1 – Missing Max
"I wish you guys didn't have to go," I whined, "You just got here, and now you already have to leave?"
"The Voice says it's important," Max told me, stuffing the last of her clothes into her backpack. "Believe me, I don't want me to leave any more than you do. Especially since the Voice is being such a jerk about the whole thing." She gave me a slight grin.
I smiled half-heartedly in response, and said, "But why now? I mean, I thought you got rid of all the bad guys."
"There's always going to be bad guys," Max sighed, "and it only takes a few of them to seriously screw up the world. But hey, I mean, at least we're not being directed towards a big, evil science lab or anything this time—we're just investigating a lead in Seattle."
"It sounds so straightforward when you say it like that."
"Trust me," Max snorted, "it's not."
"I know it isn't," I muttered, blushing, "You just make it sound that way. I still think it's so amazing how you guys are able to do this stuff. I know I never could."
Max shook her head, smirking. "We're not so special. You'd be able to do this stuff too, if you were in our shoes."
I rolled my eyes. "Now you're sounding like Mom, always trying to give me the pep talk."
"She's worried about you, know," Max asserted, "she told me you don't think you measure up. Whatever that's supposed to mean."
"Of course I don't measure up," I scoffed, "How can I? You're tough, fearless, and oh yeah, you saved the world as we know it from utter destruction! And you're the pretty one—when you're trying to look decent, anyways. My biggest life accomplishment was when my soccer team went to state. Some achievement, huh? I'm useless."
"Ella, you're nuts," she replied, "You're good enough just the way you are. Besides, do you know how many times I've wished that I could be normal like you?"
"And do you know how many times I've wished I could do something that's half as amazing as what you've done?" I glared at her slightly, my cheeks burning. I sound like an ignorant brat when I blurt like that, I bet. After all, everyone's always telling me how lucky I am to be the normal one, that if I truly understood the price the Flock has had to pay I'd stop wishing to be more like Max and the Flock. But they don't understand that most of the time it's not the wings or the cool powers I envy, the excitement or the fame—it's the fact that Max has actually done something meaningful with her life, and that she doesn't let anything hurt her. I wish I could be brave and indestructible like her.
"Look, Ella," Max answered after a moment, her expression softening a little, "I know it's hard, but don't sweat it. You're still a kid—you have all the time in the world to do something amazing! My life accomplishments just got crammed in a little early." She grinned at me, "Anyways, I like you just the way you are."
I sighed, not wanting to discuss the topic anymore. "I'm going to miss you," I told her, reaching over and giving her a hug. Max isn't the huggiest person in the world, but you'd never be able to tell it when I'm hugging her. She's always had a soft spot for her family.
"We'll be back in a few days," Max assured me, "Besides, I was thinking of asking mom to extend our stay—make it a few months instead of a few weeks?"
"That'd be great!" I beamed. I loved it when the Flock stayed with us—after spending most of my life as an only child, I jumped at the opportunity to have six extra siblings lagging around the house. "Any reason you're staying so long?"
Max shrugged. "I just want to be near my family for a while. We don't see each other enough, I think."
I nodded. "You'd better get going, I guess. I think the others are all waiting for you downstairs."
"Did Fang pack all his stuff already?" Glancing into the guestroom closet, I nodded."Well then, I guess we're good to go."
We headed downstairs together, where Mom and Total were already in the front yard, saying goodbye to the others. "If you need anything make sure to call," Mom reminded them, "and be careful!"
"And bring something back for me," Total yipped, "a little piece of Seattle, to help ease the regret I feel in not accompanying you on your journey."
Max rolled her eyes. "Sure thing, Total."
"I sure do miss travelling with you six," he continued, "but my husbandly duties demand that I stay close to my darling Akila whenever possible. And you know how upset she gets when I'm absent for long stretches of time."
"Trust us, it's no loss on our part," Iggy spoke, impatiently tapping his foot. I smirked slightly; owning a talking dog did have its downsides—like when he gave drawn out apologies and holed up travel plans. Total huffed indignantly, but said nothing more.
"You guys hurry back," I told the Flock, going around and giving them quick hugs—even Fang, who has all the huggability of a stone statue (unless it's Max doing the hugging).
"We'll be back in no time," Max reassured me, Mom and the dogs, spreading her wings and taking off, "Don't worry."
And even though I always knew there was a chance I'd never see her again, it was still a shock when she didn't came back.
My eyes flickered open, and I moaned slightly. Not again. I kept having that stupid dream, that eerie replay of the past. It came and went, fading from my mind for a few weeks only to make a vivid comeback. And every time I had it, I felt like I was watching her leave all over again. That was the last time I saw Max—and Fang, too. That flashback I had, it happened over six months ago. Nobody has any idea where they are.
Reluctantly I rolled out of bed and looked at the time: it was already eleven o'clock. I frowned slightly; I don't like it when I sleep in that late. I almost wandered out into the hallway in my PJs, when I remembered that the Flock was staying with us—they had been for about a month, since they came back from Seattle. They'd searched the area for weeks, looking for any trace of Max and Fang, but finally they gave up and decided to hang around in Arizona for a while. At least until they got their next lead on Max and Fang's whereabouts.
Everyone was a little distant post-disappearance when they first arrived—you could tell they were all feeling frustrated and guilty that they had to abandon the search—but things were starting to warm up a little. I mean, Nudge still burst into tears from time to time, and both Angel and Gazzy were distant, but considering the circumstances I think the Flock was handling it pretty well. They handled it a lot better than I did, anyways. We were able to talk and laugh a little now, as long as we didn't bring them up. Just saying their names could set someone off.
