4
"W-what?" I asked. This was a major shocker. Seriously, in my little pathetic life I did not see this coming. I mean, it makes no sense. They create us and now they want to cure us? They want us to have normal lives?
"I thought they were trying to do the By-Half plan, why are they planning to take over the world?" Fang asked, casting a glance at my mom. He looked suspiciously at her like she was the bad guy. "It doesn't add up. And weren't you low in the Itex branch? Why would they trust you with their secrets?"
Mom shifted in her seat. She looked uncomfortable, like she was being questioned. She sort of was though. "I guess I do have to explain that much to you guys," She said. "Fang, you're right. I was not that high in their eyes so they would never trust me with all this information. I stole it the same night Jeb stole you guys. Everyone was so focused on getting him that they didn't notice one little book missing. Even if that book did have all of their secrets."
"That's another thing," I said. "Why would they keep their secrets inside one book, one place? They're really picky about that stuff. They're probably more paranoid than us." I motioned for us to mean the flock. As I did I caught a quick glance at my flock. They were all sitting motionless, probably mulling things over. I couldn't blame them. Here it was; their chance to be normal. I know I would never talk an offer like that but as I stared into their faces I knew it wouldn't be such an easy choice for them.
"I'm not entirely sure why they put everything inside a book but that isn't the point." Mom said, giving me a stern look for interrupting. "They had the By-Half plan and the Disaster USA plan inside the book. It claims that DUSA plan was just a backup, and thanks to you guys in Germany they need a backup plan." She gave a small smile to me as she told me. "And they want you guys out of the picture. I learned that part from an Email forwarded from Jeb."
"You're still in touch with him?" I asked, anger bubbling in my stomach. Then I reminded myself to calm down, it wasn't like Jeb purposely hurt me so much. It wasn't like he pretended to be betrayed just to hurt me. That thought just got me angry again. "And how did he get the Email?"
"I'm not sure," Mom said. "He just sent it and said 'trust me'."
Interesting, I thought. "So guys, let's hear what you have to say about this 'cure'"
"It would be cool," Nudge said. "We would be normal and we would be able to go to the normal school they opened up for us. But it would also suck because we would have to give up flying. But then we wouldn't be hunted anymore. But then we wouldn't be able to fly. And we would have to answer to a parent every night."
"Imagine that," My mom said.
Nudge started to talk again. "Nudge, sweetie," I interrupted. "We get that you have mixed feelings. Me too."
"It would be smart," I thought it would've been Iggy who said that but was amazed Fang said that. "Think about it," He said, trying to calm me down. He must've seen my worried look. "Just think about it. We all liked having a normal life at Anne's. We would be able to do that all the time, without the worry of being killed."
"I can't believe this," I said. "I can't believe you, of everyone in the flock, would say that." I felt terrible at his words. How could he just decide like that? He pretty much just said: "Let's pretend the first fifteen years of our lives didn't happen, ok?"
"Max, we're just kids!" Fang said. His voice was rising. This was amazing! Fang never lost his cool. He was always emotionless and calm. Not today though. "We need a place to stay forever; we need to go to school. We're missing out on the experience," He said, adding the last bit, thinking it would calm me down. It did just the opposite.
"Yeah?" I asked, getting in his face. "Well go ahead. I'm never getting a cure! Why would we even want something like that? That is so stupid of you to say. What would the past year of been for? Nothing? We would've had to go through all of Jeb's little tests for no reason! We would've had to see stuff for no reason." He met my gaze and we both understood what stuff was. Him and Lissa, me and Sam. Us…
"Max," This time it was Angel. I whirled around to face her, snarling. "I don't think we should get the cure,"
"Aw, you're only saying that because you're a super hero." Gazzy said. "You have, like, fifty special powers. Fang's right. We need to get rid of the wings. As much as I love flying, being on the run and being hungry doesn't work for me. I think I'm willing to give up flying for that."
"Would they be able to fix my sight?" Iggy asked, caution in his voice. I knew if they were able to he would give up flying for his eyes.
"It doesn't say anything specific in the Email, just that they have the tools to 'cure you,'" She said. I felt a sense of dread. I can't believe this! My family was being torn apart because of Itex, again.
"Guys," I said. "We don't need to be fighting about this now,"
Then there was a knock on the door. Everyone tensed. Iggy turned to us. "The same footsteps as the other night," He said. We wordlessly slipped out back while Mom went to answer the door.