Shadows of the Flock-Chapter 2
By MyNameIsCAB
"Come on, let's go back inside," Fang whispered in my ear.
My arms released from around him, but my hand slid into his as we headed back to the house. He opened the door and we stepped in, closing it quietly behind us. Everyone else was still sleeping. We went back to the room I shared with him.
I sat on our bed and lay down, staring at the ceiling. Fang sat on the edge of the bed, his back to me. "Max, what's going to happen now?"
I continued to stare at the ceiling. "I don't know."
"It's just…I can't believe it either," he sighed.
We had conversations like this before. The outcome was always the same. We would still be lost and confused at the end.
"I…" But then I heard footsteps in the hallway. The door opened and Gazzy walked in, looking tired and worn out from everything he'd been put through.
"Hey, Gazzy," Fang said softly, sounding a little too affectionate for talking to Gazzy.
Gazzy shrugged and took a seat next to Fang on the edge of the bed. "I can't sleep."
I almost felt like saying we couldn't either. After all, it was still early in the morning. "It's all right Gazzy. We'll keep you company then."
He shrugged again. "Thanks."
Gazzy was just trying to be strong, but the death of Nudge and his sister were tearing him apart from the inside out. I could see it in his eyes. The whole situation was tearing us all apart, but for Gazzy, it was worse.
"Is Ig awake?" I asked.
"I don't know…" Gazzy sighed. He did share a room with Iggy. "I think so."
"Are you hungry?"
"A little…Yes," Gazzy admitted.
I got out of bed and started down the hall to Iggy's room. He was awake, his unfocused eyes seemed to stare at something that wasn't there.
"Max?" He asked.
"Yep, that's me," I said.
He gave a wry smile before sitting up. "Where's Gazzy?"
"In my room. Do you mind cooking him some food?" I questioned.
Iggy got up and started slowly out the room. He was still getting used to things. Once he figured out all the surroundings, maneuvering around wasn't going to be a problem. Still, he did bump into the occasional chair or wall.
"Whaddya want to eat?" Iggy asked as we all got into the kitchen.
"Bacon…" Gazzy suddenly fell silent. Angel had really liked bacon and I suppose he was remembering that now.
"It's all right, Gazzy," I sat next to him and wrapped an arm around him.
He shook his head. "And do we have pancakes?"
Iggy hesitated. We didn't have pancakes, but he turned to Gazzy. "Sure, whatever you want."
Fang pulled out his shoes and a cap. "Excuse me, I'll be right back."
He went out the front door and I could hear him running to take off. Fang was going to get pancake mix. A lot of things like this had been happening lately. We would just go out to get Gazzy stuff to make him happy. None of us ever wanted to tell him no.
"That's all I want," Gazzy continued. "Thanks, Ig."
Iggy nodded and started to cook the bacon. All of us people that could see couldn't cook. I wasn't so thrilled that the blind man could cook the best, but it worked, so we let him do it.
The kitchen door opened and Ella stumbled in trying to stifle a yawn. "What's you cooking today?"
"Bacon and pancakes," Iggy muttered as he flipped the bacon with a spatula. "Does anyone want anything else?"
"Eggs," I said, remembering Fang would have wanted them.
"You don't like eggs," Iggy replied.
"Fang does," I answered shortly.
"Oh, okay yea," he nodded. "You're right, sorry."
I shook my head, but Iggy couldn't see me so I sighed.
Fang returned with pancake mix a few minutes later and proceeded to get the ingredients together for the mix. The bacon was done cooking now, so Gazzy started to eat some slowly. Ella took the seat across from us and ate a piece thoughtfully, looking out the window.
No one said much as we ate. Mom came in just as we finished and good thing Iggy had saved some food for her or she would have to cook for herself.
"Good morning," Mom said cheerfully.
"What's so good 'bout morning?" Gazzy asked as he trudged out of the kitchen.
I picked up Gazzy's empty plate and put it in the sick. For a moment, I thought I might try to go talk to him, but today I was just going to give him some breathing room.
"You're not going after him?" Fang asked as he stepped beside me, placing his own dishes in the sink.
"No, let him have some time," I sighed.
Fang nodded and rinsed the dishes before placing them in the dishwasher. Ella came with hers and Iggy's dishes. Quickly, Fang whisked them away in the dishwasher too.
"I'm going to the grocery store today," Mom said as she finished half of her pancake. "And when did we buy pancake mix?"
"Fang got some because Gazzy wanted them for breakfast…we couldn't say no to him," I replied.
She nodded, understanding. "I'll get some more. Anything else you need?"
"We're low on soda," Fang mentioned and Mom pulled out a pad of paper, writing it down.
"And I'd like to make a steak," Iggy said suddenly.
"Steak?" Mom asked. She was always hesitant about letting Iggy cook.
"Yes, steak," Iggy repeated. "I used to make a really good one that Gazzy liked. Maybe we can cheer him up a little."
Mom seemed to like that idea because beef was jotted down onto the list. We rambled off a few other things like milk and bread. Nothing else too big. Then she finished the rest of her food and went to change to go out.
"I'm going back to our room," Fang decided out loud.
"Okay then," I watched him leave. That left me alone with Iggy and Ella.
I exchanged a glance with Ella before she spoke. "I feel bad for Gazzy."
"I do too," I agreed.
Iggy seemed to be off in his own thoughts though because there was no response.
"How come we couldn't save them?" Iggy asked.
I looked at him, almost shocked he would ask something like that. His face was expressionless though, his pale eyes gave away nothing. "Ig, why are you asking that?"
"Because that's what Gazzy's been asking me," Iggy sighed. "He lost his sister, Max. He's not letting her slip away."
Opening my mouth, I realized I had no answer. Speechless. My mouth dropped closed and stayed like that for a moment.
Iggy stood up. "Why, Max? Why did they have to be taken from us?"
He headed through the side door that led outside and I knew he was heading towards the tombstones. A sadness swept over me. I felt like crying again, but tears weren't going to flow in front of Ella. Slowly, I got up and headed back to my room to the only person who could comfort me right now.
Fang.