The Hawking

Chapter 15: Epilogue

This chapter is narrated by Lucas Starlow.

I remember an old quote my mother told me before we were separated. She told me:

Whenever those need your help, help.

Well, that's all I thought about as I walked down the slope, heading for the city.

Hi. I'm Lucas Starlow.

I groaned in pain as I looked at my right wing. I couldn't spread it, and I could barely walk with it at all. Thanks to that explosion, my wing was now broken. At least it's better than being shot in the wing.

I heard whooping and yelling coming from the sky. I looked above my head to see them; my family, all of us together and happy. They each glided perfectly in the air. Oh, how I longed to be able to fly again...

"Feeling lonely?" a voice said behind me. I turned around to see Olivia, who was just landing on the ground. I chuckle softly as she comes over to me and rests her head on my chest. I stroke her bright orange hair as she hugs me tightly. Her wings tuck perfectly as she looks up at me.

"So, the city, huh?" she asks me. I nod. "Why are we going there?"

"The Flock needs a night out on the town. I figure we rent a hotel room, go see some sights, and be...I don't know, normal?"

We were both silent for quite a minute.

"I would love to see that giant green lady statue we used to get a good view of from the house!" she squealed.

"Me too! She always seemed so confident, standing there with her torch and her books...I kinda looked up to her, even though she's just a statue."

"Well, do you know who I look up to?"

"Who?"

Olivia grabbed the collar of my blue hoodie and pulled it down, making our faces almost touch.

"You." she whispered.

"I look up to you, too!" I heard a tiny voice say. We both turn to see Star, listening to our conversation with a huge grin.

"You have done nothing but kept me safe, and when I got captured, I gave up hope. But you came, and I am so happy and hopeful!"

"And if it weren't for you..." Hedwig said as he and Avery landed. "...Avery and I would have starved to death!"

"And I would probably be dead if it weren't for you and Olivia!" Alex stated.

I look at all of the faces in my family. They all looked up to me, for whatever reason, and that made me feel...accomplished.

"Thanks, guys..." I said to the Flock. "I am so proud of each and every one of you for remaining strong in the difficult times we have experienced in the past few days."

"You all deserve a break for once!" Olivia jokes, and we all laughed with her. "Let's get to the city and live our best lives!"

The Flock cheered as they spread their wings and soared in the air. I watched them as they tilted and turned in the sky. They were all so graceful.

~

"If I am correct..." my sister said to me as she examined my wing. "...you should be healed in a few days, thanks to your mutation." I grin as I lift her onto my lap, carefully balancing myself on the big branch of the tree we were in.

"Thanks, sis." I said to her as she yawned. She smiled tiredly and leaned on my chest. With that, she fell asleep quickly.

I looked up at the dark sky. The color looked like black ink poured over a paper, and the stars represented footprints.

I sighed as I felt a hand slip into mine.

It was Olivia.

She must have noticed I looked gloomy.

"Cheer up, Luke!" she said. "Just think: in a day or so, we will be in the city, where we can live out our lives! Things will be easier! We won't have to hunt, fish, cook, nothing! We can be normal kids again!"

Something about her saying that made me feel uneasy. She wants to be normal...? Who cares if we aren't normal?! We are different and unique, and she shouldn't be ashamed of that.

But, being a nice person, I but my lip and said:

"Well, of course!"

"And I was thinking..." Olivia muttered. "Maybe we should get jobs..."

"Jobs?! Why?!"

"In the city, things are costly. We are gonna have to make a living if we want to survive."

This is when I started having second thoughts about our consented agreement.

~

"Where do we go?" Star asked.

As I opened my mouth to speak, Alex interrupted me.

"We could go to the city."

"What?!" I exclaimed. "Hell no! Out of the question!"

"Why not?"

"It's dangerous in the city! Besides, we
have no idea if Hall is there with the Hawking!"

Olivia put a hand on my shoulder. "Come on, Luke!" she coaxed. "Lighten up! Maybe a night in the city is just what the Flock needs!"

"I could finally read more than the few Stephen Hawking novels I have." Hedwig consulted.

"And I can find some tools since mine got destroyed!" Avery yelled.

"Maybe there will be a dolly store in the city, too!" Star squealed.

I listened to all of them, babbling about the things they want to do in the city. Luckily, Olivia didn't say anything about-

"It would be awesome to go on a tour!"

Damn it.

Everyone looked over at me, wondering what my answer was. Ugh, how I wanted to say no! The city was a very dangerous place, filled with humans and diseases.

At least, that's what Hall told me.

Unfortunately, puppy dog eyes are my weakness.

"Ugh, fine!" I finally groaned. "But if we do, you all have to be careful, and you have to listen to me very carefully!"

Everyone smiled and cheered as they came in a group and hugged me. I couldn't breathe, but it was worth it to see them smile.

~

As I fell asleep, my sister on my chest and my lover by my side, I looked out into the night sky, wondering what the future will be like.

Will the Hawking come back for us? Will the Flock enjoy the city? What exactly does Hall want with Star?

I have yet to answer these questions.

And learn about things I never thought would be...

Let the adventure begin.