Hidden Wings

by Cameo Renae

  “Right here,” Kade answered with a grin. He pulled a paper out from his pocket and handed it to Jeremy.

  Jeremy carefully looked over the paper, folded it up, and handed it back to him. He then shuffled over to me and gave me an awkward, one-handed hug.

  “So, I guess this is goodbye. Don’t forget about us, okay?” his voice was shaky and tears began to well behind his coke-bottle lenses.

  “How could I ever forget you two crazies! And I promise to shoot you an email as soon as I get set up.” It was taking everything in me to be strong. I hated goodbyes. And I hated leaving everything and everyone I’d ever known behind. My heart was breaking all over again.

  Lia leaned in and gave me a soft squeeze. “Looks like you’ll be in great hands,” she said smiling, her eyes shooting again toward the hot boy at the door.

  “I hope so,” I whispered. She quickly spun and faced my escort.

  “We’re leaving our best friend in your hands. She’s in a very fragile state right now, so please take really good care of her,” she instructed. She looked so tiny, but she had a bossy side to her.

  “I promise to take the greatest care of her,” Kade answered politely, with a bow of his head.

  Lia giggled and then turned and winked at me. Within seconds her smile turned into the saddest frown. I heard her sob as she turned away from me. I was hoping she wouldn’t have a bi-polar moment like this. She was trying to be strong, but didn’t quite make it. My heart was wrenching inside.

  “Bye Emma,” Lia said bravely, and then buried her face into Jeremy’s shoulder. Jeremy waved at me, and then quickly escorted Lia out of the room. I could tell he wasn’t taking it well either. My best friends were leaving, and I didn’t know if, or when, I’d ever get to see them again.

  I felt tears drip down my face, and was just about to lose it, when my escort headed towards me. I quickly wiped them dry and took in a deep breath.

  His powerful smile seemed to pull my sinking heart from the unknown depths of sadness, and place it somewhere a little safer. What kind of magical charm did this guy have on me? I was usually calm and collected, even when hot guys were around. But this guy was definitely in a league of his own, almost other-worldly.

  “Hello, Emma,” he spoke in a warm, subtle voice. “Your Aunt Alaine sent me to assist you to your new accommodations. Are you ready?” he asked, holding his hand out to me.

  “What?” I was completely distracted by his closeness. His scent was intoxicating; fresh and crisp with hints of warm spice. I inhaled, becoming high and lightheaded with his mere presence.

  “Are you ready…to leave?” he politely asked again.

  I mentally slapped myself back into reality…several times.

  “Yes. I’m ready,” I said grasping his hand.

  As soon as we touched…WHAM!

  An electrical current surged through my veins, and the same euphoric feeling, which I’d felt earlier, shot through me… intensified times ten. Heat rushed through me, and my body felt like it was being pulled toward him, like we were magnetized. I gasped and he released my hand. As soon as he did, I felt flustered and bewildered. He looked at me. His eyes were wide and bewildered.

  “What happened?” I questioned, still feeling a bit woozy. That was the craziest, random, internal, emotional shocker!

  He remained silent, puzzled, gazing down at his hand.

  “I don’t know,” he finally answered. “That’s never happened to me before.”

  I tried to shake it off and stood up. I pulled my carry-on over my shoulder, took in a deep breath, and flattened my arms down to my sides to avoid his touch. But, he bent down to pick up my suitcase and offered me his arm, again. I froze, not sure if I should or shouldn’t.

  “Shall we try this again?” he asked with the cutest, crooked grin.

  I felt my pulse quicken, but then… instant embarrassment as I held up my colorfully, casted arm. Jeremy’s huge sun with orange-rimmed glasses smiled at us. That was awkward. I mean…sheeze…it looked like a kindergartner had drawn it.

  Kade immediately took notice and commented. “Nice.”

  “Yeah,” I huffed, completely embarrassed.

  He was very careful not to touch my bare skin, and looped his arm through mine. This time there was no shock, but there was still that overwhelming warmth and tingles that seemed to emanate throughout me with his closeness. The cast seemed to be a good conductor.

