The two had been in an open field. The grass ebbed and flowed along with the direction of the slowly growing wind, as the clouds above housed many fish to watch the two from below, along with minks, ferrets and badger platypus hybrids gliding along the trails of colored miasma. Avery steeled his resolve, the animals inspiring him. It would be like letting the wind take you more than anything, he repeated to himself often. Finally, the blonde green eyed girl spoke up, her eyes peering into Avery’s heart. “The idea of flying is antithetical to the very idea of survival, you know!” The girl said matter of fact, sticking her finger up in the air. “Humans theoretically shouldn’t be able to fly! Our ancestors- the kushim were only land walkers afterall. Though luckily for us evolution came around- And once a couple thousand or two people started jumping off cliffs, quite soon they developed wings, learning how to fly instinctually!” The girl's words rang true at least from what Avery could tell, though his head was left spinning at the plethora of smart sounding words. “Never knew jumpin’ off high places could do that after awhile…” The girl walked further into the field with a confident stride, Rey followed attempting to emulate the same pride in himself.“Of course! Our bodies were created to adapt- And so, we adapt… Although, Avery, I hope you know we don’t fly forever…” “Yeah, yeah I know…”

  How could he not? His parents had always been telling him the same thing. If it weren’t about the Phoenix, it would be about how he is great, how he should strive for beyond himself, while also hammering in that someday he would no longer be special. It irked him, as well as gave a grave timer on his potential. Soon the two stood at the very edge of the giant chasm. It had been early in the morning, the sun shedding onto the town endearingly to Rey, as people were starting their days. The bits of darkness were expelled by the flurry of light invading everywhere. Even the shedding of light on the most low income neighborhoods made the entire town look beautiful. Enamoured, Ave held his chest readying to fly over such a sight. “Alright then Avery! Ready to jump?” The young Rey stood with a blank expression. Processing her words.“‘Scuse me…?” Without further deliberation, she repeated herself. “Jump! Are you ready?” With a newfound anxiety, he acknowledged the harrowing fall which awaited him- The height which always eluded him, from below they would all watch as his shrimpy body would crash onto the hard surface, he flinched at the thought, rubbing his arm.

  “I don’t know… Isn’t this kinda… Outta my league, Ms Issac?” She tilted her head, still smiling. “You’ve skipped this part of your learning over fifteen times, Avery!” She said holding Avery’s shoulders while stooping to his level. “What have you been doing instead? Taking care of your plants?” He nodded a bit guiltily. Although not shamed by his family, every other boy and girl his age looked at him weirdly, not for having plants,but for nurturing them as intensely as he did. He wasn’t sure why or how it started, but Avery felt happiest during parts of the day with his plants Stephen and Marcy. He’d make up their voices, their personality traits, and rewarded them with extra water when he deemed them as “behaving” that day. A wave of embarrassment hit him. “And you still can’t fly. Don't you miss your friends? Are your parents fine with this?” He sullenly shook his head to either, the faces of his parents, while always friendly, had looked more downcast as it had been half a year since his tenth birthday, and Avery was still unable to fly. He tried to remember the look of his friends, though he couldn’t as he was always alone. “You know why they’re not fine with it? It’s because every human being needs this kind of pressure in order to grow, remember?” She came around the less confident child putting her arm around him warmly. “It’s defiance in the face of nature for people to be able to fly! And yet we do it for survival… Or at least did.” “What do you mean?” He said with a hint of interest in his tone.

  “Oh, didn’t your parents ever tell you? We don’t really need our wings. I’m not sure we ever really did. The only reason we have them is a byproduct of the thousand years our ancestors continued to seek flight for… reasons. “Wait, really?” “Really! That’s what makes it more special. It’s a miracle that in all these centuries our bodies still cling on…”

