It happened on the school bus, actually. I had no idea what Rex and Chris needed from some random kid. But, apparently, Ty and Garrett needed a bit of back-up. Hence the reason we were there.

“This better be good,” I whispered to Claire, sitting beside me.

“That’s the tenth time you’ve said that, and I already said it would be,” Claire growled back, “I get that you traveled twenty light years to be here, but hold your horses! If we can distract enough people, then the boys and Kinney can read their minds. We have to find out what’s going on in the basement of the school, and this is the only way. The scans we’ve been doing in the building haven’t turned anything up. And, a few of the kids we think have been down in the basement are riding on this bus.”

“What am I here for?”

“You’re here to think up some kind of distraction. We can’t blow our cover here. That would limit our effectiveness. We’d accomplish nothing. Not to mention, no one knows you. So you create a distraction, disappear, and nobody ever sees you again,” Claire explained for probably the tenth time.

“Do you have memory loss problems or something?” Claire questioned a moment later, one eye brow raised.

“Actually, yes,” I replied, turning to scan the other teens sitting around us in the bus.

“Why do we need to distract the kids?”

I’d forgotten already. Apparently, some of the effects of the Thousand Year War were still with me. Being a Regenerate isn’t the easiest, sometimes.

“Because they’d realize someone else was in their heads rooting around if they weren’t focused on something else. Especially the most important kid we need info from. We know he’s been down there.”

Claire’s irritation was becoming evident. She swept her caramel-colored hair behind her shoulders, pretending to check her backpack again to prevent my questions.

The bus stopped, and another boy got on. Instantly, I could sense him; he was telepathic. That’s why they needed a distraction. Mainly so he wouldn’t realize they’d be looking through his mind, but also since they might have to pull some stunts to read everyone else’s minds in a few split seconds.

Wait. Am I repeating myself? All this information is hard to keep track of.

I tried to focus, concentrating on remembering what was going on. It was hard without my phone and all the songs I had on it. I decided to remember my favorite, and went through it in my mind.

As long as I didn’t have another attack of PTSD again, I’d be fine. I took a deep breath, the nervousness of knowing this was the first time in a while I’d been in any field ops gripping my heart. I felt the adrenaline coursing my veins, my heart pumping.

I took a deep breath, concentrating and shutting off the excess flow of adrenaline. My heart slowed, and I continued to focus on my song.

Meanwhile, the kid had closed his eyes, trying to snag a cat nap before the bus arrived at the school in less than eight and a half minutes. My mind kept track of the distance, the ever-changing speed of the bus. Acceleration, deceleration, the current time, the distance from the school; I wanted to watch, but at the same time not.

Ty, Garrett, Rex, Chris, and Kinney were communicating in private telepathy, and I think they had started scanning. Early morning traffic was light as the bus wound its way near the city center to the high school on the other side.

The boy settled towards the middle of the bus, slouching down in his seat, tossing his backpack down beside him.

I could feel that he was tired. Rex was sitting in front of him, angled toward Kinney across the aisle and a few rows up.

I could feel Rex begin prodding carefully through the dozing boy’s mind. I think he thought he could pull it off if he was careful enough; but the boy would be more sensitive in his sleep—especially being a telepathic.

Slowly, the boy was becoming more aware. I could feel him. Any second now, he’d awaken with a start, and instantly Ty, Garrett, Kinney, and Claire’s cover would be blown.

“Distraction, please! Anytime now would be great!” Claire hissed at me, knowing I was still unable to use telepathy.

I was frozen. Rex’s mind inched closer toward discovery by the mind he was invading, and I couldn’t move. I was terrified, unable to think.

“OLIVIA!!!” Claire growled, kicking my left shin hard, “ANYTHING?!?!?!?!”

Finally, my head cleared and I scrambled over Claire. I about fell on my face tripping over her backpack that had been resting at her feet—that caused a decent half-distraction.

Running toward the back of the moving vehicle, I got everyone’s attention as I turned around.

Giant white wings started to morph from my back. Muscle’s rearranged, bones changed. I leapt upwards, holding myself still with a force field. My wings were reaching full size and, even not fully spread, would still be wider than the bus was.

The bus was travelling at sixty miles an hour but it still felt in slow motion. Glass exploded behind me as my wings contacted the back wall of the bus. Metal warped, bent, and finally ruptured outward, shredding and freeing me. I spread my wings fully as I dropped my force field and my wings caught the wind, sucking me straight up.

