~ Wings ~ Sanders Sides ~

~ Chapter Seventeen ~ Patton ~

The first thing I notice when I wake up is warmth on one side of my face and something prickly on the other. I open one eye partially to see dewdrops on grass right in front of my face. I'm confused for a moment before remembering that I went outside last night.

I sigh and sit up before looking around. Sure enough, I'm still in the meadow. A bluebird catches my attention. I watch as the bird spreads his wings and takes flight, sending a pang of jealousy through me.

Something feels off, so I listen intently and hear voices. Something inside me tells me to hide, but I ignore it and move closer.

"Anything?" The voice is tinged with a note of fear.

"Obviously not!" The second voice is annoyed, but also dramatic. I creep closer, careful not to make any noise.

"Look, I get that you're freaking out, but we will find him," the second voice assures. "If not us, then Hailey or Logan's group, alright?" I blink in surprise.

When I move to where I can see them, sure enough, it's Roman and Virgil. Virgil's stance is closed off, and he looks like he's shaking. Roman has a tentative hand on his shoulder.

I want to step forward, give my dark strange son a reassuring hug, but something stops me. Fear. I'm scared. Scared of what they would say. Would they hate me? Be mad? Ignore me?

I blink. Where did that come from? Of course they won't be mad, they're looking for me.

Don't kid yourself! They wanna punish you for running off. I take a step back, suddenly wary. I dash back to the meadow as silently as I can.

I hear wingbeats overhead and look up to see a flash of white and golden yellow. Hailey. I sigh, shrinking back a little bit more. Eyes in the sky. Of course. I hide in the bushes silently.

~*——__——*~

Just by hiding in that one spot, I manage to avoid being found. I never saw Logan's group, which probably included Remy or Emile. Once I'm sure no one's in the forest, I start quietly sobbing.

Not too long after, I feel a soft hand stroking my hair. I bolt up to see a female side wearing an orange plaid hoodie with bright orange eyes.

"Who—" I begin, but the side cuts me off by placing a finger on my lips.

"Who I am isn't important right now," she replies. "What matters is that I'm trying to help. Now, tell me what's wrong."

"Th-they were looking for me," I start, tears threatening to well up. "M-my friends. I ran away last night... I had the p-perfect opportunity to go back, b-but I didn't, a-and now.." I'm forcing myself not to cry. "What's h-happening in my head is that V-Virgil's having a panic attack, Roman's trying to think up a way t-to get me home, Remy and Emile are in the l-library trying to forget, Logan's trying to drown himself i-in research to distract him, and Hailey? W-we all know she had a drinking problem when she was younger!!" The dam finally bursts and I start sobbing again.

"O-or what if they d-don't care?!" I continue. "Wh-what if everyone is j-just going on like n-normal... without me." I whisper the last part.

The mysterious female side places a hand on my shoulder. "I can show you what's happening if you'd like.." I nod slowly. The side in front of me takes a deep breath, and soon I see an image of my family.

Virgil is pacing, but it's frantic. Roman keeps writing then erasing things in his notebook. Remy and Emile are cuddled up on the couch. I don't see Logan or Hailey.

Two more pictures pop up. One shows Hailey sitting on a tree branch, her wings tucked in behind her. The other shows Logan searching my room for... something, probably a clue.

The images disappear. I sigh. "Is that normal?" the side asks. I shake my head, a soft smile tugging at my lips. The side puts a hand on mine.

"I should be going now," she says. "Just know that I'm on your side, ok?" I chuckle. "What? What's so funny?"

"You made a dad joke!" I whisper. The side shakes her head, grinning, and stands up.

"Don't do anything reckless, 'kay?" The side winks. "I'm rooting for you." I nod and wave as the side sinks out, knowing that maybe I'm not alone after all.