Ella's POV
As we drove to the airport that would take us to California, I asked my Dad, "When am I going to get the operation that changes me back to normal?"
He looked guilty, "Oh… dear, I was hoping we could run some more tests before the operation…"
I felt like I'd been punched in the gut, but I said, "Fine."
I couldn't stop thinking about Iggy. It was bad enough that I wasn't getting my operation, but I'd hurt him for nothing. I felt like crying, but stayed perfectly composed in front of my Dad.
At the airport, we boarded a private jet. I got onto the plane early so I wouldn't have to watch them wheel the cages containing the flock into the back of the plane. I was scared about how I would react to seeing them again.
During the whole plane ride, I just looked out my window or at the seat beside me, which was empty. It was supposed to have my Dad in it, but early I the flight, he said he 'had work to do'.
After the flight we took a limo to the school. As I entered the building, I was met by the overwhelming smell of cleaner. I hated that smell, I knew it too well. Memories flashed through my mind. Painful memories.
My Dad walked over to me briskly, introducing me to a scientist who worked there. He let the scientist lead me into a room that held the experiments.
I saw four cages. One held Angel and Total, another Max and Nudge, the next was Fang and The Gasman, and lastly there was Iggy.
I scientist led me up to Iggy's cage. "You'll be sharing with experiment 3 because we need the other cages for other experiments." He explained shortly.
Once I was locked in the cage, and the scientist was gone, I curled up in a corner, not daring to look at Iggy.
"What are you doing here?" Max snarled from two cages over.
I flinched and muttered, "Being my Dad's test dummy again."
"What was that?" She asked.
"Being tested on." I replied, covering up what I'd really said.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Iggy perk his ears, an indication that said he'd heard what I'd really said.
"Oh, why is that? Aren't you Daddy's little spy?" She sneered.
"No." I answered, short and simple.
She seemed a bit taken aback by this. "Well, then, why are you here?'
"I told you, to be experimented on." I was close to snapping, I felt my voice waver. I saw Iggy look up at me, a searching look on his face.
Max was about to make some other smart comment when another scientist came in. He strolled right up to my cage and opened my door.
Max and the others watched, eyes wide, as I stepped out willingly and swallowed the experimental 'medicine' he'd given me without hesitation.
Afterwards, I went back into the cage before he'd even told me to and watched him close and lock its bolt.
Max gave me a weird look then said, "Do you know what that stuff is?"
I shook my head, "Probably something designed to see if it'll make me sick. You know, testing how strong my immune system is."
I saw Nudge's, Angel's, and Gazzy's jaws drop. I shrugged, looking away. I glanced at Iggy for the first time. He was looking at me I amazement.
"And you know you could be ipoisoned/i?" Max pushed.
"Absolutely." I nodded.
Iggy spoke up, "How many times have you been here?"
"Every summer." I replied easily, then added, "And I'm really sorry for getting you in here…"
"A little late for that." Max snorted, "And I'm not forgiving you."
"I never expected you to. I only agreed to do it for two reasons. One: My Dad taught me to hate you guys, which failed after I got to know you, and two: My Dad promised that he would give me an operation to change me back to normal."
"No flattery, please. I don't buy it. And if that's so, why are you here?" Max was getting nastier.
"Because he lied." I whispered, "Again."
Iggy's head shot up. "Again?"
"Yeah… he's promised me every summer for the past four years." I said, trying to act like I didn't care, but the crack in my voice gave me away.
Before anyone could say anything else, three erasers came in, and started to move all of the flock's cages except mine and Iggy's.
I watched carefully as they were wheeled away.
Anne's POV
"Now John, you know I want to see how the two act alone. Their behavior around each other is simply fascinating!" I exclaimed.
"Yes, I know, but my daughter's expecting me to give her that surgery…" John said, hesitant to try my experiment.
"What's another lie in the long run?" I asked, indicating experiment 3 and 31.
"Well, Ella and this experiment may not get along anymore now that she's betrayed him! She could be hurt!"
"Yes, but experiment 3 has a very caring nature. I highly doubt he'll harm her." I reassured him.
He sighed in defeat. "Fine."
