Landed Wings

chapter 29: BREAKDOWN



OBSIDIAN

I am ashamed at breaking down like that, especially in front of Ivory. Raven needs me to be strong. I wonder if they took her instead of me because they knew she was the strong one. Raven wouldn’t have broken down she would just do whatever needed to be done. I have to be strong if I’m going to do whatever I need to do to get Ashlynn home. I can’t be afraid to act. Not now.

“I have to go to the park. Cocoa said she was going to leave some things in a bag that I would need before Friday.”

I will never refer to her as Ashlynn’s mother again.

“Ok, we’ll go. Are…are you ok now?”

This is what I hate. I hate sympathy. Sympathy is for people not strong enough to hold in their emotions or deal with their situation. Sympathy is just a person feeling sorry for you because you are weak and can’t do anything. I’m not weak, Ivory can save her sympathy. This will be the last time I hear those words of sympathy escape from anyone’s lips.

“I’m fine.”

My words are clipped and angry. A shadow passes over Ivory’s face. She didn’t deserve that. She’s been here for me.

“Sorry, Ive. I’m just…just a little on edge here.”

“It’s fine, I understand. I’m going to fly ahead while…I’m

going to fly ahead. And Obsidian? It’s not weak to cry for someone you love. It’s noble.”

She walks out the door, snaps open her wings and flies away. I’ve never noticed how beautiful her wings are, small like her, but a blinding white. I know she’s giving me time to myself and I take it. I need to have a plan of action. How will I get Ashlynn to come with me? If I were her, I would be suspicious of me just showing up at a party specifically for VWP members. I hate it, but I can tell her that Raven is in serious trouble and needs her help. I don’t want to have to do that though. I don’t want to be like them. I hear the door open, and turn around expecting to see Ivory. Why would she come back? But when I turn, it’s a pair of iceberg eyes staring at me, instead of Ivory’s warm brown ones. Pepper. I make my face blank. She’s the one who brought me the fake message.

“What are you doing here?”

“I came to help Obsidian.”

“I got through to Ash’s…Cocoa. She told me what I needed to do.”

“That’s good, Obsidian.”

“Pepper are you a member of the VWP?”

“Yes, I am a Junior Executive for the VWP. I really believe in their work and values.”

That’s all I need to know. My face becomes a hard mask of anger.

“Get out.”

She looks surprised. Good.

“What did you say?”

“You heard me.”

“You work for them. The people who snatched my sister. I

really believe in their work and values. You liar. You knew, and you just lied to my face. You’re sick. You sit down with us everyday, eat with us, laugh with us and pretend you are one of our friends. The whole time, you were just watching us, waiting for your chance.”

She’s slowly backs up and walks out the open door. I follow while my face stretches in a grotesque grin. She’s on my porch now, and the only thing behind her is the empty sky. I shove her off and she falls backwards. I know she won’t really fall of course, she has wings. But the satisfaction I get from shoving her outweighs the disappointment of her nonexistent death. I call out to her.

“Congratulations Pepper! You’ve made me into a new man. One who really believes in work and values!”

She snaps open her wings, and they stop her fall. I wave

joyfully and she just stares at me, then spins flying away. I feel a shift in my consciousness, my sense of what’s right and what’s wrong. There’s nothing right about them taking Raven and there’s nothing wrong with my doing whatever it takes to get Raven back. I feel like I’ve won an important battle. I fly off in the direction of the park, and I stop smiling. There’s nothing funny about what I’m going to do.