"Radio?"

As harmless as that sounds, I was actually starting to doubt that this brain sharing thing with Peri really only went one way.

Where I was mostly just confused, Peri actually knew how this stuff worked, so it made more sense if the growing panic in my chest originated from him.

Call it paranoia, but I was almost sure I could feel the supervisor freaking out on the other side of the mental link.

All the more reason to get answers out of her as quickly as possible.

"What's the punch line here?" I demanded anxiously, jaw clenching when the giant genius tsked at me.

"YOU REALLY SHOULD HAVE BEEN MORE DILIGENT WITH YOUR SCHOOL ATTENDANCE GIRL." She scolded mockingly. "HAVING TO EXPLAIN THE SIMPLEST OF THINGS WILL BECOME TIRESOME VERY FAST. I DON'T KNOW HOW VAIN HAS PUT UP WITH IT FOR ALL THESE YEARS."

Can't speak for Vain, but I'm pretty sure the sun will die out before you ever get sick of lording your superior intellect over me.

"A SATELLITE AND RADIO ARE SIMPLY TWO METHODS OF SENDING A SIGNAL MADDISON."

"Yea. I get that you are going to use a radio instead of the satellite to send a signal." I snapped, glaring at her in frustration. "What I want to know is just how is this going to screw me over."

Cassandra raised a hairless eyebrow, surprising me with the fact that her near mummified face had the muscles to move that way.

"HAVING ME EXPLAIN HOW THIS WORKS WILL NOT HELP YOUR FRIENDS AT THE SHRINK PROGRAM TO STOP ME."

Stupid smart people seeing right through me...

"IF YOU WEREN'T SO STUPID, YOU'D REALISE THAT IT IS FUTILE."

Okay, I'm officially done with being called stupid.

"If you're so confident, then tell me," I growled out between clenched.

Her lips twitched with mirth.

"SHALL I DO ONE BETTER?"

Another day screwed, thanks to me and my big mouth.

"AND SHOW YOU?"

".... I'd really rather you didn't..." I started, backing away from the insane woman, every single inch of distance put between us a much-needed victory.

"HMM" She just smiled knowingly. "IN NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES, MY SYSTEM WORKS BY SENDING A SIGNAL UP TO THE SATELLITE, WHICH THEN SENDS DOWN THE COMMAND TO IT'S TARGET WITH PINPOINT ACCURACY. THIS IS THE PREFERED METHOD, AS IT ALLOWS PERFECT CONTROL."

Her hand moved, drawing my attention to the fact that the arm of her chair had buttons along its surface.

My vast powers of observation deduced that the buttons weren't there to help adjust her sitting position.

"ON THE OTHER HAND, A RADIO BROADCASTS A SIGNAL OUT IN A WAVE, AFFECTING ALL WITH THE ABILITY TO RECEIVE THE COMMAND. AS A MEANS OF CONTROLLING NANOTECH IT IS UNREFINED, AS IT ONLY WORKS IF CERTAIN PRECAUTIONS ARE TAKEN BEFOREHAND."

I raised my hands in front of me as if to placate her, but there was little doubt in my mind that nothing was going to get her to back out now.

"And the chances that you haven't thoroughly prepared for this sort of thing are....?"

"NON-EXISTENT."

"... thought as much."

"IN FACT, IN EVERY CORE I PROGRAMED PERSONALLY, I HAVE PUT IN PLACE... A SORT OF RESET. SO THAT, IF I WERE EVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF MY SYSTEM, I COULD RETURN MY SUBJECTS TO A STATE OF... ORIGINALITY."

"SO IF I SEND OUT THE RESET COMMAND LIKE SO...." With a twirl of a finger, she hit the last button. "THE CORE PROGRAMMED TO RECIEVE THE COMMAND WILL... "

What she had left to say way drowned beneath the sudden screeching.

A Bird.

Screaming in agony.

White as a sheet and rigid with terror, my gaze slowly turned.

To Jack.

Even as a crow, Jack had a way of going unnoticed, but there was no looking away as the blackbird began to writhe in agony.

