"Dressed, bag packed, breakfast eaten, Frank... I guess he's ready?"

Nora approached the door and lightly knocked. "You ready Frank?" The lock clicked and she pulled the door open. She was beginning to wonder if he ever slept. He had never once left the door, or if he had, she didn't know about it. "You sleep well last night?"

"Your security is my priority right now."

"Uh hu, and you can keep me safe without sleep?"

He pulled down the sunglasses, emerald green flashing in his eyes. A fountain of energy just behind them. "You don't need to worry about me." The glasses once again perched on the bridge of his nose, he pulled out his phone. "Is the car ready? Good. We're headed down now."

Nora threw the bag over her shoulder, only to have it catch on her wings. She fiddled with it till she had managed to lever the strap over the wing, then her head. It didn't fit perfectly, but she could see how it was superior to a backpack. Not to mention easy access.

As she stepped out the door, the realization of what was happening hit her. She was going to be in public, for the first time since... since she changed. People were actually going to see her. See what she had become. She shivered at the thought, then moved quickly to keep up with Frank, having already reached the elevators.

---

Bradly had been reviewing the plan for the past 20 minutes, over and over. As if the repetition would ensure the world worked as he needed. He would be dropped off at the UN headquarters, Frank and Nora would head to the park. A few hours there (Bradly insisted that she try and interact with people.) A stop by the memorial, then on to the ferry. A hour at Liberty Island (no gift shop), and back on the ferry. Meet back at the hotel for lunch. On to Central Park, a tour through the zoo, and finally Radio City Hall. Meet again for dinner, then catch one of the performances at Fringe Fest.

The plan was simple, and left plenty of extra time in-case something went wrong. Not that anything would, or could, go wrong. Bradly was instantiate on this part. The small phone still sat in her pocket. Should she get separated from Frank, or if something happened to her, a single button would connect her to Bradly. "Even at the slightest provocation, you call, understand?" It wasn't the first time he tried to make that point.

In all that, Nora wasn't really paying attention. Her mind was focused on the world outside the door. People moving about. Cars slowly making their way through the streets, like blood pumping through the veins of the city. Every person who looked their way made her tense. She kept trying to remind herself that they couldn't see through the glass. That it was only the limo they were staring at. It still caught her off guard. Those thoughts had been so loud in her head, she nearly missed Bradly leaving. "See you at lunch!" His charming smile flashed before the door closed. He had really made things easy so far. No one worried about her. No fear of her draconian scales. Her ice cold stare. She wanted to see the world, but now reality was about to force itself upon her, and she was terrified. She clutched the phone in her hand. He was going so far out of his way for her. But why? What did he gain? Or... did any of that matter? The way he looked at her, he was like an older brother. Her heart sped up a tick. Why? The question repeated. What had she done to gain his attention? Frank's hand on her shoulder nearly caused her to scream.

"We're here."

"Oh. Ok."

Stepping out of the limo, she immediately received a few looks. Though, not nearly as many as she expected. Did people not notice? Or was her change... Had she exaggerated it in her mind?

"Let's go." Frank began walking to the park as the limo pulled away. But Nora stood, frozen. "Are you alright?"

"I-I'm... Uh..." She stammered. Words failed to find her, and she wasn't sure why. She quickly latched onto his arm, and they walked on.

Fall had brought some brilliance to the park. Red, orange, yellow. The color was everywhere. Being from the Midwest, she hadn't seen such vibrant color before. Sure, leaves changed color in the fall, but this was breathtaking. It must have been a strange sight indeed. A fierce dragon-lady, clutching the arm of a CIA agent, while gawking at the trees. Her head began to feel light as the moment overwhelmed her. She dare not look around to see what others might have thought. Frank would take care of that. They stopped at a small cart, and he picked up some coffee. She wasn't thirsty, but the warm cup felt wonderful in her hands. She hadn't notice how cold her body had got, but as she sipped, she felt the heat flow through her.

The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

As her nerves began to calm, she looked around. People moved here and there, paying her no mind. They came to a bench and sat down. A man and a boy, likely his son, ran in the park, throwing a Frisbee back and forth. A lady jogged by, dog running beside her. A couple sat under a tree, talking. No one seemed to care that the strange creature was sitting there. Nora sighed. If this was the worst it would be, she might actually be OK.

An older man sat down next to them. His grey hair tucked neatly under the black bowler hat that sat on his head. A comb mustache sat over his lip. He was watching the Frisbee throwers.

"It's really a wonderful time, isn't it?"

Nora froze. She wanted to believe he was talking to someone else, but there wasn't anyone else around. And she doubted he was talking to Frank.

"I do enjoy coming down here to see the leaves change."

His voice sounded gruff. A bit older, maybe 50 or so? She wasn't sure how to respond. He was acting like this was the most normal thing he had done all day.

"Uh, ya. It's nice, I guess." She reached a hand up behind her head.

"How are you enjoying the city?"

Nora started. How did he know she wasn't from here?

"Oh child, your thoughts are written on your face."

"Uh... They are?"

He chuckled, a smile spread across his face. "Indeed."

"Oh. Well... it's been interesting." She quickly added, "I guess."

"Haven't been here long then?"

"Only a couple days." She was reminded how much time she spend staring at the hotel walls. What she had seen was either from her hotel window, or from the limo as the drove around.

"You can see a lot in just a few days."

"Eh. I'm just glad to be outside again."

The man glanced at her. "Is that so?"

Nora began to squirm. It felt like an interrogation. And yet he kept avoiding the obvious question.

"Um..."

He laughed again. "You seemed like a nice kid. Didn't think it was too important."

What? Was he reading her mind?

"I've sen quite a bit in my time. Strange things are just a part of life here, you know?"

"Oh." Now Bradly's choice started to make sense. Perhaps the people here just didn't care that much. Or that weird things didn't have a real effect on them? She had only been here a few days, but the past few minutes were already beginning to make sense.

Time seems to slip by as she spoke to the old man, and before she knew it, Frank was pulling her toward the memorial. Her focus snapped back to reality. 18 years she had put this off, and now, with everything going on, she wasn't sure she was ready yet.

As they approached the memorial, memories began to flash through her head. She had been young, only 6 when it happened, but things began to reach forward again. A smile, brown tussled hair. The water from the memorial was deafening, and she felt something well up inside her. Frank sat down, and she approached the wall alone. Her talons brushed against the stone, but she quickly pulled back, worried she might damage the wall. Her eyes darted between the names, searching frantically. Slusser, Small, Smar, Smart, Smith. Kevan, Loydd, Sam

Sam Smith.

The name clung to her. She reached out, carefully placing a finger over the name. She wanted to scratch it out. Rip the stone from the wall. Like destroying the name would change history. Again, she felt something inside. Something welling up. Her eyes began to water, but no tears flowed. Instead, fine membranes began to flash across. *Of course.* She thought. *I don't even get to cry for her.* But the pain still grew. Her chest felt like it was on fire. Every inch of her, screaming inside. Before she knew it, she fell to her knees and cried out. What came was not a cry, or sobbing, but a roar. It felt like the whole city could hear it. People turned, but not out of fear. She didn't care why, but those nearby could feel her pain. Not in a "I've been there" or an "I can relate" way, but in the most pure way possible. Everyone in the block felt it. As if they had lived her life, and this one moment, a moment of loss, of anguish, of utter defeat, resonated with them.

As soon as she stopped, the moment ended. Frank stepped over, and offered her his hand. "If it means anything, I understand." She glared at him, unaware of what had just transpired. He paused for a moment, letting her contemplate her next action. She stood, ignoring his hand, and began to walk away.

"We're going to miss the ferry if we don't leave now."