I spot Tyler making his way out of the forest. He stopped once he saw the state of the city. His protective layer of stone had reverted back into his skin. He looked to be in a state of shock.
I shift my shoulders, trying to stay airborne as long as possible.
I can't believe Travis is making me fight him! He won't fight me! I'll tear him apart!! My wings begin to ache and I descend towards where Tyler stood at the edge of the forest. He glances up once he sees me, "Ethan!" I can't make out the emotion on his face as I land a few feet away from him. Tyler, please, run away! Please get away from me!!
My wings tense and I let out a crackling howl before I start forward. There was an itch in the back of my mind; ready to fight.
"Ethan?" He questions.
I spring forward and strike with my claws. He dodges me and stumbles back, "He got to you, didn't he?" His voice was soft and there was a bit of pain. I wince but it comes out as a snarl. My head snaps in his direction, my teeth bare at him, "KILL KILL!!!"
We clash!
His arm blocks my attack! My claws shred through his skin! Blood begins to drip down his arm. I'm sorry, Tyler, please protect yourself!!!! Don't allow me to tear into you!!
He grunts and shoves me backwards. I stumble back, my wings steady me. He glances at his arm, and then back to me, "He's serious." He tilts his head a bit. His body begins to sink down into the ground. My body snaps forward and strikes out but I miss as he completely vanishes in the ground.
'Tyler can essentially become the ground and move within the stone.' I recall my conversation with Wade. Where does he plan on going??
I begin to claw at the ground, Where'd he go?? He must be in the ground somewhere, right??? I tilt my head. The itch starts to become irritating. Is that Travis' presence within me??
Ethan, return to me. My guardian thinks he can just bypass the fight I have prepared for him. I will not allow that. You will fight him.
Once more, I take to the sky and head back to the city. I'm glad he can entertain himself with our pain.

Felix was hovering above the city. He had one arm crossed over his midsection as the other lightly touched his exposed skin. I slowed down and then stopped a few feet from him. I take in his back side. His wings pump every few seconds to keep him airborne. He had the strange ridges that traveled down his spine and connected to his tail, which swayed from side to side in a lazy manner. What could possibly be going through your mind? Are you devising a plan? Do you have a way to escape? Or did you lock yourself away like Jack did? What about Mark? Is he alright? Is he still trying to portal people to safety??? As if sensing my presence, Felix turns around to face me. The exposed human skin was now traveling down his neck, revealing his nasty scar. His eyes narrow slightly but he turns from me as if quite annoyed with me being there. He huffs heavily and then he grumbles softly.
Quit stalling!
I jerk to the side and then fly past Felix, heading back to Travis. I land in front of him and glance at Mark. His face had crimson blood splattered all over it. He didn't look bothered by this fact. His eyes were dull. Jack was nowhere to be seen. Mark takes flight as soon as I land and he disappears around a few remaining buildings. Travis walks forward and pulls me over to his side, "Take a seat. Stay here until he arrives. As soon as you see him, it's on sight. And do not let him get away this time!" He spits as he grips my arm painfully tight. I take my place at his side and then sit down on the ground below me. The city was strangely silent.
It broke my heart to see the destruction that came from my friends. It broke my heart that we were merely tools to be used to create such chaos. Why Travis? We were finally free. We finally had a life of our own. A life worth living.
I rest my head on my arms that I propped up with my knees. I closed my eyes briefly. Please be a nightmare, when I open my eyes, I just wish to be home.

Something freezing cold hit my skin and I jolted up. There's a woman standing in a corner of the fairly small room behind a light that is pointed in my direction. What? Where am I? What is this?? My eyes dart around the room. It's mostly empty. The walls are a bland tan color. The door is closed behind the woman and next to her is a window. I squint past the light in my face to see my reflection in the window. I look hideous. My eyes jerk down to my wrists and I jerk against the chains.
"W-what's this!?" My voice crackles through my lips. I stand but immediately sit back down as my head spins and I fight the urge to vomit.
"Easy, the chains are just a precaution." The woman begins to speak, "Take a breath. I mean you no harm."
"Precaution, for what?" I ask.
