I tilted my face up to the warm sun and closed my eyes, a content smile on my face. Everything was right in my life for once. Fang had come back and we were one big happy family again. Adding to that, we (meaning the flock) were visiting Dr. Martinez, Max's mom, and her daughter, Ella. They were two of the best people the flock had ever met.
"Hey, Nudge. What are you doing up so early?" Iggy asked from behind me.
I turned and smiled at him, even though he couldn't see it. His hair looked like it had been put into an electrical socket and there were bags under his eyes. He couldn't stop yawning and I marveled at how cute he looked in his Snoopy pajamas.
"Eh. I couldn't sleep." I said.
Iggy frowned thoughtfully. "Me neither. I'm surprised, you know. I thought that with Fang back and being safe and all, I could finally get a good night's sleep. Guess I thought wrong."
"Yeah. Same here. I keep thinking that something's bad going to happen. I don't know if I'm paranoid or what."
Iggy nodded. "Ok. Enough depressing talk. You want some eggs? I better get breakfast started. Everyone's bound to wake up soon."
"Ok. Ella's dressing, last time I checked." I lowered my voice to a whisper instinctively. "If you want to impress her, you better not make the yolk runny. She hates eggs with runny yolks."
He shot me a glare and it took all my willpower not to burst out laughing. "I'm not trying to impress Ella!"
"Sure. That explains why-"
I didn't have time to finish my sentence. I dove to the ground as the window shattered and Erasers came piling in, their mouths foaming, eyes hungrily searching for their prey. Us. I quickly got to my feet and squatted down defensively, fists out, ready to let fly. The first Eraser that came at me stumbled back as I loosed a roundhouse kick at his head. It didn't do half the damage I thought it would. I'm strong, but the Erasers outweighed me by almost 200 pounds. I'm talking 200 pounds of pure muscle here. He roared in fury punched me in the stomach, driving all the air out of my lungs.
"Nudge!" Iggy yelled.
He grabbed a lamp and smashed it over the Eraser's head so hard that the lamp broke in half. The Eraser staggered and did a face-plant on the ground, but all that Iggy did was infuriate him more. Footsteps sounded on the stairs and Ella burst into the room, her face pale with fear. Max was right behind her with Fang, Angel, and Gazzy close behind.
The other Erasers started for her and the others, murder in their eyes. Max brought her knee up and smashed one Eraser in the crotch. I was about to cheer when the Eraser I had been fighting got up and closed a hand around my throat. I chocked and clawed at him but it had no effect. He grinned maliciously at me and turned, getting ready to jump out the window.
"Max!" I yelled as loud as I could.
Max and Iggy ran for me at the same time, but they were too late. The Eraser jumped and hit the ground running. Max stopped in her tracks but Iggy leaped out the window with a savage look on his face and followed us. The Eraser sped up and got to the edge of the cliff. Without breaking his stride, he tossed me over the edge and followed a half second later.
The last thing I remember before I blacked out was Iggy yelling my name as he pulled something out of his pocket that looked strikingly similar to my makeup case. Probably one of his makeshift bombs.