Chapter 1

I thought I could do it, I thought that I could run forever. The past was behind me, most of it dead. But I never expected it to haunt me, to find me. I ran through the dark streets, took a left and vaulted over a guard rail. I couldn't lead them to the flock, they didn't know, and there was no way in hell that I would put them in danger.

I looked around me, when I didn't see anything I closed my eyes and searched with my raptor hearing. My pursuers were at least two miles away and in the south. I had lost them for now.

Taking a breath to calm myself I snapped my wings open and jumped into the air. I flew in a northeast direction, coasting on the strong wind currents. Back to my family, my reason to fight to live.

We were staying in a cave that was tucked into the side of the Hawaiian beach. We had, had enough of staying at the military base. So we all agreed to spend the night out, we kitted the cave out with foam mats, blankets, pillows, a ready supply of junk food, we all had our little sections to sleep in. Nudge and Angel had claimed the far corner where they had made a sort of girls-only zone. Iggy and Gazzy were sleeping on one of the large overhangs of rock, I had no doubt that the whispered conversations they had were on making so type of explosives. Fang was lying flat out on his stomach by the remains of the fire. Everything was just as I had left it, no one had noticed I had left.

It didn't take me long to get back, with super flight speed and everything. I landed gracefully at the entrance of the cave. Why had I even left in the beginning? I had no idea. I knew that I regretted it though. They were coming. And lord help me, I couldn't protect my family. I had failed once before, now I was going to fail again. I looked at my flock all sleeping peacefully.

I walked in and sat down on my mat, I glared at the smouldering ashes of the long dead fire. And grimly thought ashes to ashes, dust to dust, no way back from ashes, cast dust to the winds.

I was beginning to drift into sleep when a sound woke me. Just a slight scrape of one rock falling against another, so minute that I couldn't be sure it was real, the feeling of being stalked was very real though. I knew it was over. That didn't stop me from trying to save everyone though.

"Everyone U and A, quickly." I yelled.

I didn't matter if I was heard from everyone in a ten mile radius. They already knew where we were.

My brilliant little flock were up in a heartbeat. They started heading for the opening. I ran in front of them, readying for impact. Gazzy was silently helping to guide Iggy over the or around the rocks. I was two feet away from freedom when a black figure loomed in my way. Determined to get the others to safety I threw myself at the figure. Tackling whoever they were to the ground. I heard six whooshes and new the others were in the air. Giving my opponent a sharp kick in the ribs, I threw my in to the sky and spreading my wings and soaring up. Just in time as three other figure dove at the spot where I had been.

My flock had gathered into a circle three hundred feet above me so I went and joined them.

"Guys we have to move." I said in my oh so leader-ly voice.

"But who are they? What do they want? They don't look like genetically modified mutants or robots. Maybe they were local gangsters and we slept at their hangout spot. You notice how gangs have millions of different logos? Can we be a gang? I could make us logos and we could have matching uniforms like. The girls outfits will be different from boys outfits but with the same colours logos and design sort of. Could we…"

Thank you Iggy, I know you are blind but I am glad you can successfully plant your hand on Nudge's mouth and shut her up.

"No, they're not from the School but they are a threat. We've got to leave now before they get serious."

On impulse I look down and see one of the dark figures bring out a long object, he holds it a particular way that gives away what it is.

I signal for everyone to start flying out over the ocean, so we can circle around the island. We fly unpredictably and make sudden swerves, making it impossible for them to target us.

"Max! Who are they? They want to hurt you. They know you, but how?!" Angel yells as we start to get out of range.

She picked up their thoughts, if those things are who I think they are we have got a huge problem. And I don't think I can run anymore.

I look at my flock and everyone of them has a face of shock and worry. But Fang, his eyes are boring into mine, he knows there's something he doesn't know. I can't hide it from them for ever.

As I open my mouth to answer I hear a boom, I look at my flock to see if anyone was hit. Then I feel the pain. I put my hand to my right side and try to suppress to blood flowing from the wound by my ribs.

"MAX!" It seems everyone shouts. It's okay though, I can keep flying. We just have to get away, out of range.

We start flying again and we circle around twenty five miles away heading for the Navy base. I start to sag, my vision blurs. My breathing is painful and ragged.

"Max are you okay?" Gazzy asks.

I look at him, smile, and start to nod, then fall. My wings wrap around me as I fall, and I can't do nothing. I feel my strength fading. Then I feel the comfort of strong arms as someone catches me. Fang.

He will always be there for me.

I feel myself flying without wings, the others ask hushed questions if I'm okay. And Mr. Inquisitive himself answers with a, "She'll be fine once we get her to the base."

Before I go completely I think, why are they looking for me now? It's been nearly over ten years. I thought I was free.

Turns out I was wrong, as wrong as I can be. Which we all know is very rare for me.