4.

Attacks and Flashbacks

"What?!" I ran to my room, which was in great need of cleaning, and Flash followed me ever-so-silent.

"Yeah, I saw some old files on our parents and all it said for you was that you came from somewhere, with no data on parents."

I tried to take deep, slow breaths, but failed. I was trembling like there was an earthquake. Or that I was an earthquake. "What about the others," I said in a shattered, broken voice. This is just great! First I'm half- blind, then I have freaking wings and my hair changed color, now I'm told that I could very well not even HAVE parents. My life is like a freaking roller coaster, for crying out loud!

He rubbed my back, right between my wings. "It'll be okay, everything will be okay. You've got me. You've got all of us. I know it's hard, not having parents, I mean. And we're all here for you. In good times and bad, you should know that by now. Remember when we first started going to school? You, Wren, and I? Yeah, we helped you through all the jokes and faces. Remember when Zephyr fell off the swing at the playground? You were there to help him back up, and always will be. See? We'll always be there for you, always have. Because we love you. I love you. And you'll always be there for us, no matter what, right?" I nod, surprised. That was the longest thing I've ever heard Flash utter.

Those three words stuck whirling around inside my brain. I love you. What did that mean? Flash was never more than a best friend, never ever would be more than that. Right? He meant it in a brother-sister way!

My thoughts were interrupted by a loud bang! coming from the living room.

With one glance at each other, Flash and I jumped up and bolted downstairs.

It's okay. I'm sure Wren and Marcie are just at it again. It's okay. Everything's ok--

The others were standing, frozen in their places.

There, a group of men, tattered and shaking, were looking back at them. They all had the same stoic look on their faces. They were repeating the same words over and over again: "Angel. You will return to Syren." Their voices were all 'bot-like, metallic, if you must. Except for the fact that they mispronounced my name made it a little less intimidating. They said, "Ang-hil...Ang-hil" In their annoying 'botty voices.

After about a minute of this I was--well, I don't know what--scared? Pumped? I don't know. And what the H is Syren?

It'll come to you, Angel. You were born to fight.

"Who said that?!" I screeched. What was that?

"Nobody said anything, Angel," Zephyr said in a scared, small voice, his eyes locked on the group.

Don't worry, Angel. You'll know, in time. Your friends have it in them, too.

Okay, now I'm freaked. Well, more freaked.

Go with them. Go with the Jays.

Jays? I asked in my head. For now I knew it was coming from my head.

Yes. Those things that are standing in your living room right now. The voice in my head sounded mocking, if that was even possible. They will take you to your home, Syren.

Syren. It sounded vaguely familiar.

~~~

The tiny baby girl cried in her mothers arms. "It's okay. Don't worry, Angel. Syren is a good place for you to stay." The girl's mother coos soothingly. She took a pendant from her neck and laid it on her daughter's. The necklace had a blue icicle hanging from the chain wrapped in gold. It would protect her from the inevitable. The mom put a note in with the baby. Scrawled on it was:

Her name is Angel. She's special.

Take good care of my daughter.

The mother put the baby on the doorstep of Syren and knocked on the door. She ran and flew off, never to be seen again.

A tall man came to the door and took the baby in his arms. He read the note and smiled. He took her inside the warmth of the orphanage.