"Do you know your name?" She asks, ignoring my question.
"Of course I know my name." I reply.
"What is your name?" She asks.
"What's yours?" I counter.
"I am Agent London with the NWO." She replies, flashes a badge at me for half a second before pulling it away and shoving it back in her pocket.
"NWO? Can you turn that stupid light off, it hurts my eyes." I grumble.
The light clicks off and the above light is turned on. I can see a little more clearly. The woman has long blonde hair and blue eyes. She's wearing a pressed suit and a sidearm is strapped to her hip.
"New World Order. We are an anti-government corporation." She explains briefly.
"Anti-government..." I bring my eyes back down to my hands. I'm cuffed at the wrists and the cuffs are chained to the floor.
"Again, those are a precaution." She states.
"You think I'm going to leap across the room and rip your throat out?" I ask.
"I don't know what you are capable of." She replies, "All I know is what I have seen on video, Ethan."
"Video? Wait, how do you know my name?" I look back up at her.
"We know a lot about you. Your name is Ethan Wright. You are 5'8, weigh 131 pounds, and your blood type is AB negative..."
"Alright! Alright," I interrupted her, "What the hell does the New World Order want with me?"
"Not just you, but your friends as well. We are a corporation that was made on the grounds of righting the wrongs made by the government." She begins to explain, "After the destruction of several cities, we stepped in to protect you from the government which has declared all of you as terrorists."
"Terrorists? Us?? We were being mind controlled!" I spit, my head begins to pound and my ears ring. I bring my head down and groan, covering my eyes.
"Do you need something to drink?" She asks in a softer tone. I can't help but lick my lips at the mention of a cold drink, realizing just how parched my mouth was. I took in a few breaths. My body begins to feel heavy, as if my limbs were made of lead. I look up once I hear a clinking sound on the table in front of me. A glass of water. I lick my lips again and then glance at the woman in the corner.
"It's not drugged." She says once our eyes meet.
"And why should I trust you?" I ask.
"Because we are the only safety net your people have left." She answers.
I frown.
"The government has declared you terrorists as to keep their favor with the public eye as your, leader-"
"He wasn't our leader!" I snap, baring my teeth, standing again. Just the thought of Travis makes my skin crawl and my anger boils.
She clears her throat, "...your controller," She corrects herself, "Claimed that he worked for the government to make all of you."
"He wasn't lying." I snort, "We were created as government weapons."
"To keep themselves in favor, you are all enemies now. And if we hadn't jumped in to collect all of you, you would've been gunned down." She continues.
"You're on our side yet you chain me to the floor??" I bring up my arms and wiggle them to make the chain rattle.
"You're chained to the floor for my safety. We don't know if Travis' control is still in effect." She says.
"If Travis was still in control of me, I wouldn't be talking to you." I take a seat and reach for the glass of water. The glass is cold against my hand and sends a chill of goosebumps up my arm. Lifting the glass took a lot of focus, my body aches, "...why am I so sore...?"
"I'm not sure what happened before we arrived. My people found you passed out in the middle of the street. You were covered in a lot of wounds." She starts to fill me in.
I set the glass down after a drink, "Wounds...?" I jerk my head to the side as a shooting pain strikes me, "Agh-!"
There's sudden shouting that rings through my ears and brings back flashes of some kind of fight. It's hard to make out what's happening. I shake my head, trying to clear it. I tumble forward from my seat, my breath becomes labored, reaching up to block the sound from my ears.
"Ethan!"
"Ethan!!"
"Stop, stop it!" I shake my head again, groaning.
"Tear him apart!"
I can hear Travis' stupid voice. My hands shake as the transformation takes over. I stumble backwards as far as I can go before the chains halt my movements.
"Stop it!"
The flashes get worse and I can just make out Tyler's face.
He looks to be in pain.
I jerk my head backwards, the back of my skull collides with the wall behind me. A crackling howl escapes me.
I slam my head back into the wall again, "STOP IT!!!"
My vision begins to swim and I jerk forward, stumbling over my own feet.
"Please stop!"
"Don't hurt me!"
"Leave my child alone!!"
"Please please spare me!!"
Voices I don't recognize begin to force their way through my brain.
