As Fang and I entered the infirmary all heads turned to us, including Ash's. She stiffened as her eyes met with Fang's. I forced my face into neutrality before speaking, "Hello."
"Hi," Ash replied. I gave her a once over, taking in her bandaged abdomen and freshly scabbed cuts, "So you're awake." She snorted, ""Obviously." From the corners of my eyes I saw Fang clench his jaw, as if to keep from retorting.
"I'm not one for small talk," I said, sitting myself in one of the chairs nearby her cot. "Glad we have something in common," Ash commented, sarcasm dripping from her words. I narrowed my eyes, "Let's get to the point, how did the School find me?"
"And why should I tell you?" I held back a shudder at the malice in her eyes. "Because, we helped you. You wouldn't likely be alive without us, and if that's not enough then we can ask why the School didn't send in reinforcements to get you back.
"You were created to do one mission, kill me. You failed. Why would they want you back. You proved useless to them, they don't need you. They wouldn't waste the resources to bring you back. If they were going to, they would have done it already."
"You don't know that," Ash replied, although the fire in her eyes was dulling. She knew I was right. "As to why you should tell us, for starters we're the only people who bothered to save you. And we're the only ones who will, and that statement will stay true as long as you help us in return."
Max's brows rose but she didn't disagree. Ash seemed to contemplate my words before speaking, "You have a tracker, in your arm." "I what?!" My voice went shrill with shock and a little bit of terror. "You heard me, you have a GPS tracker in your arm. It's impossible to remove, unless it's done by a trained medical professional. Or else," she stated. ""You could die." I grit my teeth. Perfect, I thought bitterly.
"Like Max's," Fang murmured from beside me. "What?" I asked. "Max used to have a tracker in her arm as well before we got it removed," he told me, his eyes flicking to Ash warily.
"How did you get it removed?" Max spoke for him. "My mom, she's a veterinarian," she explained. "She had the equipment and knew how to take it out safely." "And your mom is currently a hundred or more miles away right now," I sighed.
I was going over possible solutions, none of them were great, when I came to a realization. If the School knew where I was at all times, I was endangering everybody.
They could send assassins and erasers and whomever else they had to kill the Flock and I. "The School knows where I am, I'm leading them right to you all. I-." "No," the look Fang gave me was enough to make my mind stop spinning with the worst case scenarios. "We'll find another way."
I knew better than to argue. Like Fang had told me, none of them were leaving me, especially him. I couldn't leave them, we would have to find a different solution, no matter how reluctant I was to endanger them. I pressed a hand to my forehead and tried to think.
Fang watched me silently from lowered brows before turning to Brigid. "Do you have Dr. Martinez's phone number?" "Yes," Dr. Dwyer responded slowly, as if thinking carefully about every word. "But if not already, any moment we could lose cell reception." "Then I'll make it quick."
Bridgid dug around her pocket before drawing out her phone, "I'll go-." "I'll do it," Fang rushed out his words. The phone had just barely touched his palm when he swiftly strode out into the hallway to make the call.
My eyes lingered on where he had exited for a while before Max tapped my shoulder. "I know you don't want anyone to get hurt, but don't do anything stupid," she told me. I nodded, perplexed at why she would warn me. "Good," Max settled into a chair beside me.
I breathed deeply and shut my eyes. If I couldn't do anything, I would think. My mind wandered all sorts of places, Kaya, (or Akila as they now called her,) my parents, the School, and more before settling on the Flock.
I wondered what life was like for them before I arrived. I pictured an adorable younger angel, with even blonder hair than she had currently and her already large eyes enormous on her youthful round face. I smiled at the thought.
I also thought of Max and Fang. The two seemed so in sync and close. It made me ponder if there was any history between the two. Reluctantly, not wanting to pry, I opened my eyes and asked Max, "Did you and Fang ever date."
Max burst out laughing. It was the kind of incredulous laugh one gave when someone asked a ridiculously absurd question. Finally, she wiped her eyes and looked over at me. "Yes… No, well, kind of." "How descriptive," Ash supplied from her bed. "Oh, shut it," I snapped.
Ash settled back into her pillows, scowling. "Anyways," Max continued. "Fang and I are best friends. We work better that way. While we love each other, it's a family kind of love. You know what I mean?" She asked. I did indeed know what she meant, but other than that I never really grew up with a family love. "Sorry, that was a little insensitive," she apologized.
"No worries, yeah, I understand," I hated the small feeling of relief I felt at her assurances. "I once thought I might love him in another way, but I feel like we all eventually mistake our own feelings for another kind." I hated even more the way my heart clenched at the thought of Fang and Max together.
I was new, I wasn't fully apart of the Flock. At least not yet. I didn't feel fully integrated into it already, but I hoped that one day I would get the chance to. I smiled at Max and nodded.
Ash opened her mouth to say something most likely sarcastic, "Don't bother," I told her. I rose from my chair, "I'm going to go see how everything is going with your mom." "Sure," Max replied. She then turned away from me and began to talk with Dr. Dwyer.
Outside, Fang was leaning up against the hallway wall. His head was thrown back in thought. "Hi," I said quietly, closing the door behind me. He returned a smile that was obviously forced, "Hi."
"What's wrong?" I couldn't help but blurt out the question that was lingering in my mind. "Nothing, everything's fine. I just got off the phone with Dr. Martinez, she's going to fly out to our coordinates. She'll bring all the necessary equipment."
"That's good, isn't it?" I still couldn't see why he was slightly upset. "It is," Fang wouldn't meet my gaze. "What is it that you're not telling me?"
His dark eyes met mine for a moment, "Just… Don't do anything stupid or dangerous. Okay?" He looked slightly desperate, which was something I doubted he let a lot of people see.
But I was tired of him dancing around the truth, "Max told me the same thing. Can I have a reason as to why you two are warning me?" Fang took a shuddering breath. "Max, when she had her tracker in, tried to take it out by herself. She almost bled out on a beach and died. So just don't- don't do anything like that."
With those words, everything fell into place. So that's what this is about. "I won't," I told him, actually meaning what I said. "Try to take it out myself."
He nodded, although not looking fully reassured. "Promise me," he said, placing his hands on my shoulders. I stared up at him, "I promise." His touch was warm and it sent shivers down my spine.
"Okay," he breathed, but he didn't remove his hands. We said nothing for a few moments, Fang's eyes running over my face, trying to tell if I was lying.
When he had decided I wasn't, he leaned his face slightly neared to mine. Expecting him to kiss me, I closed my eyes. Instead, his mouth pressed softly onto my forehead.
He wrapped me in an embrace and for the first time since I had escaped the school, I felt fully and completely safe. I smiled softly into his collar. Just when I thought the moment was perfect, I heard a door swing open.
I jumped back, putting space between Fang and I, but it was too late. Nudge stood in the doorway, grinning maniacally. "I knew you too would make a great couple!" I could feel my cheeks burning and my eyes grew wide.
Author's Note: Hi guys! Sorry if that was a bit of a short chapter but I promise to make the next one a bit longer. I also owe the amazing plot idea of Skylar's tracker to Kaitlyn. Thanks so much for all of your reviews, I love hearing from you guys and they always make me want to write more. XOXO- Skai.
