Snowbird

They always complained about how cold it got down in that grey basement, but she could never understand what they meant. She had no sense of what warmth or coldness felt like, not when she couldn't even feel bullets against her skin.

Not until she met Mikhail.

***

It had been over three months since she had come to be.

Three months wondering who she really was without any success.

Three months remembering only one name. Alex. A name no one knew what or who it was meant to be.

She was surrounded by strict, disciplined men. Everything worked through a chain of commands, a well-oiled machine. No falters or diversions ever allowed. Like a clock. Soldiers training, changing shifts and orders carried out accordingly.

If anything was unfitting in this firm system, it was her.

She had no name, no past and no apparent purpose, yet they cared enough to give her shelter and food. Their watchful eyes followed her every move. Something that didn't really bother her. She imagined that this was their way of looking after her, what with her abilities being so inhumanly powerful and deathly. She could only return the favor by learning how to communicate with them through their own language and stay out of their way. She didn't know what else to do. She had no preference.

Snowbird. That was what they called her. She didn't know why, but she assumed it was because of her ability to fly as birds could. The only harmless ability among her other fetal ones.

After killing several men in the field with the unexpected inferno unleashed from her eyes, she felt beyond ashamed and indebted to them. They had tried to show her how to use her powers and instead, she had hurt them.

Sleeping was impossible that night and somehow unnecessary. The yellow sun, they said, it fueled her powers. She didn't even need food to replenish her.

She spent hours pacing at the old, small room of hers with only a bed, a single lamp, and a nightstand. The walls that were once covered with light blue wallpapers were now dull grey and scratched, almost falling apart. She had to wonder, who had been the previous owner of this place.

She was unsettled and guilt-ridden. Unable to calm herself. What would Alex think? Who was he to her? Why did she only remember his name or care? How could she make this right?

That was when she heard the sounds. Commotion. Glass shattering and cries muffled by yells. She knew the source had to be from beyond the cement building. Somewhere out in the white lands filled with tall, evergreen trees. Her heart raced.

A single word kept echoing in her ears. A child's voice. She didn't know the meaning, but it was painful and so desperate that it made her heart clench.

Snatching the dictionary on her nightstand, she flipped through the pages in a rush and sought out the word.

'Help!'

Images of men fallen and burned around her in the forest crossed her mind. Her heart sank.

There was no hesitation in her actions then. Her mind and heart were set. Bolting out of the door and shooting into the sky, she didn't even slow down when they ordered her to stop.

It wasn't long before she found the cabin that was the focal point of all the noises. With her enhanced vision, she saw a little boy being roughly handled by a man and two other men looking through drawers. A woman laid unconscious on the other side. The mother of the boy no doubt.

She saw red as she dove down through the roof.

There was little control over her actions. She was fearful for the boy and his mother and when her eyes fell on the child's terrified face, his eyes wide and tears staining his cheeks, her eyes flared on their own accord in response to the anger boiling in her veins.