• Chapter 1: Missing

    “Hello Morgan Brooks speaking.” I said politely into the phone juggling a pile of papers. A panicked voice pleaded “Morgan! You’ve got to help me! I’m….” and the phone went dead. OMG I recognised that voice. “Summer! Summer!” I screamed down the phone.

    I was shaking as with fumbling fingers I typed in ‘999’. “Which service do you require?” A bored voice asked. “P-p-p police please.” I replied my voice trembling with shock and fright. When I was through I explained the phone call and how scared Summer had sounded. The man on the other end of the line said he would register her missing and if she turned up to let them know. Meanwhile could I let her family know? Well a fat lot of use they were I thought as I put the phone down.

    Slowly as if in a dream I grabbed my keys off the hook. They had my friendship bracelet tied on and a lump rose in my throat. I gulped back the tears and let myself out of the door. Before I knew it I was at Summer’s house. Her mum, Mrs Taylor, answered the door. “Oh, Hello Morgan. Summer’s just gone out for a walk but you can come in and wait for her if you want.” She paused for breath then frowned and asked “Is everything alright?” “No.” I whispered before bursting into tears.

    For goodness sakes I’m supposed to be sixteen not six. I pulled myself together long enough to explain. Then Mrs Taylor went pale and shaky. Then as I finished I noticed silent tears flowing freely down her cheeks. Before long they were great sobs racking through her whole body. That set me off and we clung to each other until there were no tears left to cry. “She just felt ill and went for a walk. She promised to be back soon.” Mrs Taylor sniffed her head in her hands.

    The thing is Summer wasn’t the first teenager to go missing. Quite a few did every year. They’d been doing so for as long as people could remember. It was always the same. They felt ill, went out, and never came back. Sometimes like Summer they were able to phone. But they never managed to say anything like an explanation. It was just one of those unsolved mysteries. Now the police no longer acted when it happened. It is like they know something we don’t. There is one thing for sure though Summer is not the last.

    Chapter two: Help!
    Two days past and still no news of Summer. I moped around the house feeling lost. Without Summer I was always lonely. We’d been so close there had been no need for other friends. I hadn’t bothered with school since her disappearance. What was the point? It was as though I’d lost a part of myself.

    The phone rang and I jumped. I checked the number before I answered. It was with held so was probably for my parents who were both out at work. With a sigh I answered it “Hello. Morgan Brooks speaking” I said my voice emotionless. So you can imagine my surprise when a familiar voice spoke quickly back to me. “Morgan? It’s me. Summer! I haven’t got much time. I’m in pain Morgan. They’ve locked me in this hospital place. It’s…” and as before the line went dead. Shocked I was unable to put the phone down. I just froze.

    Gaining a little self control I placed the phone back on the hook and contemplated what to do now. I just felt numb. I decided to go to Summer’s house and tell Mrs Taylor then she could decide what to do. So I started walking. Hearing Summer’s voice had been like putting vinegar on an open wound.

    Summer was more than a friend to me. She was family, like a sister. We’d known each other our whole lives. Our parents met in hospital where we were both born. However Summer was born the day before me. Our mum’s lived close by one another and we’d known each other ever since. I remembered one time when I’d fallen over. I must have been about eight and Summer helped me hobble home. When we got there my mum was out shopping and my dad at work. So Summer cleaned out my cut and put a plaster on it. I remembered how we advised each other on boys. We helped each other if we forgot homework. We always stood by each other. No one ever messed with us. I never realised how much I depended on Summer until she was gone.

    I almost cried out. I just couldn’t help my loneliness. After I explained everything to Mrs Taylor. We cried for a bit before I headed off home. When I got there I got dressed in my pyjamas and went straight to bed. Exhausted.

    Chapter 3: Stolen
    I woke early. God my back hurt. I was achy and sore as I wandered into the kitchen. On the work top was a note that read:

    'Dad’s gone to a conference.
    I’m staying late at work for a meeting.
    Be back around 8. Kisses Mum heart '

    I sighed. Yet another day when I was home alone. How typical. Admittedly I didn’t have to stay home. I was supposed to go to school. I didn’t want to. Anyway it was Friday what did it matter. There was no point going in. I had no one who understood how alone I felt there. Better to stay away from everyone instead of getting people whispering ‘she’s the one whose friend’s gone missing’. I knew they said things like that when they spoke in their silly stage whispers.

