Skybound (Aviary Issue #1)

Chapter One

Fifteen years later

“Before you go, what are the rules?”

Not this again. Avery Cantero rolled her eyes with a sigh as her father picked up the dishes from the counter. The pair had just finished breakfast and the kitchen had settled into its usual silence apart from the sound of running water and the clatter of the dishes. It never used to be like this.

So quiet. Her, sipping on the last of the coffee that had run cold long ago, and her father who was standing in front of the sink, waiting for the water to finish running. Breakfasts never used to be like this as a child.

They had been fun and exciting with her mom's singing filling the house as she cooked and her dad always keeping her occupied with the homework that she didn't do the previous night. It felt like home but now, it was like something was missing. Especially with…

No, it wasn't just that. Her eyes watched the slumped posture in her father’s back behind the sink. As much as he never wanted to show how tired he was, she knew how to read him. He wanted to do everything that his wife did.

It wasn't as if it was a lot, since there were only ever three plates in the sink at any given meal time, but somehow running a household on his own along with taking care of its residents took a visible toll on the man.

His pride kept him going at this point and he carried on as if there were more than just the two of them moving around the house at any given time.

Avery knew that this wouldn’t change anytime soon but there was no stopping her from looking at the empty chair on the other side of the table every time they sat down. Her gaze rose solemnly at the ceiling above them, remembering why.

If only things were different. “Avery,” her father tried again, with a little more pressure in his tone. She flinched, the coffee in her mug almost spilling out onto her shirt. Just put the mug down, she sighed before she looked in the direction of the kitchen where her father had stopped to stare at her over his shoulder. He was actually looking for a response this time.

“Don’t use my powers. Don’t tell anyone about them. Be home before sundown.” The three rules she had to live by. There was no forgetting them. She'd had them since she was fourteen.

As much as she hated them every time she had to list them off before leaving for the day, she knew why it was that her father had insisted on them when she had started showing.

It had just taken one morning where she had woken up hovering halfway between her bed and her ceiling. Where most girls got acne, she got superpowers. With that, came trouble.

The city wasn’t safe for her or anyone for that matter. Her father, Michele, along with his wife and toddler daughter had moved to this country many years ago hoping that there was a better life for him and his family. It was a dream. The city was filled with opportunity and her father had a great job but then came the Fall.

That’s what a lot of the people around the city had called it. The Fall of the Heroes. The takeover of the nation’s government by the supervillains.

Superheroes weren’t exactly uncommon in her city like a few others around the world.  However, after what happened here, the numbers had begun to crumble as one by one with the new laws that had come into effect under their “new leader”.

He had changed so much. Businesses had been dismantled, new laws were introduced and the people were left paying the price in more ways than once. Even the media was changed. Anything that wasn't approved was cut off with the help of the connections that decided to join in with the winning side. Old broadcasts that used to showcase the biggest names in her city became history found in comic books.

Speaking of which…

“I’ll try to be home by dusk.” Avery said, moving from the kitchen counter to grab her handbag from the sofa chair in the corner. She had to be at work soon or else she wasn’t going to get the shelves restocked before the usuals came in for the new issues.

Grabbing her hairbrush from the black satchel and giving her brown pixie cut a quick run through, Avery walked back to the kitchen to see her father prepping a tray of pill bottles and a bottle of water.

“Call me when you get to work.”

“I always do but I promise.”

A tired smile grew on his face as he picked up the tray. “Good girl. See you later.” Avery blew him a kiss as she stuffed the hairbrush back in her bag and grabbed her keys from the counter.

As she headed for the front door, she turned to her father who had just reached the top of the stairs. “Tell Mama I'll be back soon. See you later.”

Avery opened the door and stepped outside into the bright sunshine, shutting the door behind her. With the way her father kept the curtains shut most of the day, it was easy to forget how bright it is outside. Even her eyes could rarely get used to the full amount of light outside.

Rubbing her throbbing eyes with the end of her sleeve, she set off down the main road to the suspension bridge that led to downtown. It connected the suburbs to the rest of the city, so it was common for many people to be making their way out to the bridge at this hour.

Luckily the winter was finally passing so she could leave her tiny wardrobe at home soon. For now, the nip of cold in the air stayed. Animals seemed to get the better end of it with their ability to adapt.

The loud cries of birds flying above her made her look up. The creatures flew so freely. If it wasn’t for the way she preferred to stay firmly on the ground, she’d have even envied the creatures. They got to leave this place freely.

As she got to the edge of the bridge, her cell phone chimed from her bag. Her alarm. Great. The week just started and she was late for work.

A/N: Hello everyone and welcome back to the world of Aviary. The first couple of chapters are short but it'll pick up.

For those who have read through the first version, things have changed a little but I am determined to finish this one before I make it better again.

Promise. 🙌

Let me know what you guys think! 😉