Chapter 4
I woke at ten that morning, I moaned. I pulled myself out of the bed I left the room keys on the bed and left the hotel. I walked to an internet café and waited for noon to come around. At noon I went over to a computer. No new emails. I walked out of the café. I walked to an abandoned parking lot and took off. I flew over Lake Mead and into Arizona. I saw some older guys surround a girl. I tucked my wings in and landed in the foliage fifty feet away. I walked out of the small forest I’d landed in. I walked up behind what appeared to be the head honcho of the group, and said, “Dude, come on. You don’t want to jump this little girl.”
He turned around to face me so did the other two thugs. I motioned for the girl to run, and she did. The head honcho swung at me. I dodged and kicked him in the soft spot so hard he blacked out. I saw one had a pump action, twelve gauge shot gun. I punched the other one and ran into the forest. I heard shots fired and the two run after me. I heard five shots and the sixth one hit me right wing. I felt the warm sticky blood clot my feathers together. I hid in some bushes. I saw them run by. I waited five minutes after the walked by before I got up and walked back to the other guy, he was still out cold. I stumbled through the small forest. My wound burned and throbbed. After the adrenaline wore off minutes felt like hours. After five minutes of trudging through the small woods I came up behind a house. I hid in the bushes, doing recon. I started to feel very dizzy and lightheaded. I saw the girl from earlier walk outside with her dog. “Go potty, Pablo.”
I stood up and looked at her. She stared at. I told her, “I need some help.”
After her dog was done going to the bathroom she led me inside. She introduced me to her mom, Dr. Lopez. Her daughter’s name is Amy. Dr. Lopez asked, “What’s wrong Riley?”
I was hopelessly out of options, so I turned around and unfolded my right wing. Which one third of the six was the chocolate brown for the first six inches the rest was crimson. Dr. Lopez and Amy gasped, “Riley am I dreaming?” Asked Dr. Lopez
“Sadly, you’re not. I got shot with a twelve gauge, can we get the bullet out?! Please don’t call an ambulance.”
“Yes, I’m a vet. Amy, Bring him to the bathroom upstairs.” She walked out of the kitchen as Amy led me to the bathroom. Oh the irony.
When Amy and I got to the bathroom I sat on the toilet facing the wall. I was taking my shirt of as Dr. Lopez walked in, “Hey, Doc,” I said, “Anything you’re gonna put me on, to help with the?”
“Not unless you want any.” She replied.
“Nope. When you’re ready.”
“Uh, Riley, I need you wing, please.”
I unfolded my injured wing, refusing to let myself grunt, squeak, shriek, or make any sound to suggest I was in pain. I clenched my fist as Dr. Lopez moved my feathers to expose the wound. She start pulling out a few pellets. After thirty painful minutes, Dr Lopez finally said, “All done.”
“Why do shot guns have metal pellets ,and not just one bullet?”
“Now, Riley, I want you to rest for at least a week.”
‘Three days,’ I thought. “I need to get somewhere in the next three days.”
“A week, Riley.”
“Four days.”
“Six.” She said calmly.
“Five.” I said, trying not to raise, my voice.
“Fine let’s go call your parents.”
She walked out of the bathroom and went down stairs. I followed her and grabbed the phone I dialed our house number. After five rings Lucy picked up the phone. “Hello?” She said I didn’t reply. “Hello?” She asked again
“Hey, Lucy. It’s Riley.”
She said, “What?!?”
I heard Jake in the background ask, “Who is it, Luc?”
“It’s Riley.” She said back
“Hey, Lucy put Kali on the phone.” I said
“Okay.” She said.
I waited for a minute or two before Lucy said, “Hey she is.”
Lucy handed the phone to Kali, and Kali said, “Hello?”
“Hey, Kali. It’s Riley.”
“Where have you been?” She yelled at me.
“Um... A) Ow, B) The school, Vegas, Arizona, Dr. Lopez’s house.”
“Who’s this Dr. Lopez?!?”
“C) Getting shot. Dr. Lopez is a vet who took 12 gauge shotgun pellets out of my wing.”
“Who shot you?!?”
“Stop yelling.”
“Sorry it’s just we haven’t heard from you in a week.”
“You didn’t get my emails? Never mind that, some guys shot me and I’m stuck in Arizona for five days.”
“Okay I’ll fly down there to meet you.”
“Don’t, please.”
“Why not?”
“Because, you can’t carry me to Colorado.”
“Jake and I can.”
“It’s not going to be worth it, Kali.”
“Riley, you need to be here right now.”
“Can I meet you in Denver?” I asked.
“Yeah, at the airport.” She answered
“I’ll be there tomorrow morning.”
“Okay. Riley?”
“Yeah?”
“Be safe.”
“I will.”
I hung up the phone. I walked up the stairs laid on a bed and passed out on the bed.