The Adapters: Revelation (Pt 2)

My eyes fluttered open, then immediately shut at the sudden bright light. I moved my hand to cover my eyes, but found it strapped down. I opened my eyes again and tried to move my arms and legs, but couldn’t. My breathing came in quick, short gasps as panic threatened to surface. I couldn’t be back. I couldn’t be back in that horrid room with the scientists and the tranquilizer darts and…

I felt vibrations on the floor, footsteps… I tried to see who it was, but the blinding light would not allow me to.

“Where did you find her?”

“The scouts came across an underground prison full of them.”

“Azazel’s prison?”

“No, the government’s. Poor things were experimented on and abused and tortured.”

“Where are the rest?”

“They were on the boat, but prison guards found it and burned it. Thankfully, Max, Liz, and Ethan weren’t on the boat, but the ones that were…”

“Oh my. Is she the only survivor?”

“Yes, she is. Poor thing. Felicity, will you close the window? It’s way too bright in here.”

The blinding light disappeared, revealing two very strange people standing in the room. One had light brown skin and dark brown hair, her large, black eyes giving an innocent sort of look. Her freckled cheeks were flushed, as if she spent too much time in the sun, and she shifted on her skinny hooves. The other girl, with honey gold hair and eyes just about the same shade, had white wings emerging from her back and thin, yellow talons replacing her feet. Her tall and slender figure dwarfed her short partner in comparison. A small birthmark in the shape of a dove peeked out from under her sleeves.

The room itself was nature-like, full of vines and roots, sunlight slivering through the gaps in the walls.

I glanced back at the two people, bewildered and overwhelmed, unsure of what to do.

“Who put her in straps?” mumbled the dove-girl, walking towards me. I immediately reacted, thrashing and screeching, refusing to let her harm me. The deer girl in the back jumped, her hooves positioned towards the door, as if she will bolt at any moment. 

“Hey, calm down,” said the dove-girl. “I’m going to take the straps off, I just need you to stand still.”

I hesitated. I learned never to trust anyone, not even those who seem like they want to help you. But before I could protest, the dove girl sighed.

“Felicity, can you take the straps off? Someone decided to strap her with vines, and I don’t know if I’m strong enough to pull them off.” 

The deer girl, apparently called Felicity, slowly walked towards me, her hooves lightly tapping the ground. Once she was close enough, she lifted her hands, and the vines around my wrists, legs, and wings disappeared.

As soon as I was free, I jumped up from the table and bolted for the window. I clawed at the leaves covering it, flapping my wings in mad panic. Realizing my plan was futile, I backed into the corner, wrapping my wings around my body. I frantically glanced around the room, trying to find another escape route. 

“So t-that’s why they had her strapped down,” said Felicity, backed up in a corner opposite from me, trembling.

“Great,” mumbled the dove girl. She bent down in front of me, reaching her hand out.

“It’s okay,” she said. “My name is Zoe, and we are here to help you, okay? You have a nasty bump on your head, and we want to see it. Is that okay?”

I had barely noticed the pain on my head, too preoccupied with trying to escape.

Zoe moved her hand a little closer, being careful not to make any sudden movements. “What’s your name?” she asked.

I stayed quiet, still unsure if I should trust her.

“Can you talk?” she asked sweetly. “Do you need paper and pencil?”

“Experiment 15,” I whispered. 

“...what?” she asked, tilting her head to the side, looking more and more like a dove.

“Experiment 15. That’s my name. That’s what they called me.”

“Oh,” she said, unsure how to respond. “Well that’s not a proper name. How about we make a proper name for you. You seem to be an eagle of some sort…”

“Harpy eagle,” I responded.

“Harpy eagle… how about Harper? Felicity, is Harper a good name?”

Felicity nodded, emerging from her corner and bending down next to Zoe.

“Harper,” I whispered, trying out the new word. I kind of liked it. Very simple. 

“Now, how about seeing that bump on your head? We may have to apply some bandages, but after that you should be-”

She was interrupted by someone bursting their way into the room, shoving aside the leaves that covered the doorway.

“That stupid… jerk! Idiot! Who does he think he is…”

The person stopped, surprised. Her yellow and purple wings fluttered behind her, thin and delicate. Long, thin antennas peeked out from her purple hair, her celestine necklace and butterfly earrings shining in the sunlight.

“Wrong room,” she mumbled. “Who is she?”

“She is a survivor from one of the recent rescue missions,” answered Zoe. “And we are in the middle of something, Celeste, so could you please leave? You’re scaring her.”

I didn’t realize that my wings were flared, so I tucked them back around my body, flushing with embarrassment. 

“Why would I leave?” answered Celeste. “I’m a healer just like you. Let me help.”

“We got it,” answered Zoe, glaring at Celeste. “Right Felicity?”

“I…” stuttered Felicity. “Uh…”

“What’s so bad with letting me help? You always have something against me, Zoe. Now, where does it hurt? Ooo, that’s a nasty bump. A little pollen will do.”

“Celeste,” growled Zoe. “I said we got it.”

“Oh please, if you ‘got it’, why was there such a racket in here, hmm? Now, stand still eagle-girl, a little pollen will fix up that bump.”

“Zoe, wait!” shouted Felicity as Celeste pulled out some yellow dust from her bag and blew it onto me. The dust clouded my eyes, temporarily blinding me, and I frantically flapped my wings. I burst through the doorway, not knowing where I was going. I flew through a hallway and into an open space. I rubbed my eyes, trying to clear the pollen from them, but made no progress. I bumped into people and walls, causing me to panic more and more, then flew straight up, hoping to escape this strange plant place and into open air, but instead crashed straight into the ceiling and found myself tumbling towards the ground.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

I flailed my arms and wings, still blinded, when a sudden force hit me from the side. I rubbed my eyes, finally beginning to clear the pollen, and looked up to find myself in the arms of the cat-boy from before. His orange ears twitched, his pupils a small black sliver. 

“Are you okay?” he asked, setting me down. I nodded, looking around to see everyone staring at me. The sudden attention made me blush, my wings wrapping around me once again. 

“Hey,” he said, lifting my chin to look into his eyes. “Are you sure you’re okay?” I just noticed the bandage circling his wrist, and I fingered it. 

“Oh, that?” he asked, lifting his hand. “I’m fine, that was just from the mission when the roof collapsed.” he looked back at me, his orange tail twitching with concern. “We need to get you back to the medical ward. The healers can help you, okay?”

I shook my head. I didn’t want to go back there. I didn’t want them to strap me down again, or experiment on me, or…

“They had her strapped down, Ethan” explained Zoe, walking towards us with Felicity beside her. “Just like she was back at the facility.”

Ethan’s pale skin turned pink, his cat ears folding back into his reddish-brown hair. “Who… why would they…”

“I don’t know,” said Zoe. “But that doesn’t matter right now. What matters is that Celeste scared her and now she doesn’t want to go back.”

“How did Celeste scare her?” asked Ethan, helping me up. 

“She blew pollen in my face,” I whispered.

“You.. you talk,” Ethan said.

I nodded. It’s not that I’m just quiet… I simply didn’t have a reason to talk before. 

“How about we take her to her room?” piped up Felicity. “Instead of the medical ward. It’s much more comfortable there.”

Ethan turned to me. “Would you prefer that?” 

I slowly nodded. He took my hand and began to lead me to my room.

“What’s your name?” he asked.

“Harper.”