The wind is howling as I walk on the streets. I know I should have stayed home, but I can't handle the arguments with my parents. With one step out of the building, I'm already soaking wet.

"Should have brought an umbrella," I grumble.

Working as a teenager is hard, and it doesn't help that my parents are continuously nagging me about grades and making me get a job.

"Stupid life, stupid job, stupid school," I keep grumbling through the rain.

I can see the house from the distance and notice there is no car in front. I'm alone. Again. Why is it so hard for them to stay home?

I continue to walk past the house to the park. It's empty, just as I expect. I'm walking down the trail when I hear something. Thump. Thump. It sounds like two people had jumped from a high building, which is weird because there are no high-level buildings around. It's a small neighborhood with a small park and a single alley.

"What is wrong with you? You just jeopardized the mission!"

It's an angry female. Her voice holds some authority but is also sweet.

"I know! But if you had just flown faster, then none of this would've happened!"

I notice this one is a man, but he's a teenager. His voice is dripping with regret and guilt. He must have done something very wrong if... wait... flown! What does he mean by flown? Before I can process the new information, the female speaks angrily.

"Do not put this on me. It was not my fault that your anger got in the way. That explosion is on you. We already lost enough of our people, and you flying away didn't help any of it. You're lucky we didn't lose anymore. You thinking about the past isn't going to help either. You made your choice back then, and I made mine. Just because you can't live with yours doesn't mean you should shame me for living with mine."

My mind is racing now, thinking, explosion. What explosion? What in the world is going on? It's hard to see with a dumpster in the way, but I hear a heavy flapping and see a bright flash before silence.

I wait for a few seconds, listening for any sounds before I stand up, shocked with the sight in front of me.

A teenage girl, eighteen maybe, is standing there, but that's not even what shocks me most. Snow white wings sprout behind her back, stretched out as long as a truck. The feathers are damp and dripping because of the heavy downpour, and her clothes are leather, like an armor complete with a pair of boots. Some of her bright red hair is hanging loosely on her face since it's become loose from her braid. She is looking down with her fists clenched, trying to calm down, but she looks up as if she hears me. Saying she looks shocked would be an understatement.

"How long were you there? How much did you hear?"

At this point, she's freaking out.

I just stand there shocked; my mouth is hanging open. I don't know what to do.

"Hi," I say.

It's too much to process. She asks again, moving closer.

"How much did you hear?"

I snap out of my shock and begin backing away until I hit the wall. I take a few breaths before I reply.

"All of it."

"Crap!"

She begins pacing in front of me, mumbling the words "What do I do?" over and over again before she stops and walks over to me. I push myself against the brick wall as she comes closer.

"What's your name?"

I stare at her until she punches the wall next to me.

"I asked, what is your name?"

"Liam."

"Alright, Liam. Follow me."

I stand in shock for a while until my mouth starts working again.

"What? Why? I promise I won't tell anyone. Let's just go our separate ways and pretend none of this ever happened."

She stares blankly at me and tells me, "I won't kill or harm you, but I do need you to follow me unless you want me to tie you up and drag you."

I notice that she curled her wings so that they were resting on her back. I pry myself from the wall and take a step closer to her.

"What are you?"

"Not human, and let's go," she fires back immediately.

I stay put. When she notices I'm not following, she lets out a huff and turns around.

"Well, I know that already," I say, gesturing to her wings. "But what are you?"

She thins her lips, as if she is contemplating on telling me or not.

"If I tell you, will you come with me?"

I stay silent but reply "yes" when she begins to glare at me. I don't know her, but that doesn't mean I have to get on her bad side.

"I'm a shapechanger."