Chapter 10:

As we continued on the Gasman started to read for us

"Nudge gasped, her hand over her mouth, her eyes wide.

The Gasman looked scared, then tried to wipe it off his face.

Iggy's spine tightened his face like ice. When he'd been at the School, they'd tried to surgically enhance his night vision. Now he was blind forever. Oops.

"so that's how it happened… I was wondering about that…" Mom said to herself, though we could all hear it. "Iggy, I'm so sorry." He simply shook his head, tired of hearing this.

"They took Angel back to the School?" the Gasman asked, confused.

"I think so," I said, trying to sound together and leaderly. As if I weren't screaming with panic inside.

"Why?" Nudge whispered. "After four years, I thought maybe they had forgotten –"

"They would never forget us, and there are probably a few still out there who still remember what happened."

"They want us back," said Fang.

We'd never really talked about this. It was like, out of sight, out of mind. Actually, more like, let's all try to forget when we were at the mercy of sadistic spawns of Satan in a place that's a total, hellish abomination and ought to be firebombed. Yeah, more like that. "I like the way you think Max," Ella said. "That should have been done long ago." I nodded my agreement to her so Gaz could keep reading.

"They'll never forget about us. Jeb wasn't supposed to take us out of there." I reminded the Gasman. "You didn't have to remind me, I knew that. It was Nudge who said it… not me" He added on.

"I just wanted to make my point. They would take us back where we escaped from. That's all." I told him.

How much longer did you wait Max? I don't know how long it was…I just remember darkness and fear. I heard in my mind. Don't worry Ange, it wasn't too long after this. Trust me.

"Jeb knew they would do anything to get us back. If anyone ever discovered what they did to us, it would be the end of the School," Fang explained.

"Why don't we tell on them, then?" Nudge demanded. "We could go to a TV station and tell everyone and say, Look, they grew wings on us, and we're just little kids, and –" "Why didn't you do that? It seems like it would've worked well…" El wondered and in answer to her question Gazzy read the next line.

"Okay, that would fix them," Iggy interrupted. "But we'd end up in a zoo."

"Well, what are we gonna do, then?" The Gasman was starting to sound really panicky.

Fang had gotten up and left the room, and now he returned, holding a sheaf of yellowed, fading papers. The edges looked nibbled, and he shook some mouse poop off. "Gross." A couple people said.

"Eew," said Nudge, wiping her nose on her sleeve. "Eew. Was that –"

"Here," said Fang, pushing the papers at me.

They were Jeb's ancient printed-out files. After he disappeared, we'd cleared off his desk and shoved everything in the back of a closet so we wouldn't have to look at it all the time. Again! Everyone winced at hearing Jeb's part in this. Back then he was my Father, or as close as I could ever think about getting but then he had to go and ruin it all.

We spread the papers out on the kitchen table. Just looking at them made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. Not to mention the strong eau de mouse. I'd rather have been doing anything but.

Fang started to sift through the pile. He found a large manila envelope, sealed with a clump of wax. After looking at me, catching my nod, he popped the wax with his thumbnail.

What is that?" asked the Gasman.

"Map." Fang said, pulling out a faded topographical drawing. We all tensed at this, knowing exactly what it was a Map of, and where it would eventually lead us.

"Map of what?" Nudge leaned closer, peering over Fang's shoulder.

"Map of a secret facility," I said, feeling my stomach clench. I'd hoped I'd never have to see it again, never break that wax seal. "In California. The School."

Gazzy handed the book to Angel to continue on. So we could get to the rescue mission A.S.A.P.

Chapter 11. She read.

"Whaaat?" the Gasman squeaked.

Iggy went even paler than normal, if possible. "Great Max, make me the Albino of the group." Iggy said, trying to relieve some of the tension that was growing more and more in the room. I rolled my eyes and wasted another glare on him that he couldn't see.

"That's where they took Angel," I said. "And that's where we have to go to get her back."

"Oh," said Nudge, her brain hitting overdrive. "Here we go." I heard Fang mutter so only I could hear, and I just chuckled. "Yeah. We have to go get Angel back. We can't let her stay there – with them. They're – monsters. They're going to do bad things to her. And put her in a cage. Hurt her. But there's five of us. So the rest of us have to go get hmph –"

I had wrapped my hand across her mouth. She peeled my fingers apart. "uh, how far is it?"

"Six hundred miles, more or less," Fang said. "At least a seven-hour flight, not including breaks." "That was the longest we had ever flown straight for." Nudge said. "It was really exhausting."

"Can we discuss this?" Iggy asked, not turning his head. "We're way outnumbered."

"No," I scanned the map, already working out routes, rest stops, backup plans. "Even then, Max, You were a great leader to your family."

"Can we take a vote? They had guns. And a chopper." There was an edge in Iggy's voice.

"Iggy. This is not a democracy," I said, understanding his fear but unable to do anything about it. "It's a Maxocracy. You know we have to go after Angel. You can't be thinking that we would just let them take her. The six of us look out for one another – no matter what. None of us is ever going to live in a cage again, not while I'm alive" I took a deep breath."And we've only been back in a cage like maybe only three other times! And it wasn't even that long. I say that's awesome!" Nudge said.

"But actually, Nudge, Fang, and I are going after Angel. You and the Gasman – I need you to stay here. Hold down the fort. On the off chance Angel escapes and makes her way home." "You made them stay behind? Really?" Ella said. Completely flabbergasted (A.N.: Don't you just love that word? Flabbergasted…that one and Sticklebats : ) )

There was a moment of dead silence.

"You are so full of it," said Iggy, turning toward me. "That's not why you want us here. Why don't you just say it?"

Tension was making my stomach hurt. I didn't have time for this. No –Angel didn't have time for this.

"Okay," I said, trying for a placating tone. "It's true. I don't want you to come. The fact is, you're blind, and while you're a great flyer around here where you know everything, I can't be worrying about you in the middle of a firefight with the Erasers." "Ig, I'm sorry about that, I hope you know that I will never make you stay behind again." I told him.

Iggy's face twisted in anger. He opened his mouth but got cut off.

"What about me?" the Gasman squealed "Wait, so let's see. Gazzy has both Squeaked and Squealed in this chapter alone?" El asked and Angel snickered but Gaz was a little annoyed. "I'm sorry I couldn't have just grumbled it out then Ella. I can't help that I was only 8 at the time!" Ella laughed and apologized. , "I don't care if they have guns and a chopper and Erasers. She's my sister."

"That's right. And if they want her so bad, they might want you just as bad," I pointed out. "Plus, you're a great flyer, but you're eight years old, and we're going to be logging major hours."

"Jeb would never have made us stay," Iggy said angrily. "Never. Ever." "I'm sorry Max. That was a low blow." Iggy said. "Its okay. All of our nerves were on edge." I forgave him immediately.

I pressed my lips together. I was doing the best I could. "Maybe not," I admitted. "We'll never know. Jeb's dead. Now everyone get your gear together."

"well That's my chapter! Here ya Go Dr. Martinez!" and with that Angel handed the book to Mom so we could read the next chapter.

A/N:

Okay guys, sorry that took a little longer than expected… I really am sorry about that. I just had a rough week last week. That and I'm almost out of the free part of the book online so I need to actually buy the book soon… I hope you liked it!

Since I'm almost out of chapters online, I'm not going to update until I have had at least 4 reviews on this chapter. It's not many but it does help! It's nice to know people are actually reading what I work on : )

I'll give a preview of the next chapter to the person who can tell me what the rabbits have done to conquer the squirrels or what the chipmunks are doing to stop the squirrels from stealing their nuts!

Thanks guys!

~Jezi Raewin