  As he escorted me out, the nurses waved and said goodbye, but their eyes weren’t looking at me, they were glued on Kade. He was cordial and smiled back, making them swoon.

  As soon as we exited the main door, a black Cadillac was waiting at the front. The driver came around and opened the rear passenger door. He took my luggage from Kade and placed it in the trunk, but I held on tightly to my carry-on.

  Kade motioned for me to enter first, and after I slid in, he slid in right next to me. My body automatically reacted to his closeness in the tight enclosure of the car. I fought internally to keep my mind focused, resisting the urges of my body wanting to move closer to him, to touch him.

  But then I noticed someone else, sitting in the front passenger seat, which temporarily distracted me. The guy was dressed in a black suit, donning dark-tinted Oakley shades. His face was handsome, but much harder and sterner than Kade’s. He looked like he was in his early twenties, but he was big and brawny, with broad shoulders and tanned skin. Muscles bulged from his arms, which made his suit look tight and uncomfortable. His hair was black and slicked back, and a well-groomed mustache and goatee framed his un-smiling lips. He turned and I smiled at him, but felt awkward when I only received a nod in return.

  “That’s Malachi. Don’t mind him. He’s still working on his people skills,” Kade chuckled, slapping him on the shoulder. Malachi twisted his neck back to Kade and even though his eyes weren’t visible through the darkness of his shades, I could tell by the way his eyebrows were scrunched up, that he was giving him a very evil look. He reminded me of Dwayne Johnson who used to be The Rock in wrestling.

  “L-A-X,” Malachi instructed to the driver in a low, deep tone. Jeeze, even his voice was intimidating.

  What was up with the Men in Black escort service? I could have easily taken this trip on my own, or just Kade alone would have made more than a sufficient escort.

  We rode in silence, except for the radio station playing some oldies songs. Kade stared out his window, as did I, constantly trying to fight my body’s irresistible urges to jump on him, wrap my arms around his neck, and kiss him. It was pure craziness, the things I wanted to do to this complete and total stranger. The scary part was that I was envisioning it like it was actually happening.

  What the heck was happening to me? Ever since I met him, my emotions wrestled against me. Actually, it started before he even walked through the door at the hospital. I’d get to the bottom of it sooner or later, but it would definitely have to be later, because the car finally came to a stop in front of the Los Angeles Airport.

  I was glad when the driver finally opened the door and let me out, instantly relieving me of the ridiculous pressures my body was putting upon itself. I wondered if Kade was fighting the same urges. Probably not. He didn’t show any signs that he was struggling, or even interested in me. I mean… why would he be? He was gorgeous and I was just, Emma Wise. Besides, he was only… assisting me to my new accommodations, as he put it.

  We walked through the airport which was bustling with travelers. Malachi and Kade were glued on either side of me, acting more like bodyguards than escorts.

  But then, I noticed something. Maybe it was just my imagination… but then again…maybe not. On the way to our gate we passed a man leaning against a wall reading a newspaper, but there was something odd about him, something that I just couldn’t put my finger on. He was good looking, clean-shaven, with light blonde hair, and dressed in a dark blue suit with darkly-tinted glasses. He watched us intently as we walked toward him, and then he raised his glasses, and a
cknowledged Malachi with a subtle nod as we passed. And as we passed, he rolled up his paper, tucked it under his arm, and walked away.

  Strange? I mean, I didn’t feel like I was in danger or anything. It felt like something… just wasn’t right.

  As we continued further down the terminal, another man dressed in a similar suit passed us. He was well over six feet tall and clean-shaven, with dark brown hair, and similar dark shades. He slowed, almost to a stop, as we approached him, lifted his shades, and gave Malachi the same subtle nod. His gray eyes locked onto mine for a few moments, and then he lowered his shades and continued on his way.

  What the hell is going on? Was I involved in some kind of conspiracy or kidnapping? Were Kade and Malachi really escorts?

