The Flyer (The Flyer Series Book 1)

by Frédérick S. Parker

  “Aaron, wait!” Hearing my voice, he stopped and turned around. His eyes were red and tears marred his beautiful face. Coming to a stop in front of him, I was horribly out of breath, but I didn’t care. I had to apologize.

  “I’m sorry,” I gasped, clutching my ribs. “I’m so sorry.”

  Aaron watched me silently for a moment before speaking. “You completely shut me out. I admit I went too far in that hotel, but…”

  “It’s not you, it’s me.”

  My boyfriend flinched as if I’d slapped him.“That’s such a cliché.”

  “A cliché?” I wanted to apologize, but he was using words I didn’t understand. This is so frustrating! Being in a relationship was like learning a new language. Throughout our time together, Aaron was constantly introducing me to new words and ideas. I thought I’d finally caught up. I guess not.

  “‘It’s not you, it’s me’? That’s the go-to break-up line,” he explained, looking sadder by the minute. “Everyone uses it,” he let out a humorless laugh. “My exes certainly did. Of course it wasn’t true.”

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to use a cliché. I just want you to understand.”

  “Uriah…”

  “Please, hear me out. Please! I’m sorry I’m so green and don’t know the right words. I’m sorry I’m not worldly enough to know how to act. But most of all, I’m sorry I keep hurting you. That’s not what I want. I have a lot of baggage, but I’m trying to deal with it.”

  More tears trickled down Aaron’s face. “I know you have a lot going on. I understand that, but these last couple days were hard. I get that you’re confused and that’s fine, but you can’t treat me like that and expect everything to be okay. The whole point of a relationship is to work together. I want to be there for you, but I can’t when you completely shut me out.”

  “I know. I’m sorry. This world is complicated. I’m complicated and I’m still trying to understand it and myself.”

  “Yeah,” my boyfriend said, bowing his head. “That’s why I think we need some time apart.”

  “What?”

  “You’re still coming to grips with who you are and what this place means to you. Our relationship is a distraction.”

  He couldn’t mean that. Surely not. Sliding a finger under his chin, I urged him to look up at me. “I know things have felt like a rollercoaster ride lately. I know. That’s why I need you. I need you to help me when my life turns upside down.”

  Aaron shook his head and gently removed my finger. “I’m not the one you need. Right now, you need the Flyers. They’re the ones who can help you with that baggage you’ve been carrying. I hope this isn’t the end between us, but if we have any hope of making it as a couple, we need to take a break.”

  I shook my head. “Don’t say that. Please, don’t say that.”

  “I’m sorry, but I have to. We have to.”

  “How long?” I chocked out and fresh tears welled up in his eyes.

  “I don’t know. At least a month.”

  “A month?!”

  “Yes.”

  “I can’t wait that long. I need you now!”

  Aaron smiled sadly. “A month should give you enough time to find yourself. You’ve missed out on a lot these last eighteen years. Now’s your chance to find it. When you’re done, if you’re still interested, come find me.”

  He started to back away, but I grabbed his hand, desperate to find a way to make him stay. “Would it make any difference if I told you you could have my ass?”

  Aaron broke out into a laugh and more tears slid down his cheeks. “Tempting, but no. This isn’t about me, it’s about you. It’s like you told your mother. You’ve been cut in half and until you can be whole again, it’s not going to work. I know it sounds hard, but you have a lot of healing to do.”

  “You can help me heal.”

  He shook his head. “Obviously I can’t. The last couple days prove that.”

  “One month?”

  Aaron nodded. “One month… if you’re still interested, I’ll be waiting.”

  Reaching in my pocket, I retrieved the silver feather that Cody Grayson had plucked. Smoothing it out, I handed it over. “Here, take this. A little something to remember me by.”

  Smiling meekly, he accepted it. “Thanks. Bye, Uriah.”

  As he turned and walked away, I had to fight the urge to run, grab him and pull him into my arms. The thought of not seeing him for a whole month killed me, but I knew he was right. I need to heal. I could tell from the look in his eyes that he didn’t think he’d ever see me again, but I was going to prove him wrong. Over the next four weeks, I’ll immerse myself in the Flyer community. I’ll learn their ways, but the moment my time is up, I’ll come find him. I will come find him.

