"Not really... I've gotten used to the harsh weathers in the wild before I was captured." I shivered as I recalled the terrible time spent in the laboratory cell.
"You were caught?" John frowned as he tried to digest all the uncanny thoughts in his head. "All right. Come with me."
The multi-colored sunbeams rushed down the slope of the mountains as the gray sky was slowly clearing up. Birds began to sing while they took flight, absorbing the mild sunlight with their well-preened feathers. Summer was almost over and fall was coming. Soon, winter would arrive as well. How could I survive such severe season? A season of death and frigidity?
I could hear its voice whispering to me.
The apartment was located around the bottom of the hills with alleys that could never receive any daylight and are covered with filth. A large construction site was near the place. The site was littered with materials of various kinds. Workers were trying to finish their grand mall before the due date and sounds of hammering among the structures were travelling through the still air.
I followed John into the unlit corridors and we turned a few times before we were met with a soft glow of candles in a huge living room, or what was left of it. I squinted my green eyes from the sudden flood of light.
In the middle of the chamber, a set of well-maintained sofa rested firmly on top of a ragged carpet, which was colored in dark blue. A short antique table was placed in front of the seats. Bottles of beer and coke were left on top of it. A small fireplace was fabricated along the wall on my left. Windows, which were barred for protection, were on my right as they let in the rich sunshine that I loved so much.
Dusts floated in the nearly bare room while I gazed around.
My talons clicked on the hard wooden floor as I strode over to the other side and peeked into the smaller bedrooms and washroom.
"This is it, Tobieaz. My new home," John declared as he slumped onto the furniture. "Make yourself comfortable. In fact, why don't you sit beside me and we'll have a talk about the recent events?"
I fluffed my wings as I walked back to him. Sitting down around the edge to prevent my wings from being squashed, I sighed.
"Let's start with you, John. What happened that day when you told me to run away from the car and into the forest?" I began the conversation with a question of my own.
John opened a fresh can of beer as he shifted his weight. "When you were safely out of the sight, I drove my jeep right into the police cruisers. Of course, those bastards fired their guns but they didn't aim at me. They were aiming at the tires. Rolling on steel rims, I lost control of the vehicle and slammed into the trunk of a tree."
I held my breath as he took a short pause to drink.
"In the end, they handcuffed me. Punched me a few times during the arrest. They brought me back to the station for questioning. I didn't tell them much, so don't worry. Finally, they had enough and threw me in jail for a week before my sister, Lindsy, bailed me out."
"You have a sister?" I asked as I focused all my attention on him. At the same time, I tried to smooth out the feathers on my wings with my hands and arms. They were warm...
"Yes, I have a sister. The officers told me to stay out of their town and so on, and here I am. With some money and a second-hand car, I managed to find an edifice that is free, which is this one."
I groaned as I closed my eyes. "Sorry about all this, John. If only you haven't met me, perhaps your life would have been ten times better than it is now."
He laughed as he shook his head. "No, Tobieaz. It isn't your fault in any way. I made the choice and I like the choice. Instead of doing work, work, work all day long, I'm free now. I have enough money in the bank to live a fairly cozy life, thanks to my twenty years of hard work on researching and collecting data on different bird species."
"I'm sure you've added me to those lists of yours."
John looked at me as he smiled. "In fact, I just did. A week ago, on my laptop."
I was surprised. "You what? You did? But-"
"I named you, the first human-bird species ever appeared on the planet, Spirit, in my database."
"John, you are obviously mistaken. I... I don't even know whether if I want to continue to exist in this world or not! I... You know, right now I'm completely lost. I don't know if anyone, other than you, can help me," I rubbed my forehead as I groaned.
John laid a hand on my back. "Look, kid. You will continue to survive. You've come this far, why throw your life away just because some moron won't accept as who you are, but will treat you as a monster?"
"No! Stop it!" The girl screamed as tears flowed out of her eyes. "Stop it!"
"Shut up! Bitch!" One of them glared at her. "Shut up unless you want to be with him, and be like him!"
I felt another pipe clobbered one of my shoulders. I screamed out again. For the next ten minutes, they each beat me separately until finally, all of them began to land a hail of blows. One strike after another. Pretty soon, I was half-conscious. Both my wings were broken, along with one of my arms and my legs. My eyes were swollen shut as blood covered me completely. I was busted up pretty badly.
My angel, all she could do was pleading them to stop, to leave me alone. She continued to implore them until the leader slapped her in the face so hard that she blacked out. I basically let them attacked me until they were tired and satisfied. I didn't move. I couldn't move.
It was almost like a century's time until they were gone. Even breathing was a difficult task for me now. I was sure that I had more bones broken by the cement blocks and water pipes.
I felt a wave of nausea surging forth from my stomach. Without any control of my muscles, without any feeling of any parts of my body, I vomited right there in the damp, caliginous back street. I felt my own blood pulsing out from my wounds. I couldn't think clearly, and I couldn't see clearly.
All I could do was sprawling across the pavement and gasped in short breaths. I felt a chilly sensation crawling up from my legs. That was good. At least I could feel that. At least I knew that my spine was not broken. But you know what? I felt tired. Remarkably tired. As I lay on the dirty ground, I was drifting in and out of consciousness.
One part of me said don't go to sleep, Tobieaz Redil. Don't go to sleep just yet. Fight it off! Fight it off! Another part of me said come on, just close your eyes and close your mind and go to sleep. It'll be comfortable. It'll be worth it. Why endure such torment? No one likes you. No one. Your friend hates you now; your parents want you gone... Why still fighting? Let it all go...