3

Ug, this bed was pretty uncomfortable. I punched the pillow, trying to make it a little more fluffy. When my fist came in contact with it, it wasn't soft like a pillow at all. Actually it felt more like-

"OW!" Fang said, sitting up straight. I fell to the floor, hitting my head on my bedside table. I sprang to my feet, my hands over my mouth.

"I'm so sorry Fang, I didn't know, I swear." I screamed. I felt terrible. Blood was gushing from his mouth. How embarrassing was that? What if one of the younger flock members walked on in me sleeping on Fang? Why was I sleeping on Fang?

Oh yeah.

All of yesterday's events flooded back into my head and I immediately felt terrible. One day closer to death.

Well voice, you once said, look not in the past but in the future, now I wish I didn't have to. I sat up and sat next to Fang. "You know, the alarm clock works also." He said dryly. I giggled.

"Can I check your inbox?" I asked. He silently got up and fished the laptop out of his bag. He then dropped it in my hands warning me.

"Be careful of all of the fan mail." He grinned at me. I clicked on the laptop. How bad could it be?

Very bad. After about an hour, after the flock had all eaten I finally found a reply. The rest had all been thanks to you, faithful readers, talking about Fang's blog. I clicked it.

Max,

We would be honored to have you come visit us. (Especially Ella, she's grown rather fond of Iggy) As for Jeb, I sent him an email, hopefully he'll get it soon enough. I'm sorry I couldn't be any more help. Your welcome here anytime.

Love, Mom.

The mom part still sounded weird to me. Great, now I don't know if Jeb will help or not. The rest of the flock was all hanging out in the room. Iggy was silently talking to Nudge, who was nervously looking around. Gazzy was playing some card game with Angel and Total. I wondered where they got the cards from. Fang was looking at me anxiously.

I got up, suddenly feeling like I needed some time to myself. I gave Fang a slight nod before trooping out the hotel door. I walked down the hall of the hotel and into the lobby. A young concierge nodded at me and smiled. I was mortified when I realized I blushed. He walked into the elevator most likely to bring someone their five star meals. This hotel was fancy smancy.

Outside I slowly breathed in fresh morning air. I unfurled my wings and took off, laughing at the faces of the people looking at me. I know, lately I've been kinda iffy about everyone seeing us but what's the worst that can happen? Itex should be done for and the only real threat was the local authority. And the tattoo on my neck but whatever. I felt free, my wings stretching out to their full thirteen feet wingspan. I flew to the top of the hotel and from their, on to the bigger business building.

See, we were in the rich fancy area in L.A. With the hotel and no gangs. I haven't done it in a while so I felt myself heat up and went along with it, kicking up my hyper speed. My wings felt disconnected from me as I zipped across the sky, 200-230 MPH. It felt so freaking good to just fly around, away from my worries.

"Fang, where'd Max go?" asked Gazzy, looking up at Fang. He was still dirty, he hasn't showered at all yet.

"She wanted some time alone." Fang said. He looked to see Iggy and Nudge in deep conversation.

"Then, the thing is, after I lost my eye sight, Max was the one who-helped me get my eyesight back. I know it sounds dorky but its true." Iggy said quietly into Nudge. What do you know; the kid could actually keep her mouth shut.

"Iggy, if anything happens to Max, I swear I'll help you." Nudge said. "Its just, you always said your sick of being treated like a baby."

"I know, but it really does help." Iggy commented. "Talking about it."

I landed back on the top of the hotel. The roof was about twenty-by-twenty across. I held my wings out to cool them off and I heard a weird noise. Turning behind me I saw the same boy I saw earlier in the lobby.

"So, your one of the bird kids?" he asked, slowly approaching him. I felt more wound up then a rubber band ball. I defensively took a step back, ready to fight if he morphed. He must have noticed how tense I was and he stepped closer. "Don't worry, I swear. I moved away from my old home to find you." He said. "I just didn't realize you were a bird kid."

What was this loon talking about? Trying to find me? "Um, I don't even know you." I said. "And why were you looking for me?"

"Max, don't you recognize me, its me, Sam!" It all dawned on me and I ran into his arms. I looked into his face and saw his eyes were the same. "You look different, a lot different."

"What can I say, I got a growth spurt." He smiled at me and kissed me. When we broke apart something bugged me.

"How'd you find me?" I asked.

"To be honest, I didn't. I was sick of my life back home with my sisters and stuff and I realized I was only happy when I was with you. I ran away and started working at this hotel and I saw you earlier today. I wanted to hug you but you looked scared. Is everything alright?" he asked me, searching my face as if the answers would just pop up.

"No, but I want to tell you everything that's happened to me, the truth."

My flock wasn't happy about me bringing a total stranger inside the hotel rooms but I owed it to Sam. For anyone with memory loss Sam was the guy I met at school. Regular school. We went out on a date and we kissed. I knew Fang was sick of him the moment I told Fang I had a date.

"Max, can I talk to you for a second?" Fang motioned with his head to a balcony. I followed him out, enjoying the view of tall buildings. (For any slow readers, sarcasm)

"Yes Fang?" I asked, folding my arms over my chest.

"What were you thinking? How can this nut be trusted? Don't you think it's a little weird that we met up with him just now? I say it's a trap."

"Well, I say we invite Lissa over so the two of you can do some catching up. I say you're jealous. I say even if it is a trap, it would be easy to escape!" I was ticked by the end of my little speech. Yeah, so it's ok for him to have a girlfriend but not for me to have a boyfriend? Is that with everyone or just with me?

I walked back into the room where Sam was talking to Angel, telling her a story about me and him. Then I realized Fang was right, at the last freaking second.

Sam snatched Angel and tried to make a run for it. Nudge landed in front of him, blocking the door. She tried to throw a punch at Sam but he blocked with lightening speed. How could Sam do that? With no time to think, my flock in danger I sprang into action, ready for a fight.

I grabbed Angel's hang and ripped her off of Sam then I snapped a kick out to his throat aiming a little higher and heard a metallic sound. Wait what? "Fang, he's a robot!" I screamed.

So the schools newest plan is to make ordinary people we know and trust robot clones then send them over? How can I tell if its really Dr. Martinez and Ella? Jeb? Was Jeb behind this?

Fang came up behind him and snapped the head off. It didn't look pretty but it could have been uglier. A recording came on. "Give up flock." It said. "ter Borscht will stop you, and you will fail. You think the world is saved? You are correct. But now you are on the hunt of your lives. We will not rest until each and every one of you will die!"

"So, their newest evil plot is to straight out try to kill us?" Fang asked. "That's pretty low, even for them."

"Guys, let's split." I said, unfurling my wings. We took off, flying over the balcony and out into the night.

A/N I'm going camping for a week so I'll try to write one more Chapter before then. If not you'll have to wait a week. Don't forget about it, I'll get mad and send Max on ya!