Blackbird (22 page)

              There wasn’t time to dwell on that however because she could sense that she needed to get into that little room. Whatever Greg and Michael had found out before the wings systematically began severing the wires they’d attached she wanted to know. Chelle took a few cleansing breaths and tried to communicate with the wings once again, just like she’d done in the hospital. They had responded to her thoughts that day and hopefully they would do the same now.

             
Back inside,
she thought.
Please…go back inside.

             
They seemed to balk at this, but only for a second. They stretched to their full length for a moment as if taking one final look around and then proceeded to work their way back in. It was painful as always.

              When they had finished the familiar process she dropped down on the platform out of sheer exhaustion. Robert came out and helped her down, putting his arm around her waist and walking her to the room where she was given a chair. Robert retrieved a towel from somewhere and held it firmly against her back. The pressure felt mercifully good, and for some reason the harder he pressed the faster she could feel the skin knitting itself back together.

              “I’m not hurting you am I?”

              “No, press harder. It helps.”

              “I have some icepacks if you want them, Chelle,” Michael offered.

              “No, just the pressure is good. Press as hard as you can, Robert.” She took a moment to enjoy the feeling before focusing on the subject at hand. “So, what did you find out?”

              Greg flipped on a large screen right in front of her and pictures of her skeleton from several different angles filled various points on the display. “Well, here’s what we saw. You know what osteoporosis is?”

              “When old people’s bones start to break more easily isn’t it?”

              “Well yes, but the reason is because the bones develop holes, which of course, makes them prone to breaks and cracks. Your bones look like that and if you were a normal person, which obviously you’re not, you’d be totally fucked.”

              “What my well-spoken colleague means to say is that you’d be infirm. But you’re not and here’s the reason why.”

              Another button was pressed and a video of the process began to play out. Greg continued on. “When you said you had to be threatened in some way we gave you a series of shocks. The first one flooded your system with a type of liquid metal. All those holes you have your bones look like they’re just extra space for this liquid to go. The second shock caused the liquid to solidify into solid metal. When you’re in this state you’re basically a steel cage. All of your organs, your brain, everything is encompassed by this metal, which we don’t yet know what it is. The third shock, well, we all know what happened. Those wings came out like a shot, but, they are only causing you surface wounds since all the arteries are protected too.”

              “Which is probably why you don’t bleed to death, because with the large damage they cause most people would.”

              “I guess that explains why you can bend crowbars,” Robert said.

              Both Michael and Greg stopped. “You can bend crowbars?” Michael said.

              “Yeah,” Chelle said, lowering her eyes, embarrassed at the thought. “I get freakishly strong.”

              “Oh my god, that is just the hottest thing ever.” Greg paled as everyone gave him a dirty look. “Er, that is to say, it’s very interesting. From a scientific point of view of course. Do you have any other talents?”

              “Not that I know of. I don’t think I want any.”

              Michael smiled. “So just flying, being incredibly strong, and filling your bones with some kind of metal. Yeah, I’d say that’s enough.”

              “Why though? Why does it happen? What’s wrong with me?”

              “I’m afraid that’s a question that will be harder to answer. I mean there’s nothing really
wrong
with you. You’re perfectly healthy. Why it happens and how to stop it, if that’s even possible, are much bigger questions that will take a lot more research.”

              Robert took the blood soaked towel away and came around to face her. “I think that’s enough for today. You don’t look so good.”

              “I can go on if they need me to.”

              Michael turned his attention back to the monitors. “We need time to fix everything that’s broken and analyse the data. How come you cut the wires instead of just disconnecting them? You would have only had to give them a tug.”

              “I didn’t.
They
did.”

              “They?” Michael asked.

              “Yes, they. The wings.”

              Greg and Michael both stopped what they were doing to stare at each other. “No way could they be sentient,” Greg said.

              “Why not? It’s not out of the realm of possibilities.”

              “It wouldn’t make sense.”

              “None of it makes sense as far as traditional science goes, Greg.” Michael turned back to Chelle. “Can you come back tomorrow?”

              Robert seemed annoyed but kept his mouth closed, even though he seemed like he had something to say. “If you need me to,” she said. “I want to know what this is, and if I can ever be free of it.”

              Michael turned back to face her. “Chelle, I promise you we’re going to do everything we can. But this is unusual to say the least so I can’t make any promises at this point. You look drained. Why don’t you let Robert take you home for some rest?”

              Chelle nodded and Robert helped her up. After she had changed and they were sitting in the car once again he spoke. “Anytime you want to stop whatever this is they’re doing you can. I mean, if you ever feel uncomfortable.”

              “Robert, I don’t want to stop it. I might have to be uncomfortable to finally be free at some point. They can do their worst. There’s nowhere to go but up, right?”

              “Right.”

              Something on Robert’s face told her he didn’t believe it, not totally. That was fine. For the first time in a long time she had some hope, and it was more than enough to hold on to for now.

