Chapter 2
Max
Once again, we were on the run. But this time, we actually had a goal. Isn't that just weird? We were headed to Canada, courtesy of Jeb.
Leaving the Cullens place had been hard, harder than I had thought it would be. I am embarrassed to say that Nudge and Angel were not the only ones to shed a few tears. Yeah, yeah, fearless leader, blah, blah, blah. Hey, I am allowed to show some emotions occasionally. I mean, I'm not Fang or anything.
Bella had been the last one to beg us to stay, her being the last to hear about our planned departure. She didn't put up a very good argument though. She started with the idea that Edward was still trying to get across, that the vampires could fight with us. But then she realized that would put Edward in danger and she gave up on that. Then she tried to say that since they had been heading for Mexico last we heard, they wouldn't find us up here. I only had to explain to her once that the School would get us eventually, may it be next week, or a few months from now. We didn't want to take the chance that bringing the School here could blow the vampires' cover.
"You're positive there's no other way?" she had asked. I nodded. Bella sighed. She hated that we were leaving. If I remember correctly, Bella has issues with people leaving her. "At least you told me the real reason," she had said spitefully, taking a glance in Edward's direction. I saw his lips turn down into a miniscule frown. Again with the fighting over this! I will have to find out just what happened before we got here. Edward and Alice had neglected to tell me why they had left during our conversation in Bella's room all those months ago.
"We'll miss you," Bella said again. I smiled, but it didn't reach my eyes and I knew it. I was too depressed to smile. "Will you come back?" I shrugged.
"There's no way for me to know," I said truthfully. I didn't want to lie to Bella and give her false hope. We might never return, but we could be back in Forks within the year. "We have to lead them away from Forks, but at the same time, keep them away from us. We don't want to leave, but this is the only way to keep everyone safe."
"I understand." I knew that she did understand, by the look in her face. It looked like she had become void of all emotions, but not in the same way as Fang. More like she was a zombie or something. It was freaking me out.
"Well, we have to get going," Fang said, coming up behind me. He put his arms around my waist, holding me close.
"I know," I said with a sigh. I leaned my head back against his chest and closed my eyes. I wish I could stay like this forever, but we had work to do, a School to destroy, and a country to sneak into. Fang kissed the top of my head quickly then left to help Gazzy get his pack on over his wings. It had been a while since we'd had to do that, and Gazzy had forgotten how.
"Bye," I said to Bella and the Cullens. Without looking back, I went to Fang's side. "U and A?" The flock nodded silently. I leapt into the air, Fang close behind me. I heard Gazzy and Angel push off next, then Iggy and Nudge. The four of them fanned out until we made a small V shape, like the geese did when they flew. We had found that it made flying easier, and we were able to fly faster because the wind that pushed against Fang and I slid right over the other four.
For hours, we flew silently, making our way across Washington and into Canada. Nobody wanted to be the one to break the silence. I was afraid to say something; I didn't want it to remind anyone of Forks. Move on from the old to the new Max. Oh, there you are! I was wondering why I hadn't heard from you in a while Voice. No response. Typical Voice; leaving me cryptic clues and no puzzle to put them in.
"Max," Nudge began slowly. Her voice sounded strangely loud after such a long silence. "Can we get some food?" That was probably the shortest sentence I have heard her utter in a long time.
"Sure honey. Dip lower and scout out somewhere to eat," I instructed. The flock moved as one, angling lower. It took a while, but we eventually spotted a McDonalds. Nudge sighed with relief when we landed behind the fast food restaurant. I imagine she's been hungry for some time now.
We entered the restaurant and found it practically empty. There was only one trucker sitting by himself at the opposite end of the room. I approached the counter and ordered my food. Just like I knew she would, the woman behind the counter looked startled when I turned and asked the flock what they wanted.
"That was all for you?" the woman asked nervously. I nodded.
"I'm ordering for lunch and dinner," I improvised. She nodded and relaxed a little.
While the others made their orders, I scanned the room quickly. The trucker was staring at us, but not in a creepy, Eraser kind of way. More like in a creepy, old strange guy kind of way. We grabbed our food and sat at the table closest to the door. I told the flock quietly to eat only half of their food now. We would find a tree to finish eating in later.