  Her tone hushed, the nasal and upright attitude faded as she held herself, feeling up her back. Avery looked her up and down, conflicted, he struggled to get a word in during her affectionate display towards herself. “I-” “Being special is important, Avery.” She said once again, matter of fact. “It’s more important than eating, breathing, pooping, or peeing! Being special is what allows us to live beyond everyone else’s wildest dreams… Though unfortunately for a soon to be peon like me…” Her wings rose from her backside, towering over the both of them casting a deep shadow. Whether from a lack of knowledge, or from the sharp contrast to how she appeared, Avery's mind slowed, his anxiety ceased. Upon laying at the bare misshapen blobs. T

  he wings themselves were ordinary in texture-As like all wings, soft feathers littered the entirety of the surface. Though unlike other wings, the feathers had been thin, allowing for Avery to see through the pink, soggy skin underneath. Deep gashes were made obvious, veins and bone outline upholding the fragile things demanded Avery’s attention, though most awe striking, being the crimson streaks slowly invading the top half of the deteriorating feathers. “… I don’t quite have much time left.” Backing away, partially to take them in more, yet also out of disturbance of wings so large, yet warped beyond the ideal soft, delicate, humble image wings were meant to resemble. Avery felt trapped underneath them, his body pressed further onto the floor underneath the gigantic things.

  Ms Issac studied Rey’s face carefully, wary of any inklings of judgement, perhaps even a slight wrinkle of his forehead, or a wane in his voice might have been enough to set her off. Before speaking, he acknowledged the still soft texture as the gentle sways of the wind reminded him of a fur comforter, the thought eased his shock. “... W-well I think you’re special… Even with your wings like… this.” “...” She stared blankly, not at all flattered. “I-i didn’t mean for that to come off as rude or anythin’ if it did… But I mean it… Wings are pretty and all, sure, but what's a brain for if it’s not spose to be admired either? “What are you talking about?” She asked, her wings retreating slightly. Not wanting to repress them, Avery stammered to get his point across, his body reaching out to the wings, as if to grab them. “A-all I’m sayin’ is that… You’re really freakin’ smart Ms Skyler! Even when you do lose your wings, you’ll always be smart…” He stared at the ground, her laser focus causing him to squirm uncomfortably as he began kicking the pebbles by his foot. “Your wings are different. They look… Older? I think? But it’s not bad… Your feathers are actually pretty…. Well, pretty pretty…” He looked down, flustered, his eyes glued to the ground as they always were. “... You have a bad habit of doing that…”

  Tempted to look up, one of her wings greeted him, as if urging him to reach out. Boldly, he did. His hand gently traveled across the fleshy, warm surface. The feathers tickled him. He smiled.

  “I know… But your winds still feel nice though… Nothing's wrong with you” He turned his attention to Ms Friend. Her face… Unreadable. Rey retreated quickly, his legs pushing him closer to the cliff. For a moment Rey had regretted his own words, ready to take back his comment before Ms Friend conducted yet another logical argument which deconstructed the very idea of what was wrong or right to Avery. Surely his opinion wasn’t valid. Though as her wings folded, returning into the base of her back, she smiled, her eyebrows furrowed. “You’re right.” He looked up, meeting with sad eyes his nervousness subsided into worry.

  “Nothing is technically wrong with me… It’s just not the conventional beauty standard, is it?” She asked, her body shrinking, the light emphasising the hanging doubt and insecurity cast on her face. “Y-yeah… You could say somethin’ like that…” He shook his head. Coming closer, she kneeled once more, then grabbed both of the boys shoulders. Expecting the embrace of a hug, Rey accepted her, his arms outstretched and ready to wrap his arms. “It’s a shame the world doesn’t see it that way, huh…?” “Yeah… Sometimes I-” Forced to stop, Avery could feel his skinny legs leave tufts of grass and flowers, Ms Skyler lifting him up with her slender arms. “H-huh?!” “But still! Society can’t be helped, but you can always help yourself when living in it`!” Swiftly she pelted Avery’s slight frame out into the edge of the mountain- he attempted to scream, though his lungs had been clogged with the onslaught of air. The only words which reached him, being what he assumed to be Ms Skyler’s conjunction of explanations and excuses for such an awful act, though her three words stood out after all had been said and done.

  “Fly Avery Fly!”

