Blood dribbled from my back and spilled down my side when I sat in the bath with my knees up to prop my broken arm across.
Adrian was sitting on the end of it where a little shelf has been built. He had cleared it of the soaps and hair products so his legs could submerge into the red water I sat in. It was so dark, it looked like I was back on the road, soaking in the blood of everyone else I had attacked.
Squashing the skin together up at my shoulder, he stabbed through the sewing needle and green thread. Hunching and shuddering when it was forced through by the thimble planted on his finger, he pierced it through the other side to yank the burning thread free.
I felt the skin tease together. Under the fire of the actual stab wound, the pricking of the needle was nothing. He has numbed the skin with ice beforehand that was hastily cracked from the freezer.
The watery blood ran between my fingers I lifted from it. Watching it drip back into the pool, I bought my hand to my mouth so I could lick the back of it.
The taste electrified my body instantly. Despite being my own blood, the harsh iron and copper taste woke something within me. It knotted in my belly, demanding to be fed.
"How are you going down there?" Adrian leant over.
I turned, tongue pressed to my feathers, smiling back.
"Good."
He wrinkled his nose, returning to forcing my skin together.
"You shouldn't eat it. It's not exactly sanitary."
"It's good" I grinned, dipping my hand in to lick the water that ran off "I taste amazing."
Adrian scoffed through a short laugh.
"Yeah, well, don't go eating yourself just yet."
I smiled back, having him re-adjust me so the wound was accessible.
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We hadn't had the chance to have sex before we were attacked. I was on top of Adrian, kissing him and gently plucking at his lips through our giggles when the door was thrown open and I was torn out of the car, into the dirt.
I didn't have time to claw up the side when the first knife sawed into my shoulder. The hands held me by my stumps, tearing at them as if they would come off by enough force.
I was surrounded by people who snatched up my legs and dragged me through the dirt to the middle of the road.
Hearing Adrian scream in terror as people shoved through the open door made everything in my blood boil.
He sounded so scared. I had never heard him scream like that before. The people laughed. They thought it was great that he was an easy victim.
Then one started scoffing that he should have been with someone of his own kind. I saw the others spread to the other door to slam it shut when Adrian tried to push free.
The human pulled his pants down, tackling with Adrian who bellowed for me through tears. The pale arse of the human jiggled as it tried to plant itself between his legs that kicked and struggled.
I had never seen anyone else take interest in Adrian at work like that. This person was vile and bitter, wanting to take everything by force now that he could.
I didn't hear anything after the first beg from Adrian's lips. It was as if someone had sliced my eardrums from my skull and stuffed it with cotton. All I saw was that horrible human and his arms leaning in to pin Adrian's down.
My cut claws squeezed into points when they lengthened. My skin burst into fire when shafts spewed up from beneath it, spilling white feathers along my body.
My already pointed teeth became sharper. Running a tongue along them when I felt the pressure inside my mouth, I cut my own tongue.
Then, I threw the people from me and charged forth to bite the arse.
The screams had been as delicious as the chunk of skin I ripped my mouth through. The human fell back when I slashed my claws through his arms, dragging his fresh gouge into the dirt, leaving a trail.
It was the first blood spilled by me. After that, it became an all-out war from the other staff members of Paragon.
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"Almost done" Adrian smiled as he pulled another segment together "I don't know about you, but I have to say this this is some of my best sewing yet."
"I can help you after you help me" I offered.
He chuckled a little, stabbing through the last segment that instantly pierced into my bones, making me cry out.
"Sorry! Sorry!" he panicked, pushing "I guess the ice wore off...."
"Please get some more" I whimpered.
"But the needle is dangling...."
"Its ok" I insisted "I need more ice."
Adrian agreed, lifting his legs from the tub to hurry for the door. I saw the ring of blood from me that stained his skin. He left the door open when he pushed through, revealing that everyone else was crowded around outside.
I checked I was adequately covered before giving his mother a meek smile.
No teeth. Keep your hand in the water and your cast bent away from them.
"Oh, Honey" she bought her hands to her mouth as her eyes glistened "what did they do to you?"
This was the first time she had seen me. When we got home, Adrian helped drag my feet to the bathroom where he partially filled the tub for me to climb into.
He didn't tend to himself. He only raced for a sewing kit so he could try and stop the flow of blood that tainted the clean water. Everyone else gathered after that, wanting answers and gasping at his swollen eye. His mother and father insisted on tending it, but Adrian was adamant on having me seen to first.
"I'm sorry" I mumbled back "I got worse."
"Oh, no" she scurried into the bathroom, approaching the tub "let's not think about that now. You are hurt. Do you feel lightheaded? Nauseous?"
