A.N.: So, I have to apologize up front. I will probably murder Maximum Ride's character and her sarcasm. Sorry in advance.

It had been a week. And I was still not used to all the changes. The sky, this color of purple all the time. The stars, blinking into existence as our atmosphere lets their light through. Fang. Smiling for once. The flock, alive and safe. Being the only ones left on earth.

Okay, okay. I know what you're thinking. Who are you and what have you done with Max?

I swear, it's me. Just... a safer me.

Not just safe. I'm happy. I have my Fang. I have my family.

And there aren't evil scientists trying to kill us.

What can I say, I'm a hard girl to please.

"Max? Max? You listening?" Fang asked as he waved his hand in front of my face. I grabbed it and put it to my cheek.

I smiled. "Hi."

"Hi. Again. Anyway, what do you think?"

I looked up at the purple sky. "It's... weird."

He looked at me with that twinkle in his eyes. "It is, isn't it?" He rubbed my back. "Not quite as weird as wings, though."

Yeah, that's right. I have wings. So does Fang. There's a reason we're called the flock. Keep up.

Fang tipped my head up to meet his lips. We collided in the best way possible, kissing hungrily. Wanting more. We moved in sync, the room seeming to get hotter and hotter and-

"MAX!"

Of course. I slowly pulled away from Fang and saw the disappointment. I turned my head to look at my tree house's intruder.

Nudge stood solemnly, her hands behind her back.

And that's when I knew something was wrong. Nudge and solemn shouldn't be in the same sentence without a negative involved.

"Something's happened," she muttered.

Fang's smile slowly disappeared and his arm was around my waist in seconds. I shuddered at his hand on the small of my back.

"It's Dylan." My heart flipped involuntarily at his name. I knew I didn't love him, but I was still concerned about his safety.

Fang tensed at my side.

Nudge flew down to the Hospital with haste. Fang and I leapt off my balcony together.

My mother, Dr. Valencia Martinez, stood next to a bed that held Dylan.

"What's going on?" I demanded.

My mom looked at me with concern filling her eyes.

"Mom?"

"He's... he's dying."

"Why? What happened?" I asked.

"Because... he has no purpose," one of the Hospital helpers explained. "He was made to love you. And because the felling isn't mutual..."

"He's dying."