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Chapter 10: Life is Tiresome

The night was cold as activities began to slack and lights begun to dim. I sat in the corner as my shrill vision scanned the areas in front and around me. With the last person filing out of the vast sector, I was alone.

Gradually, I got up, shook my wings to loosen the cramps in the muscles, and walked to the electronic keypad located on the bare white wall on my right. I pressed the metallic buttons in a sequence and with a beep, the thick, clear door slid open silently.

Cool air brushed against my face as I tiptoed out of my cell. The place was huge! Catwalks extended across the open spaces below me which were filled with machinery of different kinds. They were not moving because they were shut down for the night. Soft orange lights in the corners on the top had provided enough brightness to show me the open passages. My exposed feet slapped against the smooth steel floor as I moved across the platforms. My talons, which somehow were formed over the past few weeks, had made several thin scratches.

My sensitive ears picked up a series of whirling sounds. Looking up, I saw the surveillance camera just in time. Getting out of its inspecting zone, I headed for the door that was half-covered in shadow before me. The icy handle was in my burning palms as I pushed the portal open. Suddenly, alarm went off.

Fright slammed into my heart as I dashed down the stairs as fast as I could. I kept my wings close to me to avoid the objects around the staircase.

Stupid! I thought as I flew down the steps. I should have known they have security systems implanted everywhere in this building!

One turn, two turns, three, four, and five... I descended in a spiral formation as I heard a cluster of footsteps coming up from below. Quickly, I crashed through a swing door on my left.

"There he is! After him!" Voices were booming up the concrete hallways as I ran through a carpeted corridor.

I panted as sweat began to form on my forehead. My wings were extremely warm against my half-naked body. There were broad window panels installed on my right. They extended around the circular passage that I was in. Outside, it was dark with many black high-rises towering down upon me. Numerous yellowish and whitish squares could be seen on the angular surfaces. Raindrops slipped down from the top of the translucent glasses as lightening flashed at a random interval. Below me, cars were like ants, rolling through the crowded streets that were cleverly lit with various types of colored lights.

I saw an exit up ahead as I picked up my pace. I needed to get out of this place! I had to get down to the first floor where the lobby was. This zone was at least sixty stories high.

Without realizing it, I tripped over an infrared laser that was moving across the floor back and forth quietly. A solid wall fell down and blocked my path. I stopped, gasping for breath as I glanced back with fear. Several beams of frosty light were jerking up and down on the curved wall and clear panels on either side of me as men froze before me. There were twenty of them. Some held tranquilizer guns while others had needles in their beefy hands. All of them were bulky with biceps muscles bulging out from their sleeves.

"Tobieaz, come back with us to your room, please," the person nearest to me said as he, too, trying hard to get his breath back.

I took a step backward. Five of them raised their weapons and aimed at me. I felt my hands touching the windows. I looked around nervously, surveying the options that I had.

"You know you can't escape, Tobieaz. Besides, why do you hate us so? We're trying to help you!"

I saw a chair within an arm's reach. Instantly, I leaned to my right, grasped the chair arm and swung the entire object over my chest to the left. With an ear-splitting smash and millions of pieces of glass falling onto the floor-covering, twinkling within the city lights, a new way out for me was made. Bursts of gusting wind flowed into the rather large hallway as the group of men were screaming and yelling with confusion. I blinked a few times to wet my eyes as I stretched my wings slightly for a warm up.

One of the men saw me through the dense rainfall as the strong air currents were forcing the rain into the building.

"To... Tobieaz!" He shouted my name.

I didn't answer him as I watched them for one last time before jumping out into the darkness of the night with the storm howling over my head.

I fought for control among the wild drafts as I dipped up and down. Completely soaked, I was losing strength. I couldn't see anything in front of me. Everything was so concealed that it was dangerous to fly in this kind of weather. My wings were hard and stiff as the weight of the water was forcing me lower and lower toward the busy streets. Thunders roared near my ears, threatening to burst the eardrums.

After a while of spinning ferociously in the chilly air, I had lost all my sense of altitude and direction. Without warning, I saw a set of headlights beaming into my green eyes. A horn blared out as I banked hard to the side. Other higher-pitched horns followed as I snaked in and out of the traffic, gliding with my two large wings.