The chain jerks my arms back behind me and my head snaps around to it. I hiss in annoyance and give them a rough tug, "Let go!" It strains under my strength but does not give. I take a few steps and slice my claws through the floor, trying to dig up the part that was connected to the ground. A loud cry comes from behind me and I jerk around. My eyes dart around the empty room.
"Hello?"
I shiver slightly as the room suddenly drops in temperature. I pant heavily. I can see my hot breath beat around me. My pointy ears shift a bit and lay more flatly against my head as I feel frightened. I shift slowly backwards, glancing around the room. I open my mouth to let out another breath.
No one ever answered me.
It was silent, yet at the same time it was ear splitting. I shake my head, rubbing at my ears to get rid of the annoying sounds that buzzed.
"Please, forgive me."
I collapsed on the floor, a searing pain floods my senses, and my body contorts in anguish "AHHHHH!!"
The memory busts forward, slamming against my brain. Tyler reaches up from underneath me. His face was bleeding. He looks upset, "...forgive me..." His enormous hands grip onto my wings at the base and in one swift motion rips them from my body!
I curl in on myself, "N-no, no, it's not possible..." I take a breath, "H-he wouldn't do that..." I take another breath. It feels like I can't get enough air to fill my lungs. I take my right hand and claw at the floor and pull my hand towards me as I slowly turn over and face the floor. I sit up on my legs and try to swallow down more air. My hands begin to shake as I reach back to my upper back and place my hand where my wings were supposed to be. I jerk my hand back, wincing at the throbbing pain. I bring my hand back in front of me, it shakes, and my eyes widen at the sight of blood.
...Tyler...T-tyler...took...
My vision blurs from the flood of tears.
My heart wrenches in my chest.
...my wings...
My stomach lurches and I lean over, beginning to dry heave.

I don't know how long I laid curled up in the corner before someone finally came back into the room.
"...Ethan...?" A soft hand lightly touches my arm. The hand is warm against my freezing skin. I recognize Hailey's voice.
"Can you turn to face me please?" Her tone is soothing. I shift just enough to crane my neck back to see her crouched behind me.
"I need you to turn so I can unlock your wrists." She explains. I look back at the wall and then close my eyes.
Just leave me to die.
She shakes my arm just slightly and I open my eyes again. I let out a breath and then shifted around to face her. She takes my wrists and sticks the key in the lock. There's a click and the cuffs fall to the ground. I rub my wrists.
Hailey stands, taking my hands in hers, "Here, let's get you to a doctor."
Despite my thoughts, my body moves roughly, and begins to follow her out of the room. The door leads out into a hallway, not much more colorful than the room I was just in. The floor is carpeted with this rough feeling against my bare feet. I can't decide if it's better than the hospital's freezing tile or not.
Hailey takes the lead down the left of the hallway. I follow her.
The hallway is short before it opens up into a much bigger room. It's full of desks. At least 20 people are either typing on computers, going through paperwork, or chatting amongst themselves. I stop at the entrance of the room. The scene before me makes me think of all the movie scenes that involved police rooms. Where the fuck are we? Hailey senses that I'm not behind her, turns around. She makes her way back to me. I take notice that her long hair had been cut extremely short. Her wrist was wrapped in a brace.  There's a large bandage on her right cheek. She looked like she recently showered. She wore a baggy T-shirt that covered her shorts.
"Ethan, it's okay, they aren't going to hurt us." She grabs my hand gently. Almost cradling it within her grasp.
"They are working to help us. Bob already made sure they didn't have ill intentions."
Bob's okay? Who survived?
...Amy...
A few more tears make their way down my face and a shuddering breath leaves me. Hailey moves closer and wipes the tears from my face, "Sh, sh, it's alright." I was struggling to hold up my own body weight against the crushing guilt.
"We only have a little ways to go, okay? Just follow me." Her voice pulls me from the tainted memory and I nod my head. She starts back in the direction we had originally been going. I glance at the people in the room. They ignored us. Continuing their job as if we didn't exist. The room funnels into another hallway, slightly longer than the last.