  But, then again, I’d also been known for my overly-active imagination, and always seemed to notice things others wouldn’t… things that seemed out of the ordinary. Maybe I was just being paranoid. Maybe it was all a coincidence. I wanted to say something but I was too afraid. And even if I tried to make a run for it, I knew I wouldn’t get too far. I was under the influence of painkillers, and would probably trip over my own feet and make a big, embarrassing scene. So, I bit my tongue.

  I looked at Kade to see if he showed any signs of strangeness by the passing men, but he was preoccupied, pulling our boarding passes from his pocket.

  What was becoming of my life? Of me? Feelings of helplessness and aloneness caused the black hole in my chest to grow even larger. Thoughts of my parents flooded my mind, and I tried hard to hold back the tears that burned my eyes.

  Soon, I would be leaving the only place I’d ever known, the place where my parents lived and died, and would be traveling hundreds of miles away to an unknown place where nothing was familiar. I hadn’t even had the chance to mourn the loss of my parents, let alone bury them. Would there even be a burial? Ms. Reed said that my Aunt Alaine was going to be taking care of all the arrangements. I hoped that she’d include me, and give my parents a proper burial.

  My sudden rush of emotions became too overwhelming to keep in, so I turned to Kade. “I need to use the restroom. I’ll be right back,” I said, already darting toward the entrance of the ladies room.

  “Sure,” he said with a concerned look in his bright hazel eyes. “We’ll just wait right here,” he called after me.

  I ran into the first available stall and locked the door behind me, leaning against it for support and cried. It felt good to cry, like my emotions were bottled up and needed to burst out.

  The thought of running away shot through my mind, but then another thought of Malachi chasing me down was terrifying enough to squash it. And, given the fact that I’d only had two friends greatly narrowed my hiding places.

  The lady over the loud speaker was alerting passengers that gate twenty-eight was about to board. I remembered that Kade mentioning that particular gate, so I knew I didn’t have much time.

  I gathered myself together as best I could, rinsed my face, and glanced in the mirror. My eyes were puffy and my nose was red and shiny. Great. I looked like Rudolph. The make-up was gone, and there was no time to apply any to hide my feelings, which were now plastered all over my face. I took in a deep breath and brushed through my hair with my fingers, covering the scar on my cheek which looked smaller than before.

  As I made my way out of the bathroom, Kade was standing at the exit, smiling. Those warm tingly feelings rushed through my body, and instantly took the edge off my sadness.

  “Hey, are you alright?” he asked, his brow furrowed in concern.

  “I’ll be fine,” I said through my stuffy nose.

  I walked passed him, and as I did, he wrapped his arm around my waist.

  “You’ll be fine, Emma. You’ll see. You’ll like Alaska and you’ll really like Alaine. She’s a wonderful woman,” he said warmly.

  Right then, I really, truly believed him…every single word he spoke. His touch did something to me. It warmed me and made me feel like everything was going to be alright. But as we neared Malachi, he let go, and I was suddenly hit with an overwhelming feeling of sadness and emptiness. He must have felt something too because we both turned to each other as soon as we came apart.

  “I’m sorry,” he breathed.

  He quickly turned to Malachi, who was slowly shaking his head, shooting him that not-so-friendly look, and distanced himself further from me as we neared the gate. Kade grabbed my luggage and handed the lady our tickets. She tried to make friendly conversation with him but he smiled and proceeded down the ramp. I quickly followed him with Malachi in close tow. I was left even more confused than before. Everything seemed to be spiraling out of control… my life, my body, my emotions.

  As we entered the plane, Kade placed my bag up into the second row compartment on the left.

  “We’re in First Class?” I asked. I’d never flown first class before.

  “Yes, and you can have the window seat,” Kade motioned for me to enter first. I smiled, plopping into the roomy, comfortable seat, shoving my carry-on under the seat in front of me. Then, I quickly noticed a problem. There were two seats on each side of the aisle, and three of us.

  Malachi and Kade looked at each other. It was a silent stare-down of who’d get the seat next to me.

  Oh God, please let it be Kade! Please, please, please, please, please! The thought of a trip next to Malachi would be completely unbearable. He wasn’t friendly or talkative, and was big and scary. It would definitely be the worst trip of my life.