  Although the conveniently placed pillow vendor, which so happened to have the world's largest and cushiest pillow today of all days, had broken Avery’s fall, that still couldn’t help the fact he had plummeted from thirty stories high without flying.His wings laid limp, not even bothering to glide against the wind, he felt cursed. Needless to say, Avery laid numbly, a large container with bandages strung across the case, and Avery’s entire body, even covering his face. He thought of the glee on Ms Skyler’s face as she pushed him off the cliff, it could only be framed as one thing- murderous intention. As scared as he was of her, he wanted to get his revenge. He berated himself internally for being so foolish to give even an ounce of his empathy. In spite of that festering rage, Avery wanted someone to hold him. Unsure of how long it had been since he heard a person address him amongst the backdrop of unfamiliar voices, he had grown desperate to hear his parents' voices, though still, nothing came.

  During his nights at the Hospital, his lapses in consciousness were brief and sparing, the weight of anticipation of hearing Ms Skyler’s voice, readying to finish the job and perhaps plunge him even beyond the height of MurrowsBrow kept him awake most nights. The only comfort he had received were the occasional soft and capable hands of who he deemed as his mother and father. He assumed it was them, with no friends or extended family, and reasoned he couldn’t hear them from the thick coating of bandages. The thought of them on the other side lulled him to sleep, his hope not yet waning. Surely they realized he knew that they knew Ms Skyler was the deranged person who sent him flying, he concluded. They must be in court settling some kind of deal, he affirmed himself. Surely that would also explain the long periods in which Avery would frequently be left alone. Surely it would. When alone, he kept the vague hope on his mind. Overtime- what felt like weeks to Avery, that hope began to dim. He began to count the seconds past, only finding light enjoyment in the incessant chattering and mumbles of incoherent speech in the background, yet he mourned the silence at night, though indisputably detested the thick mound of bandages he was placed in. The outside world grew distant from him. The people outside, who could walk, laugh amongst each other, yell, and so on felt more human- more real than he was. Occasionally, a tube was put to his mouth to force feed him. His tongue was violated by a tangy thick liquid, along with what felt like broth, sometimes choking him, though the person on the other side hadn’t cared.

  He missed the chewing of food, walking outdoors, feeling the sun on his skin, sleeping peacefully, and most especially seeing his parents. At some point Avery stopped thinking positively altogether. His hopes were crushed, as it was obvious they weren’t “surely” going to return. They were not fighting for him in any court case, and his life laid bare to whoever was on the other side. Tempted to cry, the bandage would always absorb the moisture before it left his eyes, not even allowing him the pleasure of having his own tears roll down his cheek. Avery’s mind honed in on Ms Skyler's final words. Missing even her voice, for the first time, in spite of the pain he anticipated, he called out. “F-fly….” His voice was hoarse, yet he repeated himself.

  “Fly…” Hearing his voice in what felt like months he began giggling, the taste of feeling human once more empowered him “F-Fly…..!” He tensed up, unsure of the sudden change in even his own tone. Though feeling his eyebrows burrow, his teeth clenched, and his tensed breathing, he felt slightly invigorated yet ashamed. “Fly– Fly… w-was all s-she could say!?” He thought, his knees lifting slightly. How could one event have so much power over him now? He had wanted nothing more than to do to her what she had to him, but now, hanging onto her words, the sight of the incident, the last voice he had heard clearly, as he faded unconscious… Avery’s voice then erupted into a long drawn out screen, his voice a bit hoarse, yet clearly laced with a feverish desperation, calling out to Ms Skyler- or rather someone, anyone for help. He kept rolling left and right, writhing in a swarm of his own sweat for a few moments, though eventually giving in as his mind's turmoil was becoming too much for his body to keep up with. He paused, the voices of the people presumably watching over him faded. He clenched his fist and toes, then recklessly, began throwing a fit. “You’re not spose to leave yet! Back! Get back here!”

  “ As the final footsteps left the room, Avery became wrapped in more than sweat, or in bondage he found himself in , but rather fear of the silence. Once more he screamed. “No! NO! Get back! Please Help me!” With what little strength he has his body pressed against the bed. Pointlessly he bounced up and down. Contemplating breaking This was all her fault- No- Their fault. It was because of the world where flying had been praised did he have to commit himself even after all of this- It was because of the pointless spotlight flying was put under did he have to prove himself. “I can’t… I can’t take it anymore!” He clenched his fist- The palm of his hand was still sore along with his forearm yet he fought. His knees rose, pushing against the thick wall of coating his body was strapped to. Feeling hopeless, the guttural mess of shouts he let out empowered him. “I’m Alive!” He screamed, hoping to tear down the walls around him, destroying the eardrums of every person who chose to abandon him. “I’m a person! A kid! I don’t deserve this!” Finally the bandages thick adhesive began to wane, if only slightly, though that was enough for Avery’s rigid feet to press further onto the bed he laid in, to push his arms out further, to force his entire body to see the world around him again, until finally, his body tore through every layer setting him free.