It opens into another large room. This one is painted like a daycare. There's clouds and rainbows on the walls. One wall is painted yellow to be the sun. Little teddy bears and other stuffed animals crowd the furthest wall. The kids were all on one side. All laying down on little mats, sleeping.
Nap time? Asher?? Asher!!
I reach forward and tap Hailey's shoulder. She turns her head back and tilts her head, confusion on her face.
I gesture to the kids and then swing my arms slightly like I'm rocking an infant.
She puts the puzzle together swiftly, "Molly's watching him." She whispers.
I feel relief wash over me.
We leave the brightly colored daycare room. And enter an elevator.
What the fuck is this building?
The elevator takes us down a couple of floors and opens to a new wing. This one is painted white. Hospital? Doctor's office? Hailey leads me down this new hallway until we enter another room through double doors. This room reminds me of the main cafeteria of the old hospital. Inside sits Bob, Wade, their respective wives, and Rose.
The conversation slows once we enter the room. Rose stands and makes his way over to Hailey, pulling her into a tight hug. Hailey hugs him back, "Easy, you're not supposed to be standing yet." She ushers him back to his seat.
"I missed you." He says.
"Missed me? I was gone for maybe ten minutes." Hailey chuckles softly.
"It felt like eternity." He replies.
"Mr. Wright, it's good to see you again."
I jerk my head to the left to see Agent London step out of a nearby door. Next to her is another woman. She is a bit shorter and younger than London.
I narrow my eyes at them, "What do you want?"
"I just want to check in on you after your..." She pauses her sentence, "...anyways, if I may ask you some questions?"
Bob walks over and helps me to a seat, "I'll get a doctor." He leaves the room.
The agents move over to me but keep their space.
"What kind of questions?" I ask.
"We just want to understand everything that has happened. We already have your friends testimonies." The younger woman says.
"What for?"
"So we can make a defense for you." She answers. I rub my temples. They was beginning to irritate me. I didn't want to speak about anything that happened. I don't want to remember. I don't want to go back to any of it.
"Agent London," Wade stands and makes his way over to stand between us, "I'm afraid I'm going to have to step in and remind you that you previously agreed to not question the Songbirds until they feel ready. As you recall, this entire incident is very traumatizing for them." 
London closes the folder she had been carrying, "No, no, you're right. I did agree with that. Ethan, I apologize."
"We've been assigned this case for the last decade and now it's just been blown wide open, excuse my unprofessional excitement." The second woman says.
"Excitement?" I echo, "This is exciting to you?" I stand and glare at her, "You find this exciting!?"
She takes a step back as I step forward.
"No-! That was a poor choice of words." She tries to correct herself.
Wade, again, steps between us, "Agent London, I advise you to leave the room."
"Right, right I apologize for my colleague's unprofessional behavior." London wraps an arm around the younger woman's shoulder and begins to steer her out of the room.
"...exciting?" She mutters and then the door cuts off the rest of their conversation. Wade turns back to me just in time to catch me as my bad knee gives out, "Easy, Ethan,"
"I'm so tired." I close my eyes.
"I know, I know. It's been an exhausting few days." He places me back in the chair as Bob returns with a doctor. I don't recognize them. They must work for the corporation. I grit my teeth to fight the urge to snarl at this unknown person, "How did we even get here? What happened?"
"My group found yours in the obliterated city. Agent London was loading everyone into their vehicle." Wade starts to explain.
I flinch at the doctor's touch and then look away from her. The presence of a doctor makes my skin crawl. I get flashes of Amy's eyes in my mind.
'I forgive you Ethan.'
You may forgive me Amy, but I don't think I will ever forgive myself. I should have been stronger. I should've broken free.
"She explained briefly what she told you about the NWO." He shuffles his feet a little bit and then sighs, "We didn't have a choice but to come with them. Not that they are evil but as you know no one wants to be monitored in another building by another corporation."
"How's your shoulder?" I utter.
"Huh? Oh, it's nothing. Jack didn't do that much damage." Wade brushes off my question but his face couldn't hide that he was lying.
"And the others?" I ask.
"Mark, Jack, and Felix are their own spaces. They have been checked over by doctors and are keeping to themselves. You were the last one to wake up."  He answers and I nod.
