The Flight of Freedom

Reunions all round

Emmett

My fingers tingled and my bones ached. What had happened to me? Opening my eyes I saw my mum sitting next to my bed with her head resting on her arm. Laying there for a moment I listened to my mum’s slow, steady heartbeat and my own heartbeat, which was slightly faster.

I flexed my fingers and toes trying to dislodge the feeling of numbness and the slow thrum of the ache. As I was stretching I felt a hand reach for my own. Looking around, I saw my mum’s eyes staring into mine.

“Hey baby, you feeling okay?” The corners of her mouth began to pull up into a small smile.

“Ugh… what happened? My whole body hurts like a bitch.” 

Tsking at my swearing she replied, “You texted me yesterday saying you didn’t feel very well. I tried to call you but you never answered.” Tears started to well up in her eyes and a small sniffle escaped. “Oh Emmett, I thought the worst when I came looking for you. I couldn’t know how bad things were when I found you.”

“Why aren’t I in a hospital then? Surely I should have gone?” Her face quickly paled as I mentioned the hospital. Why hadn’t she taken me there?

“W- well, after I got you home you seemed to come around, a- and your temperature was slightly high, but I thought it was nothing I c- couldn’t handle.”  That’s interesting, I thought. And also slightly worrying.

I groaned, feeling frustrated that I was still in pain.

“Emmett? Is it happening? Can you feel it?” I saw worry in her green eyes and, perhaps, some understanding. I think she knew about the wings.

I hadn’t thought of the wings all week and I haven’t seen them since the first day of college. Panicking at the thought of my wings suddenly appearing in front of my mum I began to squirm on my bed.

“Emmett! Sweetheart. You must listen to me. You are going through something weird and unexplained. I'm so sorry darling but I have to go and talk to someone who might be able to help us deal with this.” And with that she left in a hurry. I could hardly move now; the ache in my bones had evolved into something more and as I tried to flex my hand I felt a sharp snap in my finger, and as I looked down I noticed the top half of my finger jutting out awkwardly. I laid my head back on the pillow and began thinking of things to calm me down. Surely the pain wouldn’t be so bad if I was calm?

As I was laying there I felt an odd tingling in the back of my head. It felt comforting so I closed my eyes and began to relax my body. Some time later I felt the tingle again. This time it seemed to want to expand so I imagined it spreading from the back of my head and flowing into my mind.

Wrapped in this feeling, I felt so safe and warm, as if nothing could get me. The last thing I remember was a voice purring, “Calm, sweet. Just stay with me, I've got you.”

Emmett’s Mother

Leaving Emmett at a time like this was one of the hardest things that I have ever had to do since Ferran’s death. And since Ferran was no longer here I could only think to go to the Elder for advice; she would know how to deal with things like the change.   

I peeked into Emmett’s room one last time before I left and I saw my son in a peaceful state. His eyes were shut and his breathing was slow and steady. His breathing didn’t change, not even as a rib cracked and then swiftly repaired itself… Oh, my sweet boy.

I locked the front door and started walking towards the car. I detected a faint scent. Even though I may not have all of my avian senses anymore I could still pick things up. This scent was familiar; I realized that I had smelled it when I was searching for Emmett yesterday… who was this person??