"I'm hungry" I admitted.
She gave a little smile, planting a hand on top of my head to feel the feathers there.
"I'll make you a bowl."
I grimaced, looking up to her; catching her frowning at the darkened bathtub.
"You don't have to feed me. I can still go away."
"That's behind us now" she shooed the issue off "we just need to focus on getting you better. The rest can come later, ok?"
I heard Adrian racing back towards us. The doorway was cleared so he could enter, confused on why his mother was by my side now.
"Pop out the cubes, Darling" she took charge, moving so Adrian to take his position on the lip again "I'll finish the stitches."
I felt the ice burn my skin. It licked a cold path down my back as it already began to melt.
The bite of the needle was somewhere else. It burned, but not as badly as the ice.
"You've done really well here. Remember to pull tight but not too tight."
I felt my shoulder tighten. The numb piercing slowly pushed through again.
"After that, we have to do his side" Adrian told his mother."
"Who did this to you?" she gasped, tugging and looping.
I heard the thread snap and felt the ice retreat so Adrian could lower himself beside me and press it there.
"I plugged it up with my shirt" I told his mother when she knelt beside him, deeply concerned "it should be ok."
"It's going to gush once I take it out" she looked up "we can do little pieces as I work down."
"Are you sure we shouldn't take him to a hospital, Jennie?" David leant across now.
Jennie. That was her name. It belonged to the woman who was helping me so generously. I would try not to forget it again.
"They won't accept me like this" I gestured to myself "there might be people there who I...."
I paused, groaning.
"Hurt."
"Hurt?" Jennie mumbled.
"They attacked Avery because Bruce told them he'd give them money if they brought him back to work" Adrian explained as his mother knotted the thread and began to press it through my frozen skin.
"Because they attacked you first" I frowned.
All eyes were on Adrian. He looked away nervously, fixating on the ice be held.
"What did they do to you?" Jennie looked him over "are you hurt? Where are you bleeding, Darling?"
"I'm not bleeding, Mum" he leant away from her "they didn't hurt me like that."
"How did they hurt you then?" his father asked.
Adrian's eyes met mine. He looked to the floor when he found the ones of the neighbours giving him encouraging smiles.
"I'll tell you later" he mumbled.
He lowered his head, wiping his eyes. I heard him take a breath inwards as he rose to his feet.
"Need more ice" he mumbled, quickly placing the small icecube on the side of the tub so he could leave the room.
His father and the neighbours followed. It was just me and Jennie again.
"Is he ok?" she questioned.
I shook my head, feeling the coldness return to my numbed side.
"Is it.... serious?"
I nodded, dropping my free hand into the cold water.
"I stopped it" I spoke "but Adrian is a bit...."
I tried to find the word as I pulled my hand out, the blood dripping off it.
"Shaken."
Her concern deepened. She tugged at my skin, threading out the wad of shirt from the bottom as she went.
"Almost done" she forced a smile.
"Thank you" I grinned back "I'm just a bit hesitant to go somewhere where I could be targeted again. If Bruce showed up...."
I'd be powerless against everyone and him. The hospital could have me drugged and I wouldn't have the strength to fight him off from taking me back. I had come all this way and would be damned if I was going to return there, like I was about to tonight.
I just needed to be stitched up so I could make the journey home. This place was no longer safe. Everyone had the address, like Tawn had warned me over his blurted phone call.
Hopefully the blood on the road and the wounds raked into the others deterred more from continuing up here.
"Done!"
Jennie laid the wedge of my shirt across the bath as she finished up tying the bottom of my wound and tugging it.
"Try not to make sudden movements" she warned me "daub it with water and pat it dry. You need to treat it gently until you heal up."
"So.... I can't leave tonight?"
She scoffed, reeling back slightly.
"Would I send you out in this state? You need rest, and a proper bath."
I looked down at the red water, smirking.
Jennie rose to her feet, groaning as she did from being on the floor for so long.
"I'll leave you to have a proper bath" she gestured to the plug "if you need help, give us a call."
"Ok."
Leaving, the door was closed behind her. I turned back to the water, sucking the back of my hand while the other pulled the plug to noisily spiral the horrors of tonight away.
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When I finally emerged with feathers gleaming more white than red, I saw Adrian was clinging onto his father, sobbing into his stomach.
He slumped on a seat at the dining table, gripping at his arms and muffling his sobs into his clothing.
His mother stroked his back, trying to soothe him. The neighbours were nowhere to be seen, possibly leaving so Adrian could have this moment with his family.
He was in so much pain. David hugged his son before Jennie took over and had him bury into her so his father could pace behind them.