    So I pulled on my favourite black skinny jeans and a black top that said ‘I’m really and angel in sparkly italics. I felt shivery so pulled on my Mickey Mouse fleece. Sitting at the table I had a bowl of weetabix. I lent forwards and rested my head in my hands. My head was feverish. Damn it.

    So I went to the medicine cabinet for an aspirin. But there was only an empty packet. Damn. Damn. Damn. Tugging my trainers onto my feet and grabbing my bag and keys I slipped out of the house. I began my walk to the chemist. It was quite warm and I let the morning sun wash over me.

    It was so early I was one of the only people out apart form the occasional car driving past with a bleary eyed person at the wheel presumably heading to work. I decided to take a short cut past the gypsy field. I was called that because the gypsies grazed there horses there. The little path past it was lined with the most beautiful cherry blossom trees.

    As I walked I had the weird feeling of being watched. Glancing back over my shoulder I saw nothing and only sent a twinge of pain down my spine. Still the feeling wouldn’t go. Nervously now I turned. But there was no one there and I just felt silly.
    Now could hear footsteps and I felt so afraid I cannot put it into words. I whirled round for the third time, but slowly so I didn’t hurt my back again. As I did a rhyme me and other children used to sing floated into my head. ‘He always walks behind you, in your tread, three looks back, And you’ll be dead.’ But it was too late. He stood there. A man.

    He would have looked normal if it wasn’t for the large black wings that fanned out from his back. “Don’t kill me!” I squeaked staring up at him with wide eyed terror. “Why does everyone say that?” He sighed “Look kid I’m not gonna hurt you.” He added. But before he could say any more I doubled over in pain letting out a gasp. Stabbing pains shot through both my shoulders making me let out gasps every few seconds. Instinctively I raised my hand to the pain. “Hey? You alright kid?” he said looking worried. My whole body ached and I started to shake. “Help me” I whispered as I slumped forwards.

    He caught my limp body easily as he whispered some obscenity. “It’s alright kid.” He said “I’m gonna take you somewhere they can help you” he said the last bit softly. He patted my back comfortingly. But as he moved his hand away a sticky, red, liquid covered it. Blood.

    In one quick movement he flipped me up into his arms. With a little jump he took flight. My eyes flew open in shock. As I stared at the clouds surrounding me. I must have lost consciousness because the next minute we were landing. I whimpered in his arms.

    He walked to some automatic doors, my limp body in his arms. He carried me over to a desk as I moaned weakly. A pretty woman sat at the desk she had beige wings and gasped as she saw my blood soaked body. She got up and ran through some doors shouting for help. At her shouts two burly men with grey wings marched through the doors and looked surprised to see my writhing body. A sudden agonising pain shot through my body causing me to scream a blood curdling scream.

    I arched my back and then went limp again. I whimpered and moaned as they transferred me to a bed which they’d just wheeled in. As I began to gurgle and choke they tried to hold me down. But using all of my strength I forced myself to sit upright. Beautiful white wings burst out of my back and everyone gasped. But I’d used the last of my strength and I flopped back onto the bed. I heard one doctor saying “That’s impossible! The transformation always takes three days.” But I heard no more as I closed my eyes and slipped backwards into the void.

    Chapter 4: Seeing Summer
    “She’s been like this for two days now. When is she going to wake up?” A voice above me whispered softly. Forcing myself to wake up my eyes slowly flickered open. For a moment things were blurred and shapes made no sense. But it soon cleared and I saw everything in such focus it made me blink. I’d never realised how bright colours were.

    I noticed two anxious faces peering down at me. “Morgan, what can you remember?” One asked me in a concerned voice. “Everything. Would you be able to find a girl for me?” I asked. They nodded. “I know you have her here. Her name is Summer Taylor. Just tell her Morgan’s here.” I settled back on my pillows as they ran out to fetch her.