  Immediately a series of claps and chanting of his name followed. His eyes hadn’t adjusted and yet the feeling of fresh air on his skin, along with the bright light beaming down to his paled skin brought immense fervor for just being alive.

  From behind two figures retreated a hefty square machine from behind him. Although unremarkable only appearing to be a metallic box, an orange liquid spilled out, causing both to scoff at their carelessness His chest bounced up and down as his body's muscles were left fatigued. Upon his vision settling in, his smile quickly died down As he was now faced with an audience of people- Or more specifically researchers- Scientists, each dawning a long white labcoat, though each face distinctly older, and more inquisitive yet absent minded to the look of shock mixed with terror on Avery’s face. He had hoped for a nurse, perhaps a doctor to sit him down and explain what had happened- Why he had been left chained to a bed for so long, but more importantly he wanted to be held, told things would be better.

  Instead, a large glass wall sat between the two, making it clear this was not a place of nurturing.

  “That makes it five subjects then, alright! We’re getting quite lucky today aren’t we?” A bald man with black eyes and beard stubble wrote obsessively while shooting intense glances as Avery, standing in front of every other researcher with the most unhinged smile of all the others. “And it only took… Two weeks and two days… Not bad.” A scientist with long ginger hair and large ears jotted down further information. “Is everyone else ready!?” She yelled out to the other scientists precipitously, then following her question each of them scattered, absent minded to their sudden task. She sighed hopelessly.

  The group of scientists began moving around the room, retreating behind the bald man, and big eared woman, appearing to descend somewhere in an elevator. Sweat was the only response Avery could elicit from all of this. Looking around the room he was secluded too, he immediately noticed his perception of light was surely off. At some moments the room had looked inescapable, the white light coloring the ceiling, walls, and floor expanded indefinitely. whereas in other moments while squinting, he could clearly discern the four corners of the room. To make matters more confusing, with there being no objects aside from a stool and a radio directly behind him, he was unable to tell where the exit was. Tempted to assert himself once more, the bald man spoke, a look of whimsy stretched upon his chiseled, broad face. “Good morning Avery Jones! Did you sleep well?” He asked, as if it were a genuine question. “I- What do you mean, of course not! What is this!?”At first chuckling at Avery’s exasperated response, the genuine look of concern and fear stroked his rational side, he cleared his throat. “Excuse me. I just assumed you would understand the situation given your family’s involvement in your circumstance… My name is Kirby, this is-""Mrs Pemberton to you, boy.” She said, her tone less accommodating.“Right. And you are Avery jones… We know this from your hospital records. Last week you were discharged from the Hospital on our word rather than from your parents. Though they agreed for you to participate in our experiment.”“E-experiment…?” Not knowing whether to yell or throw a fit Avery merely scoffed at the idea of being anywhere but home.“Yeah right! I’m goin’ back where I belong- That crazy lady’s gotta go! I need justice!”

  If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

  “Justice…?”Kirby tilted his head.“You mean from the woman who delivered you to us… Ms Skyler, was that her name?” He asked directing his attention to Mrs Pemberton, only to be met with a shrug. “W-wait… She-”“There is no justice necessary. It’s a civic duty to help in guiding each potential Star Gazer, for the good of Murrows Brow. Dropping you from that cliff was extreme, but not unwarranted.”

  Mrs Pemberton nodded in agreement as Avery struggled to comprehend all of the words. “Okay? What part of that is even…. What?”He grabbed hold of the thin veil of covers to his feet, clutching them harshly at the idea of his parents accepting this. “What…?” “Oh, but enough about her! And enough about the idea of going home… You have an issue that we can solve.” Thinking his explanation was more than satisfactory, holding onto the placket of his lab coat.

