A Broken Crew

Chapter 4

Grey was too shocked to scream. Rather, the only sound he made was a gasp as he was yanked off the roof and into open air. He was suddenly glad he had taken off his glasses- he was always afraid of losing them. He shut his eyes for just a moment against the wind, feeling it rush through his feathers.

Atlas shifted Grey above him, then extended his giant wings. They were big for his age, and bigger than the average bird. He swooped upward feeling the weight of Grey on his back but still going higher. When they had gotten as high as the clouds he said, "Man, you're light. I fly with weights heavier than you!" He waved an arm at the sky. "Extend your wings. How do you like it? Every person in the world should experience this at least once." He breathed in the night air. "Feel the air through your wings. How does it feel to fly?" He paused in the air. "Are you ready for me to swoop again or do you need some time? Sorry if I freaked you out, by the way. I just couldn't resist."

Grey carefully extends his wings then laughs. "This is amazing!!" He takes a moment to feel the wind, really feel it. "Don't apologize this is awesome!" It's easy to hear his surprise and delight. This is the first time Grey has ever flown- and now he understands how addicting this freedom can be. "I see what you mean about how freeing this is."

Atlas actually smiled. He dived back down, but at a slower speed than he usually did, making sure Grey was used to the skies. Then he did his most powerful dive. He whooped as he flew, then did a spin in the air. He flew around for a few more minutes before landing again. "I always try to stop before I'm tired." he explained. "Just as a careful measure. This isn't the first time I've taken someone who can't fly." Atlas almost laughed. "This evening turned out a lot better than I thought." he said. "I thought it was just going to be me, but I actually don't feel so angry anymore." He plopped down on the roof and wiped sweat from his face. "Or so lonely." he said under his breath. He could not deny why he was so angry.

Grey grinned and ran his hand through his hair as if attempting to fix it. "Yeah, I know what you mean. " He mock shudders."It's nice sometimes to take a break and just... Step back and breathe, I guess." He plops down next to Atlas and leans back, wings folded.

Atlas glanced at his watch. 3:30 am. "Rats!" he exclaimed. "She's already gonna be at home!" He jumped up. "I have to go. It... it was nice to sit with you."

Grey nods his agreement. "Yeah, it was nice. Maybe I'll see you around." It was more a hint than a question, as Grey often comes out here.

Atlas shrugged. "If you hang around here, you will." He shoved his umbrella into Grey's hand. "Now you can sleep dry." Then he swan-dived off the roof. He headed home, dripping wet. When he opened the door, his mother confronted him. "What are you doing out so late!" she exclaimed. "And without an umbrella! Your brother told me-" Atlas grew angry again. "Who cares what that sicko said. He's sick in the head too, I bet." Instantly his mother was angry. "Don't talk about your brother that way! He's a very smart, and the fact that he's weaker physically doesn't mean anything!" Atlas rolled his eyes. "Why don't you go on talking Mother." he said sarcastically. "Let me know when you're done." She started to cry. "What's your problem." she said. "I try to talk to you..." August came into the kitchen, putting his hands on his mother's shoulders. "Don't cry." he said. "I'm sure we can talk-" "Yeah, talk with your favorite. I'm going to bed." Atlas left then, stormed up the stairs and into his room. He threw himself on the bed after locking the door, and started to cry into his pillow, crying himself to sleep.

Grey stares after Atlas for a while, then up at the umbrella. He smiles sadly and holds the umbrella so it will cover his legs, turning on his left side and putting up his right wing as an extra umbrella. 'That's all my wings are good for-' he thought bitterly, "protection from rain or cold.' He sighs and closes his eyes. Soon enough, dawn comes, and Grey is up with the sun as usual. He shakes off his wings then shakes out the umbrella, closing it then staring at it. "And how am I supposed to return this, Atlas?" He mumbles, mind going to the boy he flew with... And as he remembered, he felt that unfamiliar thrill of happiness he felt last night when they flew. 'You're really a good person, aren't you?' Grey decides to just sit around for a few hours, wondering if Atlas would come back.