  “Sorry, man. But, your seat is back there,” Kade said, pointing two rows behind us, on the opposite side of the aisle.

  “Kade,” Malachi spoke in a condescending tone, which was followed with a very stern look.

  “I’ll behave,” Kade promised. “You better get back there, buddy. You’re holding up the line,” he said, patting Malachi on his broad shoulders, and then quickly slipping into the seat next to me.

  Malachi growled under his breath and proceeded down the aisle, dropping down into his aisle seat. A few minutes later we heard more growls and unintelligible words coming from his area. We turned to see a larger-sized, older woman pointing at the window seat next to him. Malachi did NOT look happy and glared in our direction. I quickly turned around but Kade just nodded with a grin and shot him a thumbs-up, totally making matters worse.

  I was thrilled that Kade was sitting next to me, and hoped that I’d get a chance to talk to him and shed some light on all the questions darkening my mind. I wanted to know more about this mysterious place which was going to be my new home, and about the aunt who was kept secret from me. But for however long the flight would be, it probably wouldn’t be long enough.

  Chapter 4:

  It was a grueling thirty minutes before everyone on the plane had taken their seat, the door finally closed, the stewardesses began their emergency briefing, and we started taxiing to the runway.

  I’d only taken a few plane rides, and they were just to visit my grandparents in Oregon. Most of our traveling was done on the road. My dad loved road trips, and every year planned a vacation. He’d spend months in advance planning routes, eateries, sights, activities, and accommodations until there wasn’t a moment left unplanned.

  I stared blankly out the small window, my heart aching beyond explanation, and watched as our plane took off into the sky. I was leaving everything I’d ever known and loved behind - my city, my friends, my home… everything.

  “Hey,” Kade whispered. He gently brushed my arm with his fingers, which melted a bit of my sadness. I turned to him. His hazel eyes bore right through me, as if he knew what I was thinking. He stole my breath for a moment, and then he smiled; making my heart flutter. How was that possible? I never thought I’d be able to pull myself out of this eternal sadness.

  “I’ll be fine,” I said turning back toward the window.

  “I hope so. I promised your friends that I’d take good care of you,” he noted.

  I sighed. I just couldn’t see any light
at the end of this pitch-black tunnel…except for the small glimmer that was sitting in the seat next to me. Kade. I wondered if I’d ever see him again, after he completed his mission and handed me over to my aunt.

  “Can I ask you a question?” I asked, wiping a few stray tears from my cheeks.

  “Sure,” he answered.

  “How come Malachi had to come with you? Why couldn’t you have come alone?”

  He laughed. “It’s for your protection.”

  “My protection? Why would I need protection?” I questioned.

  His face dropped.

  “Ummm…I’m not at liberty to say,” he said, shifting uneasily in his seat.

  “If it concerns me, then I’d say that I’m totally at liberty to know why. Why would I need protection? Does it have anything to do with those men at the airport?”

  He turned to me with narrowed eyes. “What men?” he asked, shocked.

  “Those men, in the suits, that kept looking and nodding at Malachi when we passed them.”

  “You noticed them?”

  “Of course I did. How could I not? They were so obvious.”

  He grinned and shook his head. “You’re very perceptive, Emma Wise. I’ll give you that. Most people don’t notice them at all, but then again… I guess you aren’t like most people,” he said quietly, as if he was speaking to himself.

  “And, what’s that supposed to mean?”

  He hesitated. “Those men you saw at the airport aren’t bad. They’re Watchers,” he whispered loudly.

  “Watchers? Watchers of what?” I asked a little too loudly.

  “Shhhhhh-” He placed his finger to his lips, and then turned back to check on Malachi who looked like he was sleeping. But looks could be deceiving, especially with him. He then turned back to me and leaned in close. “All of your questions will be answered by Alaine. Like I said, I’m not at liberty to speak to you about certain affairs. I’ve been given a specific job and I must obey it… and it alone. I’m sorry, Emma.” His eyes looked so sad, that I suddenly felt a tiny bit bad.

  “Well, what is your job, exactly?” I asked.