24 April 2012
The transformation was astounding. From emaciated, sallow shell of a person, to a slightly fuller, rosier one - Quinn looked like a new person. Her hair shone dully, but shone nevertheless. There was a flush to her cheeks. Unsure how else to care for herself, Quinn had even lightly washed her wings, and they had taken on a ruffled but clean look.
As she exited the bathing rooms, in her new sleeved top and leggings, there was a bounce to her step that there'd never been before. Quinn felt... Alive.
Saf met her by the exit. 'Wow,' even she, cool and collected Saf, couldn't seem to restrain the short sigh of surprise that escaped her lips.
Quinn stumbled to a stop beside her with nervousness suddenly overcoming her newfound sense of freedom. She tugged self consciously on her tunic sleeve and lowered chin to floor.
A pair of long, tapered fingers stopped her chin's descent. Saf. Shock flickered across Quinn's face before she controlled it. Saf raised Quinn's eyes to meet her own. A brief smile lit the girl's lips, transforming that usually straight face.
'Quinn. You look powerful. And you are. Whatever Drake and Cole ask you - try to make you -' she amended, 'do, don't let them push you around. Especially if they play the 'wings' card on you. Just because they're like you... They're not LIKE you.' Saf counselled. She lent forward and Quinn started in surprise as the girl whispered in her ear: 'they have numbers'.
Saf was suddenly gone, leaving Quinn quite alone in front of a wide door.
Quinn slowed her breathing. In... Out. Her heart slowed a little, still running faster than the average human being's thanks to her avian DNA.
Inside the room beyond, she could hear a low murder of voices. Agitation and tension sung in the air, making the finer hairs on Quinn's stomach and neck stand up. She shivered at the sensation and closed her eyes briefly.
'Don't let them push you around' - that's what Saf had said to her. A grim look of determination furrowed Quinn's brow and a smirking smile toyed at her lips. After endless years of enduring the whitecoats, Quinn had had more than enough training at endurance.
Cole and Drake had no idea what was coming for them.
The Winged Girl XI • Opuss № I