  “You can’t fly. Right? Despite the effort on your part and the effort of your tutors-” “Don’t call ‘er that!” He snapped back, breaking his feet free from the cocoon of his bondage as he jumped to stand. “Right, I apologize. Not the biggest fan, makes sense…” He jotted something quickly, “Well from the effort of Ms Skyler I’ll say. Even with her help you weren’t even able to fly when your life was in danger… And clearly from test No.1-” He pointed towards the mess of bandages on the white floor. “You don’t lack the will to live… It’s something deeper than that. Something genetic, or rather something psychological. We don’t know quite yet, but when we do! Ohoho! It could turn the entire world upside down! You’d be one of history's special little guys, without even having to lift a finger! You just need to do what we say! doesn’t that sound nice?”Kirby threw his arms up into the air joyously as Rey looked on in horror, his stomach churning at the thought of the word.“No way! No!”In an attempt to assert himself further, he leapt from the bed, his legs still unbalanced from weeks of injury. “I’m not doin’ any of this! It’s illegal for you to do somethin’ without my permission!” He waddled his way over to the glass, each step stressing his muscles to a point of urging him to collapse, though the words of Ms Skyler getting let off “scot free” encouraged him to push through the pain. His forehead pressed against the shield between the two. “You don’t own me! And I don’t care what anybody says, my family would never sign me up for somethin’ like this! And not everybody is crazy enough to believe pushin’ me off that massive cliff was right!” He jammed his finger at the glass repeatedly, with sureness in himself, confidence in his perception of the world. Kirby smiled whereas Mrs Pemberton stared off, apathetic. “Here comes the drama…” She said with a sarcastic excitement, twirling her hair around her finger while taking notes. Confused, Avery’s attention returned to the same broad, angular face, with his arched eyebrows and the unpalatable black orbs, reflecting the anger now quelling into surprise, look on Avery’s face.

  “Look. I’ll level with you. We have had hundreds of kids like you who come into this lab, and others across MurrowsBrow. Every single one has been injured or worse? Do you know why?” He asked genuinely, pressing further onto the glass which in turn pushed Avery slightly aback.

  “I couldn’t care less! I know you don’t!” He said, as he was able to discern the subtle detachment in his tone. Still, he continued, “It’s because each of them disobeyed us. This is a good deal for everyone. If you share a link with our other subjects you would be recognized for volunteering and helping millions here in Murrows Brow. So listen and it should all work out. Understand?”

  Tempted to turn his gaze to the floor Avery laughed off the man’s matter of fact tone. “What? You think I care about that stuff right now!? If there are a bunch of other kids like me, go get them to save the world or whatever!” He grit his teeth, a bit surprised by the words coming out of his mouth, though the memories of being trapped and the nasty tangy taste at the back of his throat persisted his anger.“ I wanna see ‘er behind bars! I never agreed to this, and I never even got to talk to my parents! Let me out now!” He said all in one breath, breathing heavily. Kirby shook his head, disappointed. “No…” He sighed, backing away from the glass, before leaving a harsh fog. Watching Kirby sit back down Avery was initially confident his demeanor meant something, he lightly slapped his weakening legs awake wanting to press on. “Sorry we have to do this. You made it this way. Dive.”“... What does that even me-” Without warning, control of his body ceased, Avery slammed into the floor. He cried out, in pain. “Inside you, and every other subject here we’ve installed a sort of… mental persuasion, in your motor cortex. All it takes is one word…I can keep on going. Look. Dive.”

  Once more Avery’s body pressed against the floor harshly, readying to sink through the floor if need be. He tried desperately to grab hold of himself, hoping to repeal his still intact rage and fight against the insurmountable force which compelled his body to act on its own. “Apologize Avery. Say you’ll comply.” He folded his arms, Mrs Pemberton chuckling at Kirby’s request. “I-I never-!” Opening his eyes he noticed the floor he’d been laying on was no longer level with everything else. The metal boards from underneath mended from the pressure, letting out a wail of crumbling metals. Finally, Avery yelled. “F-fine! I’m sorry! Just stop! I can’t take it!”

