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Chapter 2 My Fault

"I guess this is goodbye." I nodded as I quickly wrapped my arms around Fang and pressed my cheek against his neck. Fang's arms wrapped around me but this hug felt different from the long, warm embraces we'd shared so many times. This hug was a comforting, get you through this, type of hug. It didn't work.

"Keep in touch, please." Fang whispered in my ear as I pulled back. I nodded numbly and I knew that Fang wasn't convinced. I didn't care. "I'll look after her," Dylan said, coming up behind me and putting a hand on my shoulder that I was too spaced out to shrug off.

Fang's dark eyes roamed over the arm but he didn't say anything though he sent Dylan a 'you better' face. Dylan responded with a cool nod.

"Bye guys," Fang said as he walked around and gave the others hugs. They mumbled and nodded their good byes but they were all just as worn down as I was. Dylan seemed to be the only one of my Flock with a clear head though I knew he was disturbed by Angel's death.

Fang's Flock milled around us and received less than slightly engaging fist bumps and hugs. All of their faces were solemn, they understood what a loss we had all suffered, and even if they hadn't the grief on our faces would have been enough to stop a laughing hyena in it's tracks. It was depressing.

"I'm sorry for all of this," my voice said. I looked up and saw Maya standing in front of me flanked by Fang who was watching her from the corners of his eyes as he talked quietly to Ratchet about what they planned to do next.

"It's not your fault." I said, my voice sounding a bit odd. I cleared my throat and said, "I was the one who made the decision."

"You couldn't have known-," she started to protest but I raised a weary hand. Her mouth fumbled shut which, seeing as she's my clone and all, is saying something.

"I may not have known what would happen but I knew what might have happened. I chose to risk my family for strangers. Look where that has us now." Subconsciously I noted that the others had stopped mumbling and were listening to our conversation. I didn't care.

Maya blinked at me and I saw a flash of pain in her eyes. It was easy for me to imagine how I looked to her, to them. My hair was still in tangles tethered together by sewer gunk, flying debris, dirt, dust, soot and who knew what else. My face was streaked with tears and tear tracks through dust and grime. My eyes would have seemed hollow, empty.

"You still shouldn't blame yourself. Angel chose to stay, she-," Maya didn't finish before my eyes flew wide and I was standing toe to toe with her. Briefly I noticed that I was an inch taller than she was which, again given she's my clone, shouldn't have been possible.

"She was seven! A seven year old! A seven year old who had been tested on for a majority of her life, been kidnapped by my half brother, beaten, bruised, bloodied and blown up! And for what! Now she's gone! She never got to even pretend to be normal! How could she after what they did to her? After what I let them do to her? It's. All. My. Fault!"

My breath came quickly and my chest heaved as I stared down at Maya who's face was full of shock. I felt a hand gently touch down on my shoulder but didn't turn or even react to it. Instead I leaned back, so that I was no longer in her face, and took a deep breath. "All of this," I gestured around at everyone and beyond to the trees which ran along either side of the field where we had landed a half mile from my mom's house, "- it's all my fault. I was supposed to save the world. But I failed."

And with that I took a step back and unfurled my wings. But I didn't run away, didn't 'charge off' like I usually did. That Max was gone. Gone for good. And in her place there had been placed a colder, more unforgiving Max. One who didn't lie to herself, or others.

I glanced at Fang and saw that his eyes were locked on my face along with everyone else's. I said, "Fang, let me know what you're doing or if you find anything out. You're a great leader, I know you'll keep them safe." I gestured at his Flock and then nodded at my own. "Guys, U and A."

Next chapter is were the action starts. This is just telling you where everyone is and what the emotional climate is like. This next chapter gets the ball rolling. Please R&R guys, with a cherry on top? It makes me update and write more. ;)