Flesh and Feathers by Danielle Hylton, April Fifer Page A

calm myself. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to scream and cry or find a baseball bat and start swinging.  
    I turned when I heard the back door open again. Kale stood a few feet away, trying to keep a safe distance. “Azaleigh, if you would let me explain.”
    “Go to hell!” I shouted as I began walking hard steps down the alley that would lead to the city sidewalk.
    “Azaleigh!” he shouted, grabbing my arm and spinning me around to face him.
    My only reaction was to slap him hard across his face. The loud sound of my hand making contact with his cheek shocked me, but I was too angry to care. “No! You don’t understand! You don’t ever get to touch me again !”
    I shrugged harshly out of his grip. Just then, a heavy gust blew, ruffling my hair and blinding me as I turned to walk away, followed by a loud thud. Taking a step forward, I brushed my hair from my face, but then stopped suddenly. A man wearing a white hooded cloak stood in front of me. At first I stopped because I was astonished by what he was wearing, but as I studied him, I noticed the slender sword-like object that he gradually pulled from his side. My body began to tremble with fear.  
    “Azaleigh, get behind me!” Kale demanded, in a firm voice.
    Before I had a chance to respond, the man started running towards us. I felt Kale’s arm wrap around my waist. He held me tight to his body, and I could feel something begin to rumble inside him. I saw what appeared to be huge wings spread out behind us. What I thought was confirmed as he turned to shield me. One of the wings came down with such a force that it embedded into the street, sending chunks of asphalt and dust flying in all directions. I let out a scream as I felt the impact that Kale had intercepted. I was so scared and didn’t understand what was going on. Crouched under the huge wing, I saw blood trickling down underneath of it, and I could feel it soaking into the back of my shirt. I felt another hard blow that shook our bodies, and I heard Kale exhale in pain. Holding onto his arms as they were wrapped around me, Kale shifted our bodies using his wing to knock the man against the brick wall. With a heave, Kale lifted us off the ground but only to be pulled back down. Kale lost his grip on me, and I fell hard, hitting my head.
    Automatically, I placed my hand on my head. Looking at my hand, it was covered in blood, and the coppery smell made me sick. I tried to look up and see where Kale was, but everything was too muddled. I could barely make out the two figures fighting a short distance from me. There was no definition to their bodies, making them one big hazy mass. Two more figures came into view, and I heard Tannah shout to Jen. “Go help, Az!”
    Jen leaned over me, and I could see the concern in her face. “Az, stay with me.” My head felt heavy, and it throbbed with pain. Jen tried to get me to focus on her. I couldn’t help but try and look over her shoulder for any sign of Kale.
    “Azaleigh! Look at me!” Jen shouted one last time. I brought my eyes back to hers. I felt a sense that calmed me as I stared at her. Then wings unrealistically bloomed from her back. They were breathtaking. I tried maneuvering my mouth into a smile. “You’re an Angel,” I said, not really sure if I was asking her or telling her. Jen smiled back, and then closed in on me, wrapping herself around me. Everything went dark, but before I surrendered to the darkness, my body felt weightless, and I could hear the faint sound of wings beating against the air.
    ***
    I could hear someone talking, causing me to stir. I breathed in and noticed the room smelled like soap and cleansing solution. My eyes were still closed. I was having this great dream, but it was starting to fade away. I searched my mind trying to get it back, but the more I did the further out of reach it became.
    I heard more talking. This time I recognized the voices. My eyes felt heavy as I tried to pry them open. It took a moment to