Days later the memories of the Lab still haunted me. I couldn't sleep, so I flew at night. And I was starving, I hadn't eaten since I escaped. My limbs shook when I landed, I could only stay air borne for about two hours, then I got headaches and serious dizziness that forced me from the sky.

I shivered, partly because I was cold, and also because I had barely any energy. There were dark circles under my eyes. I was filthy, and my shirt was falling apart. I grabbed my backpack, and slung it between my wings, which were sticking out from two slits in the fabric I had cut earlier. I really didn't feel like flying today, the sky seemed to be jaunting me, at this early hour. I had only stopped for a break, which had turned into a long rest.

I sighed, I really didn't want to, but I had to get as far from the Lab as possible. Get a little R & R, then plan my next move.

I started something wrapped itself around me. I glanced down and to my horror, found it was a rope. Two more came shooting from the trees and were swung around my feet, there were little weights attached to the end. I fell to the ground, and my head struck something hard, I had landed on one of my wings. The other struggled fruitlessly against the bonds. I panicked, how had they found me?

The world got fuzzy as my concussion settled in. There were people standing above me, there shapes fuzzy and disorienting. One of them bent down, and there a sharp pain in my arm. I finally got some well deserved sleep.

When I woke, I immediately started freaking out. After the blackness disappeared I realized it was because I was in a small space. I hated small spaces. It looked like just a metal cylinder, with enough space for me to walk around, I couldn't spread my wings though, I found a secure metal strap binding them to my back.

I stood up, noticing the small grate. Before I looked out I realized we were in the air, I was in a plane of some kind. Peering through the grate gave me nothing, I couldn't see anybody, only the inside of a cargo plane.

They've got me, I'm going back to the Lab. It was the only thing that made sense. I spread my arms against the metal walls, fighting against the urge to vomit. And to stop my arms from shaking. I couldn't be going back. I swallowed a sob. My legs gave out and I sunk to the floor. I could feel a panic attack coming on, my whole body seemed to shake in ernest. I hated small spaces. My breath sped up, coming out in short gasps.

Then the horrid metal thing opened, and I was out, still panting as I took surveillance of my surroundings. There were people here. Several men and women in black suits, and a boy, around my age, in normal clothes with brown hair and sparkly green eyes. Though it was mostly covered by the weird hat he was wearing. They all stared at me expectantly. I was still breathing hard, and had to lean against the wall to catch my balance. I saw one shove another.

"He's claustrophobic idiot!"

"I didn't know, they didn't tell me anything!"

"Who are you?" I asked, weakly, these people were definetly not from the Lab.

A woman stepped forward, I winced away from her. I didn't like having my wings out in front of these strangers, but they were stuck in an upward position.

"Hello William, my name is Doctor Howard, but you can call me Jane." She said, holding out her hand.

I hesitated, the people behind her had guns, and the metal band was making me itch.

"We're not going to hurt you, we're here to help," she tried getting closer, but I backed away.

"Stay away from me," I warned.

"William, if you trust us, I can take off your restrictment." Jane held up a pair of keys.

I gulped, I really wanted this thing off. And the boy in the back just kept staring at me, it was chilling. Everyone was staring at me and I hated it.

"Where are you taking me?" I questioned.

"To a safe place, a school." She answered.

"Then why did you lock me up?" I hissed.

"We were taking the necessary precautions, you would have lashed out," She smiled painfully at me.

I edged forward, still not trusting anyone here. But I wanted those keys. As I got close, she lifted them up.

"Only if you'll behave, can you promise me that?"

I sucked in a shaky breath, she sounded like the scientists. But I nodded. And Jane made take of my shirt so she could unlock the beastly contraption. After my wings were free I folded them up tight, so they disappeared on my back, and a new, gray, plain, shirt was thrown at me, I accepted it gratefully. Pulling it over my head, and for once, glad I had something covering myself. I could still feel the stares of the other people, so I seated myself in a corner, that wasn't crowded by other material, and I ignored them. Maybe now I could get some sleep.

They left me alone, thank goodness, although one man came over and told me we would be landing in three hours. And with the buoyant feeling of the plane, I found myself drifting off. Only when I opened them, the green eyed boy from before was sitting right next to me, and poking my arm. I started, and he gave me a grin.

"Glad to see you're awake, My name's Justin, and I brought you some food, Doctor Howard told me you would be hungry, so she gave me these, which honestly looks pretty good-"

I stopped listening to him as I spotted the three sandwiches he had brought over. I grabbed the first one almost in a frenzy, and it was gone in seconds. The second I ate slightly slower, I didn't actually process the fact he's stopped talking until the third. It was Heaven in my mouth, and I was still hungry.

All I was left with was his concerned stare. "Well, someone was hungry, when was the last time you had a proper meal?"

"Last week?' I admitted, even then I wasn't sure how much time had passed.

"Then by all means, take mine," He held up a fourth sandwich, which he had left untouched after watching me eat.

I chewed on it thoughtfully, while wondering why was he being so kind to me.

"I never seen anyone eat that much," Justin marveled after we had scrounged up another sand which, and three energy bars from the crew of the plane.

I shrugged.

"So your name Will, right?"

I nodded.

"And, I hope you don't mind me asking, your wings, those are real too? And you really can fly?" He smiled, anticipating my answer.

"Yeah," I said simply, hoping he wouldn't further than that.

"Cool, I've never flown before, but-" He stopped abruptly, his face grew red with embarrassment.

I was confused, why the sudden stop? Justin seemed to edge away from me, as if expecting me to question him further. I didn't, as long as he didn't try to poke into my life, I wouldn't prod around in his.

"So this school we're going to, what is it?" I changed the subject.

He gave me a relieved look. "It's so cool, there are like a hundred kids there who are either super smart, or like you, my uncle is the director and principle."

"Which are you?"

"What?'

"Smart or like me?"

He blushed again, "Oh, um, I'm just going because of my uncle."

I left it at that, as another headache pushed it's way arrogantly through my nerves. And I was still hungry. Without warning, I swayed precariously.

"Whoa, you okay?"Justin asked.

I leaned on the nearby wall, sliding down sitting on the floor. "I'm fine, just tired."

"When the last time you slept?" He dared ask.

"Through the night? Two weeks ago."

He sat down next to me, but my skin was feeling itchy. I wanted to get rid of this shirt, but was still uncomfortable in front of Justin.

"Do you have something sharp?" I asked.

He brought out a pocketknife, eyeing me warily. I took it gratefully, and slid off the shirt. With quick, precise cuts, I made two large slits in the back.

"You have feathers on your back too?" He marveled.

He was referring to my shoulder feathers. "Yeah," I tugged on the shirt, and felt my wings stick out, drafts of air circling them. This felt so much better. Justin just stared at me, or my wings, I couldn't tell which. There was a look on his face close to jealousy. Jealous of what? I wondered.

He suddenly got all jumpy. Twiddling his fingers nervously. He had a question on his tongue.

"Does it... Do your, wings, ever hurt?" His voice seemed strangled.

"When I used to tie them down, yeah, then I just wore heavy clothing, but that itches," I answered truthfully, though prickly about sharing.

Justin seemed to withdrawal into himself. I took the moment to rest, leaning against a curved wall. I only closed my eyes for what felt like a second, but when I opened them a blanket had been thrown on me. It was cold, colder than my sunny home in California. I clutched onto the soft textured cloth. Someone poked my lightly. I rolled over to see it was Justin, with his strange green hat that went down past his ears.

"We're here," He announced.