Chapter Twenty-Five

              Robert got Chelle home as fast as he could and she promptly went to bed. He was glad for it, seeing as how she could barely keep her eyes open in the car. He wondered if she had seen his awkwardness earlier, or if he should address it somehow, but decided now was not the time. Exhausted himself he lay down on the couch and closed his eyes, reveling in the quiet. He was almost never home during the day and enjoyed the rare peace he was getting. It was short lived.

              His phone went off and he quickly answered it without even checking to see who it was, hoping Chelle hadn’t heard it in the next room. “Hello?”

              “Hey slacker. Where are you? My time is money.”

              “Rich? Oh my god I totally forgot. We were supposed to come see you. I’m so sorry. Chelle hasn’t been feeling well.” If you considered being bushed after a day of two research scientist experimenting on you ‘not feeling well’ it really wasn’t a lie.

              “Well, no matter. I have some good news for you. The crown decided not to press charges.”

              “What? How did you mange that?”

              “I just talked reason. Nothing was missing from the house and no damage was done. Mr. Gwok said something about a crowbar but there’s no way your little friend did that.”

              “No…of course not.”

              “So I just talked and talked. I talked in circles until I think they finally realized I’d do it in court and they just couldn’t be bothered with me.”

              “So you were too annoying for them to press charges basically?”

              “You got it. Sometimes in a lawyer that’s all you need.”

              “Rich, that’s fantastic. It’s the best news I’ve heard all day.”

              “Hey, no worries. But have a talk with that girl because she got lucky this time. If she gets caught doing that again they won’t care how annoying I am. They’ll charge her and throw her ass in jail.”

              “I will. She won’t do it again.”

              “Where is she staying anyway? A shelter?”

              “No, she’s with me.”

              There was an uncomfortable pause on the other end of the telephone. “Not that it’s any of my business, but are you sure that’s wise? Inviting homeless people to come stay with you can lead to things like…oh…say…murder.”

              “Relax, Rich. She’s not going to murder me.”
Not on purpose anyway. But her wings might
.

              “Well, it’s up to you. Be careful, buddy. I’d hate to have to start going to a different bar. I like yours.”

              “Trust me, Rich. It’s fine. How much do I owe you?”

              “You’ll get my bill in a few days. Might want to have a drink before you open it. I had to push a lot of other things aside these past few days to deal with this.”

              “Just send it and I’ll pay it. Thanks again, Rich.”

              “You got it.” And with that Robert hung up. He lay his head back down on the arm of the couch with a relieved sigh. With everything else that was happening at least this one weight would be lifted. He smiled to himself and stretched his arms behind his head. Perhaps he didn’t need that drink so badly after all. What a roller coaster. He needed a nap as well. He closed his eyes happy to let himself be pulled under.

              The thought only had a chance to last half a heartbeat because right at that very moment a horrible sound came from the bedroom. Chelle was awake and she was screaming.

***

              Victor sat with his eyes closed in the large wingback chair, Lindsay staring at him from the doorway. “If you’re going to watch at least come in. Knowing you’re trying to hide from me is distracting.”

              He heard Lindsay enter the room and sit on the couch adjacent to him and listened to her shift uncomfortably, the fabric of her clothes twisting against the leather. “Are you doing what I think you’re doing?”

              He took a moment to steady himself, gripping the arms. “Yes.”

              “How come you haven’t tried up until now?”

              “Because, my dear Lindsay, until she had her little fly around she wasn’t reachable. As you recall.”

              “But you called to me.”

              Victor smiled remembering when he’d taken Lindsay away with him. She had been so very young and scared. He had rescued her in the middle of a prairie field, three hundred miles from home. Lindsay’s wings had always been overly restless. Now she was a beautiful woman. One who utilized all the talents and gifts that a father can bestow on a daughter. After years of love and guidance she was everything he wanted her to be. “The first time your wings came out, you flew. Not this one. She’s been repressing the gift. Most likely that little display on the bridge surprised her as much as it did everyone else.”

              “And if you can reach her, will we go get her?” For all her poise he knew Lindsay was desperately lonely and had been for a long time. He couldn’t blame her, with only an old man for company there was only so much one could do. It couldn’t be helped, however. Lindsay was where she needed to be. He was keeping her safe.

              “Eventually we’ll have to. In time either she’ll come to us or we’ll go to her, but you should be prepared Lindsay. There may be a great deal of time in between when she is resentful. Whatever you’re hoping for may not come to pass right away…if ever.”

              He didn’t need to look upon her with his eyes to know the emotion she was showing. His eldest wore her heart on her sleeve. “I realize that.”

              “Good. Now, leave me. Close the door on your way out. I want to communicate with your sister in private.”

              Slow, sad footsteps echoed in the room and grew further into the distance until he heard the soft click of the door closing behind her. He waited a few moments more to be sure he was alone, and then began the ritual. He needed to be calm, at peace, but truth be told he was nervous and perhaps a little excited. This girl, his child, he wanted to reach out to her, to find her in the darkness, but he knew he was about to give her the shock of her life. The sparking of their telepathy was sometimes a rude awakening. Over the centuries some whom he hadn’t gotten to in time had believed themselves to be mad. He’d lost them.