  “Hmph!” Mrs Pemberton chuckled, followed by Kirby releasing Avery from the strange hallucinogen. “Good.”Avery’s body let up, ceasing the constant force his body produced. He breathed heavily, clutching his chest and stomach from the group of dismantled floor tiles sticking him. Withdrawing a remote from the pocket of his chest, he clicked a button, dispelling the endless white background from Avery, along with the wall separating the two. As he looked at the normal floor, he was able to tell both sides of the room had been the same, likely from the start. Kirby approached the befallen boy, towering over him with a cocky grin satisfied with his submission. “For the record, we don’t actually need your permission to have you in an experiment.”He said slyly, as if hoping to put Avery in his place. “You’re only a child and your mind is still soft and half baked. You wouldn’t know the gift it is to fly. Only we can… That’s why we’re doing it even when you say no, because you’ll feel that way too!”The reduction of his individuality left him hurt if only for a second, as they were right in Avery’s eyes. Wouldn’t he get it one day? He rubbed his forehead, still pained, though even more pained by whatever force caused him to obey so submissively. “What… was that?” He paused, he turned to Ms Pemberton who shook her head, he continued his train of thought. “Don’t worry about it…What you should be thinking about, is that no one will hold Ms Skyler accountable for anything at this rate. The law and scientists alike support people like her.” He let out a hand. “But if you help us… Maybe we can help you with your “justice”.” Before Avery could give a proper response, the elevator rose, breaking the tension. From within it, a female lab assistant emerged. “We’re ready.” “Why’d you bother telling us? We know already, I’m counting.” She said, shooting her voice fiercely at the assistant, causing her to jump back onto the elevator and apologize profusely while leaving shortly.

  “Ah well… We’ll figure out the finer details later. It’s time for you to meet your lab assistant, c’mon!”“No… no…!” Not listening at all, Kirby picked up Avery’s frail figure with ease, putting him over his shoulder. He turned to Mrs Pemberton, both of them walking to the elevator.

  “By the way, do you know if Bodhi will be here today-or…?” “Likely. All the more reason to put the brats in their place!” She said, chuckling a bit as if uplifted by her own shouting. Avery struggled, yet that didn’t lighten Kirby's solid grasp, it was as if at any moment he would cause Avery’s body to burst from the sheer pressure. He hadn’t the slightest bit of respect. As the trio finally landed onto the third floor, the doors opened, revealing a long dull hallway. They began walking- Or rather jogging. With how high each of their knees were being raised one may’ve thought they were getting their cardio in. Rey bounced along with the rhythm Kirby chose, clutching onto him- disliking how even in such a small act he relied on him for anything. With thoughts of his mother and father arising he became filled with doubt of everything. “Was I really that useless then..?” He asked himself under his breath, slicking back his hair anxiously.

  The farther they traveled the more incoherent moans had filled the hallway, though these moans were neither moans of pain, nor moans of fatigue, instead each had a deep monotonous quality. With each glimpse into a room Avery spotted a variety of animal hybrids speaking with researchers intently. Some of their differing biology, others of their familial life, all seemingly willingly as they laughed and bantered with the researchers. Tempted to call out the strangeness of it, with one sharp right turn to the end of the hallway, they had already arrived at their destination, a brown door with the title “Kanoa” engraved on it. “Ka… No… A?” Avery repeated before being put down by Kirby. He had never heard of such a strange name. It certainly hadn’t resembled anything in Murrowsbrow, he thought, scratching his head.

  “Well? What are you waiting for?” She said, folding her arms. “In, now.” Mrs Pemberton urged him, already annoyed. Refusing to obey still, and partially confused to what the name could mean, Kirby pushed him in while smiling.“Come on now! Get in! Don’t make me say the word!” He exclaimed, wagging his finger towards Avery playfully. He slouched, the idea of being handled by forces beyond his control dispirited him, he opened the door to a bright white room with four assistants typing away, each stationed around one of four pods laying on the ground. Peering closer Avery could make out a younger girl. Her hair was balled into one tight bun, one long navy robe enveloped her. Distinctally her skin and face looked orange, likely from the tint in the glass separating the two, Some typed with diligence, others more sluggish as they stared at the subjects with anxiety over waking them up. Regardless, each was busy, excluding the researcher sitting by the vacant fifth pod. He placed his left leg onto his right, then reeled back in his chair, picking his teeth. “Ah. This is the little kid?” He sat up slightly, brushing his overgrown brunette bangs from his face, smiling. He outstretched his arm. “Put ‘er there! The names Henry, pleasure to be working with you kid!”

