Angel

“You’re very superior, Angel,” said a voice.

Angel heard the voice, heard other muffled sounds, but she couldn’t open her eyes. She couldn’t move a muscle. She tried to still her panic, tried to calm down enough to figure out where she was, what was happening.

Her head was killing her, and she could tell some of her hair was matted with blood. Her feet were bare and cold. She had electrodes taped to her, all over, and as she realized this, panic washed through her. She heard a machine start beeping as her heart beat faster. Not again. She couldn’t go through this again.

“It’s okay, Angel,” said the voice. Angel couldn’t tell if a man or a woman was speaking. It sounded like it was coming at her through many layers of cotton. “You’re among friends. Even admirers. We’re going to take care of you.”

Angel tried to speak but couldn’t make a single sound. Was she even breathing? She thought so. She realized that her wrist stung—she must have an IV there. It was all nauseatingly familiar: the feeling of helplessness, the smell of disinfectant, the hushed hums and chirps of medical machines tracking every bodily function.

With all of her heart, she wished that she was home with Max and the others, wished she could curl up with Max and watch TV, wished she could watch Ella and Iggy bake cookies. She was just a little kid…

“You see, Angel,” the voice continued, “it’s important that you recognize your superiority. It’s part of your destiny. You have to take strength from that knowledge.”

An icy liquid seeped into her hair, and Angel wondered if they were cleaning the blood off.

“When you truly understand your superiority, you’ll be able to leave your humanity behind, once and for all. Humans aren’t needed for the New World. But superhumans are. Beings that are more than human, better than human. You’ll see.”

Angel tried sending her thoughts out, tried to get into the heads of whomever was around her. But it was like she was encased in plastic, with no thoughts entering or leaving. She’d never felt more alone. Where was Max? Was she worried? The flock must be going crazy, trying to find her…

She swallowed uncomfortably, aware that a tube was going down her throat.

That was when everything crashed in on her: The bombs, running after Gazzy in the tunnel, the huge explosion. She remembered nothing after that, until just now. She didn’t know if Gazzy and Fang had made it out alive. She didn’t know if they had saved thousands of people. She didn’t even know if she still had a flock.

She thought about the people, so many people, that might be dead right now, because she and Gazzy had failed. This is my fault, Angel thought. All of this is my fault.

Oh, Max, she thought, sure that Max couldn’t hear her. I’m sorry. I’m sorry.

Very slowly, a single tear welled up in her closed eye and seeped out from beneath her heavy lid. It rolled down her cheek, past her ear.

“Don’t worry, Angel,” came the voice again. “You’re very special. We’re going to take good care of you.”

But at least Angel was still human enough to cry.