Yay! Another chapter!! :D Mmkay, so you should all already know that I do not own Maximum Ride, but I guess I'll make it more clear.
Well, enjoy this chapter, guys!

I took off after this guy, and I could hear my manager yelling my name like a maniac. But this was much more important. I couldn't go back unless I knew for sure.

Part of my mind knew that it couldn't be true. Iggy was dead. I had seen him die right in front of me. Fresh pain returned when I remembered the look on Iggy's face as the life came out of his eyes. I shut down the thought quickly as I turned another corner.

Since this boy was over 6 feet, I could still see his blonde head over the crowds. He was really really quick, and amazingly, he didn't run into anyone, even though he was blind.

Maybe he isn't blind, I thought. Maybe I just made myself think he was. Maybe I just wanted to think it was Iggy.

But I was already chasing him; I may as well see who he was.

My mind was spinning with confusion. I accidentally pushed over a man with a briefcase, and I yelled "Sorry!" over my shoulder as I continued to sprint after the boy.

He's going to get tired, eventually, I thought quickly. But he just kept running! I was even getting tired myself, and I can usually outrun a full-grown man!

He turned into an empty alleyway and I slowed as I followed him. I didn't want him to know I was still following him. I didn't want to scare him off again, you know?

The boy was breathing heavily, leaning against the wall and taking a bite of the only burger he had left. He managed to drop them all when I was chasing him.

He ate it quickly, but stopped midchew, like he had heard something. He tilted his head, then stood. He walked right towards me with amazing accuracy and stood right in my face.

"Who are you?" he asked, his voice cold and angry. He grabbed the collar of my shirt to make sure I didn't run away.

Now I had a chance to really get a good look at him. His light blue eyes seemed glazed over. Though he really was blind, his eyes seemed to reveal pain, hurt, and anger, like this boy had been through more than a sixteen year old should.

"I-Iggy?" I said cautiously, hoping he wouldn't hit me.

His expression softened for a minute, as if he was trying to figure out where he had heard my voice, my breathing.

He let go of my shirt, and hesitantly put his hand to my face.

A look of shock came on his face as he muttered, "Chocolate-milk-slash-coffee color... Nudge?"

I felt tears in my eyes, and for the first time in forever, I actually started crying. "Iggy! Oh, my gosh, Iggy!" I practically tackled him to the ground and I hugged him hard.

I couldn't believe it. He was alive! One of the Flock was actually right here with me! It wasn't another dream!

But confusion came over me once more. I pulled away, wiping tears from my face. "But, Iggy! You died."

He faced me, and it seemed like he was staring right into my eyes.

"We need to talk," he said quietly.

We found a cute little cafe down the street, and we sat down with our food. Me with my egg salad sandwich and espresso, and Iggy with... well, one of every food item on the menu. I didn't complain though. I knew he was starving and now that I had found him again, nothing else mattered.

I let him shove down a few sandwiches, and when his chewing slowed, I decided I could start asking him the questions that were boiling up inside of me.

"So, why aren't you dead?" I asked.

"Geez, Nudge, glad to know I was missed..." Iggy muttered sarcastically, but the smile on his face showed that he was just joking. "Well, it's because I was never dead in the first place."

I gaped at him. "But I saw you! I checked for a pulse on all of you over and over!"

Iggy held up a finger. "I know. But Nudge, that wasn't me. It was Iggy II."

I should have known. How did I not notice?! The more answers he gave me, it seemed that I just had more questions.

"Were the others just clones too?"

Iggy nodded as he finished his last sandwich. "But all of us- we were there. We were forced to watch while you were tortured. Well- they were. I was forced to listen. It was terrible."

Suddenly I realized things about the situation hadn't made sense. Fang crying, Max's lack of sarcasm and determination, Iggy's... hopelessness. I realized how obvious it was that it wasn't the Flock. I couldn't believe I didn't figure it out sooner.

"I was so upset when you gave up on me, Iggy..." I said quietly. "And when I realized that none of my family was there anymore, I didn't know what to do."

Iggy nodded again, and I could tell he felt bad, even though it wasn't him who had given up on me. "After you escaped, they took us back to the School, and after about a month they separated all of us. They took us to different Itex branches in the USA. I was, well, at the Institute here in New York. It was so hard, being alone, having no idea where I was. Nothing was familiar, and it was tough."

I knew how hard it was for Iggy to express his feelings in words, but I understood how painful it must have been for him.

"How did you escape?" I asked, taking another sip of my espresso.

Iggy's eyes seemed to light up as he smiled. "Naturally, like any blind pyro mutant freak would do, I blew up the place."

I laughed. I didn't know how he managed to make explosives in a top secret Institute while caged up, and, knowing Iggy, I didn't really want to know.

"The others... do you know if they're still alive?" I asked, hoping that I could reunite with the Flock again. I had dreamed of it constantly since they were 'killed'.

Iggy's eyes sightlessly stared at the table. "I'm not sure. The whitecoats used to talk about the others sometimes, so I only know a little bit. Do you think I could get another soda?"

I went to the counter and got an orange soda and placed it in front of him. He touched it and smiled. "Orange. Cool," he said, opening the can. He turned his face to me again. "How can you afford all this?"

I shrugged, though I realized he wouldn't see that. "I have a job. Well, had. I assume that after running off like that, I've already been fired by now."

"Oh," he said simply, taking another sip.

"The Flock?" I said, reminding him of what we had just been talking about.

"Right." he said. "Last I heard, they were trying to figure out Gazzy's mutation. You know, the whole 'I-can-explode-into-a-mushroom-cloud-of-stink' thing? Yeah... that was three months ago. I think they said that he was in Montana somewhere.

"Angel's in Florida. I heard a few days before I escaped that she's..." he hesitated for a second before continuing, "going to be retired. They concluded that she is unstable and dangerous."

Poor Angel.. I thought. Angel had always been so different than most six-year-olds. She had had to grow up so fast, always being on the run. Plus, her skills were a big part of why she was so different. Oh yeah, and the wings.

"What about Fang, or Max?" I asked.

Iggy sighed. "I don't really know. I haven't heard anything about Fang in a year or so. And I didn't hear about Max at all since we were separated."

I felt my heart drop. I wanted so bad to know if they were okay.

"Iggy, eat all you need. As soon as you're done, we're out of here. We're going to bring this family back together."

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