"We have to tell someone" he spoke softly "the kid can't get away with something like that."
"He didn't see his face" Jennie rubbed Adrian's quivering back.
"Are you sure?" David returned, almost begging when he bent down to try and see Adrian's face.
He nodded, too upset to speak.
"There has to be some sort of way..."
I cleared my throat, leaving the wall to step out. All eyes focused on me, including Adrian's glazed ones that peeked from his mother.
"I....bit him...on the...arse" I offered, smiling a little at how absurd it all sounded.
"You....what?" David replied, confused.
"I ripped a chunk of skin out of his arse" I took a few steps cautiously towards them "he was bleeding quite badly."
"How are we going to figure it out by that?" David turned to Jennie "check every cheek in that place?"
I don't know if he was honestly pulling at anything to slap together an answer, but the mere thought of bundling up everyone in Paragon just for their arses has me snorting behind my hand. I heard Adrian choke around his tears, giggling weakly.
"We might not know, but i'm sure we can get someone on the inside to check for us and send a name or something we can use" I tried to remain optimistic "I have Alowyn and Oliver."
"I...I....ha-have a f-few t-too" Adrian stammered out.
"We'll catch them, once way or another" I vowed "they aren't getting away with it."
"Tomorrow, as soon as it's open, we will go down and make a statement" Jennie spoke softly "we may not have a name yet, but we have a place of work and something to identify them by."
Adrian nodded, sobbing again.
"I'm s-sorry" he whined.
"What on earth are you sorry for?" David darted to his side "that....." he gritted his teeth, controlling his rage "so-and-so should be the one who is sorry. If I get my hands on him...."
"David, Darling" Jennie warned him, shaking her head as Adrian continued to cry.
"We'll get it sorted" David just finished with a sigh and small smile to his son.
Adrian lifted his head, nodding.
"Avery, come eat" Jennie waved me over "Adrian, Darling, would you like something else? Dessert? There's icecream in the freezer and malt powder in the cupboard."
He nodded, smiling weakly through his trembling and shaky breaths.
"I'll make it for you" Jennie rubbed Adrian's back before leaving him.
David gestured with a head tilt for me to join Adrian. Hesitant, I checked that I had seen that right.
He pulled out a chair beside Adrian's and patted the top, letting his hand slide off it when he went to join Jennie in the kitchen to have a hushed conversation.
Planting myself in the seat, I turned to Adrian whose one was still turned around.
"Are you ok?" I moved mine so I was facing him.
He shook his head, his lip trembling as his face was slick with tears, drool and snot.
He was an absolute mess. The attack had broken him.
If only I had gotten to him sooner. Maybe I could have stopped it all before it even happened? Maybe guarded the door better and kept anyone from even opening it?
I felt a soft hand on top of mine. Looking down at it, Adrian was leaning across his chair to make contact.
"I'd pat your hand, but I think I might make steak strips out of it" I joked.
He smiled, making a choked giggling sound.
"A-at l-le-le...."
He paused, taking a deep breath.
"Least it'll.... w-wa-wash the t-tas-te of a-a-a....."
He stopped again, warbling out a laugh.
"Arse out of y-your m-mo-mouth."
"At least it'll wash the taste of arse out of my mouth?" I snorted back as I translated his strained words "really?"
He grinned, snorting out laughter.
At least he was trying to joke again.
"It was a little ripe" I wrinkled my nose, smirking "and hairy..."
Poking out my tongue to pick at it with my nails, I saw Adrian laugh again at my antics.
It soothed my heart seeing him smile. I hated how distraught he was; helpless and torn from the inside.
"Here we go!" Jennie's cheerful voice came from the kitchen as she emerged holding two bowls "one for you, and one for you."
I got a bowl of the casserole I had missed earlier. Adrian had icecream sprinkled in brown powder.
"Tonight, how about we watch a funny movie together?" Jennie kissed the top of his head when he moved to face forwards "there's a new one I think you'll like."
Adrian just smiled and nodded, pushing the powder into the vanilla icecream.
I couldn't let anyone else come up here and hurt him while he was vulnerable. He deserved that cozy movie, cuddled up on the couch with his parents while eating comfort food.
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Stirring my bowl and prodding the vegetables under the brown stew, I couldn't settle. Glancing nervously to the back door, I lingered; trying to spot any sources of light winding their way closer.
Anyone could be creeping up here while I just sat here, waiting for them.
"Join me on the verandah?" I tilted my head to it.
Adrian looked, obviously confused.
"You know, just in case..."
He got it now. Picking up his bowl, I scooped up mine and opened the door for him, closing it behind us.