Quickly I threw on some clothes, got ready in the bathroom, and then went downstairs. No doubt the Flock had cleared the kitchen of most of its edible contents already, but Iggy usually remembered to save me something. Sure enough, when I wandered into the kitchen Iggy was standing there with a full plate of breakfast food. "I heard you get up," he explained, "Here, I already heated it for you."
"Thanks," I said, taking the plate and sitting down at the counter. "So where is everybody?" I grinned, "Usually the noise would've woke me up by now."
"Everyone's out. Angel and Nudge are shopping, Gazzy's who-knows-where, and your mom left with Total and Akila for the airport a couple hours ago."
"Mmm." I'd almost forgotten that Mom was leaving to visit the new CSM project in Kenya. "Do you have any plans for today?" I asked Iggy.
"I was planning on heading to the grocery store," he replied, "to pick up a few things for dinner."
"Want me to go with you?"
He shook his head. "Thanks," he said with a slight smile, "but I'll be fine on my own."
I nodded, then remembered he couldn't see me. "Okay," I told him, "I'll just be hanging out here today, I think, since I don't have school."
"Maybe we could go for a walk later," Iggy suggested.
My heart fluttered slightly at the suggestion. "Sounds great," I told him, trying not to sound too eager.
"I'm leaving right now," he said, "but I'll be back soon." He left the kitchen and walked towards the front door, not once hesitating or brushing against the walls—how does he do that?—and slipped on his shoes and went outside.
I grinned to myself as I ate breakfast. Other than Max, Iggy's my favourite Flock member, and it's not just because I've had a huge crush on him for the last four years. He's probably the most talented person I know—he's a cook, a pyrotechnician, an inventor, a self-defence master, and a survivalist, and all while being blind. He's even exceptionally good at the "being blind" part, what with his superhuman senses. And he's got a great sense of humor. (Plus, who doesn't like a guy with wings?)
My favourite thing about him, though, would be how open he's been with me. He tells me things, sometimes: about growing up in cages, about being blinded when he was a kid, about being on the run, all that. He's the only one in the Flock who doesn't try to shelter me from their past, telling me I couldn't handle it or I wouldn't understand. Well maybe I'll never fully understand, but at least Iggy gave me a chance to try. I guess he's used to being underestimated too. And it's not like he's just dumping all his baggage onto me—we'd gab about all sorts of things. We talk about life, hobbies, favourite memories... and the cool thing is, he actually listens. It's nice having someone in the Flock treat me like a peer instead of a tagalong human. I don't stand a chance in this universe at being more than just pals with him, obviously, and I'm not as close to him as the Flock is, but Iggy is definitely one of my best friends—practically family. He's sort of like a cousin, I guess.
Anyways, for the first time in weeks the house was silent, and as I ate my breakfast I took the time to soak the tranquility in. Don't get me wrong, the Flock is great, but sometimes I missed the peace and quiet—and the freedom to choose what was playing on the TV, I realized, as I clicked the television on with the remote to see what was on.
There's also a certain... stress, I guess you could call it, which comes with hanging out with the Flock and company. It's easier to explain if I break it down person by person:
Max: The incredible, indestructible Maximum Ride. She's strong, confident, fearless, and totally and completely unselfish. Basically, everything I'm not. She's totally my hero, but it's hard living in her shadow. (Of course, I'd give anything to have her back right now.)
Fang: He's grown slightly more hospitable over the years, especially since he and Max tied the knot, but he still gives me the creeps sometimes. He has this way of appearing out of nowhere, like a silent shadow, and scaring the living daylights out of me. I think he does it on purpose. (But I'd give anything to have him back, too. After all, he's still family.)
Iggy: Even though I'm more comfortable around him than the others, he still drives me crazy on the inside. Do you know how hard it is to be 'just friends' with one of the most amazing (and attractive) guys on the planet? Even if he didn't have wings I wouldn't stand a chance with him.
Nudge: Nudge and I have a lot in common, in some ways, but there's always been a distance between us. She likes coming here to feel normal for a little while, but when she and the others are here things seem anything but normal for me. It's hard to relax around her, because when she wants to talk about boys and clothes I'm dying to ask questions about flying and superpowers. I can't, though, because then I'd spoil her little vacation from mutant-dom.
Gazzy: He's mostly ignores me, so the only problems he causes is when he blows something up or lets one rip. Of course, those in and of themselves can be terrible, terrible events, but lately he's been in some sort of independence phase, going out on his own lots instead of wreaking havoc around the house. I guess at age twelve he's starting to get moodier.
Angel: Angel doesn't like me. At all. I mean, we got along okay when I was thirteen-fourteen, but when Iggy and I got closer she became more defensive. I think she thinks I'm not good enough for him, and frankly, I wholeheartedly agree, but she still freaks me out with all her mind games—and she's gotten worse since Max and Fang dropped off the radar.
Total: Do I even need to explain this one to you?
Akila: ...I don't have a problem with her, actually. In fact, it's nice having a normal dog around the house—my dog, Magnolia, died last year, and I haven't gotten a new pet since.
Needless to say, I welcomed the empty house with open arms—even if it was empty because everyone was busy, avoiding each other, or had vanished into thin air. Being alone had a numbing effect that let me forget for a little while just how crazy my life had been the last few months. Sitting on the couch, flipping through channels, it was so relaxing, so pleasantly mundane...
...at least it was mundane, until a breaking news report came on saying, "A massive communications failure has wreaked havoc across the country, with hundreds of flights and ships running to and from North America unresponsive and unaccounted for."