I readjusted, swooping back down to level with the back of the bus. I strained every muscle, trying to reach the blown-out rear of the bus again. I had the attention of everyone. From the front of the bus, I could see Chris flash me a thumbs up—mission success.

Obviously, the bus driver slammed on the breaks not too long after that. Gaining altitude, I barely cleared the back of the yellow vehicle as I rocketed on ahead and started soaring higher into early morning sun.

In the east, the sun was slowly rising, casting magnificent orange hues across the scattered clouds. I took a deep breath, air easily filling my lungs, exhilarated by the thrill of flight.

I grinned uncontrollably, my nervousness from earlier gone, and a song back in my head. I hummed along as I swooped low and soared high, banking back and forth for the fun of it as I headed for the open country and the extraction chopper. It was a beautiful spring day, and the sun warmed my wings. Summer was on its way.

This was fun, and I was on the road to a full recovery.

***************

[]

“You could have just asked,” the boy commented, leaning back against his seat and closing his eyes again.

No one said anything.

“The name’s Ryan, by the way,” he said.

The boy opened his eyes again and looked over at Kinney.

“What’s your name?” he questioned, hitting on her.

“Kinley. Kinley Erics,” she said, unyieldingly flat.

“You wanna hang out sometime? Seems like you and your friends could use a little help.”

Ryan shut his eyes again and leaned back again, hands behind his head.

The others just looked at each other as sirens wailed nearby, growing closer to the halted bus.

Excerpt (snapshot, really) from a book further on in my sci-fi series I’m working on. Haven’t really on Prose for a little while, but I haven’t forgotten about Red Riding Hood.

"Would you shut up already?" Avian snapped, his already dark brown eyes darkening even more in irritation.

"Fine, fine." But I shut up because Avian just looks like one of those people you don't mess with--shaggy, touseled dark hair, dark eyes, a muscular frame, a strong jawline. And of course, the almost imperceptible fangs and wings that have over a sixteen foot wingspan don't help anything.

"Thank you. Now, if Micah were here, I would have him..."

"Do his little disappearing trick and nab Siren," I cut him off.

Clearly irritated I was finishing his sentances, he started to let out a sigh but stopped himself. "Yes, that's exactly what I'd have him do. But he's not. So I have to make do with what I've got."

"By which, you mean me."

"Yeah, the little miss Smarty-pants wannabe."

Oops, he's seriously in a bad mood I thought.

The next couple minutes passed in complete silence, and I took this opportunity to survey the prison in front of us. Guards on the wall, guards on the ground by the walls, watch dogs, even watch birds...it was high security.

"They change the guards out one at a time to cut down on confusion and panic, but with your telepathic abilities, it shouldn't be too hard." Avian was silent for a second or so. "When that one on the bottom leaves, he'll take the dog with him. So your chances of slipping by without being smelled are pretty high."

I nodded. "And if they do, I'll be using my telepathic abilities to hide myself. It'll be like I'm Micah."

"Only you won't be able to sustain it for one-nintieth of the time he can," he reminded me.

He was right, and it worried me.

"They're about to switch...get ready to go...and go!" he hissed.

As I dashed across the open expanse of hard rocky ground, my heart pounding, Avian's voice enter my head. Lakin, please don't screw this up.

I ignored him, screeching to a halt as I appraoched the wall. I could feel a tingling on my skin from the electricty coursing over the smooth, obsidian like stones of the walls. I needed to proceed with care.

You're doing good so far, he said.

I grunted in reply, too busy focusing all my energy on sustaining the hallucination I was projecting of empty space where I was, and also levitating myself with a force field.

Thankfully, Avian didn't feel the need to point out my timing was a little off; now I had to hold myself, in the air, with my mind, while waiting for the dog handler to walk to the other side of the wall.

He is not walking fast enough, and that dog is going to smell if the wind shifts even just a little bit...

Unfortunately, Avian conviently forgot to tell me the dogs were genetically enhanced, and it didn't have to wait for any wind to smell me a mile off. (Yes, I would have strangled him if I could actually bring myself to do it. I mean, heavens sakes, how many guys who could pass for angels have you strangled?!)

The dogs weren't barking yet because the scent masker Avian had drenched me in had been doing a pretty good job up until the point where I was sweating buckets.