  The next morning, I returned to Earth to drop off the sample I’d retrieved from the High Kingdom’s portal at a research lab for analysis. They informed me that they would have the results in a few weeks. Hopefully the gateway would still be open. When I returned to the Flyer settlement, they were all waiting to greet me. I guess they overheard what happened between me and Aaron. As dozens of small winged people patted me on the back and shook my hand, I felt a little awkward, but very welcome. Theodora was quick to tell me that she and her husband, Joebiah, had a room all set up for me in their cabin. I thanked her and once everyone had a chance to welcome me, I wandered aimlessly along the canyon’s edge. This was going to be hard. With nothing to distract me, my mind instantly went to Aaron. It had been less that 24 hours, but I was already missing him. His eyes, his smile, the taste of his lips, the way his body grips me… My dick instantly stirred to life. What is he doing right now? Does he miss me? This was all his idea, but I knew it must be as hard for him as it was for me. At least I hope so. I was fighting the urge to return to Earth when I heard Jeremiah’s voice in my head.

  Uriah, you there?

  Yes. Discreetly adjusting myself, I turned around. I expected to find him standing behind me, but there was no one there. As if he could see me or hear my thoughts, Jeremiah spoke again.

  I’m in the Aviation Station. I know you just arrived and probably want to get settled in, but I was wondering when you’d like to start work.

  Eager for a distraction, I replied.Any chance I could start now?

  Of course! Come on over.

  When I entered the Aviation Station, Jeremiah was just accepting a handful of coins from two young Teachers. They were both girls and were giggling like best friends do. Catching sight of me, their nervous laughter quickly broke off.

  These two young ladies would like a flight across the canyon. Care to take them?

  Sure. I smiled politely at the two girls while Jeremiah called for a two-seater. With each passing day, the demand for travel increased. My mother had said she’d saved for a year before she was able to afford the cheapest genetic suppressant on the market. I intended to get one that would last the rest of my life and for that I would need money. Antomian money.

  How much does one usually make working here?I asked hesitantly.

  Jeremiah smiled.I pay my employees seven coins an hour, but for you, I’ll make it fourteen.

  That works.

  He beamed. The job is fairly straightforward. We mostly get walk-ins, but some people like to make appointments. Especially if they're planning on traveling long distances.

  How do they make their appointment?

  Via carrier pigeon. That's how most non-Flyers communicate within a District.

  I'm assuming they don't use words.

  With us, no. Just the date and time of their desired flight.

  When the chariot arrived, I took it by the handle bars and gestured for the customers to follow me. As we walked toward the runways, they spoke excitedly. I was quickly learning that most Antomolites seemed to think that because Flyers can’t speak aloud, they can’t hear. Or they forget we can. Either way, the two girls spoke as if I were invisible.

  “Wow! He’s so cute!”

 
; “And big.”

  “I had no idea they got that size.”

  “Can you imagine what he’s packing?”

  “Sabrina!”

  “You were thinking it too.”

  “Maybe.” They both giggled.

  I was relieved when we arrived at runway #3. Maneuvering the carriage into position, I helped the two girls get strapped in. Then I secured myself. Looking over my shoulder, I gave them a questioning thumbs up and when they nodded eagerly/nervously, I took off running. They squealed when I spread my wings and shrieked when we left the ground. High in the air, they gasped and gushed at the canyon below and the landscape beyond. Seeing them marvel like that reminded me of Aaron and I closed my eyes. No matter what I did, my mind always found its way back to him.

  For the next several hours, I took numerous travelers across the canyon. Just like Jeremiah said, they tipped well. By the end of my shift, I had a couple hundred coins in tips. That was a lot of money and I hadn’t even been paid yet. According to Jeremiah, payday was every Friday. The Aviation Station offers 24-hour service, but the busiest hours are from eight in the morning to eight at night during the week. Jeremiah offered me whatever hours I wanted so I chose 8:00am-5:00pm, Monday-Friday. This included an hour lunch break. According to my math, if I got at least 100 in tips at the end of each shift, I could make over 1,000 coins a week. At that rate, it would take no time at all to save up for a new genetic suppressant. But getting the money was only half the battle. I also had to find a seller. I wanted to ask around about where I could find such a person, but I knew I couldn’t ask the Flyers. Even if any of them knew, I was sure they wouldn’t tell me. I considered asking my mother where she’d bought hers, but I still wasn’t talking to her.

