from the momentum of my dive. I even gain some altitude by mirroring Michael’s wing movements. Maybe I’m not quite as bad at this as I thought.
Now, for the hard part. I bank left, and turn back the way I came as quickly as I can. Within a minute, I spot Michael standing where I left him, searching for me, and I dive towards him. As I approach, I pull my body upright, and flap forward furiously, much like he did. I don’t look very graceful doing it, but I successfully land on my feet, swaying a little as I adjust to being on solid ground.
Michael claps a hand on my shoulder, his emerald green eyes shining with pride. “Well done,” he remarks. “You learn quickly.”
“Only when I have a half decent teacher,” I reply. My heart sinks as soon as the words leave my lips; the memory of a similar conversation with Krystal plays in my head, and the guilt of her death washes over me yet again. I wonder if I’ll ever stop thinking about her. It’s sickening, but on some level, I hope I do. And at the same time, I hope I don’t.
“Are you ready to try again?,” Michael asks. “I’d like to see how long you can stay above the ground.”
I nod. I’ve only been on my feet for half a minute, but I’m already itching to be airborne again. This time, Michael teleports me skyward, and as I hurtle towards the ground, I feel my earthly troubles melt away. I close my eyes, and embrace the freeing feeling of gravity pulling me downward, knowing that at the very least, I have a new escape from the harshness of the world below.
6
For the first couple weeks, I spend the majority of my time flying under Michael’s supervision, practicing the essential skills I’ll need later on. I’m still nowhere near as agile as he is, but I’ve made leaps and bounds in the short span of time. My wings no longer feel alien, but like they’ve been a part of me all along. I put as little thought into using them as I do my arms, freeing me to ponder more important things as I soar over the sea of green surrounding Michael’s property.
At the same time, Michael and I have become far closer than I ever would have expected. He understands me in a way the others can’t seem to grasp. And while he’s been teaching me how to fly, I’ve been teaching him basic social skills; he’s learned to say thank you whenever it’s appropriate, but he’s still working on when not to speak his mind. He’s becoming less and less annoying, which is a relief. With the constant lessons, he’s the only person I can really make time for. Not that I really have any great need to speak to the others lately.
Apparently, when I told Alyssa she was in charge of Nick’s training, she took it to heart. I’ve felt his power growing steadily day by day, and it’s a little startling. It’s not that he’s a threat to me; even at this rate, I don’t think he would be able to seriously challenge me for a couple of years. But there’s a dark edge to the power bubbling within him, something so subtle that I wonder if I’m imagining it. For the most part, I chalk it up to my paranoia. But sometimes, I still worry that the Nick who came back from the dead isn’t really my Nick at all.
I make him sleep in his own bed for exactly that reason. I love him, but I can’t afford to take any chances.
Unlike the rest of us, my mom has been having a fairly relaxing vacation. Michael provides all of us with food and shelter, so there’s no need to go out and make money. She spends most of her time working on a book that she’s never had the time for until now. I suppose the writing gene must run in the family. The difference between us is that she’s determined to write a whole novel, as
Now, for the hard part. I bank left, and turn back the way I came as quickly as I can. Within a minute, I spot Michael standing where I left him, searching for me, and I dive towards him. As I approach, I pull my body upright, and flap forward furiously, much like he did. I don’t look very graceful doing it, but I successfully land on my feet, swaying a little as I adjust to being on solid ground.
Michael claps a hand on my shoulder, his emerald green eyes shining with pride. “Well done,” he remarks. “You learn quickly.”
“Only when I have a half decent teacher,” I reply. My heart sinks as soon as the words leave my lips; the memory of a similar conversation with Krystal plays in my head, and the guilt of her death washes over me yet again. I wonder if I’ll ever stop thinking about her. It’s sickening, but on some level, I hope I do. And at the same time, I hope I don’t.
“Are you ready to try again?,” Michael asks. “I’d like to see how long you can stay above the ground.”
I nod. I’ve only been on my feet for half a minute, but I’m already itching to be airborne again. This time, Michael teleports me skyward, and as I hurtle towards the ground, I feel my earthly troubles melt away. I close my eyes, and embrace the freeing feeling of gravity pulling me downward, knowing that at the very least, I have a new escape from the harshness of the world below.
6
For the first couple weeks, I spend the majority of my time flying under Michael’s supervision, practicing the essential skills I’ll need later on. I’m still nowhere near as agile as he is, but I’ve made leaps and bounds in the short span of time. My wings no longer feel alien, but like they’ve been a part of me all along. I put as little thought into using them as I do my arms, freeing me to ponder more important things as I soar over the sea of green surrounding Michael’s property.
At the same time, Michael and I have become far closer than I ever would have expected. He understands me in a way the others can’t seem to grasp. And while he’s been teaching me how to fly, I’ve been teaching him basic social skills; he’s learned to say thank you whenever it’s appropriate, but he’s still working on when not to speak his mind. He’s becoming less and less annoying, which is a relief. With the constant lessons, he’s the only person I can really make time for. Not that I really have any great need to speak to the others lately.
Apparently, when I told Alyssa she was in charge of Nick’s training, she took it to heart. I’ve felt his power growing steadily day by day, and it’s a little startling. It’s not that he’s a threat to me; even at this rate, I don’t think he would be able to seriously challenge me for a couple of years. But there’s a dark edge to the power bubbling within him, something so subtle that I wonder if I’m imagining it. For the most part, I chalk it up to my paranoia. But sometimes, I still worry that the Nick who came back from the dead isn’t really my Nick at all.
I make him sleep in his own bed for exactly that reason. I love him, but I can’t afford to take any chances.
Unlike the rest of us, my mom has been having a fairly relaxing vacation. Michael provides all of us with food and shelter, so there’s no need to go out and make money. She spends most of her time working on a book that she’s never had the time for until now. I suppose the writing gene must run in the family. The difference between us is that she’s determined to write a whole novel, as
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