Shift

Chapter 2

Phoenix POV

___________

I fly as fast as I can, a red streak across the sky. The square glass building looks so close, but it's far away. I won't get there fast enough. They'll catch me first.

Damn it, Screech! This is all your fault! I think back to the last conversation I had with him. I don't remember half of it.

"Earth to Phoenix. Earth to Phoenix!" Screech waves his hand in front of my face.

"Huh?"

"Did you hear a word I said?" No, I hadn't. I'd been thinking of my flight score. Barely high enough to pass. Effing wings.

"Um..." I try to remember what he was saying. What were we talking about? Screech sighs dramatically, pretending to be annoyed, but he's smiling.

"You have to come to my office at the Cube. Remember?" Sure. But it would help if he repeated it.

"Sorry," I tell him. He frowns.

"Is something wrong?" He asks. "Is it the superhero exams?"

"Yeah, but we don't have time to talk about it now," I say quickly. "You're going to be late! Hurry!"

Screech looks at his watch. He gasps. In flash of blue feathers he is out the door. He's so fast. With his perfect wings he probably got a perfect flight score. A feather floats down to the ground, landing next to my foot. I pick it up and carry it to the open window. The breeze pulls it out of my hand and onto the grass outside.

I'll probably never see him again. I wonder if he will be sad that I'm gone. Maybe. Maybe he'll pretend in front of the camera's when everyone asks about me and my death. Maybe he'll cry for real.

Something shoots past me, barely missing my face by an inch. Shocked, I freeze, and start to fall. I catch myself before I hit the ground. Landing, I stumble and dodge another projectile. Then I run for my life.