At precisely 1:00 PM on Friday, the moon entered the sun's path and a total eclipse occurred. Shadow scorched the world and every last corner, every tiny inch of the world, was shrouded in complete darkness. People panicked, they had heard no warning from the government. Scientists jumped into a skittish frenzy, unsure why an eclipse they had not foreseen was happening. The black moon hid the sun and an eerie, blue glow encircled the orb of darkness. At a high school in the state of Arizona were six kids with dark pasts and one great secret. One of these kids was lying unconscious on the floor of the ladies restroom when the eclipse occurred. For some reason, a wave of heat had rushed upon her. Her insides felt scorched, yet there was no pain. With a sudden jolt, Maximum Ride awoke breathing hard on the cold floor.

6 hours and 30 minutes earlier

Max POV

I lay gasping for breath on my bed. I was having a nice dream, no more saving the world crap, and suddenly I smelled smoke and the whole world was black. It was like someone had blindfolded me and set the world on fire. Then I realized, just when I could see again, that I was having a sort of nightmare-ish vision

Flyboys led by a boy who had blood-red, crimson wings were flying towards a house. Their wings beat the air and when they were right above the house, they dropped explosives that looked so complex, it looked like something Iggy and Gazzy might have engineered. The house exploded like a millions shards of crystal. Smoke filed high in the sky and flames of fire hungrily crawled all across the forest the house was near. I was sitting on a tree, peering down, when I noticed five kids with wings battling for their lives amidst the flickering red flames. They slowly became surrounded by flyboys…that didn't burn in fire.

The kids bravely raised their fists and one of them, a tall, dark boy, said, "On three!" Just as I realized that it meant on one, my Flock rocketed skywards…right into a trap. The boy with red wings draped the net over my Flock and I screamed. How could this have happened? Why wasn't I there to lead them? Red Wings looked at me and smiled with delight.

"NOOO!" I roared. A cold hand interrupted my scream as it clamped over my mouth.

And that's when I woke up in my bed. I shook my head to clear my thoughts, the vivid pictures flashing ominously through my brain.

"Max?" asked a dark voice.

I jumped and only barely managed not to scream.

"Fang!" I barked. He chuckled.

Opening the door, he peered in and said, "Heard you scream. Something up?"

"No..only you're invading my personal privacy!" I yelled mischievously as I threw a pillow at him. I laughed, but then promptly realized there was a certain gleam in his eyes..

He looked at me and grinned. Tearing into the room, he leapt onto me and pinned me onto the bed. I could practically feel his smirk. Jabbing my elbow into his arm, I twisted around and shoved Fang off me. Sitting up, I began tickling Fang. He laughed until tears came to his eyes.

"Ok, ok- hahaha- ok, Max -haha-, stop. HAHAHA- Max -HAHAHA- please!" whispered Fang desperately between gasps of air. Smirking, I stopped and leaped off the bed. Grabbing a set of clothes, I tore from the room, locked the door from the outside, and scrambled into the bathroom. I hope no one saw me.

"MAX! It's fine with me if you want to change in the bathroom, but don't lock Fang in your room!" yelled my Mom. Man, she sees everything!

"Sorry!" I yelled back.

As I was brushing, something squeeze me hard around the waist.

"Good morning, sweetie," I said as I glanced down at my sweet angel. She smiled and buried her face in my clothes.

"Good morning, Max!" came the muffled squeak of Angel's voice.

Man, I just love this kid.

She looked up at me and said, "I love you too, Max." Then Angel flashed me a smile and dashed out of the bathroom to get breakfast. Nudge's excited chattering reached my ears along with Total's usual complaints. But…there was no sign of Gazzy or Iggy. Walking out of the bathroom, I knocked on their bedroom door. In a sudden burst of activity, quiet shuffles and (almost) soundless steps could be heard. Well, probably not by a human ear, but hey, I'm a bird hybrid.

"GAZZY! IGGY! Stop making bombs! Open up or I'm confiscating everything! Actually, either way, I'm STILL confiscating everything!" I barked loudly. A clatter and the sharp hiss of an intake of breath sounded from behind the door. Angry murmurs erupted and suddenly the door opened. Gazzy stood next to Iggy, who's slim, tall from leaned against the doorway and blocked my view of the room.

"Hey, Max," greeted both Iggy and Gazzy. I looked at them both suspiciously and Gazzy suddenly smiled innocently. Iggy looked away and whistled.

"Ok, step aside and let me see what you did," I said. They looked at each other and stepped away from the doorway. Some kind of greenish liquid was spilled on the floor and shards of glass were strewn across the floor. I turned around to scold those two troublemakers, but no one was behind me.

"Cowards," I muttered. Well, I'll scold them after breakfast. Closing their door, I went to my room and let Fang out.

"Gracias mi amiga," he said smoothly.

"Hurry up, breakfast is already ready," I replied.

Fang looked at me, then walked away, adding, "Yes, unfortunately, it just so happens a certain friend of mine locked me in her room…"

Rolling my eyes, I followed him into the kitchen and sat down. Almost everybody had finished breakfast, so I grabbed a cereal box and poured what was left into my bowl. Adding milk, I began munching on whatever cereal this stuff was.

"Oh, Gazzy and Iggy, you know that science program you guys were talking about? They accepted both of you. Remind me the days you're staying after school for the club," informed Dr. Martinez.

"Davidson High School has a science club where you have to be accepted to join?" I asked. I hadn't heard of that.

"No, bird brain, it's an international club that accepts only the most gifted kids. It just so happens that Davidson High has offered the club to set up their headquarters in the school. You do know, with the club, Gazzy and I will be able to create much more effective, powerful bombs that take up less space," drawled Iggy.

I smirked and said, "Too bad you'll never get to make those bombs, huh?"

"Who says I won't be able to?" asked Iggy with a confused expression.

"You still have to clean up that mess you and Gazzy made in your room. And accordingly, how could you think you'd be able to smuggle anymore bombs past me unless you would want a lesson?" I shot back. Iggy held up his hands.

"All right, all right," he grumbled.

"What mess?" demanded Mom. Iggy waved his hand in the air and just mumbled a few words that weren't quite understandable. Mom looked at Iggy, opened her mouth, and settled with sighing. Ella giggled causing Iggy to blush slightly.

"Just don't forget to clean it up, Iggy," Mom said as she gathered everyone's plates and took them to the sink. He nodded and stood up, reaching for his backpack.

"6:50! I think I hear the bus. Angel, Gazzy, and Nudge, STAY here," said Mom. Fang, Iggy, and I said our goodbyes, then headed out the door.

As I boarded the bus, a bad feeling came over me…