can find my mommy and daddy during my stay...

The hawks opened two big doors and took me inside. We walked down a long hallway until we came to a metal door. The biggest hawk opened the door, and they carried me inside the dark room. The room was filled with big bird cages. Some of them were empty, but many of the bird cages had one or two strangers inside. I shiver as I look at the cages.

The hawks took me to the end of the room and found a big bird cage. They opened the door, and the big hawk bully threw me inside, hurting my little black wing. I groan as I go up to the bars. The hawks just laugh at me.

"Oh, what experiments will they do on you?" the biggest hawk said. "Maybe, if she's fast enough, she can join the team?" the short hawk said. "No, you doofus!" said the hawk girl. "This is a team of hawks, Axel!" "We could just kill her right now." the big hawk bully said.

Kill me?!

"Watch what you say, Canto." A voice said. The hawks turned to the entrance. A dark shadow entered the room as the hawks stand tall. "We have captured Experiment 1, sir!" the biggest hawk said to the shadow. "Excellent, Hawks!" the shadow said. "Go enjoy yourselves. You've earned it. I bet wrangling up this one was a hard job." The shadow looked at me, and I got scared.

The hawks left after the shadow told them to. The shadow turned on a lamp above me. I caught a look at his face, and it was...

"Hall!" I exclaim, reaching my arms out. Mr. Scientist Albert Hall looked at me with a warm smile. "Hello, my Shooting Star!" He opened my cage, and I gave him a big hug. It has been a long time since I have seen him. I missed him secretly ever since we escaped...

"How is your brother, Star?" Hall asked me. "The very same." I tell him. "The big hawk bullies hurt him, and he couldn't save me." Hall laughed. "Well, I will have a word with The Hawking, but I asked them to find you for me."

"Really?"

"Yes. You are very important to this facility."

"Why?"

"You are a very skilled avian hybrid. We brought you here so we could do some tests on you."

"Will they hurt?"

"Of course not! Trust me, as soon as we're finished, you will be taken back to your brother in no time!"

"Promise?"

"I promise."

Hall raises his pinkie up to me. I take mine and interlock it with his. He smiles and shuts my cage. "Get some rest, hon." he said. "You have a big day tomorrow." He hands me a light blue blanket. I happily take it and cover myself with it as I lay at the bottom of the cage. I wanted to complete these tests as fast as I could so I could get home to Big Brother!
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I slowly opened my eyes. Clang, clang, clang was all I could hear. It was coming from the bird cage beside mine. I look over to see a person, clanging a metal cup on the bars of the cage.

"Hello?" I said. The person looked at me instantly. I gulped as I scooted closer to his cage. "Hi there." I said to the person. "M-My name is Star. What's yours?" The person stood up and walked towards me. He was very tall, and he had a very big wingspan. He looked at me and scoffed.

"Get lost, kid." he said to me. "If you're lucky, you'll survive three days in here." "But I can't die yet, sir! I have to leave so I can find my big brother!" I tried to tell him. He looked at me with confusion. "You're...not on your own...?" the man asked me.

"No. I have my big brother and his friends. I was just kidnapped by those mean hawk bullies!"

"They're called The Hawking. Don't know why, they just are. They are the toughest, meanest, most fit avians of us all.

"The girl, her name is Fern. Looks cute and harmless on the outside, but there is more that meets the eye. She executed one of my buddies in here.

I gulped.

"The small hawk, that's Axel. Total klutz, but very comedic. He doesn't take his hawk job seriously, but he is really tough when in a fight. His weak point is the shins.

"The other guy, goes by the name of Canto. Very outgoing, can be funny, but really he is vicious and cruel. Don't let his looks deceive you. Him and Fern are twins.

"And their leader, the biggest guy, his name is Sam. There is more to him that meets the eye. He looks very mean, bold, takes his job too seriously, keeps the team in check, but deep down, he is a sweet and caring person...Trust me, kid. I know..."

The man looks away from me for a minute. I stay silent, but it was too much to bear.

"What's your name, mister?" I ask him.

"Call me Alex." the man replied. I slipped my hand from between the bars and held it out for him to shake. "My name is Star. Star Starlow." Alex took my hand and shook it. "How nice to meet you." he said with a sweet smile.

"Well, Mr. Alex, I need to go to sleep now. Hall told me I had a big day tomorrow." I grabbed my blanket and covered myself. Alex just sat there and watched me, sighing. "I don't understand." he said. I sat up. "What's wrong, Mr. Alex?" I ask.

"How could someone as horrible as The Hawking capture someone so sweet and gentle like you?"

"Oh, Hall told me that I was skilled, and that after my tests, I can go back to my big brother!"

"Don't get your hopes too high, Star."

"Why?"

"Avians who are here never leave. I don't see how you and your brother escaped, but I'm sure he'll find a way to save you."

I tried not to believe his words, but deep down, a part of me wanted to. I didn't think about his words. I had to believe Hall. He promised me. Hall never breaks a promise.

I covered myself up once again and laid down on the cold metal flooring of the bird cage. I closed my eyes and pictured my big brother in my head as I layed in the silence of the big room. Big brother..., I thought to myself as I drifted to sleep. Please...save me...