NUDGE P.O.V.
Fang stared at Angel with barely concealed loathing in his eyes.
"You…I can't…" He tried to compose himself, and failed. "You killed her! I know you did!" he shot at Angel. His eyes gleamed with fury unlike anything she'd seen before. "She loved me, and I loved her. She loved all of us, and now she's gone, all because of you!" He'd moved closer to Angel as he shouted, and now he had her backed up against the cave wall.
"Fang…?" Angel whimpered. Her huge baby blue eyes glimmered with tears. Fang looked at her with disgust.
"Those innocent eyes can't save you now, Angel."
By now Fang was towering over a cowering Angel. I briefly considered stepping in before Fang lashed out – but Angel deserved it.
"Max was crazy. She was leading us into a suicide mission! I did what I could to save us!" Something inside Fang snapped.
"YOU KILLED YOUR OWN SISTER!" Fang grabbed Angel by her ragged shirt and dragged her outside. I followed meekly, not knowing what to do. "You have to leave, Angel. You broke up our family." Angel looked at me with desperation.
"You love me, Nudge…don't you?" I looked at my feet.
"You have to go, Angel, and never come back. Ever."
"I thought we were a family…" Fang stared at her with amazement.
"After all you've done, you still think that we have one? You destroyed us!" By this time all of us were crying, Fang sobbing. "I can't BELIEVE you!" I walked forward and pushed Fang out of the way before he hurt her. I looked deep into those shining eyes…and saw nothing, nothing that could save her.
"Go." I said with finality. Angel took a few steps backward.
"Iggy? Gazzy?" she whimpered. In answer, the two retreated back into the cave. Sighing, Angel turned her head away, tears dripping down her face as she walked to the edge of the cliff. She spread her pure white wings, now two separate pieces of tainted perfection and innocence. One last look saw Fang and I looking defiantly back at her – no pity or love showed in our expressions. Angel took off into the clear, blue sky and flew into the distance until she was only a small speck marring the perfect horizon.
FANG P.O.V.
What do you do when your life turns to shit? Apart from eating the entire tub of Sara Lee ice cream?
Talk to God.
Well, try to. As soon as Angel left I flew out of the cave…well… like a bat out of hell. I couldn't stand the flock's pitying looks and knowing grimaces. They knew nothing about what I was feeling, couldn't possibly understand. So I flew to the only place of solace I could think of – the local church. I walked up to the enormous polished mahogany doors and got a firm grip on handles, pulled with all my strength and was rewarded with a small crack and a very, very loud creak. I squeezed through (thankful of my small bones) and entered the dark and dusty building. My footsteps echoed through the silent church, resonating through the ancient stones. I was the only one there – if you don't count the priest. I paused halfway and folded into a pew. The priest was reverently blessing a cup and bowl on the alter. I'm not a religious person or anything, but the sense of calm and peace of the place settled my mind and heart.
It was here that I tried to contact God. Should I talk out loud? In my mind? I must have looked a little agitated cause the priest started to walk over to me.
"Son, you seem troubled. What can I help you with?"
"I'm going though a tough time, and I thought you guys could help me out."
"We can try," he replied gently. "Want to talk to me about it? I'm Father Ramon, by the way."
"Well…I want to ask…if…" I stumbled. Then I realized what, or rather who, I was here for. "Could you ask Him if he could look out for someone for me? Up there in heaven?"
"Yes, yes. Her name?"
"Max." Here goes. Father Ramon bent his head in prayer and I quickly followed.
"Father, we ask of you to guide Maximum Ride through her time with You and forgive her for her sins. Amen."
"Amen." The Father then pulled himself up and walked back to the alter, giving me some space.
"Have faith, my son" he called back. "Feel free to come by anytime." I sat quietly for a few moments, hoping that Max was ok up there. That she wasn't lonely, hungry or troubled like she was here, on Earth.
"I love you Max…" I murmured quietly, before silently making my way back to the wooden doors. I slipped out of the church and stood on the stairs. It wasn't until later that I wondered how Father Ramon knew Max's full name.
