Chapter 9: The Flock Lives
The Gasman slumped down on the bottom step of the carpeted stairs. The flock was gathered around in the cramped stairwell, staring at the closed door leading to the main room. Gazzy couldn't see why they had to leave the room – how bizarre could the conversation be to make them have to leave? He couldn't hear anything besides muffled speaking coming from behind the door. Fang was leaning against it, obviously listening. As Gazzy watched, his eyes grew steadily wider and wider.
Finally, when Nudge was beginning to shift from foot to foot impatiently, Fang moved away from the door. "They're coming," he said softly.
His eyes were still a millimeter wider than normal. For Fang, this meant he was flabbergasted. Gazzy wondered what he had heard.
Footsteps emanated from behind the door, and it swung open. The flock shuffled backwards to leave room.
"Your… ah… leader has gone out to think," the blue-eyed guy said from the doorway.
Gazzy craned his neck to see the inside of the room. Max was not there.
The flock did not respond. The teenager moved on. "If you wish, you may join my companions upstairs to answer any questions you might have." He nodded up the flight of stairs.
"Question already," Iggy said, raising his hand mockingly. "Who even are you?"
"Upstairs," repeated the teenager. He waited patiently for them to move up the staircase.
I know who he is, a voice whispered in Gazzy's mind. He jumped in surprise. Angel was staring at him intently.
Who? he beamed at her.
Wait, she mind-spoke. Wait until Max is back. She has to know first. Then I can take the lead.
What? "Angel –" Gazzy began, but then he noticed everyone looking at him. Including the guy who had talked to Max. Apparently Gazzy's and Angel's mental chat had shown on their faces. Gazzy muttered something as an excuse.
The teenage boy still seemed suspiciously interested, though.
"Hmm," he said.
He might have said more, except Fang suddenly stated, "Upstairs. We'll check it out."
Gazzy and Nudge gave him quizzical looks, but he squeezed past them, up the stairs. The rest of the flock had no real choice but to follow.
The second floor of the magical apartment was small, but it had eight bedrooms and a bathroom tightly packed into the hallway. Gazzy followed the rest of the flock into the only occupied bedroom.
There was a queen-size bed with cream-colored sheets inside the room. The peeling wallpaper was striped dark blue. A dresser, an armoire, and a wooden stool were the only other things in the room.
The three other guys were in this room, two on the bed and one on the stool, apparently playing a game of cards. When they saw their visitors, they stood up hurriedly. One guy cleared his throat. They looked at the flock expectantly.
"The device." Fang's voice was flat. "Prove that it's real."
Gazzy didn't know what Fang meant, but the teenagers seemed to. The tallest said, "You listened at the door."
Fang didn't comment.
The guys glanced at each other. The room was silent.
Finally, the teen with sea-green eyes sighed. "It's right here." He reached down and pulled out the suitcase from under the bed.