"Tyler is in a separate room as well. He is still being checked over by doctors." Wade says and I shudder at his name. My back tingles with a slight pain.
I make a face and then snarl at the doctor, who jumps backwards.
"Don't touch my back!"
"B-but you need treatment!" The doctor stammers, "You'll get an infection!"
"I don't care! Don't touch me!!!" I leap to my feet. Wade grabs the doctor and jerks them away from me. Hailey and Bob rush over to add extra protection.
I glance at them as they stare at me. It was a little I have never seen before. Was it fear? Did they fear me?
Good. Fear me.
I'm not a puppet.
"Ethan, just take a breath. Your back needs to be doctored." Hailey says softly. A low gutteral sound leaves my throat and I back away from them. It's too crowded. I make it over to a further wall and rest against it, all my movements beginning to feel sluggish.
I crouch and rub my head.
I can hear faint whispers from my friends but I can't make out their words.
I bury my head between my knees and take in a breath. All I can smell is my sweat mixing with the clean air and it makes my stomach twist.
I hate it here. I want to go home. I want to go back to the way things were before Travis.
"Ethan, I understand that you are in a lot of unbearable pain right now, but please let the doctor help you. We don't want you to fall ill." Bob's voice is soft. I didn't know he could speak so quietly.
Bob, everything hurts. I'm frightened.
"I know you are, Buddy, but trust me as I would never put you in any harm." He says. I glance up and over at them.
Do you promise to watch every single step?
"Cross my heart and hope to die." He replies as he makes the motion of crossing his finger over his heart and then holding up his hand in the Boy Scout's honor hold. I mull over his words and then sigh softly. I stand slowly and then amble over towards the group. I don't bother to speak as I sit backwards in the chair so the doctor has access to my back after removing my torn shirt. I heard Hailey gasp in shock and I knew it was worse than I could ever imagine. I twist the shirt and then bring it up to my mouth. I knew it was going to be some of the worst pain I have ever been in and I don't need to scream.
You might have to hold me still.
Bob and Wade step forward to hold me in place.
"Should we get some-?"
"It has to be a certain make for the Songbirds, the only one who knew about it was our doctor." Wade interrupts the doctor.
"...oh," the doctor hums from behind me.
"Could you hurry before I lose my nerve." I grumble.
"Oh, yes! Of course." The doctor says. I feel Wade and Bob tighten their grips and I understand that the doctor was getting closer to me. I feel my own body tense as I fight against the urge to jump away and transform.
Hailey moves to crouch in front of me, "So Asher is starting to sit up on his own properly now."
"Really?" I tilt my head.
"Yeah, he's in absolute perfect health!" She grins.
I feel a smile cross my face, "That's wonder-...ah-!" I bite down on my shirt. I shift my legs around to try and reroute my energy. I squeeze my eyes shut.
Ignore it! Ignore it! This pain is nothing!
I want my wings back...
I'm flightless...!
NO NO! IMPOSSIBLE!!
Then all is silent in my head.
"Hold him still, hold him!" The doctor urges.
"He's pretty strong for a little guy." I hear Rose mutter. I hadn't realized he joined the others holding me down in the seat. Hailey touches my arm, she begins to hum softly. That tune. Oh, that familiar tune, I almost missed it.
A quieter rumble vibrates my chest, almost humming along to the Lullaby.
I feel my tense muscles beginning to loosen up. The fear slowly subsides and I rest my head down on my forearms.

"How long are we going to be kept here?" I ask.
Wade glances up from the paper he was writing on and then turns his head to look around the room for a few seconds then back to me, "I'm not sure. It has yet to be discussed with Agent London."
"What all do we know about London?" I cross my arms over my chest, I turn to look at Bob. He was cleaning his glasses on his shirt, "Well that she joined the FBI after she graduated college and eventually she worked her way up until she was discharged from duty to bring wounded. Some ultra rich guy found her and after a couple of years convinced her to help start NWO."
"Perfect, just add that to the list of shit that's happened to us." I roll my eyes and lean my head back to stare up at the ceiling.
"I don't think they have ill intentions for us." Rose speaks up.
