Wings 3

A pair of enormous bat-like wings snapped open from Drake's shoulder blades. The older boy smiled at the surprise in Sage's eyes. Valerie even took a step behind her friend.

"Convinced?" Drake asked.

Sage seemed to take a moment to find his voice. "...how?"

"Now that," Drake said with a smirk. "Is none of your business."

"Sage," Valerie said, her voice barely above a whisper. "They look just like..." She didn't have to finish; Sage was already nodding. They both had the same realization: Valerie's twin sister, Cora, had had the same set of wings. She used to live in that cabin with Valerie. And about four years ago, the ten-year-old girl had disappeared. The sight of Drake's bat wings sent an unnerving chill up Valerie's spine. Sage had obviously known Drake for a long time, but he had seemed completely shocked by the older boy's wings. The unanswered question that frightened Valerie was how did Drake get those wings? Also the knowledge that Drake and Sage hadn't seen each other in three years and Cora had disappeared a little less that four years ago...it was all too coincidental.

"Leave," Sage said in a hoarse voice.

Drake cocked his head and squinted his eyes. "What?"

Sage cleared his throat. "I want you to leave."

Drake laughed once. "I'm sorry. I can't do that. You're just going to have to trust me."

"Trust you!?" Sage looked close to lunging for Drake, but Valerie placed a calming hand on his arm. Sage seemed to cool down a bit and the two friends wondered what to do next.

Beyond the cabin windows, the first glimmer of pink light lined the ocean horizon, and already the exotic birds were beginning to sing.

Valerie decided that she should say something before the boys started pummeling each other. Drake looked calm enough, but Sage...

"Look," Valerie started. "It's been a very long night and I, for one, am tired." Sage looked at his friend strangely, but Valerie just shrugged. "There's an abandoned cabin on the other side of the island you can use," she continued, gesturing to Drake. She nudged Sage, hoping he would take the hint.

"I'll point it out," Sage mumbled. He shoved past Drake to the front door and they left, but not before Drake cast a final glance back at Valerie. His eyes held a glint of something...familiarity? Valerie stared back with what she hoped was ice in her eyes. She shuddered when he shut the door behind him. She didn't like him and certainly didn't trust him. But what choice did they have? Drake wouldn't leave. And if they tried chasing him off the island, he'd just come back...and he might not be alone next time.

Valerie hoped Sage would be all right while he was alone with Drake. She wanted to talk to her friend as soon as possible.

He has a lot of explaining to do, Valerie thought as she went to collapse on her bed. She almost laughed when she saw the open window in her bedroom. It seemed liked days ago that she and Sage had tried ambushing the stranger. The smile faded from her face as she thought of how Drake had been watching them the whole time. How embarrassing. And disturbing. How long had he been here?

As a last thought, Valerie ran to the front door and barred it. She also closed the window in her bedroom and made sure it was locked as well.

Then she fell face flat on her bed, feeling as though she could sleep all day...

Or have nightmares about what Drake might have to do with Cora's disappearance. Now Valerie understood why Drake had looked at her in that faintly familiar way.