We had been flying for over two and a half days. The flock was starting to get a lil antsy about not knowing where, or why,
we were going. Go to Massachussetts Max. The world depends on you. My voice said. Yeah, yeah, the world. Where in Mass?
I thought. Carver Mass Max the voice answered, which was pretty unusual. And why am I leading the flock to this place,
Carver Mass? And what are we supposed to do when we get there? I waited. No response. Great. Typical. We had flown
for about another two hours before Fang flew in closer to me, our wing tips barely touching.
"Any idea where we are going?" Fsng asked.
"Mass" I replied, still looking straight ahead.
"And where in Mass?" he asked.
"Carver."
"And why?" he continued.
"The voice told me to" I said , still looking ahead. I did not want to see the 'you're crazy' look I knew would be in his eyes.
"Why?" he he insisted.
Just then Nudge flew up on the other side of me. "Max, I am hungry. Please can't we stop and get something to eat. I am
starving here."
I glanced at Fang. He nodded, reading my mind in that only - Fang - could kinda way. Not like my Angel. She really could
read peoples thoughts.It was almost dark now. I spotted a thick patch of woods near the back parking lot of an old
abandoned hotel."There." I said and pointed. Fand just nodded and gave the signal for the rest of the flock to land. Once
on the fround, Fang and I did an immediate 360. Looked clear. Noone had seen us. Nudge came up to me.
"Max, I am HUNGRY.she repeated her earlier statement.
"And I gotta go." Gazzy added as he headed for the woods.
"Not too far Gazz." I yelled after him, turning to Fang. I assessed the situation. Then bagan barking orders.
"Ok, I'll go round us up some food. Fang, you and Nudge find a safe place to crash for the night. Ig, you, Gazzy and Angel
go rest up in that big oak over there. I'll be right back." They all nodded and took off . God I love being leader. Fang found a
way into the old hotel, which had been boarded up for some time apparently. But the water and lights still worked so we
were good. After supper, I made all of the flock take advantage of the hot running water and shower. Then, Iggy and
Gazzy took the green bedroom to sleep while Nuged and Angel took the master bedroom. Fang and I sat in the livingroom.
"I'll take first watch." I said to Fang who was looking out of the huge double paned windows. We were on the 7th floor.
"So, know what we are doing here yet?" he asked quietly, his back still turned.
"No, but I am sure we will know soon." I answered, in a low, almost shaky voice. I sat on the floor, bending my knees up
and placing my head on top of them. My head had been hurting most of the afternoon but I did not let on, fearing it would
scare the flock. Fang heard the tone of my voice and turned to look at me as I rubbed my temples. The headache just got
worse, fast.
"Headache again?" he asked, a slight hint of concern in his voice now.It had been soooo long since I had had a bad one, it
caught us both by surprise.Before I could answer, the pain grew unbearable. I curled up into a ball on the floor, rocking
back and forth. Both hands now squeezing my head hard. Tears began to run down my cheeks as I tried not to scream, not
wanting to wake the others. Again, the flashes started. The pictures, codes, numbers, among othert nonsense ran thru my
mind.I didn't realize that I was mumbling and mosning as the pain shook my entirte body now. Or that FAng had came
over, slid down to the floor and lifted up into his lap. He was holding me and stroking my hair, trying to soothe me. The
shuddering pain began seemed to go on and on. I was biting my lip to keep from screaming. I could taste the blood from
biting too hard. Then, the pain began to ease. I began to relax. I was able to open my eyes and remove my hands trom my
head. Fang wiped tears from my cheeks.It was then that I realized he was holding me.his eyes were full of fear at first,
then went back to that same blanck expression that was so Fang.
"Bad one huh" he commented, almost whispered to himself, still stroking my hair.
"Yeah, terrible." I said. Then there was quiet for a moment. Then I said" I thought I was threw having these headaches.
But now, it's happening all over again.The flashes, the numbers, they are all back too.Worse than ever." We glanced at
each other, our eyes geting larger at the sudden realization. I hadn't had any headaches or flaches since we had defeated
Itex. Oh no. Could it be?Our eyes locked."Itex" we both said. Very good Max. I knew you would get it. The voice said with a
sense of pride.
"Max, if Itex has another lab in this Carver place, experimenting on more innocent kids, that means..."Fang had started.
Just then we heard it, that unmistakable buzzing from outside, getting louder by the second.I looked at Fang."Flyboys" I
mouthed. We jumped up, yelling to the flock.'Wake up!Time to fly. Up and away!" I screamed as I grabbed my pack. Four
birdkids came running at the ready, grabbing gear and looking confused. FAng busted the double pane windows. The
younger ones took off into the darkness.Then Fang. I did a quick 360 then spread my wings and flew out of the opening--
and straight into the rock hard chest of a flyboy. Their wings were bigger, huge. They seemed more agile. More comfortable
in the air than befoer. Angel and Gazzy were high up with a flyboy after them. Suddenly Angel stopped, starring into the
eyes of the flyboy. The flyboy pause, in midair, Angel smiled. Then the flyboy suddenly dropped like a ton of bricks. "Bye
bye" Gazzy snickered and high fived Angel."That's my girl" I yelled.I glanced at Iggy next. He was dropping something into
a flyboys shirt and yelled"bombs away" as he took off high above. Nudge was giving one a flying kick that sent him
staggering back.The flyboy shook it off and gave Nudge a spinkick to her midsection, knocking the wind out of her. Fang
dropped down on the flyboys back just as he had grabbed Nudge's foot. "Nudge, go" FAng yelled and hit the flyboy in the
temple. The flyboy swung his claws at Fang, shredding his jacked and shirt. Just then a much bigger, uglier flyboy flew
down in front of my view. He was grinning ear to ear.
"Hello Max. Miss me? Cause I have missed you" it was Rags, Ari's head hinchman long ago. Only much bigger now. "That is
right. i am back. And I am stronger than ever Max" he sneered.
"Oh yeah, well so are we" I repiled and swung at him.His head jerked back from the force of my fist on his chin.I saw the
flock head for the big oak as the rest of teh flyboys gathered around me and Rags to watch.Fang was behind me now.?
Rags landed a blow to my cheek, knocking me backward. "Max!" FAng yelled and dived after Rags, who was lunging toward
me. Fang landed on his shoulders but Rags threw him off, still coming at me. He kicked me in the ribs hard, I heard the
cracking sound of bone. Rags grabbed me then jerking me into his hard solid shoulder followed by a knee to my gut. Again I
hit him with all my force square on the jaw.Fangjumped on his back, reaching around and grabbing Rags's throat and
squeezing tight. Rags and Fang began to spiral downward as Rags' air was shut off. Rags went still then and Fang let go.
Fang gave Rags a final kick to the head. Rags regained composure, turning and yelled back toward me.
"This isn't over Max. I will be back.This is just the beginning of the end."
"Bring it on liver breath" I retorted, wiping blood from my lip.The flock flew down around me then.
"Angel, Nudge, report."
"I am fine " Angel said
"AWw, I broke another nail" Nudge replied with a grin.
"Iggy, Gazzy" I called, turning to see them for myself.
"OK here"
"Fang" I called last as I turned to look at him. His eyes were dark as he stared at me, thru me somehow.
"Fine. How about you?" he replied. I said I was fine but I knew that I wasn't. I could feel the burning of the cracked ribs
and the sting of the bruising.But I was not about to let them know that.
We flew maybe 60 miles. My head was killing me. I couldn't breathe because of the pain in my side. My flying became
erratic.The pain in my head intesifies suddenly. I grabbed my head and screamed. I could feel myself losing altitiude.Then
everything went black.