  Advancing begrudgingly, Avery noticed how each of the children reflected a different color onto their respective glass. One being a green boy with a square face and baggy clothes, the other a red girl with a shaved head and a white blouse, yet the most noticeable to him being a girl with pale white skin. It was a less eccentric color though it endeared Avery, her skin was clear, the long snow white curls which trailed down her back were like a mane. Staring into her sunken eyes he’d felt begrudged to cheer her up somehow.

  Turning back to the man’s hand and about to instinctively shake it in return, he quickly made himself reluctant, the fake grin, uniformed white coat and pods reminded him of where he was. He turned to the team of exploiters suspiciously.“What is all of this?!” “Just a quick body check. We need to borrow your body again! But you don’t mind, do you?” “I just got out of those bandages, and now you’re gonna trap me in there!?” All four adults stared at Avery unsympathetically. Not in the position to press anyone, his lip began to quiver, totally helpless. “A-and what’d you do to those other kids, huh!?” “Other kids?” Ms Pemberton asked confusedly. As her eyes guided towards the five pods, although she didn’t say anything, her breathing paused, as they were indeed five children. The other scientists, confused by her sudden silence in place of her usually berating tone, looked over to the pods, some of their reactions turning from pure concentration to bewilderment. A woman with short hair and gray streaks said to herself,”They almost look…” She placed her hand over her mouth in awe.

  Avery tilted his head staring at all of the adults with the same fascination. As they each noticed this, quietly they hid their shock, returning to their work. “What the heck was-” Kirby interrupted softly. “ If you cooperate I assure you we will help you in advocating against Ms Skyler.” His mind shifted dramatically, images of Ms Skyler's cheery demeanor haunting him. Not believing in his reassurance, Rey’s shaky voice reverberated the mood of the room.“You said no one would believe me- That no one would care, cuz I’m a kid! You’re lyin’!” Ms Pemberton rolled her eyes while shaking her head, the fellow researcher stared off awkwardly, whereas Kirby looked down at the boy with what appeared to be slight empathy.

  “Yeah? Well I’m not. She might not be wrong for reporting the incident immediately to us, but if you work with us quickly and efficiently over the next few months, we can ensure your mental well-being will be fought for in court. You’re clearly hurt, which is why all I ask is your obedience to prove it… Is that alright with you?” He extended his large thick hand, a sign of respect Avery hadn’t anticipated. Holding back his relieved tone, he took a breath before speaking.“That’s alright, I guess… But don’t you trap me again!” He took his hand, the softness of his palms warming his caution if slightly..“Deal.” Kirby let go of his hand.

  “Don’t baby him. It’ll hurt the data now move on, you.” She said, her eyes directing Avery to the chair Henry had been sitting in. Quickly so as not to rise any further reaction from her, he sat down obediently. “Harold was it?” “N-no- Henry… ”“Right, Harvey. You know what’s inside of him. Check on those things and observe those wings.” She said, her eyes darting from Avery’s head to the monitor of the computer.“Heh, that rhymed…” “Shut up.” She replied, his chuckling quickly dying down. He then walked to the pod extracting cords with suction cups, applying each to a section of Avery’s head, and two at his back. “Alrighty then Avery… We’ll be observing your overall “health”. All I want from you is to stay completely still for me, alright? Since you won’t be using the pod, we’re gonna have to go the old fashion route and observe your psychological and physiological health via electricity waves. Stay Completely still.” “Wait wha-!?” A shock ran through the crux of Avery’s body, he shouted though briefly, bubbling could be felt as the upsurge of yesterday's “meal” emerged from his mouth, though this time instead of the frothy liquid he’d come accustomed to, a thicker orange substance pelted from his mouth, Kirby subtly kicking it into a corner of the room before Avery could notice. His body, although adjusted to the violent shock, his mind was still yielding to the surge of sparks jumping around the helm of his brain. He closed his eyes taking deep breaths to calm himself until soon after it had stopped.“Not bad. That’d explain… them.” Said Ms Pemberton, slightly impressed with a hint of disturbance .