"What the f-"

"Oh my god!"

"What in the world is that?"

"Mommy! There's a monster on top of the roof!"

I crash-landed on top of a car as I paused shortly for a rest. Water dripped from my chin onto the red sports car that I was on. My mutated toes, which were now claws dug into the soft car body as I turned, left and right, looking around for a place to hide. I was half-crouched in the middle of a traffic jam on a vehicle, without a shirt on. That was dumb.

"You there! Get the hell away from my- Oh my gawd! What the hell are you?" A man in his late forties stuck his head out of the driver side window to scold at me; only, he stopped when he saw my expanded wings and my talons, especially my gleaming green eyes that were gazing at him.

"Damn! What kind of monster are you?" He screamed with terror as he tried to roll up the window.

Other drivers were peering out from their own cars as I stood up, still searching for a place to run to and stay for the night.

"No way! Is that a pair of wings I saw on that boy?"

"He's a monster! Someone call the cops!"

"Danny! Don't get out of the car! He's a mutant! He's dangerous!"

Comments continued to shot out like bullets as I tried my hardest to ignore them all. Finally, I saw a subway entrance. Sucking in a deep breath, I flapped my wings and soared into the sky. People gasped with surprise as they pointed and shouted.

I dive-bombed into the murky entrance while slowing down smoothly. The subway tunnel was half-lit as garbage was littered literally everywhere. A few castaways were sleeping on the side with their backs against the graffiti-covered wall. I landed and walked, shivering. My talons were clipping upon the dirty concrete ground as water continued to drip from my body.

At last, I came to an empty spot beside an old man who was sleeping. I slumped onto my butt as I folded my wings. There was a fire-escape door on my side. I could run out of here as fast as I could should troubles arise. Only a few light bulbs were in service. The others had blown their fuses.

"Hmmm? Who are you?" The soiled man stirred from his sleep as he shuffled under his newspapers, which were partly covering him. His eyes went wide as he saw me clearly. "Oh my god..."

I began to edge toward the door. Stammering, I said: "Sowaray to-" I coughed a few times to smooth out my voice box, which I hadn't been using for the past two weeks. "Sorry to disturb you. I'll leave if you want me to."

"No, no, no. Stay. This is the first time that I've seen an angel!" The old man chuckled in a raspy as he sat up slowly. He scratched his elongated hair and gray long beard. "Are you from the heaven?"

I blinked. "What... I don't understand."

He waved his gloved hand as he spat onto the rails in front of us. "Bah, you are from the heaven, I know that. No need to lie to Old Nick here. I know my time is up and you're here to take me with you." He then eyed me suspiciously with one eye. "But why do you come down to our mere mortal plain in this weather, angel?"

"I... Because of certain unfortunate incidents..." I gulped as I gradually moved back to where I was a moment ago.

"Can't wait to take my soul with ya, eh? Angel?" He coughed between his laughter.

"Please, sir, don't call me an angel. I'm not one. I'm a monster as you can see," I sighed as I fluffed my wings to get rid of the droplets.

"Hey! Shut up, Nick! People are trying to sleep here!" One of the shabby men cursed from his sleep as he glanced over to our direction. "And who the hell is he?" In his half-asleep state, he couldn't see my wings entirely.

Quickly, I whispered: "Please don't tell him about my wings! I beg you!"

The old man looked at me thoughtfully for a minute before answering the guy: "He's just another one of us, that's all. Get back to your sleep you flea bag!" He turned around and gazed at his partner.

"Well, I will go to sleep if you would just shut up!"

Then, all was quiet. Nick muttered under his breath as he brought out a bottle of liquor from his inner pocket. He twisted open the rusted cap and took a drink. Groaning with relief, he offered me the shot.

I shook my head. "No thanks."

"Angels don't drink eh? I thought so too," he winked at me as he placed back the container. "So when are you going to take me with ya?"

"I've already told you that I'm not God's servant from the sky or whatever. I'm just a mere human being that has somehow sprouted these confounded wings. Ever since then, my life has just gone upside-down. It's horrendous, I tell you," I brought my knees up close to my chest while I hugged them for warmth.

