"Today is Fang's fifteenth birthday. The twelve years are up. Fang is coming with me."
The words stung. I had no idea that I felt so much for Fang. I mean, jeez, being a freak along with having hormones that don't even matter until they come crashing down all at once was kind of big for me.
That's what I've been telling you Max. You're in love with Fang. Now, think fast, or else you are going with Fang. No! You need to save the world! You need to be the ultimate Maximum Ride! You don't have time for boys!
Shouldn't I want that?
"Why do you want me too?" I shouted.
Death looked at me strangely. "Fang will tell you."
I turned towards Fang. He looked so different, being dead and all. His eyes were surrounded by a dark shadow, his hair was ratty, and his face had dried blood in it. Fang looked up at me with solemn eyes.
"She read my mind when I was dying. The only thing I wanted was that you could be with me. I'm so sorry." He turned towards Death, "Please, I'll give anything, just don't take Max. She has a destiny to fulfill, and I can't let her die!"
Death shut her eyelids over the sickening hollow sockets. "There is one thing you could do. Maximum's soul is worth so much, you would have to something extreme."
"Anything!"
Death bowed her head. After a few seconds, she lifted it up, the place where beautiful amber eyes should have been, glowing.
Her voice was deep and grim. She spoke slowly, and echo following every sentence. "You are condemned to Hell! You will serve Satin for twelve years, without a complaint or protest! When your time is done, you will be able to come back to earth! Now, be gone!"
Flames danced around Fang, shooting up, burning his soul. I heard him scream with pain. He didn't even get a say in his own destiny. He just went 'poof!'
"FANG! NO!" I shrieked hysterically.
I heard Angel, Gazzy, and Nudge begin crying uncontrollably. Iggy just stared in front of him in horror, being especially scared since he couldn't see what was going on. I would've gladly traded places with him. But, sadly, the scientists didn't have time to give me one more defect.
"AAUGH! NO!" The fire swept over Fang, bring the smell of burning flesh to my nose. I chanced a look at Death. She looked genuinely sad, and I realized she had no choice in the matter.
The fire extinguished just as swiftly as it came. Nothing was left except a pile of ashes in a heart shape. I began crying as I traced my love's name in the remains.
"Oh, Fang, why did you have to do that? I would have gladly gone with you!" My tears turned Fang's ashes a dark gray.
"What's done is done. You must wait the twelve years until you can see Fang again," Death stated, "Goodbye, Maximum. Take good care of your Flock." She slowly faded away from the cave.
So that was that. I had no say in my own family's life, and that was that. Fang was in Hell. Jeez, what next? A second apocalypse in my life, considering that crisis with the whole cacklingevilscientistsandFlyboystryingtokillmefortheirpleasure thing.
I gazed around at the Flock. Angel and Nudge were holding onto each other while tears poured down their faces. The Gasman was staring lifelessly at the ash heart, and Iggy was propped up against the cave wall, silently mourning for his best friend.
"Come on, gang," I said between sniffles, "let's get out of here."
We moved slowly, taking off one by one, leaving nothing but an ash heart, surrounded by tear drops, with 'Fang' scrawled in it.