"Do....?" he paused to breathe and sniffle "you think that they will actually come back?"
"Who knows?" I leant against the edge with Adrian, bowl perched on the wood "they weren't supposed to even show up tonight."
"Until Bruce...."
He rolled his eyes, growing sour. I smiled at it, giggling.
"Well, they can try" I snorted "but I think the state of the road might deter them a bit."
"And the....state of the others."
I saw his little smile. We both chuckled.
He swirled his spoon again, pondering over it.
"Do you think....?" he turned to me, falling silent for a little "they wouldn't hurt mum and dad? Ruth or Ernie? Or even Maisie and...."
"Hey" I placed a hand on his shoulder to gently squeeze it "it'll be fine. You've got me here. As soon as there are lights coming past that corner, we will see them."
He nodded, calmed enough to eat now.
"There's no lights" I pointed out, lifting my spoon tenderly in my claws "we are fine."
"Yeah" he sighed, smiling "yeah. I'm just..... shaken up, you know?"
I nodded, eating beside him.
The rich flavour of the beef mixed with the fragrant herbs perfectly. It tasted like something I'd find at a fancy vender, or even a restaurant. There was a punch to the meat that was tangy and lingering. The carrots soaked in the stock and oil, bobbing next to the clustered potatoes squashing the green beans.
"This is good!" I breathed as I laid down the spoon to tip the bowl up and gulp down more.
Adrian giggled at me, smirking. He laid down his, copying me.
Coming back up to breathe out a billow of steam, Adrian grinned at me with icecream smeared around his mouth and on the tip of his nose.
I could feel the grease smothered around my own mouth that laughed at him. He blushed, shoving me.
"You missed something" I shook my head at him, snorting "can't you feel that?"
Reaching out the side of my finger to swipe his nose, I swiped it down his cheek instead before he cried out and wiped at it frantically.
I smeared my mess onto the back of my hand before he could get his revenge. Grinning at thwarting him so easily, Adrian turned to the spoon so he could dip it in and promptly splat it on my nose instead.
He burst out laughing. I let it sit there as I melted inside at seeing him smile again.
"You can't feel that?" he mocked me in a deep, gruff voice; running a finger down my nose so he could quickly swipe it on my cheek instead.
"Oh, is that so?" I gasped back "you want to play that game? It's not fair you've got the only bowl of icecream."
I couldn't exactly be burning him with hot oil from the casserole.
"The snooze, you lose" he taunted, poking his tongue out and darting to the side when I tried wiping the rest of the mess off onto him.
I went to grab him to reel him back in. His laughter turned to panic when his eyes dropped to my claws.
I heard the change in his voice and pulled them back, turning back to the edge of the verandah instead. I caressed the hot bowl instead of him.
"Hey, we'll figure it out" he spoke as he slid back beside me with a little nudge "I just don't want to be minced meat tonight."
I scoffed, staring at the darkness.
"So, tomorrow is fine?"
He nudged me again as he faced the night sky too with a little smile.
"After tomorrow, maybe. I'm not looking forward to it, but I know it has to be done."
I rested a hand on his back, making sure to lift my fingers so I didn't cut him.
He noticed and smirked.
"Keep them long" he tilted a head to them "if it hadn't of been for you....." he swirled a finger at me "you know; I wouldn't be here like this. Things got too close tonight, Avery. I'm glad you were there to stop it."
"I almost killed people" I grimaced to the void instead of him "people we worked with. I almost killed Vinnie tonight because he was just there."
"You were saving me..."
"No" I stared him firmly in the eyes "he was there and I just....."
I groaned as I tried to find the words to describe the insatiable heat that had bubbles inside me at the sight at him. The hunger; the absolute want to actually cause him horrible, terrible pain.
I was just lucky Adrian had called me when he did. I could still feel the way I felt his skin split when the very tops of my claws brushed them.
It was different to the way I felt in my dreams when I killed Adrian. I liked doing that; enjoyed it even. But out here, against an actual person.....
"I wanted to hurt him; Elgress too. But I couldn't..."
The way she held herself when I glared down at her. The way her eyes widened and she pleaded when I had her dragging herself on the ground....
"She's pregnant. I couldn't do that. But....something inside me really wanted to. I wanted to hurt everyone for hurting you."
"You did the right thing by not doing anything" Adrian soothed, resting a hand on top of my clenched ones I studied "I couldn't have done any of the things you did tonight."
"Bite people and tear shoulders?" I scoffed, smiling.
"And screaming like you did" he added "seriously, it sounded so weird. You had me confused as well as everyone else."
I blushed, smiling to him.
