When once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there you will always long to return. ~Leonardo Da Vinci

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I sat in my cage, looking out. I kept checking regularly to make sure that the mind-wall was still up. I was going to get out, and get everyone else out. It would just have to wait until night. Under the cover of night, I could easily slip out of the science institute.

"Trinity." I whispered in a soft tone "We're getting out of here. Tonight."

"But how? These cages have locks, you know."

"Remember, I can shift into any bird."

"Right. So, what's the plan?"

"I shift into a hummingbird, get out of the cage, shift back, unlock everyone's cages, we escape."

"And we're doing this tonight?""

I nodded, then went back to thinking. The guards could be patrolling, but I could fly, they couldn't.

"That didn't stop them earlier."

"But if we can make an escape without them seeing, then it won't come to that."

"Good point. And are you sure that this is going to work? That's a lot of unlatching cages, and chances are, it'll be loud."

"I have to do this. I wouldn't have to if I had just told Caspian, but I have to pay the price."

"You speak with determination. And if you're determined, you can do anything. I believe in you, Madelyn."

"Thanks, Ashlea."

"But do be aware that you may have to come back for some of the shifters. But, if you're silent enough, you can get everyone out. Be careful, alright?"

"Alright, I will."

Cold permeated the room, and I wrapped my wings around me. It was freezing, and I had a feeling that it would only become more frigid during the night.

"I might just have to do a snowy owl for some of the time. Those birds are good in cold weather, right?"

"Yeah. And my theory on why they're turning up the cold is to discourage any escape attempts."

"They don't know the determination running through us. We will prevail."

"Indeed. When one's mind is set on something, there's no stopping them. Try and get some rest; I'll wake you up when it's night."

"How will you know?"

"I'll know."

I sighed; it wasn't exactly reassuring, but I closed my eyes and let sleep overtake me. I dreamt of being free, being away from this horrid place. I dreamt of a future in which shifters were respected and treated like everyone else. I didn't know when it was, but I knew that it would be years away. Still, I enjoyed it.

Sad it is, how dreams are an escape, but after they're done, you're quickly plunged back into harsh rea

"Madelyn... Madelyn."

"I'm up. I was having a good dream, though."

"Well, you can tell me about it later. For now, get everyone out of here."

I imagined a hummingbird small enough to fit through the cracks, and changes overtook me. Patterns of feathers rippled across my skin. Then, they protruded from my skin, and my wings merged with my arms. I grew smaller, shrinking, shrinking, shrinking. I was tiny. And the best part of that was that I was small enough to escape this horrid place. I flapped my tiny wings rapidly, and they were a blur. IT was fascinating, being this small, but I had no time to truly observe it. I would have to move fast if I were to rescue every shifter. I flew through the cage. It was a tight fit, but it worked. I then shifted back, and opened Trinity's cage.

It was a semi-complex lock that was incapable of being opened from the inside. I tapped Trinity, and she woke.

"Come on," I said "Help me get everyone out."

She stepped out silently. The cage then rattled slightly, but not enough for anyone in the other rooms to hear. I held my finger to my mouth, then opened Tyler's cage. I nudged him, and his eyes snapped open.

"Huh?"

"We're getting out. Be quiet." I whispered. As he stepped out, I saw that his legs were that of a bird's. I looked away, trying not to show him that I had seen. Not out of love or anything. Just respect.

"Sure, sure."

"Shush, Ashlea. I'm trying to focus."

I unlocked the cage in front of me, a girl with the tail of a squirrel. I then did the cages next to her's, while Trinity and Tyler did the top rows. They moved through the halls silently, and I was moving on to the other side of the hall when a voice echoed through the hallway.

"Stop!"

I spun around to see the man who had tazed me this morning.

"You," I said in an angry tone "Let us go."

Though I tried not to show it, I was absolutely terrified. My legs shaked wildly, and I tried to calm myself. In, out. In, out, I breathed, trying to relax. I could fly; they couldn't. I was clearly at advantage. Or, so I tried to tell myself.

"Like I'd do that." he fired back, tazer in his right hand. In his left was a dart gun looking strangely like one of those ones in movies. Then, I recognized it. It was one of those ones designed to knock people or animals out. There was no time to rescue everyone else.

"RUN!" I shouted, taking to the air. In midair, I shifted into a canary. I was small enough that only a person with expert aim could shoot me.

I didn't count on there actually being a person with such perfect aim.

A brown, scruffy haired man stepped out, dart gun in hand. It was that Phred. Oh no. This was bad. He aimed at me, and I flew frantically, up, down, left, right. A dart was fired, a miniscule one, and I doubted that it would hit me.

It did.

I felt sleep try and overtake me, trying to draw me in. But I couldn't. I tried to stay awake, tried to fight. But I couldn't. I landed, everything going black.

A/N- Anyone wondering about the quote? Well, from now on, I'm adding quotes relating to the book to the begining to the chapter. I got the idea from another wattpad book, and I decided to try it. Should I keep on doing it? Say in the comments.

Also, how did you like this chapter? Tell me that in the comments as well!

I've got to go, but I'll see you all in the comments! Bye for now!