I feel a slight irritation shoot up my spine and I turn to look at him, "Really?" I raise a brow. I almost couldn't believe the words that had come out of his mouth.
He has a bit of a sheepish look, "...I mean they didn't have to help us while we were trying to gather ourselves after everything."
"Yeah, and the sky didn't have to be blue, yet here we are." I shrug.
He moves his lips in a small manner and then sighs softly, "I understand your worry."
"They helped us though Ethan, they managed to figure out what was wrong with Rose!" Hailey is quick on the defense, "Amy couldn't do that!"
I sit up and turn around to her, "Excuse me?"
"...I didn't mean that, it slipped out, honest." She says meekly. She was trying to avoid my eyes as I glared at her.
"Need I remind you of all that Amy did for us? For you?" The growl crawls up my throat and tears its way out of my mouth. A deeper growl makes its way from behind me and I turn to see Felix enter the room. His icy glare is almost enough to make me back down but I can't help but feel the sticky, hot, anger that was boiling deep under my skin.
"Calm down Ethan, you don't have to snap at my daughter for her slip of the tongue." He states. He was dressed in ordinary clothes again. His hair was combed out of his face. I could see bags under his eyes. He looked how I felt. He had a few scratches on his face.
That must've been from when his older face had been exposed by something.
His electric blue glow had returned to his eyes as he made his way closer to me. I take a small step backwards before his hand rests upon my shoulder. His eyes shift back and forth as he seems to be studying me.
I refuse to break eye contact with him.
The whole time I have known him, he was always staring me down. I was tired of it. It was such an irritation!
"Easy," He mutters, "As soon as everyone is healed and able, we are leaving. I'm not allowing us to fall into another puppet trap."
My anger starts to simmer and I let out a heavy breath, breaking our eye contact. I lean forward until my head rests upon his chest, "Everything hurts."
Felix carefully pulls me into a hug, "I know it does."
"Will it ever go back to normal?" I was glad for the elder Songbird's comfort.
The world kept flipping everything on its head and I just couldn't keep up. I felt like I was constantly falling behind everyone.
"The physical pain eventually subsides, but you learn to live with the emotional pain." He answers me.
"Do you remember anything before here?" I ask him.
A soft rumble vibrates in his chest, "I remember bits and pieces."
"...is Travis dead? What happened??" I pull my head back and look back at Wade, "Do you know??"
Wade shrugs his shoulders, "I know he is dead. I saw his body for myself, but I don't know how he died. I can't read your minds through the haze and Tyler is locked tighter than a bank vault."
That name makes me shiver.
I close my eyes briefly, then look back up at Felix, "Do you know how Mark and Jack are?"
"Mark and Jack have been held up in their room. They haven't left since they were assigned that room. I think they are trying to lick their wounds in peace. From what I recall, they went through some rough fights." He answers me.
I was glad that he was allowing me to rest against him. Thank you Hailey for making your dad more friendly. I need a hug so bad. My heart hurts.
I can feel Felix tug me slightly closer as he turns to address whoever walked into the room, "Agent."
It must've been London. What the hell else does she need?? Can't she quit sticking her damn nose into everything!
"I got word that your giant friend has been released from the medical room if you wanted to check up on him." The agent speaks. It sounded like a man.
...Tyler...
My stomach churns and I bury my face into Felix's chest.
"...you're shaking." I hear him whisper.
I can't be bothered to speak. The ache returns to my back.
"Please forgive me Ethan,"
The words from the memory came back to bounce around my head.
Is it possible that he was forced to do such a devastating thing? I guess I could ask. Can I handle the answer if he did it personally? Why would he do such a thing? Maybe I was about to murder him?? Travis did make us fight, I remember that. No, no, Tyler wouldn't do that again. He knows how terribly Jack suffered due to his hands. He wouldn't personally do that to his own lover, would he??
I felt dizzy from the whirlwind of thoughts that came one after the other. "Ethan, are you going to join us?" Hailey asks.
Now or never to make a decision.
"Yeah...I-I'll go with..." My voice wavers as I stammer through my words. It felt like my fear was beginning to cut off my air supply.