"Could have been a raptor" I mumbled.
"Oh, come on!" Adrian scoffed now "more like a rooster."
"Is not!" I gasped.
Adrian clucked back and we both laughed at how stupid it sounded.
It felt and sounded a lot more terrifying to me in the moment. I had people scared. Adrian was just playing it down, as usual.
He peered back inside and I followed his gaze briefly before turning back to the sky.
"Did you want to join us?"
"Maybe later" I replied "I want to stay out here for a bit."
Just in case....
Adrian understood and placed a hand on my shoulder that slowly ran off when he took his bowl inside with him. I watched him go, flashing a little smile.
I heard the door close shut gently and turned back to the emptiness, sipping my casserole.
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It was quite peaceful out here, despite the impending doom. Without any other lights around, the stars shone brighter out here. There was no traffic or yelling; just the buzzing of bugs and the faint drumming of the TV starting up inside.
This was the life I wanted. It filled me with hope now that I was here to experience it.
Once I was out of this cast, I could learn more about it without holding back. For now, I just had to be mindful of each decision and if it may make things worse.
Tonight could have been so much worse. Adrian was lucky to escape with only a sore leg and swollen eye. If I had been quicker, he would have been unscathed.
Now I knew who had turned against me by showing up tonight. I shouldn't have been surprised to see Vinnie and Elgress there, but the fact they did come and still try to trick me into going with them after everything still stabbed deep inside me.
I was hoping, but I shouldn't have been so optimistic. Money changed people. They all turned feral.
Maybe they had done the same to Nisha and Tawn? Did they make it out too? Tawn was the one who had rung me and warned me of people coming out way. On the other side, he sounded calm; like he was already out of the danger.
Then, Nisha? I hadn't heard from him at all. Was he alright?
Pulling up my phone, I scrolled to his name and hesitated.
Would he want to hear from me after his obvious disgruntlement towards me ever since he busted me out of Paragon?
Maybe after the speech I forced him into, I was the last one he wanted to hear from?
I still had to make sure he was ok. For my sake.
Pressing it, I placed it on speaker so I could continue to eat as I waited for the ringing to stop.
It cut out briefly and I gulped down my mouthful so I could speak.
"Hello?"
"Hey" I breathed, smiling "just checking in on you."
There was a little laugh and rustling.
"How are you?" I continued, pausing "did you....get a phone call as well about, you know....?"
"The shit show?" Nisha answered.
I could practically hear him rolling his eyes.
"Yeah."
"I got it" he mumbled "I'm guessing you did too?"
I nodded, swirling the oily mixture.
"Yeah, I did."
"And you made it out, obviously" he pointed out "where are you heading? Doesn't sound too windy out your way."
"Oh" I paused again, suddenly ashamed I hadn't taken the chance to head home when I had it "I'm kinda still with Adrian."
"Really?"
His tone was sour, accusatory. He sighed and made an unsure noise.
"Well, if that's what you are doing.... Not like I can stop you, you idiot."
He snorted. I smiled back.
I heard people chattering in the background. Somewhere there was someone playing their music too loud. Nisha groaned, huffing down the phone.
"Where are you going?" I piped up at the melody of noises.
"Who knows?" he replied "I don't have the pulley thing you guys do, so I'm just going to keep going until there are no more houses around, I guess. There's only so far you can search for one dog after being gone so long..."
His voice trailed off sadly. I could feel his inner turmoil through the silence from him.
"Maybe one day..." I started hopefully.
"Yeah, maybe" he dismissed me immediately "but not anytime soon. It's too crowded around here and I can't exactly go searching the streets for something that might not exist anymore."
Ah. So he thought the one who helped raise him might be dead. Nisha truly was alone then.
"I'm just going to....start over" he bit out under his breath "what else can I do? I'm not lucky like you or Tawn."
I was about to say that it wasn't the case, but decided not to. Nisha just needed me to listen, not to try and tell him things were better than they looked at the moment.
"When do you think you'll make the trip?" Nisha asked now, shuffling again as the music blared past him and gradually disappeared.
"Well...." I shrugged, taking a sip "Adrian has to go into town tomorrow so..."
"Go then" Nisha grew stern.
I reeled back, not sure if I heard him correctly.
"While he's gone?"
I glanced, making sure he wasn't listening into me. I found him curled up on the couch, facing the TV with his parents on either side of him. They had a bowl of popcorn and bag of chocolates spread out between them.
"You do want to go home, don't you?" Nisha sighed.
"Well, yeah, but...."
