Featherlight Read Online Free PDF Page B

arms, and upper thighs. She also gave
me a pair of black sport shorts, which I switched into after taking my shoes
off.
     “Ten minutes,” An overhead speaker announced. Ten minutes until
landing?
    I asked Marie, “Ten minutes until what?”
    Should I try to escape? As soon as a rough escape plan formed in my
mind, the engine rumbled and the floor shook slightly. That man wasn’t joking
with me earlier, and I was stuck on this plane-ship thing until it landed. We
really are leaving the planet. Shouldn’t I be strapped in somewhere? I wanted
to sit down and cry. How had I gotten into this mess? Where did things go
wrong? And the most important question of all: Could I have done anything
differently to get out of it?
    I tried asking the silent woman again. “Why was that announced?”
    “Because that’s when your change begins,” She told me with alarm, “You
should know all this by now.”
    I was getting sick of having no information. If someone didn’t tell me
something fast, things were going to get ugly. I tried to think practically.
    I was taken against my will, and my aunt had let it happen. She knew
something I didn’t. Heck, everyone knew something I didn’t. I was told I wasn’t
human. I was told I was going to grow wings. My pulse jumped from fear. What
crazy people had me in their clutches?
    Well, this plane-ship looked expensive, and as far as I knew, I was the
only reason we were traveling. So, basically, I was either extremely important
to them or whomever was transporting me had a whole lot of money. Or both. I’m
going to assume that I was at least slightly important to these people, which
means that, for the moment, I was safe. Now that that was settled, I needed
answers. Where was I headed and what do they think this “change” was supposed
to do?
    Turning back to the woman, I tried to look helpless and scared (which
wasn’t hard) while asking, “What is the change?” Her features softened as she
took pity on me.
     “Usually, Change is triggered by puberty. Since you’ve been on earth,
well, the change wasn’t activated.”
    “How is it activated?” I inquired softly, all innocence.
    “Oh you sweet dear, I’m not sure it’s my place…”
    Could I squeeze out a tear? How desperate for information was I?
Actually, now that I thought about it, crying wasn’t too far away. I had been
running on adrenaline, and even though I had had a long, unconscious,
drug-induced sleep, it wasn’t restful. I sank down on the bed, covering my
face.
    “What is happening?” The question wasn’t directed anywhere, and I
didn’t expect a reply, so I was surprised when I received one.
    “Well, dearie, puberty isn’t exactly the trigger. More specifically,
it is being around men.”
    I peeked through my fingers to say, “I’ve been around men my whole
life.”
    She leaned down close and gently took my hands off my face. “Men from
your own kind, dear. Now that you’ve been around them a bit, you will
experience the change you should have gone through years ago.”
    She managed to make it sound like a great privilege, which was the
opposite of how the Unhappy Camper made it sound. As if on cue, a sudden
internal pain flared. I was going crazy. I was not going to change. I was not
going to change. I’m Jacqueline Winters. Jacque Winters is who I am, and Jacque
Winters is who I will always be.
    Somewhere far away, someone yelled, “Five minutes!”
    I sank down to the floor. Grey spots danced in my vision.
    “Over hear, dear!” I vaguely felt someone lay me down on the spotless
white bed.
    My ears rang. Pain was taking over thought. My chest was numb. My
head, arms, legs, were on fire. My head was thick and swirling. I moaned,
wanting it all to go away. I prayed for sleep and peace. The pain increased to
an unbearable level and I was frozen with it. I was finally dying. The
infections were going to kill me after all.
    I wanted to scream, but found I couldn’t. I was on fire, burning
alive.