"Where are we going Max?" Gazzy whispered between bites. I shrugged.
"We'll have to find a map somewhere."
"Can we go to Montreal?" Angel asked suddenly. I looked at her, surprised. I'd had no idea she even knew Montreal existed, nonetheless that it was in Canada.
"Why do you want to go to Montreal?" Fang asked. Angel shrugged.
"I dunno. I just remember hearing about it in school. It was the only town in Canada I could remember learning about."
"Sure honey, we can go to Montreal. It might not be right away, but we'll go there eventually," I told her. Angel nodded and polished off her burger in a few bites. I glanced over my shoulder, but the cashier wasn't there. Angel blushed with chagrin. She had forgotten that we need to eat like normal people.
"It's O.K.," Fang assured her. Angel smiled at him and sipped her Sprite.
We packed up the rest of our meal and headed out the door. I was glad once again that the Max card never seemed to have a limit. Otherwise, we would have gone hungry a long time ago. Walking across the street, we found a suitable tree and climbed up. I sat on a nice looking branch, with Fang on my right, Angel below me, and Gazzy below her. Iggy and Nudge were perched on branches below Fang on the other side of the tree trunk.
"Alright guys, finish up so we can keep going," I ordered. The flock nodded and then proceeded to shove their food viciously down their throats. I shook my head at all the animalistic characteristics we had. We ate like starving wolves, we were part bird, and we fought like a multitude of different animal species.
"You O.K. Max?" Fang asked quietly. I nodded without looking at him. "You sure there's nothing bothering you?" Fang knew me so well.
"I don't like this," I whispered. "It's not like before. Before, we had no trouble leaving wherever we were, because there was nothing to hold us there in the first place. But now? Now, we had to leave an actual home, where we had actual friends. Before, we never had to explain to anyone why we were leaving. We never had to beg Angel and Nudge to pack their bags. They knew the drill. They got it done."
"Max, don't feel bad," Fang said, getting right to the point. I knew he would see my ulterior motive behind the complaints. "You did the right thing. We had no other choice. Angel and Nudge were just upset. We all were. And we still are. But you can't let that get to you Max. We'll get over it eventually."
"Thanks," I said. This is why I love this guy. Wait... love? Did I really love Fang? I looked over at him. He was still looking at me. Fang smiled warmly at me and I realized, I did love him.
"I love you," I said softly. Fang looked surprised for a split second before he answered me.
"I love you too Max." I smiled and looked down. It was a little weird professing our love for each other in a tree in Canada. But weird in a good way.
Uhh Max?" Angel said nervously. I looked quickly down at her. "I feel something."
"Something like what?" I asked, scanning the forest, already alert.
"Something like in my body." I looked down at her nervously. I almost fell off my limb. Angel's hair was suddenly longer, and brown. She was taller too, and more mature. She looked like me...
"Uhmm Angel? Look down," I said, my voice shaking. Angel looked down at herself and gasped. By now, everyone had realized what was going on.
"I have a new power," she whispered, her eyes wide.
"What were you just thinking about?" I asked suddenly. Where did that question come from?
"I was thinking about you," she said. I nodded.
"That's what I thought. Angel, sweetie, you can change your image. I think it's based on who you're thinking about."
"So every time I think about someone I'll change to look like them?" she asked, frightened.
"Think about Nudge," I said, unable to give her a straight answer. Angel closed her eyes and when she opened them, she still looked like me.
"Do I look like Nudge?" she asked, afraid of the answer. I shook my head.
"You're still me. Maybe it's when you want to look like them. What were you thinking about me?"
"I was thinking about how I wish I was just like you," she whispered. I smiled. She is so cute. "How I wish I was older and able to protect us like you do. And how I wish I was pretty, like you." I blushed.
"Think about how pretty you are," I said. Angel nodded and closed her eyes again. I watched, stunned, as her body shrunk. Her hair seemed to go back into her head and grow lighter and curlier. When she opened her eyes, Angel was herself again.
"I'm me again!" she said, sounding relieved. I smiled. "I'll have to practice," Angel said severely. I nodded and grinned at her.