"There should be no 'but's' about it" he grumbled "either you go or you don't. You're only making it harder on yourself by not leaving when you can. Think about it. If everyone else knows you are still staying, what's going to stop them from attacking you, or Adrian? What's going to stop him from coming out there?"
"Bruce wouldn't..." I forced a laugh "he barely leaves his office."
"And he was pretty quick to leave it when he had your wings cut" Nisha snapped back.
My smile fell away. I grimaced down at the bowl, clutching it tightly.
"I'm trying to help you" Nisha sighed now, agitated "leave while you can. We don't belong in the city, Avery; you know that. I just don't want to be out here and hear that Bruce has cut off your arms or legs next to stop you from leaving. You saw those contracts."
"I did" I choked out.
"Be smart. Leave while you can. Look...." Nisha sighed again, softening now "...I'm getting off now, but please think about it. You deserve it as much as we do, even though you are very, painfully stubborn."
We both shared a short giggle. I felt tears returning to prick my eyes.
"Get some rest and talk to me tomorrow when you start moving" Nisha smiled "oh, and Avery?"
I paused with my claw hovering over the red phone.
"Yeah?"
"Thank you for not telling everyone what I told you back on the chandelier" he mumbled now "I mean it. It's not something I share with just anyone."
"It's ok" I smiled back "I really do hope you find your dad."
"Yeah, well...." he let out a little breath again "bye."
"B..."
The phone cut out before I could finish my farewell. Returning my hand to the bowl, I just stared at the dark phone sitting on the edge beside me.
Always so abrupt. A little rude too.
Returning to my food, I took the time to really savoir the meat and flavours now that I knew Nisha may be right about moving on so soon.
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I stayed out on that verandah long after the bowl was empty and my skin had gone numb from the cold. I just sat on the table, waiting and watching the darkness.
Adrian had fallen asleep during the movie and was curled up on the couch under a blanket. His parents, after checking in on me, went to bed.
It was just me and the night. Soon enough, it was me and my ringing phone again.
Was it Nisha? Come to tell me to leave now rather than have these last few hours of quiet?
Tilting it towards myself, I saw it was Oliver.
Of all people, why? He was the one who used to bully me the most.
I did give him my number, but that was out of obligation back at Paragon. I only had it just in case I needed to use him to get to someone else.
Tapping the screen, I left it beside me.
"Hey, so I thought I'd ring to let you know not to kill me" Oliver's laughing voice came beneath the beating of wings "look up."
Frowning as I went to the edge and did so, I squinted at the patch of darkness that was moving just a bit too oddly. I saw a sliver of illumination hovering within it, shining on the side of a cheek.
That's why.
Stepping back, I have him space to glide down and land on the edge of the verandah with a heavy thunk.
I glanced for the doors, making sure it hadn't woken Adrian up.
"They're all asleep" I whispered as Oliver peered around me, hanging on the side of the beam while standing on the edge "just be quiet."
"I get it" he shooed my concerns away as he turned around and sat down on the railing instead "join me on the edge so I don't need to yell?"
"And have you push me off?" I scoffed "yeah, right."
"Believe it or not" he smirked back when I leaned beside him "I didn't think of that. Now that you mention it, it would have been funny to see you fall that far."
He giggled. I glared back.
"Why are you here, Oliver? Couldn't have just called me?"
"What do you think I just did?" he replied with a snort "Pidge thought it would be a good idea if I came here, so I did. Wasn't my idea to waste valuable flying time coming out to the middle of nowhere."
Pidge? That didn't sound like a name I knew from Paragon. Was it someone in his department?
"Pidge..." I prodded the unusual sound, staring at him flatly.
He was taking the piss, surely. Any chance to make me look stupid.
He grumbled, staring ahead instead of me.
"Unlike you, I actually care about other birds and don't whore myself out to everyone who looks at me" he started, lifting his furrowed brow when he saw mine aimed at him "it's this pigeon I've been looking after, alright? Thought you would have put two and two together with the name. Is it Adrian's turn with the braincell tonight?"
He leant around, smirking. I growled, catching Oliver's attention.
"You shut up about him" I pointed a claw at him "if you are just here to insult me, you can fuck back off to your girlfriend."
"Ew, she's not my girlfriend" Oliver wrinkled his nose, looking me up and down "since when did you get a backbone?"
"Since people came out to stab me and try to rape Adrian" I hissed back.
Oliver's eyes widened and he looked again to the door, fixing on me.
"I didn't know...."
"Maybe you should think before you speak then?" I snapped back, folding my arms over the edge "or just stop tearing pieces off me for once."
Was it jealousy, or just the fact he was naturally a arsehole to those he thought were a threat to him?
