Wingless Read Online Free PDF

day. I just want to get to my hour of joy. I have five minutes before my birth time is here, when the transition will inevitably take place. I saw Perry's change, which is awesome, because now I know what to expect.
    She said getting her wings hurt a little bit, but I'm not afraid of some pain. Especially since when I become a Fighter, I'll be taking on Demons left and right—saving the universe from disaster. I expect pain. I crave the pain.
    "Oh, Annie. You are just stunning," my mother coos, touching my dress and flattening it out so it lies against me, even though I just did that upstairs. I smile at her, showing off the disgusting human dress. My father takes my hand in his and squeezes it.  
    He leads me to our largest room, my mother trailing us, where I see my cake and candles sitting on the counter. My stomach flutters, little prickles exploding over my spine. The cake is white, with glistening frosting covering it. There are exactly sixteen candles, shoved into the top of it, just like the humans do.
    "Quick! Let's sing before she gets her wings!" My father rushes around the room, making sure everyone is quiet and jumping around like a crazy Angel. I look up across the counter at Perry and Tab, both grinning ear-to-ear. I wink over at the two, knowing that this is my time to shine. It's probably the only time that I welcome the attention.
    Everyone starts to sing as my father flicks his fingers, lighting the sixteen candles in front of me. My stomach does that weird flipping thing again, and I use the counter to hold some of my weight. I'm so nervous I can barely breathe, let alone stand.
    "Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday, Angel Annie! Happy birthday to you!"  
    I can't control my enthusiasm as I lean forward and blow out my candles. In one heavy breath, I'm able to get them all out and I jump up, clapping my hands in a girlish way I don't normally take on.
    The room erupts in laughter as people watch me with their own glee. I dip my pointer finger into the cake and savor the super sweet frosting. We don't need to eat, but who could pass up birthday cake? It's one of the only times when food is allowed in the Veil, so there's no way I'm not enjoying every last drop of this cake. This occasion may never happen again.
    "Come on, Annie. Share with your friends!" Perry yells from across the counter, cupping her hands around her mouth to make her louder. I stick out my tongue at her, but move aside so my father can start passing out little slivers of my cake. He only gets to hand out two across the table when my mother screams with joy from behind us.
    "It's time!" she announces to the room, rushing over to me. Immediately, it gets eerily quiet, the room almost freezing in place. The pit of my stomach burns with fire, and I feel like I might faint. The small bite of cake I had expands in my belly and moves around, almost like it might come right back up. I shut my mouth and stand still, waiting to feel something. "Five, four, three, two…"
    Time seems to still as I wait for my chance. I will finally get what I've always dreamed of.  
    "One!" my mother yells. I stand tall, frozen, feeling nothing. I shut my eyes and will my wings to come in. I kind of push my shoulder blades together as if pushing the wings through my skin. I don't even care what color anymore so long as I get them.
    One minute passes.
    Two minutes.
    Three minutes. I know because I count every single second. And each second that passes, I get more and more upset. I get more and more doubtful. And then I can't wait any longer.
    "What happened?" I ask, opening my eyes for the first time since my hour passed. Maybe Perry was wrong. Maybe my wings came, but I didn't feel a single thing. I know I am stronger than her by a long shot since I spend so much time in the training center. I reach my hand back to feel my supposed wings, but it's barren, human-like.  
    "Val, what's going on?" my mother asks my father in a heated