Okay, guys. I'm REALLY sorry for the long wait. School is just really kicking my butt and I have no time for anything like this right now.
Before we get on with the story, I must tell you guys that this will be the last chapter of this story. I know- you're probably all ready to throw me to a pit of hungry lions right about now, but I'm SUPER DUPER sorry. I just don't feel any connection to this story anymore, and I have no idea where to go with it from here. I had some idea, but it just doesn't feel right anymore.
Enough sadness! Let's all just enjoy this last chapter as if it were the first!
[Part 2]
Switzerland, it replied. It's neutral territory.
Duh. Even I knew that. Over the past year, isolated from normal society, we'd all researched just about every major country in Europe, Asia, Africa, South America, and we'd even learned about Canada and Mexico. Who didn't know that Switzerland was neutral?
All right then, I thought back carefully.
A knock on the door brought me out of my 'zone'. Fang went to answer the door and soon enough, the cacophony of my troopers' whining was heard. The little ones- Angel, Gazzy, and Nudge- stepped in front of me, still protesting; Iggy and Alice stood in the back, just as confused as everyone else.
"Hey, guys. GUYS!" I held my hands out in front of me in an effort to calm them down. "I know this is hard to understand, but it is for me, too. Okay?" They all nodded in agreement.
One step at a time, Max.
"Okay, so we're leaving. Go get changed and meet back here." I saw them head for the other bedroom. "NO! We've got your bags here. Get changed in this bathroom." I pointed to the one in this room.
"Why?" Gazzy asked, innocently suspicious.
Several moments of silence passed and then comprehension dawned on everyone's faces except Fang's and Iggy's. I looked over at Angel and saw that she was concentrating on everyone in the room, apparently sending them a mental image of next door- probably mine or Fang's. Hopefully nothing too graphic.
Angel looked at me and showed me, what I presumed, what everybody else had seen. It was one of my memories, where I was looking at the floor, the image frozen on lots of stained carpet and hotel towels.
I paused for a minute, making sure everybody was coherent. "Anyway," I began. "Go get changed; boys first, girls second. Let's get going." Iggy and Gaz headed to the bathroom to change; Alice, Angel and Nudge sat against the wall, still drying their soaking wet hair. They looked like best friends, especially Alice, looking so sisterly, and I dreaded the thought of leaving her behind.
"Hey," a voice behind me greeted. I knew it was Fang, but I couldn't look directly at him now.
"Hey," I muttered back without looking at him. I felt his warm hand gently grab my wrist, pulling me backwards toward the balcony.
Alice looked up at me, curiosity written all over her face. I mouthed "We'll be right back." She nodded in understanding- I knew I could trust her to watch the kids for a couple minutes.
We stepped outside into the chilly night air. Fang shut the slider door with a swoosh and we were left in silence. It wasn't uncomfortable, but there was some sort of buzz around us, invisible bees hovering above our heads, waiting for one of us to break the silence.
Still holding Fang's hand, I stepped over to the balcony's edge and leaned against it, facing away from our room. Suddenly I felt his hand slip out of mine. Before I could turn around to ask him what was wrong, I felt his strong, wiry arms wrap around my waist, clasping his hands together right below my belly button. I laid my hands over his and finally felt at ease.
He leaned his chin on my shoulder and whispered in my ear, "Where to next?"
I answered him with "Switzerland."
"Voice?"
"Yeah. But I'm starting to trust it more and more."
I sighed deeply and looked out at the dark, peaceful and quaint little town. I actually wanted to stay here a while longer, but once housekeeping came, we'd be busted.
"I'm sorry," I said once again.
Fang exhaled deeply. "I know. I don't care about that anymore. The important thing is that you're still here. With us." He hesitated for a second and whispered, barely audible, "With me."
I turned my face so that my nose was buried in his hair and I kissed his head. He added, "Besides, we've been though worse."
I exhaled slowly, knowing that this was very true. And we just stood there, soaking up each other's presence. No words could express what needed or didn't need to be said. We were both exhausted and we just wanted silence after this day of chaos.
Then I was floating, gently down into the sweet nothingness of sleep. I felt myself slump in Fang's arms; he seemed to mumble something like, "Are you okay?" I could barely hear him- it was like there were pillows shoved in my ears, willing me to succumb to the temptation. I managed a weak "I'm just really tired," before I finally let the darkness sweep over me with a wave a fatigue.
I could've sworn I felt Fang sweep me up into his arms…
(Fang POV)
As I picked Max up from the balcony, I realized how tired I was as well. I trudged to the sliding glass door and tapped my elbow against it so someone would let me in. My hands were kind of full.
Seconds later, Alice stood there and opened the door. "She's exhausted," I replied simply to her wondering expression.
I set Max gently on the bed and sat next to her on the edge. Lying there, she looked heavenly, an angel waiting peacefully for a new day. She'd been through a lot today. But not just today! Ever since she was born. Since the day Erasers came and took her baby, Angel. She needs some rest.
"Hey, Fang?" Alice's voice quietly piped up.
I turned to look at her. "You should lie down," she stated. "Get some sleep. I can watch the kids for a while." She looked at me begging me to do what she asked, for my own good.
Then, sensing my moment of hesitation, she quickly spoke again. "Angel and Nudge are getting dressed and ready, Gazzy went to get some snacks from downstairs, and Iggy is finishing cleaning up in there." She jerked her thumb at the other bedroom. "I promise everything will be fine. Just take a quick nap."
I agreed with her. Besides, I knew Ig would find me if anything went wrong. So with that, I laid down next to Max, feeling the heaviness of the day's events draw me into the void that was now welcoming me with open arms. I made sure to touch my arm to one of Max's so that I would know if she was there or not. With one final nod to Alice, I was lulled to sleep by the sound of Max's beautiful breaths.
And so it ends. I feel really bad about ending it. I really wish I could continue it for you (my fans). You are my everything; you are what inspire me to write my stories, but nothing about this story appeals to me anymore.
It probably doesn't help that Jimmy Patts has cranked out two more books since I started writing this. I just don't feel like I can go on anything now that I know what's happened since The Final Warning. Wow that was a LONG time ago.
Don't get me wrong, I am still IN LOVE with these books, but this story is officially running out of steam.
I love you all and I will post anything on here if I'm gonna start writing on fictionpress or another story of fanfiction. I've got a bunch of stuff I want to get down in writing.
It's been a wonderful journey, and I will never forget you all. My first fans! You'll always be in my heart and I really do love you all (and yes I know I just said that up there, but it's really true!)
Until we meet again…
Peace, love, and more love. =)