  That evening, after dinner when the sun went down, a bonfire was lit and most everyone gathered around. Following the Flyers’ lead, I found a spot on the grass and took a seat. Several people, including Lina and Theodora gathered around me. I nodded at them politely before letting my eyes wander around the fire circle. There were Flyers everywhere, clustered haphazardly around the flames. Couples, lovers and friends dotted the grass. Feeling a little awkward, I let my gaze wander to a fifty-something year-old who was adding wood to the fire. While I watched the man who had introduced himself as Elijah tend to the flames, I felt a sharp but gentle tug at one of my feathers. Jerking away, I found Lina holding some type of device that resembled a bird’s beak. It didn’t hurt, but her actions surprised me. When I flinched, she gave me an encouraging smile.

  It’s okay. I’m just preening your feathers. As she said this, Theodora used a similar gadget on the feathers of my other wing. Only now did I notice that all around me, Flyers were grooming each other. As she continued to preen my fathers, Lina spoke softly.

  I get the feeling you’ve never had this done before. Am I right?When I nodded, she gave a disappointed tisk. It’s very important to take care of your feathers. This not only helps keep them clean, it also removes parasites and other harmful elements. Regular preening aids in healthy plumage which in turn assists in better flight. Trust me, you’ll notice the difference.

  A Flyer with red wings who was also helping attend to my feathers agreed wholeheartedly. It’s good you’re here with us,she chirped.You have a lot to learn.

  All around the bonfire, the people murmured their agreement. Theodora explained that while preening might be time-consuming, it’s a big part of their social structure. It gives the colony time to bond. Tonight was no different. I listened intently as the Flyers took turns regaling me with stories. Not just about our purpose, but also about our past.

  We don’t just offer rides across the canyons and deliver goods and mail from place to place,Jeremiah informed me. Flyers are the life blood of this world. Without us, most Antomolites would never sample exotic foods or see foreign lands. If not for us, they would be blind to the events beyond their Region, Provence or District.

  Thinking of walking down the streets of Kingdom City, I asked about the shops that sold Earth-made products. The Flyers explained that near and around certain portals, namely ones on public property, Antomia is usually more modern, mirroring Earth in almost every respect;We don’t crossover for obvious reasons, at least not during the day, but other Antomolites love visiting Earth. Though they don’t stay very long. The technology can be a bit overwhelming.

  How do you know all this?I asked. After years of home-schooling, I’d learned a fraction of what they were teaching me now.

  We see and hear everything. Non-Flyers assume we’re dense because of our speech and reading deficiencies, but we’re more capable than they realize. We watch, listen and learn. They speak openly around us because they assume we are incapable of passing it on. But we do. Flyers from all over the world are constantly accumulating information from their respective Provence. Once every two or three months, each community sends four or five representative to the Grand Assembly where they give and receive a report. We could tell you everything you want to know about the economy, the climate and the culture down to the last District.

  How do you remember everything?

  An impeccable memory helps, but we also have books. They depict artwork chronicling our collective experiences over generations.Tanya left and returned a minute or two later with a stack of books. Flipping through them, I was amazed at the level of detail in each image. Even without words, it wasn’t hard to see the stories. Though it was clear a narrative was needed to know specifics, like names and locations. The only information included were numerical dates.

  Don’t worry,Theodora said as I continued to examine the images. We will go over these together.

  Having wings is a major advantage,a Flyer named Eric informed me. Even with us a intermediaries, non-Flyers have to rely on family and friends who live in a different area to stay informed and said individuals aren’t always reliable. For example, a small village in Region 5, Provence 24, District 16 suffered a major food shortage. Apparently a virus got a hold of their livestock, killing off 80% of the population. The villagers didn’t want to worry family and friends so they didn’t call for help. Thanks to some caring Flyers who happened to be passing overhead, those people survived. Our world is replete with similar stories. Unfortunately, most Antomolites remain unaware.

