****Hey peoples! Here is chapter 7! Don't let the cliffhanger at the end throw ya off….there's more!!*****

Chapter 7- The hard part

"Max! Max! Max, Max, Max, MAX!!" I was bombarded with Nudge and Angel the second they saw me land.

We had been gone all night looking for the flock, and now the sun was rising. Note to self: NEVER give Iggy and Gazzy the responsibility to take the flock somewhere safe EVER again!!

Their idea of "somewhere safe" was a smelly, disgusting old junkyard in the middle of nowhere……..typical.

"Max, where were you guys?" asked Nudge, who was seated on a little car part on top of the junk pile.

So here were my two answer options: 1) Kissing Fang on the moonlit river bank or 2) Smashing the brains out of an eraser by catapulting a tree at it and discovering a new power.

I was definitely going with option 2.

"Well…long story, Nudge. In short, I kind of discovered I have…uh…err…super strength."

Pause. Pause. Pause. Really long pause.

(Hey, cut 'em a break. How often do you get told that?)

I was still waiting for a response, when Iggy and Gaz threw the whole… "Awesome dude!" and knuckle touch thing they do.

Next to speak was Angel. "Really Max? Wow that's great! You can totally beat Ari now!" she said, her little blue eyes twinkling in the newly risen sun.

Sure, it was great, but I still had to tell the flock that he was a mind reader……and that might be difficult. I took a glance back at Fang, who was behind me kicking around old hubcaps.

"Look guys, there's something about Ari you need to know, just in case we run into him again." I said warily, and now I had the whole flock's attention, including Fang.

"When we were fighting back at the schoolyard," I went on, "he told me that when he came back, they made him stronger….so he can finally finish the job."

I paused for a moment to register their expressions.

"He said….well he said that he was a mind reader."

There. I finally said it.

I saw the flocks gazed over looks as they tried to process what I had just said.

"So what are we gonna do?" Iggy asked, his forehead wrinkling in confusion.

This was going to be a tricky one……

"Max. What does this mean?" this time it was Fang. By now he had come up to stand beside me.

I glanced up at his face. His jaw line was tight and his face had concern written all over it.

"Look. When we were flying last night, I had a lot of time to think. And after finding out about my strength, I did a lot of it. And I think its best if…..if I fought this battle alone."

I took my eyes off my feet long enough to look at the flock's baffled faces.

"Max, are you crazy? Do you know how dangerous that is?" Fang burst out, looking directly into my eyes.

"Yes," I answered, "which is exactly why I'm doing this, Fang! When we were back at school and it was just me and Ari, my fight was worthless. Nothing I did could make him budge. Nothing. And now, I'm the only one with enough strength to take him now."

I could feel the tension flowing between me and the flock….me and Fang.

"Max, you can't leave! You could get hurt!" said Angel, her puppy dog eyes boring into mine.

"No sweetie, you could get hurt. If you came with me and tried to fight Ari like he is now…..there is no telling what would happen to you guys. I'll be fine. I think this is best for all of us." I said."And I am not leaving for good…I just think its best if this battle was mine."

Man, I've really gotten good at this whole "Laying down the Law" thing, huh?

I took a quick peek at Fang's expression. It was hard and angry and worried all rolled into one. But he said nothing.

"I'm going to be just fine! I'll get rid of Ari, come back, and then everything will be perfect again! Trust me." This time I was speaking to the whole flock, which had all come to stand in a clump in front of me.

Finally, Fang spoke. "When are you going to figure out that nothing is ever perfect Max?" his face was rock hard and intense.

"So what if you kill Ari, huh? All he's gonna do is come back! Dang it Max! We need you now more than ever! We need each other! And I'm not gonna let you leave. Never. Because if you leave…..I'm going with you."

That was the longest thing I've heard Fang say.

I stared at the ground, feeling stupid about ever even bringing this up. But I had to get my point across…..

"You're right fang. We do need each other. And if you all come with me and die……no one will have anybody!"

I have to admit, that one was a little harsh. I immediately saw tears well up in Nudges eyes and Angel biting her lip to hold them back.

"I'm sorry. But I'm doing this for you. All of you. I'll be back."

And with that……I left.

***** Intense!!! Yep, max left to go fight Ari ALONE!!! Mwahhaaha! Read on to find out what happens next :) *******