I could easily cripple him, now that I had my claws back in. One swipe and his precious folded wing would be ruined.
"Picking on you is my job" he flicked a finger to me, smirking "someone needs to remind you there are others out there who could quite easily take over your job for you."
"Oh?" I laughed back at him "I didn't know you were jumping up at the opportunity to make a whore of yourself for everyone else. Are you that eager to have my outfit wedged up your arse that much? Have you got someone lined up to slap some gold on those cheeks, eh?"
I dusted my hands, grinning when Oliver's face wrinkled again in disgust.
"Well?" I prompted.
"I came to help you, you flightless cunt" Oliver sneered "don't get fresh with me when I'm the one who could go up there and literally be the reason if you stay here or end up back there."
"Then why help me?" I narrowed my eyes at him "it's not like you've ever done that before."
"Yeah, right" he grumbled "not like I was the one who made sure that galah bastard didn't tell anyone where you would be, or shut the trap of Strigo when your dear little snake friend was creeping around the ladders."
Tawn was inside? But when he rang me, he was definately somewhere else. He had Luke and Levi with him.
"I'm persuasive" Oliver flexed his fingers, pleased with himself.
But why protect me? What would he get out of that? It wasn't something he'd do just by himself, unless....?
"Is Pidge important to you?" I realised.
"As important as someone can be when you are looking after them" Oliver shrugged "she's nothing special. A bit ratty if you ask me."
"But she must mean something if you are going out of your way to help her" I smiled "she's been telling you what to do. She's the reason you've been helping me."
"Is not" Oliver growled back, his face glowing as he grew agitated "she's just a worrier for things that don't concern her."
Oh, so he did like her. Under all the shit-talk and anger, he cared for this pigeon person.
"What's wrong with them?"
"Why do you want to know?" Oliver instantly grew defensive "what could you do to help?"
"I could be someone who listens" I pressed back, glaring again "and not someone who just runs their mouth."
Oliver scoffed, turning to face the void.
We watched it together for a while until he grumbled and let out a frustrated whine.
"She's got shit wings, ok?" he snapped "I bring her food and clothing to keep her warm on top of that stupid building she's on! It's such a good damn pathetic spot to have a stupid, good-for-nothing bird on!"
He folded his arms and refused to look at me as I giggled at how passionate he was about the ordeal.
"A bird isn't a bird without their wings" Oliver almost whispered, glancing to my stumps "I saw what happened to you and.... I know it wasn't going to happen to her, but I had all those 'what-if's' there anyway. She might as well have them cut off by the way she is."
I saw and heard his bitterness. I nodded, picking at my nails.
No-one else deserved this. Wings were the greatest things to a bird. They were a lifeline and a wonderful sense of freedom. Pidge would have died up on that building if Oliver hadn't found her.
"Are they....deformed?" I asked now that he was simmering in his own irritation.
"Broken" he muttered "she's got these arms that..."
He made a defeated noise and held up his own to run a finger along them.
"Her arms are her wings" he looked at me to make sure I understood "It's weird. She can't even open the door at the end of the roof to take the stairs down."
"And you didn't do it for her? Move her somewhere else?"
"Where?" he threw an arm up "it's safest on the top. Nothing else can get hurt her if it can't fly up there. I bring her everything she needs and that's that."
He closed up again. I saw his dedication and smiled at how devoted he was already to this stranger on the rooftop.
Just like how I was with Adrian. Oliver just wanted Pidge to be safe.
"Besides, I had to make sure you were actually leaving" he spoke up "it's been great without you there. Everyone was running around like ants! Oh, it was hilarious to see them all run out when Bruce handed out these sheets."
Oliver fished into his pocket to pass me the folded sheet. Opening it up, I was instantly met with names and addresses. In the top corner, Oliver had scrawled the amount offered that Tawn had also warned me about.
Instantly, I stiffened, eying him.
"Are you here to collect the money?"
He laughed, snatching back the sheet to stuff it away.
"And do what with it?" he shook his head "I go where I'm needed. Unlike those who are tied to their little boxes, I'm a free man who doesn't take orders from anyone."
Ironic. He still worked for Bruce, who was most certainly still calling the shots at Paragon. Oliver yielded to him because he had access to whatever the building had that kept him going back.
Food for Pidge maybe? A place to stay for himself when things got rough out there? Would he abandon a wild creature to save himself if a raging storm poured down over them?
He looked like the type of person who would do anything to save his own skin. Yet, here he was, helping me.
"I'll let Pidge know there obviously is nothing to worry about here" Oliver stretched his wings and ruffled them as he began to get up again "making me come out here for nothing...."