As if trying to stop her, Jack flew at Cassandra, only travelling a small distance before crashing into the floor with another screech, convulsing where he lay.

Then the bones started to crack.

"THE SLOW CHANGE INSTEAD OF THE INSTANT BREAKDOWN AND REBUILD IS INTENTIONAL OF COURSE. I CHOSE IT AS A PRECAUTION." Cassandra elaborated in a mildly interested tone.

I want to make them watch.

No way.

Sick to the core, I spun away, covering my ears with a choked noise.

But I couldn't tune out her voice.

"THIS WAY, IF THE SIGNAL WERE TO MYSTERIOUSLY CUT OFF FOR SOME UNEXPLAINED REASON."

Or the screams.

"THE SUBJECT WOULDNT BE CAUGHT IN A STATE WHERE THEY ARE NOTHING MORE THAN ENERGY. WITH THIS GRADUAL BREAKDOWN AND REMAKE OF INDIVIDUAL PARTS, THE MIND REMAINS INTACT THROUGH-OUT THE PROCESS."

I refused to make a sound. Even as I watched his shadow dance on the wall in a nightmare of inhumane form.

Whatever you do.

Don't. Pass. Out.

"THE BRAIN ITSELF IS ALWAYS THE HARDEST PART. IN ORDER TO PREVENT ANY DAMAGE OR ALTERATIONS, IT HAS TO BE CONSTANTLY READ AND RESCALED WITH THE CHANGE, USING A SECONDARY GROUP THAT WORKS EXCLUSIVELY ON BRAIN MATTER."

A little bit longer.

"AS INTERESTING AS IT IS, I HAVE TO SEND AT LEAST SIX PRESET COMMANDS, UNIQUELY CODED TO PAIR WITH THE CORE I WISH TO INFLUENCE, ALL AT ONCE TO GET THE SIMILAR RESULT TO WHAT I COULD ACHIEVE WITH THE SATTELITE."

Just bear with it a moment longer.

"SINCE IT IS SO IMPRACTICAL, NOT TO MENTION DANGEROUS AND EXCRUCIATINGLY PAINFUL, I HAVE CONDUCTED VERY LITTLE TESTING BEYOND ENSURING THAT IT ACTUALLY WORKS. SO COMPLICATIONS ARE TO BE EXPECTED. "

I couldn't move.

Couldn't do anything.

Until the screaming finally died down, leaving the room with only the sound of our ragged breathing.

"LOOK MADDISON."

Dizzy to the point I saw stars, I forced myself to stay silent.

"I MADE SOMETHING FOR YOU."

I'm sorry.

My eyes closed momentarily with defeat, hands falling gently from my ears as I turned to look over my shoulder.

He hadn't made it. Not all the way.

No longer a bird. Not quite human either.

Something new from in between.

Apparently, the signal had mysteriously cut off for some unexplained reason.

Or perhaps, in her madness, Cassandra had made him like this in the beginning.

The creature turned to lay on its side, exhausted breaths heaving a chest just bit too deep to be human.

Feathers took the place of black curls, painfully sprouting from the skin of the neck, shoulders and upper arms. Legs bent at the wrong angle, ending in claws instead of feet.

Huge, dark wings protruding from his back shimmering like flowing ink.

A sweat-covered face rose slightly, searching for me with pain-filled eyes.

One eye belonged to Jack the human, the other the bird. Both wide and hazed with pain.

"AN ANGEL."

Staring into Jack's eyes, all I could do was shake my head.

Seeing my expression, Jack smiled softly, letting his head rest on the floor with a thump.

"They feel the same, you know." He murmured softly, eyelids lowered tiredly.

"The pain I feel now and the memories of torture she gave me. Everything feels real, but not everything is. "

He laughed breathlessly. "Which makes reality a matter of perspective in the end. "

With a shift of dark feathers, Jack sat up, staring down at me with unblinking eyes.

"You shouldn't cry, Maddison. "

His smile widened into a soft grin.

"If nothing matters anyway, isn't it better to smile?"