  That’s crazy!

  Yep. So many people owe us their lives, yet we’re still treated like second-class citizens. Those who haven’t had to count on us for survival see us as either stupid or a means to an end. But it’s not all bad. While every group has its bad apples, the majority of non-Flyers are kind and courteous. Our main obstacle is stamping out archaic believes. More times than not, people will say or do something not realizing it’s offensive. Based on your reaction, chances are they’ll change.

  What do you do about the obnoxious staring?

  For the most part we ignore it,Theodora said. Remember, most of these people aren’t used to seeing Flyers. Certainly not up close. Once the new High Ruler takes the throne, the general population will grow accustom to seeing us. Within a year or two, the incessant gawking will cease.

  That’s a relief.

  Don’t get me wrong. Because of our inability to speak, we will always captivate non-Flyers, but in time they will become more tolerable.

  Continuing to pursue the books, I stumbled across what was clearly a spaceship hovering overhead. When I asked about it, they informed me that our world has many secrets. Secrets that stretch into our distance past. Secrets that other Antomolites couldn’t begin to imagine. According to the Flyers, the spaceship belongs to a race known as the Vongarians who they say are responsible for our struggles. Apparently they were the reason our genetic group has suffered for millennia.

  Most non-Flyers don’t know this, but they are watching us,Elijah told me. The Vongarians are always watching and monitoring us from their vast spaceships. They claim it’s for our protection, but we know better. They preach peace and prosperity, but bring pain and despair. Pain and despair
for all Flyers.

  Over time, I learned a lot about the individuals I was living with, including the fact that a lot of the older members, including Theodora were hard of hearing, though in a communities of telepaths, that wasn’t an issue. Getting my feathers preened on a regular basis did make a huge difference. My wings not only felt better, flight was greatly improved. The almost constant Flow did take some getting used to, but it didn’t really bother me. All the same, the Flyers told me it was possible to block out the voices. It wasn’t something they did very often, but, according to Jeremiah, everyone needs a break now and then.

  As time passed, it wasn’t long before word got out about the giant Flyer and people started making requests for me personally. Mainly girls. They would request flights back and forth across the canyon. Before long, Jeremiah began turning away those who impeded the flow of his operation. Sabrina and her giggling girl friend quickly made the no-fly list, however, getting banned didn’t deter them in the slightest. They simply watched from afar as I worked. Honestly, I didn’t know how to handle the attention. Most of the time, I ignored them, but from time to time, I couldn’t help smiling.

  While I was taking people across the canyon or sitting around the bonfire learning about my genetic history, I was also getting to know my father. Every couple days, he would come to the settlement to see me. As we talked, we would dine in the mess hall or walk along the ravine. At first, I would retract my wings while we ate or walked together, but I quickly stopped because too many Flyers were bothered by mywillful disregard for our genetic group. Jedediah and I started meeting a ways into the woods where the Flyers couldn’t see us. And while none of them said anything outright, they would frequently hint how important it was to embrace who and what we are.

  While most of the people here were on rotation, taking turns either getting goods from the nearby village, preparing the food in the mess hall or flying travelers across the canyon, I was exclusively on flying duty. For the most part this didn’t bother me (I was making a small fortune), but some days were harder than others. While the average traveler was kind and courteous, there were some difficult ones. One 30-something woman in a lavish 1750s dress paid for a trip across the canyon and upon arrival, insisted that I take her to her final destination. A village some twenty-five miles away. According to Jeremiah, this was fine so long as the traveler pays an additional fee. Usually two coins per mile, but that was up to me. 15 percent of those earnings would go back to the station. That particular day, my next appointment wasn’t for another hour and a half so I was fine with it. Reaching in my pocket, I pulled out the stack of cards that depicted additional rates in case a customer had any questions or requests. Usually travelers who pay for a trip across the canyon are either visiting a nearby village or have additional transportation waiting on the other side. But some don’t. Thumbing through my cards, I found the one I was looking for and held it up. When Miss 1750 saw my price for the additional journey, she shook her head in astonishment.