Here you go babies, an update practically in the same day! I couldn't wait just because when I opened my inbox, I had 27 messages all from FanFiction. Thank you guys so much. I can tell this is going to be even better than the last one. I promise it won't be the same exact thing as he first one. It has its own twists.

I don't own Maximum Ride.

Chapter 1

A Bad Omen

CHAPTERS 1-5 OF THIS STORY HAVE A REALLY DIFFERENT TONE THAN THE REST OF THE STORY. I'VE TRIED TO CHANGE THEM TO BE SLIGHTLY MORE ANGSTY LIKE THE REST OF THE STORY. BUT THERE'S ONLY SO MUCH I CAN DO AT THIS POINT. JUST DON'T GIVE UP ON ME, PLEASE.

MPOV

Fields. Fields. Fields are the only things I've seen for hours. And it's well known that corn fields are the setting of choice for horror movies. My body tingles with a kind of third sense, an eerie, pulling foreboding in my gut. It's not a good sign. I sigh darkly and give my head a little shake. I'm losing my mind. Or maybe I've already lost it. Either way, things have been so quiet lately. I don't trust this period of safety. I've learned from hard earned experience. I see Fang smirk out of the corner of my eye.

"What's so funny?" I snap irritatedly. He wisely says nothing.

Things started out okay. It's bliss to feel the open sky under my wings after everything we've been through lately. But I have no direction, no purpose. I'm lost. Saving the world doesn't come with an instruction manual, and the Voice has been mysteriously MIA. So we've ended up flying aimlessly. Sometimes being Maximum Ride is difficult. Sometimes I think that someone else would be better suited for the job.

Without warning, I shift into a steep dive. I pump my wings for speed, needing the adrenaline to wake up my system.

"Max!" Fang calls. I send him a quick glance over my shoulder to let him know I'm okay. I let my wings skim the tips of whatever crop is in this field as I turn sharply to fly back up. My blood is pumping faster. It doesn't alleviate the worry, but I feel less lethargic. I smile at Fang as I catch up to the Flock again.

"Better than coffee," I say. He rolls his eyes. Fang and I have been doing okay. This new relationship is strange but I'm slowly getting better at it. After everything that happened, it gave us a new type of bond. But I don't particularly want to revisit those dark times.

"Max?" I brace myself.

"Yes, Nudge?"

"I'm hungry." I sigh. I hear Iggy chuckle and fly closer to Nudge. He says something to distract her, and she laughs. The Flock is so happy. I feel like I'm the only one worrying. But I know that this can't last forever. More fields pass below. Fang's being his usual silent self, and I'm practically falling asleep out of boredom.

"Going down," I say as I spot a fast food place. The Flock lets out whoops of joy. I roll my eyes. It hasn't been that long. Fang smirks. Again.

We order enough food to feed a small country with my newly re-found Maximum Ride Card. Then we all sit down to devour lunch. I fidget restlessly, feeling vulnerable. Good things don't happen at restaurants for us. It's a fact of life. I wish I was able to enjoy these little things in the same way as everyone else. It's just another thing that sets me apart. Fang puts his hand on top of mine and looks at me with steady eyes. I feel the knot of worry in my stomach ease, allowing me to eat my lunch in relative calm.

FPOV

Max is restless. I can tell she's getting that feeling of forewarning. I trust her instincts, and I feel it too. But the kids deserve a break. They all can tell when Max is worrying. I think that Iggy might even be a little worried for her sanity, after everything that's happened.

What happened. I shudder to think of it. I almost lost her. If it wasn't for Jeb, I would have. We have no idea where he is now, or if he's even on our side.

But I guess it doesn't matter. We'll just keep moving forward like always. Although we don't have Max's Voice to guide us. At least we have Max. What would we have done without her?

MPOV

"Hey guys, I'm going to get a refill," I say, needing to walk. My anxiety has returned now that I'm finished eating. Fang rises silently behind me. He's a comforting force that surrounds me.

"It's okay, Max," he says. He stands very close behind me while I fill my cup. Fang nuzzles my neck. "Breathe." Did I ever honestly think I could survive without him? Maybe not. Maybe I always knew I'd end up alone and dying. But that's in the past now.

"I'm trying," I say. I turn around in his arms. I know he can see the extent of my restlessness in my eyes. "Let's just get out of here." He nods.

My skin is crawling with a bad feeling. That's never good. I do a quick 360, but the coast is clear. The people around us don't seem like they hide any evil intent. But I can't shake the bad feeling.

"Time to go, guys." They all grumble but do as they're told. I run a hand through my hair in agitation.

"It's not that bad, Max," Fang reassures me. "We're safe."

"Something feels wrong," I insist. I hate when they act like I'm crazy. Just because a person has/had one little voice in her head…

"I believe you, but you're freaking the kids out." I force a reassuring smile and lead them outside. This building is plopped down in the middle of fields next to a little forest and a road. The trees seem to whisper sinisterly. The fields could hide any number of evil things. The only safety is the sky.

We find a secluded place and take off. When I'm a good distance off the ground and the landscape below is starting to lose its distinction, a sharp pain flairs through my wing. I gasp out in shock and start to spiral downward. I try to move my wing, but it's paralyzed. Why does this always happen to me?

"Fang!" I think, but no words come out. The wind would only have stolen them away anyway. Maybe I've shaken death off my trail one too many times. I mean, think of how many near death encounters I've had. Or maybe being the intended savior of the world put a big fat target on your back for fate to follow.

FPOV

I watch in dismay as Max begins to fall from the sky…again. I start to dive for her, but there's something in my way. Flyboys. I shout out orders, my thoughts barely coherent. I have to get to Max. The Flock kicks into action. We're outnumbered…and they have some type of weird gun. One of them shoots Nudge. She starts to fall as well.

"Iggy!" He turns towards me. "It's Nudge!" His eyes widen in horror. "Gazzy, help Iggy!" They swoop towards Nudge. I continue to fight my way downward, but there's always another enemy in my way. Iggy and Gazzy aren't having any luck either. I can see their frustration growing. Now Gazzy's falling.

"Angel, get out of here." There are Flyboys all around her. Iggy chucks something her way, blasting a hole in the wall of Flyboys around her. She flutters motionless for a second. An innocent but evilly capable child in the midst of the chaos. It's almost eerie looking.

"Go!" I yell. I've almost broken out of the Flyboy cloud. All I can think about is Max. She's down there. I have to get to her. Am I already too late?

I don't see what happens to Angel after that. I catch a sideways glimpse of Iggy diving low to catch Nudge's limp form. She's almost too heavy for him, and he's forced to land. Then everything gets lost in the chaos.

MPOV

There's a fight above. My consciousness is fleeting, so I only catch snatches. At one point I see Nudge fall. There's an explosion. I think I see Angel fly off. I can't tell anymore. Fang. Where's Fang? Is he okay? The ground. I'm going to hit it. He won't catch me on time. Too bad we weren't flying lower; maybe the impact wouldn't be as bad that way. Right now, we're pretty much looking at a Max pancake. That lovely image almost has me gagging.

The nonsensical sounds of battle above are the only soundtrack to my fall. I hear someone shout my name again. I must be getting close to the end then. I brace myself, knowing it won't be enough. Things were just starting to be good again too. I should have known. It's always at the heavenly part that things go to hell.

Don't you just love me? I have no idea where this story's going, but I wanted to start the sequel before you completely forgot about me. Review?