  His vision even more obscured than before, he squinted at the computer monitor at his results, though Ms Pemberton's and Kirby’s frames blocked him. The only sentence he was able to make out had been “Stable”. Henry began jotting down his notes quickly. “Looks like the parents were right on the money. He totally checks out.” Kirby said with a satisfied smile. “It’s not that impressive. Anyone with even a bit of decency could like my kid, could in theory-”“That’s not true and you know it.” He replied sharply. “It’s rare to find someone matching every criteria, especially a kid. Give him that at least.” Kirby argued defensively, his eyes sterned, telling Ms Pemberton to back off, she twirled her orange locks around her index finger sheepishly. “Right then.” Kirby turned to the other researchers, those slacking straightened their backs and began clicking their keyboards with great vigor. “Everybody done here? We have work in the other rooms!”All four nodded, leaving. “One sec…. And Almost…” Giving two last clicks Henry smiled, finally finished.“Yep! Got all of his information. I should be ready to go.” “Already…?” He asked, timidly.“Yep. Well kid, it was nice knowin’ you. Take care.”

  He left with a grin, yet the casualness pushed Avery to scowl at the man, hoping for someone to care. Though his eyes never reached his face absentminded to any turmoil.“I guess we should be going too.” Kirby added, walking away with Ms Pemberton leading the pair. “Wait, what?! But we just got here!”

  “Aw, hear that? He’s grown attached. Sorry not sorry kid, the experiment is starting now. We’ll be seeing you soon, just sit tight! Kay?” The group left some letting out sighs of relief upon switching to the subtle white light illuminating outside. Avery didn’t hesitate for a moment, jumping from off his seat, bolting towards the door, envious of the unearned chagrin each of the thick headed docile men and women had, he had earned some explanation, he reasoned, reaching out for the light. Though despite everything, the advocacy for that right was for naught. He crashed into the shut door, his body and will folding at the solid immovable force. “Grgh!” It’s only a stupid door-! Why is it so tough?! He thought, pushing with all of the strength his adrenaline would surge from him. Upon his second judgement however, he was proved to be wrong. The same endless haze of white only instantaneously replaced the brown door. Backing away, he moved from side to side, noticing while squinting that the name “Kanoa” could still be seen faintly under the deep set white. “Dangit…”

  He fell to the floor for a few moments, contemplating what was wrong with him. “Why couldn’t I just be normal, why….? Why? Why did I have to end up here…?” He held his head, trying to urge thoughts on consolation to comfort him. He tried to remember the long embraces with his mother, the long hours chatting with his dad about ceramics, or even time spent with friends. Although it had proved to be pointless, as like Ms Skyler, the need to be special- the desire for Avery to fly sullied those emotions, as for every good moment, caused him to recount the looks of disappointment, the shortening of their hugs, the chats with his father ceasing, and also, the complete loneliness. No one his age could even stand his stagnation.

  He sat up, holding onto his knees. The close position reminded him of where he was just moments before. “I never shoulda came outta there… What’s even out here for me?” Pushing his head into his war thighs ready to spiral into a spiral of self loathing, a hiss shot from behind him, he stood on guard, his frazzled figure puffing out his chest, readying himself The pods glass slid off each child, Avery jumped, the cold air rushing up his arm. He pressed against the wall of the room. “Y-you didn’t say they were gonna come out as soon as you left!” He hollered, though his surprise dampened shifting into terror as the glass unveiled- Even through a normal lens each of the children’s colorful skin, each contrasting the yellow light which eerily enough was beginning to die down. Avery trembled at first. They each rose- their voices light and soft like his, like normal children he’d watched trek along the streets of MurrowsBrow.

  A snow white girl rose, her hair long and curly, tied back in a ponytail, her clothes a plain light blue shirt and shorts. Slowly, she’d stretch her neck side to side, then roll back her arms as if getting up from bed. It wasn’t until she’d opened her drowsy eyes, looking down at herself, did she start to show visible signs of distress. “A-Ah! AH!” The colorful children alongside her immediately went to her air, freaking out alongside her, “L-leader!? What’s happened to us, what is this!?” a red girl with a buzz cut said, her voice frazzled with stress and discomfort. “I… I don’t…” Though before she could answer, her eyes met with Avery. Immediately she frowned. “Who are you?”