"All right, then. What's your name, sonny?"

I cocked my head a little and said: "Tobieaz Redil."

"Tobieaz... A great name, I'd say. How old are you? You look too young to wander around here in the Mantana City all by yourself."

"Mantana City?" I felt as if my breathe was taken away instantly. I was now in one of the biggest urban areas near my old familiar town, Bralorne, which was about fifty miles away! This was where Dad's company was located! "I'm in Mantana City?"

"Don't you know? Ah, you angels never look at the geographic landscapes where us mortal beings live on."

I moaned as I replied: "Please stop calling me by that title. Say my name instead. I'm just the same as you except with some slight differences..."

The old man scoffed a little before leaning down again. "Well, whatever you say, ange- excuse me, Tobieaz. Listen, I'm tired right now so I guess I'll take a short nap then. Feel free to take my live whenever you wish okay? It's better than staying like this forever I'd say..."

I shook my head with defeat as I, too, closed my eyes and went into a deep sleep.

***************************

A loud commotion woke me up from my slumber. I literally jumped up as voices were bellowing everywhere. I rubbed my eyes a few times before I gaped at the scene before me.

An enormous group of men dressed in army suits were charging through this station with assault rifles and hand grenades. I trembled as I tried to get up. Looking down, I shook the old man by his legs.

"Sir, I have to go," I stuttered in a low voice as I began to inch toward the exit. He didn't move. "Nick!" I tried again.

Finally, I placed a finger at the base of his nose. No air. He was dead. Sadness filled my heart as I fought back the tears that were trying to get out of my eyes. Though I didn't know the man well, he was still a kind gentleman despite his ragged appearance.

"Hey... Hey! There he is! Tobieaz! Freeze! This is the Patrol Unit Recon Six! You're under arrest!" They shouted as they saw me grabbing the doorknob. All of them were starting to run.

I turned the handle but found out that it was locked. Terrorized, I jarred the handhold rapidly. I could image it now: I was captured once again, only this time, I was bond completely from head to toe. They would take me to the lab, take samples, and lock me in for the rest of my life.

With tears flowing down my face, I began to kick the door.

"Stop! Stop what you're doing!" One of the men screamed as he was almost on top of me.

I booted the gate even harder. I could hear the lock began to snap.

"Stop damn it! Don't do that!"

At last, I rammed through the doorway and ran up the muddy steps that were presented ahead of me. It was morning and it was cloudy. It was freezing like ice as well. I was at the top of the stairs and out on the crowded sidewalk. Pedestrians shrieked with surprise and awe as they saw my wings and me. I turned my head awkwardly like a bird as I scanned the place fleetly.

"Holy mother of-"

"What are you? A monster or something?"

"Are you joking me? Are these real?"

"Hey! I know this! We're on television right now right? This is a prank made by some show, right? Where's the video cam? Hi, Mom!"

"Oh my, oh my. Imagine what will happen if we sell this freak to the circus! Money! Get him!"

With that last sentence commented by a fat black male in his early twenties, six people surrounded me immediately all different races. I stamped my feet with agitation as I watched the folks around me.

"There he is! We're almost there!" The army dudes were still chasing after me. They were coming up.

With a made up mind, I extended my wings abruptly. The guys that were circling me leaped back with astonishment. Using the opportunity, I began to swing my appendages. I shot off the ground at an amazing speed with a huge crowd gathering beneath me. They all pointed as they clamored with hype.

The government soldiers could only glare at me as I disappeared among the towers that rose hundreds of stories from the ground. I didn't know where I could go without people hunting me constantly whenever they saw me. My life just sucked. It would be better if I just free fall to my death. I didn't care that they would do to my corpse later on as long as I was not alive to experience it.

Just then, I saw him.

John. He was still alive. He was looking up at me from the roof of an abandoned apartment that was old and flimsy half a mile away on top of a hill. From that distance, all he could see was a dot, but he knew it was me. It must had been broadcasted on the news. He was waving at me with both hands. Joy flooded my mind as I flew down to him. I knew that I now had help. I knew that I was now safe. I hoped.

~End Chapter 10~

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