After that enlightening talk with Naomi, Sky walked back home with a thick fog in his mind.

With his hands in his pockets, he walked around town. His thoughts hit the inside walls of his skull like a tennis ball, back and forth in a never-ending, nerve-wracking cadence.

First my mom, then Hazel, he thought. Each with her own ambitions and prejudices against me, pushed me into confessing what they wanted to hear. Despite hating their assumptions and accusations, I can't bring myself to hate any of them. Halle Falcon will always be my mother. I heard her say she loved me. Being harsh on me is for my own good, according to her. I love her. I can't lie to myself.

And Hazel? I've got a crush on her. She might've acted like an arsehole as of late, but she's still my friend. Years of friendship can't be erased like that, can they? Especially now that I know the truth behind her excessive passion to become MVS and get the scholarship. It's honourable to seek to become the best you can ever be, saving people, the city you love, and get recognised for it. Who wouldn't want that?

Then, the voice of his aunt echoed in his mind. "I'm telling you because I think it could be useful to have someone who knows about her condition in the field. In case anything happened to her, you could call the emergency services and tell them what's wrong with her. You also know what pills she needs. She might be grateful to you one day if anything goes south health-wise. You deal with Hazel; I'll deal with Mrs Evergreen. You don't need to be scared of her... or of a meeting with her. I'll take care of that and those accusations, too."

Sky sighed deeply.

I'd love to go and fly with Haywire because I really need to unwind right now, but I don't think it'd be safe, he thought. With three women obsessing over me and what I do, I don't think I should risk it. My mother, Hazel, and Mrs Evergreen. Three power-hungry, strong, and alluring women. To be honest, I don't think Aunt Naomi will be able to change Mrs Evergreen's mind about this meeting with me.

Maybe if I'm really careful, I sneak into the woods unseen and...

He sighed with frustration and worry as he scratched his forehead.

I need to find a way to get in touch with Haywire. I'd love to be able to call him, warn him, or let him know I can't go.

Wait! My phone. I could use it to send him messages just like his former master used to give him orders, right? Since the Bluetooth of my phone makes this contact possible, I guess I could communicate with him!

No, wait. I shouldn't do it. That would make him vulnerable to detection. Either the people from the Control Tower or his former master, whether it's Kane Kovak or not, could spot him. I need something less high-tech and more... analogue, maybe?

Many Anti-Ageing Inc. ads about products made with the metabolism blocker popped up wherever he went. When yet another one of those bumped into his face when turning around a corner, he groaned and smashed a hand on it. It instantly depixelated and the recorded voice of a woman faded away.

Before any insult could leave his mouth, something caught his attention. On his right, there was a music shop. On its window, several instruments were on display.

The electric guitars were stylish. The drums looked fancy. A pristine white piano occupied most of the space. Small instruments were put on display in the foreground, like a triangle, a harmonica, or a ukulele. However, it was a cute little pea whistle the one which called his attention.

Something more analogue, right?

In the quiet solitude of the attic, Sky assumed a hunched posture, his body leaning over the workbench. His fingers danced with purpose, nimble and precise, as he meticulously tinkered with the pea whistle he had just bought. The furrowed lines on his forehead mirrored his intense concentration, while his eyes, sparkling with determination, remained fixed on the tiny instrument.

A jeweller's loupe, set in a special pair of glasses, leaned on the bridge of his nose. That powerful lens stood between his right eye and the whistle, providing magnification and clarity to enable him to identify any flaws and perform intricate tasks with precision.

After a tinkering session in his room, he took off his jeweller's loupe. He sighed and smiled with satisfaction, ready to test it.

I'll teach Haywire to recognise this pea whistle I just bought and customised and the sound patterns I'll use, he thought. A single long whistle means trouble; you need to flee. Two short whistles mean come; we're safe. With the enhancements I've made to it, I think he'll be able to hear it if I'm on the outskirts of the city.

A normal pea whistle like the one he had bought could emit 120 dB sounds, but Sky had taken the pea off and made some changes to its structure. A pea-less design ensured that no moving object could get jammed by accident or due to rough conditions.

I'm proud I added a second chamber, Sky thought. It'll make a more powerful sound which I estimate to raise to 140 dB and it'll self-clear when dropped in water. So now, it's 2.25 inches long and 1 inch wide. But what I love the most is the fact that it's made of metal, not plastic. It'll be more durable. Who knows what could happen while flying with Haywire? At least, if I drop it by accident, it won't break that easily!

He grabbed his flying skateboard and hurried to the woods to show it to his winged friend.

Okay, I've made sure no one followed me, Sky thought as he almost reached the clearing in the woods. I guess we're safe.

"Haywire! Where are you?"

Only the soothing sound of the waterfall greeted him.

Maybe if I use the whistle now, he'll come here guided by curiosity. After all, he's an intelligent being.

As the sun cast its last golden rays of the afternoon upon the clearing in the woods, Sky raised the customised whistle to his lips. With a steady breath, he blew into it, releasing a long and piercing note that cut through the serene silence of the forest. The sound pierced the air, carrying a sense of urgency and anticipation.

But as the shrill sound reverberated through the trees, Sky felt a stabbing pain in his ear. The whistle's tone was too sharp, too high-pitched, like a needle prick to the eardrums. At that moment, he realised the unintended consequences of his creation.

Haywire, his loyal phoenix companion, swiftly responded to the call, descending from the sky with majestic grace. But as Haywire drew nearer, Sky saw a flicker of discomfort in his eyes. Haywire's majestic wings quivered, and he landed on the pebbled ground by the glistening lake with a slight wince.

"Haywire!" Sky's heart sank as he witnessed Haywire's pain. The very sound that summoned him also caused him anguish.

What's wrong?! Regret washed over Sky like a wave as he knelt beside Haywire and put a hand on his back.

His winged friend whined as he sank his head onto the ebony-coloured pebbles, with his wings over his head, trying to shield his ears from more harm.

"It's over, Haywire. I won't use it again!" Sky said with a furrowed brow and a pale face. "I promise. Damn. I'm sorry, big fella."

The beast replied with a single, long, muttered chirp and turned his head a little to look at his human friend.

Haywire possesses a heightened sensitivity to such frequencies, Sky thought as he smiled at Haywire and petted him. If he suffers this much, a lot more than me, I guess that his phoenix brethren might also be susceptible to this kind of sound.

Sky's hand moved from his back to his head, fingers entwining in the soft strands of feathers. Haywire, ever trusting, leaned into the gentle strokes.

With a heavy sigh, he gently placed the whistle in his pocket.

"I didn't mean to hurt you," he whispered with remorse. With a tender touch, Sky's fingers caressed the sleek feathers that adorned Haywire's back, tracing the contours of strength and grace. His touch, filled with love and appreciation, conveyed a silent bond that words could not capture. "I love you, Haywire. I... I guess that not all my gadgets work as I intend them to work."

As the sun's rays danced upon their tranquil sanctuary, a quiet understanding passed between them.

At that moment, time stood still, and the world faded away. As their connection deepened, they found solace in the simple act of touch, a language only understood by hearts that beat as one.

Hello, my sugar cubes!

Have you ever hurt someone you love but you didn't mean to?

Stay tuned!

XOXO

Mar