    I waited for a while but on one came. So I hopped of my bed looked at myself. I was wearing an awful hospital gown. Beside me lay some clothes. There was a white shirt and black skirt. On the shirt’s pocket in silver writing were the words ‘Angel Academy’. My name was written inside them so with a shrug I slipped them on. With a wiggle of my wings I got them through. But they were in the way so I willed them to disappear. That very second they were gone. I jumped in surprise. Then willed them to appear and they were there. I did this a few times to be sure I had gotten the hang off it. I knew that in my position most people would be scared. But I felt comfortable, kind of whole.

    I jumped as Summer flew in wings outstretched. I laughed almost hysterically. I was so relieved to see a familiar face especially Summer’s as shed been away for so long. “Morgan!” She shouted joyfully as she landed neatly at my side “They didn’t tell me you were here or anything like that” She added throwing her arms around me after glaring at a doctor hovering in the door way. She babbled on about her kidnap and her wings just being there when she woke up on the third day of being here. When I explained my ordeal she listened carefully. Her eyes widening with concern when I told her of the pain. “Oh Morgan I didn’t know.” She told me and her eyes sparkled with emotion. “It’s alright” I assured her. She then spoke to me about how kind everyone here was.

    She told me of a little girl called Kimberly who was all alone here at only six years old she was strange because the change doesn’t normally happen at that age. I asked her what we are. “Angels” she replied simply. After the doctor had examined me she took me on a tour of the school. Everyone else was in lessons so it was deserted. She led me to a room full of animals. As we sat on a sofa. As I sat my wings were in the way so I retracted them.
    “Morgan. How did you do that?” Summer said staring at me. “What?” I said confused. “Your wings, what did you do with them?” she said her eyes wide with amazement. “I just thought to myself ‘wings your in the way’ and how I really wanted them to go away. So they did.” I replied in a voice that said how easy it was “You try.” I told her. She closed her eyes and slowly her wings retracted. “Wow” she said when she opened them marvelling at her lack of wings.

    “You mustn’t tell anyone about this” I pleaded suddenly worried about people finding out if it wasn’t normal. “It’s alright. I won’t tell.” She assured me earnestly. I gave her a small grateful smile, which she returned sweetly. She handed me a kitten and we stroked them in silence. I finally broke the silence by saying “I really missed you.” “Oh I missed you to” she said her eyes filling tears. “I was so alone” she added. A single tear ran down my pale cheek. “So was I” I explained softly. We hugged and let tears run unchecked down our cheeks. We’d both been friends for so long being apart had been like missing a part of ourselves. When we had recovered our composure we placed the kittens back in their basket and went to look around the rest of the school. We came to a large hall which Summer explained was a canteen and would be opening in just a few minutes. “We could stay here and then you’d meet everyone!” Summer said enthusiastically linking arm with me and dragging me over to a couple of chairs by the door where we would see all the comings and goings.

    I thought nervously of what people would be like. So far here I had had so much happen to me I didn’t know where to start. The mystical scary happenings made me jumpy and afraid of every figure, shadow or rustle. Though Summer was here I felt so alone and a horrible pang of home sickness swept through me. My parents had never been there for me but they were still family. I wasn’t used to feeling so helpless and emotional. I bit my lip to keep back the tears that threatened to spill out.

    But Summer had known me long enough to recognise this and she put her arms round me saying “It’ll be ok. I promise.” She was so sweet and kind the tears just came out anyway. Just as I was drying my eyes the door flew open and in swept a whirlwind of feathers and flesh. In other words the whole school. The noise terrified and thrilled me all in one go. I finally felt as though I fitted in. I was finally the same as everyone else there. Belonging was like a part of me beginning filled. But at the same time what I had become scared me. I couldn’t decide whether I was human or something else now. Did it matter anymore? I wasn’t sure.