"We'll sleep here for the night," I said, noting the moon. We were far enough into the forest that no one would find us unless they walked a few miles in the dark.
I held my fist out. The others stacked theirs on top of mine and we tapped them. Leaning against the tree trunk, I closed my eyes. Fang whispered that he would take first watch, something we hadn't had to do in a while. I nodded and drifted off to sleep.
Some hours later, Fang tapped me on the shoulder. Opening my eyes, I nodded groggily and got up. Floating to the ground, I thought about a song I had heard back at the Cullen's house. Alice had told me that it was 'Used to' by Chris Daughtry.
You used to talk to me like We used to have this figured out; I used to reach for you when We used to have this figured out; I look around me, You used to talk to me like We used to have this figured out;
I was the only one around.
You used to lean on me like
The only other choice was falling down.
You used to walk with me like
We had nowhere we needed to go,
Nice and slow, to no place in particular.
We used to breathe without a doubt.
When nights were clear, you were the first star that I'd see.
We used to have this under control.
We never thought.
We used to know.
At least there's you, and at least there's me.
Can we get this back?
Can we get this back to how it used to be?
I got lost along the way.
I used to listen.
You always had just the right thing to say.
I used to follow you.
Never really cared where we would go,
Fast or slow, to anywhere at all.
We used to breathe without a doubt.
When nights were clear, you were the first star that I'd see.
We used to have this under control.
We never thought.
We used to know.
At least there's you, and at least there's me.
Can we get this back?
Can we get this back to how it used to be?
And I want you to be there
'Cause I miss the things that we shared.
Look around you.
It's empty, and you're sad
'Cause you miss the love that we had.
I was the only one around,
The only one around.
We used to breathe without a doubt.
When nights were clear, you were the first star that I'd see.
We used to have this under control.
We never thought.
We used to know.
At least there's you, and at least there's me.
Can we get this back?
Can we get this back to how it used to be? Yeah.
To how it used to be.
To how it used to be, yeah.
To how it used to be.
To how it used to be.
That was the song of my life. Except for a few parts, that described perfectly how Fang and I felt. Obviously, we did not miss each others love, 'cuz we were still together, but still... It's freaky how I think of these things randomly like this.
A noise a few feet away made me snap my head up. My mouth opened to scream, but a large, heavy paw was smacked over my mouth. The Eraser slammed me against the tree, its' forearm blocking my windpipe. The upper branches must have shook or something, because suddenly the flock was awake and springing into action. Fang was the one to come to my aid. He landed right on the Erasers' shoulders. Taking its' head in his hands, he twisted sharply, snapping its' neck. The hand came away from my mouth and I sucked in a deep breath."
"You okay?" Fang asked as he punched an Eraser in the face.
"Yeah, I'm good," I rasped, giving another Eraser a good roundhouse kick to the stomach. It doubled over, allowing me to chop my foot down on the back of its' head. The Eraser dropped like a rock.
"Where're the kids?" I asked Fang as I dodged a punch, throwing one in return.
"The sky." I glanced up quickly and saw the other far above us, surrounded by Flyboys.
"Damnit! We need to finish this and get up there!" I yelled to Fang. I saw him nod mid-swing.
"You're not going anywhere," a sickly familiar voice said. My stomach dropped as I turned to face my new attacker.
"Before you say Ari," the Eraser said with an evil grin. "Don't." With that, he punched me square in the face. I was shocked, but that punch brought me back into action. I heard Fang swearing violently behind me as he recognized my opponent.
"How are you alive?" I asked as I kicked him in the stomach. He barely stumbled.
"I was never dead Max."
"How?"
"Simple." He brought his leg up and bashed me in the side of the head. I fell back. "I'm not Ari. Ari was weak. I was created after Ari died. I only look like him because Jeb," he spat the name. "Wanted a reminder of his son."
"How did you find us?" I gasped, getting quickly to my feet.
"We have our ways," he sneered, blocking a punch.
"Angel!" I shrieked at the sky. I saw a blonde head diving towards me.
"They have shields around their minds," she yelled down to me as I barely dodged his claws. "I can't read them!"
"We'll be back!" the Ari-look-alike said suddenly. He kicked me once more in the head and as I fell, I faintly saw the Erasers fall back.
