Click here for part 1, and click here for part 2!

"Hunted! What do you mean we're being hunted?!"

She looks around, alert and ready for anything. Her eyes dart around her, body tense yet ready for any attack. I just sit there crouching, trying to process what just happened. My hands are shaking, I can barely stand, yet we stay in that same position for who knows how long. Through my damp hair, I look up at the Mystery Girl - which is what I decided to call her since she still hasn't told me her name. Her pale skin is gaining some of its color back. She relaxed after a few minutes of silence, lets out her breath and turned towards me.

"Come on. We have to keep walking. We can't stay out in the open and risk getting caught, especially once it's dark."

I look at her and I can tell she is still scared and alert, so I tried to lighten the mood. The key word istry.

"Where are we going to hide? A cave?"

"Yes. If we find one, but in an area like this, there's bound to be one."

She looks around before walking in a direction. I stand there laughing, thinking she is joking, but when I look at her face, I stop.

"Wait, you're serious."

She continues walking, not stopping.

"Hey! Wait up!"

I ran up next to her and started looking around. We are still in the forest — shocker, but it starts getting darker and darker. The sun is setting. Now I see what the rush is; it's getting harder to see. The only clear, visible thing is the wings on her back. They are still white as snow. I can't tell if I'm still shocked or uncomfortable by them.

The Mystery Girl stops walking and begins to look around. After a moment, she closes her eyes. All of a sudden, she hunches over, and her wings start to glow and then slowly mold into her back. I can hear the bones shifting as this is happening. I can't take my eyes off her; it was awesome but disgusting. She slowly stands upright, panting as if it took a lot of energy. Does it really take that much energy?

"Yes, it does."

The question must have been written on my face. I'm still looking at her wings, or where they used to be, only to realize that she is staring at me. I think she's gauging my reaction.

She lifts an eyebrow when I meet her gaze and asks, "Shall we continue?"

I nod, not being able to form any words. I'm having a tough time comprehending what just happened because this doesn't just happen! It doesn't! I've seen a dog trip over itself and an ostrich trying to fly, but a human who can sprout wings is just next level! Out of all the people, why does it have to be me who gets stuck with a weird girl? I mean, come on! I just wanted to take a walk in the park, not a forest, where we have been walking for hours. I can feel my legs getting weaker. I don't know how far and long we have to walk to find a cave; for all I know, there isn't even a cave. I look at her and begin to ask her a question, but she turns around in a flash and puts a finger to her lips, signaling me to be quiet.

I was confused and looked around before I heard footsteps and shouts like, "Spread out! The creature should be somewhere in the forest."

Now I start to panic. My eyes widen and I went to turn back to the Mystery Girl, but she is nowhere in sight. I search frantically for her before I feel a tug on my arm. I turn so fast I thought I got a whiplash, but it's only her. She begins to pull me urgently toward the cave next to us that I somehow missed. I can hear their footsteps coming closer as we're running into the cave. Mystery Girl covers the opening with fallen branches and stands against the wall across from me. The footstep sounds were now right in front of the opening. I hold my breath until the footsteps start getting fainter.

The Mystery Girl begins to move around the cave and tells me, "We'll stay here the night. No fire. It brings too much attention."

I nodded mutely and sat down against the wall. My stomach growls. I'm tired and hungry, but we had no food with us.

"We're almost at our location. You'll get food there. I'll explain everything about what just happened tomorrow."

I just lay my head against the wall of the cave and shut my eyes, intending to sleep. I hear some rustling around and peeked to see Mystery Girl moving around and then seating herself against the wall across from me.

I'm almost asleep at this point until, "It's Angel."

I give her a confused look.

"My name is Angel."

I smile at that.

Before I close my eyes, I tell her, "That's a beautiful name. It suits you."

Before sleep consumes me, I see her give me a small, barely noticeable, smile.

Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author's imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.