And also the wind shifted.

The dog's head shifted towards me as he walked.

my ever helpful coach whispered in horror.

The dog's mouth seemed to open in slow motion, and I could see through its fur an outline of where its lungs would be. I watched them expand as it drew in air and then violently expell an earsplitting bark.

At least they can't see me, I thought, hastily moving myself over to the edge of the wall and setting my feet down.

Jerking away from its surprised handler, the dog lunged right at the spot where I would be. Deftly sidestepping, I expected the dog to fall over the side of at least miss me.

No such luck. That hunk of genetic engineering raked out a paw and its retractable claws hooked into my leg. I couldn't help the scream that escaped my lips and next thing I knew, the guard was firing his gun at me.

I caught each bullet in the sheild I quickly replaced my hallucination/ hologram with, catching each one and sending them streaking back at him. That took care of him, and a swift force-feild assisted blow to the canine freed me. But more guards--hordes of them--were streaking towards me.

Avian?! I could use some help! Like, anything! Anytime!

He didn't answer.

Leaping down off the wall and onto the walkway, I took off running. I shot flames from my palms at the guards advancing towards me to keep them away, but my telepathic energy was quickly waning and there were too many of them.

And then, suddenly, smokey tendrils of gray starting wrapping up over the walkways and towers, twining around the guards' legs and the dogs' mouths, jerking them back and over to the ground below.

I winced at the thuds that ensued.

I couldn't believe it. Siren?! You're free?

Her telepathic voice flooded my brain. Yes.

But who let you out?

Avian did, she said.

I couldn't believe it. Avaian?! Then, Avian!

I knew you'd screw it up so I just decided to use you as a distraction and free her myself, he said.

You could have told me first!I yelled.

He flew up beside me and landing graceful, folding his huge wings up against his shoulder blades. "I don't know why you're upset; we freed Siren."

"You lied to me and you've also insulted me." I folded my arms over my chest. Why was I so angry?!

"I'm sorry," he said, and he really seemed to mean it. He glanced at Siren, and then down at the crumpled guards. Already, we could hear sirens blaring and barking coming from inside the compound. "But I'll make it up to you. How 'bout a night time fly over Manhattan?"

He smiled.

I wanted to say no, but I couldn't help myself. "Fine."

"Okay, let's go." He grabbed one of Siren's hands and one of mine before jumping over the wall.

I yelped in surprise before using a force field to hold myself aloft as he dropped our hands and started flapping his wings in long, graceful sweeps.

As irritating as that was, I had to grin back at him when he flashed me another smile.

I mean, c'mon--he looks like a male model and has the wings of an angel. Who can stay mad at someone like that?! I sure as crud can't.

im walking home after work, im so tired i use the short cut even though my annoying Aunt lives down this street. dont get me wrong, shes ok when she isnt telling me im going to hell or asking if i finally got myself a sweet boyfriend. im tired and i just want to go home and its late so she shouldnt be awake. oh boy was i wrong "Raven, Raven stop right there" i shiver and stop in my tracks. i place a fake smile on and turn around and face her "Aunt Margo What are you doing up so late?" she shake her hand as if to brush away my question and she smiles this stupid smile she gets befroe asking her famous questions 'A destraction wpuld be perfect right about now' i think to myself "Does my Favourite niece have a boyfriend yet?" i roll my eyes "im youre only niece." i avoid the question "thats why its such a horrible thing for you going around living a life of sin you.." i put my hand up to stop her from talking as my phone goes off, i look at the screen and see her name and face pop up and smile wide as i silently thank her for being my distraction and saviour "Sorry to cut this great convo short Aunt Margo but i have to go its my boss, she never calls unless its an emergancy so i got to go see ya" i take off running ad answer the phone "play along" i whispered "Hey boss is everything ok" i ask but i stop running once i know the coast is clear "Thank god baby you just saved me but how the heck did you know to call now is everything ok?" she just laughs and befroe she can answer a car pulls up beside me and the window goes down. i seen her face just like on my phone and get in "how did you know i was walking this way?" she kissed my cheek and said "you text me telling me how long and crappy your day was so i assumed you would risk taking the short cut but i was a little late in saving you from your Aunt." she smiles sweetly "how did i get so lucky?"

haha not the best but its something hahahaha