    I listened attentively as Summer explained in great detail who was who and whether or not I should speak to them. Or at least I tried to listen but really my attention drifted back to my own thoughts. “Morgan? Morgan? Are you listening? Hey are you ok?” Summer said in a hurried concerned voice. “No, no. I’m fine. Don’t worry I was just thinking.” I replied soothing her quickly before she panicked. A sweet looking blonde girl sidled up to us her cute face shy and nervous.
    A flash of whirling colours flashed before my eyes and I saw her in a beautiful periwinkle blue dress with pretty ice colours sparkling like diamonds around her. But as quick as the image appeared it was gone again. Yet though I was confused I somehow kept my mouth shut and just nodded politely when Summer introduced me to her and we shook hands formally. Her name was Kimberly and she was an orphan who had been discovered ages three with fully developed wings. She had known nothing before that and it was obvious someone had hidden her. But how did I know this? From just touching her little hands I now knew her whole life and even what she thought at the time. I knew she was afraid but she thought I looked pretty and mysterious so she’d come to meet me. I almost laughed. Someone thought I was pretty. The whole concept was hilarious but I bit my lip and held my laughter back.

    I asked Kimberly a few questions about how she liked it here but I didn’t touch her again. The thoughts of hers I now had were enough. I worried if it would happen if I touched someone else. Maybe I could test that theory tomorrow. I listened as she explained why she was here. I already knew it but listened giving murmurs of surprise in the right places. Soon she chatted to me like old friends and tried to snuggle closer. I backed off saying I was tired and asked were I could sleep. Then for the first time I noticed that people were whispering and staring. I suppose I was a new attraction at the zoo to them. I didn’t like it though and shot a steely look at everyone. They soon averted their gaze. Summer led me to a room. I arranged the new things they had got for me. A night dress with a sleeping angel on it was laid before me on the bed. I slipped it on careful to retract my wings then let them grow out again through the specially made slots. Summer had promised to come and get me in the morning and I curled up in the bed. It was cosy and warm but I felt cold spreading through my head. It was like brain freeze only it stung and I rubbed the side of my head to try to get rid of it. Eventually it I slept but not well. I woke every few hours in a state of panic. I could not remember the first few dreams.

    Chapter five: A forgotten Dream
    I knew where I was. Though it was misty, I knew. I looked to my side. In a mirror I saw my reflection. I was sitting at a piano. My hair was straight and pale blue bathed in the mysterious light.

    A boy entered. He had pale skin that glowed. He smiled at me and I found myself smiling back. Surrounded by a beautiful mist I got up and walked towards him. He laughed softly placing his arms around my shoulders. I hugged him and he whispered “I love you my sweetheart” It was in a language I had never heard of but somehow I understood it. I look past his shoulder into the mirror again and saw us reflected back. A surge of love filled me and the dream faded.

    A hand grabbed through the mist and I woke up with a scream. I broke out in a cold sweat and sat shaking wrapped in my sheets. I rolled around restlessly. But I couldn’t sleep and at seven that morning a knock made me jump. “It’s just me.” Summer said sweetly. She came in and laid fresh uniform neatly on my bed. She promised to come back in a few minutes and then show to the hall again for breakfast. I nodded and thanked her.

    Slowly, and trance like, I dressed. I then I brushed my hair with the winged comb lay on my dressing table. Then I sat absorbed with thoughts of my dream and the mysterious boy. His handsome features filled me with happiness and love. My thoughts were interrupted by Summer tapping lightly on the door. She led me down to the hall and we walked slowly. My heart pounded but I ignored it. Somehow I knew something was coming. It was just working out what it was. I sat down at a table with Kimberly and Summer and we ate our food contentedly. A thump ran through my head quickly followed by another. “Are you Ok?” Summer asked. Thump. My headed pounded again. Thump. Thump. It thumped a continuous beat in my head. I rubbed my temples. “Just a head ache.” I whispered. Another Thump filled my head. I just wanted it to stop. There was a shout behind me. I turned with a start. There he was, as people say ‘the man of my dreams’. Literally. I saw him and he saw me. He was holding his head his face screwed up with pain.

    Suddenly he opened his eyes. The recognition flashed over his face and with a start we both remembered. I blushed. I was shocked by the memories of another life. I turned away. But the moment our eyes left each other we forgot the memories. All I now knew was that something strange was happening and one thing’s for sure. I’m going to find out what is going on here.