Maybe not nothing. Nisha said I needed to move. Tonight had proved that anything could motivate the other workers into tracking me down. They had my name and Adrian's address. The longer I stayed, the more harm he would be thrown into.
What if that one guy came back? What if any of them returned to finish the job? If I wasn't here, there would be no job to finish.
I still had so much I wanted to do. We were supposed to see the views together on the mountain. We were going to get caught in a storm and snuggle together in the car. We were supposed to have sex; uninterrupted and beautifully awkward.
Adrian would be in town tomorrow. I could leave now while he wasn't able to stop me, or do it tomorrow and leave him with a broken heart to ache with for the rest of the night.
At least now, he would have a few more hours to sleep until morning made him realize I was gone. I'd cover enough ground that he wouldn't be able to come after me like I knew he would.
I could catch a train or a bus. Something to get me as far away from him as possible. I didn't want him chasing me and putting himself back in danger.
If he turned up, I knew I'd return back here. My heart was too weak to refuse him.
"Wait" I grabbed onto Oliver's leg when he rose up "I'm coming with you."
"Back there?" he snorted, shaking me off "like fuck you are."
"Just to a station or stop" I insisted "or even until the tarred road. You don't need to stay with me."
"Um, I wasn't going to anyway" he bit back "I'm not your friend, Avery. My life is good without you in it."
"But you helped me when most of the others didn't" I gave a little smile back "you don't need to be my friend, but whatever Pidge told you must have been just a little bit true for you to come all the way out here."
Oliver huffed, folding his arms as he leant against the beam.
"Because I was forced to."
"By someone very kind" I added.
He grumbled again, shifting his weight.
"Are you coming, or not?"
"Let me just get my things" I jerked a thumb "I'll meet you down by the car."
"Fine by me" Oliver huffed, shaking a finger at me "don't be long, you hear me? I don't want to be out all night. The moisture in the air is gross and I don't like it."
Priorities. I shook my head as I giggled.
"Sure."
Oliver stepped off the edge and fell into the night. I heard the swooping of his wings as he broke his fall and glided off.
Grabbing my phone and silencing it, I made sure to pocket it before cautiously sliding open the back door.
Adrian was still curled on the couch. I approached it to look over him, bubbling inside at how peaceful he looked.
His eye would heal eventually. There was a wrapped icepack nearby, beside an empty glass. The cat curled up beside him, offering comfort where I couldn't. The old dog was nowhere to be seen, possibly sleeping with the parents in their room. I was just thankful they had left the cockatiels in there so I could leave without them alerting everyone.
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Moving to the door where my bag was, I bent down to gently hoist it into my arms.
I needed to at least let Adrian know I wasn't just abandoning him. I was doing this for the both of us, to keep him safe.
Rummaging, I felt a familiar coldness on my fingers. My claws wrapped around the item to pull it out so I could smile at it, my heart growing heavy.
He'd know once I left this.
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Moving from the table, I paused at the front door to gaze at his sleeping figure before panning across to the empty dining table.
There in the middle, were both of our figurines side by side. They stared out across the room towards where he slept, positioned where he could find them easiest.
Underneath the feet, I had left one of my treasured old feathers that had been stashed inside the layers of blankets.
He would know where I was going. If he believed what was best for us too, he wouldn't try to follow me.
I lingered on the top of Adrian's head. I wanted nothing more than to curl up with him and breathe in that familiar scent. I wanted to tend to him how he had with me; protecting him forever.
I couldn't. My heart ached for time that had run dry. I risked losing it all just so I could stay with him a little longer.
Clamping my mouth shut, I shouldered my bag and quickly left the room to slowly close the door behind me. Blinded by tears, I forced myself to move from the sight so I could trudge to where Oliver waited impatiently.
It was just us and the road now. I had to leave my heart behind in that house. I couldn't go back.
"Ready?" Oliver looked me over.
I nodded, too choked up to answer properly. He took off running to gain enough momentum for flight, soaring into an arch so he could hover in the sky ahead.
I refused to look back. If I did, I was afraid what I might do and what I might lose. I wasn't strong enough to walk away from someone I dearly loved as they wept and begged. It had to be now.
And so, I followed Oliver down the winding gravel road. I kept my head low as I passed the darkness of the neighbours, and wiped my tears when I picked my way through the blood spilled on the dirt.
I had a full stomach and aching heart. Trudging blindly, I looked to the glittering sky for guidance towards the tugging in my soul.
As soon as I returned to my family, I could grieve freely. For a little while longer, I just had to be a bit stronger. Until then, I needed to borrow this facade to keep myself alive and well.
Once I was home, everything would be alright.
It had to be.
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