hey! I'm sooooo sorry for the wait! Really really sorry!

me: Nudge! Tell them how sorry I am.

Nudge: *spreads wings* Actress4TheLord is thiiiis sorry for not updating! Though, I think Fang's wings would be a more appropriate display, but I heard them talking, and Fang was all, "no way. I am not helping you explain how sorry you are for something that was completely your fault." I think that was a little harsh, considering she had company over, but Fang will be Fang, and that was a really long sentence for him. Did you notice tha-

Me: *claps hand over Nudge's mouth* I think they get it! Moving on!

I don't own Maximum Ride! My mysterious O/C's are making their appearance in this chapter! And don't hate me for the end! My thanks to:

Reading addicted (yes, the Nudge thing has something to do with vibrations, but that is for later! And yeah. Exploding clone. Gross, but interesting.)

User user (oooo, vacation. Fun. And I really, really, really like your story, "life, my battle field." Keep reviewing!)

BirdKid13 (yeah! Go Faxness! And yeah. Totally gruesome death. No, not a robot. Just a really gross death for a tortured seven year old. Poor kid.)

Kadoodles (thanks for favoriting!)

now on to the story!

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Max's POV

"Ok, guys. I think we should head in the direction of the school, but if she escaped, she's probably gonna be in close town. Lets look on the map."
One problem. I stink at reading maps. Especially while flying, when the stupid piece of paper is flapping around in the wind like, uh, paper in the wind. In the end, we just picked a random little dot near where we think is the school.
Somehow, Nudge had regained her powers the minute we left the house. We had out packs all ready, and Nudge leaned against a tree. She screamed so loud Gazzy actually jumped ten feet in the air. Wings make that possible. So yeah. Weird.
We landed there around four, (in the afternoon. Not morning. Who wakes up they early?) and landed quietly on the outskirts of the teeny town.
"Guys. First we check the forests. Then we slowly move into town. Checking every allyway, every shop, every street. Got it?"
I got nods in return.
"If we split up, we could do it faster." I scowled at Coral's input.
"We never split up. Got that?" I growled, satisfied by Coral's reaction as she stared nervously at her feet.
We did exactly as planned. And nothing. No Angel.
Next town.
No Angel.
Next town.
Still no Angel.
"We're never gonna find her!" Cried Gazzy, distressed.
"We'll find her. We still have two more towns to go, then, if she's not there, we go to New York. That's the only other place I can think of."
We flew south of the school, and landed quickly, going through the routine. We were searching the little forest area outside the town when Fang stopped dead.
I looked at him quizzically, and he put one finger to his lips and pointed to the sky. A little ways ahead of us was a massive black chopper.
Crap.
A rope latter fell from the heli, and six armed men and about ten of those gecko-things, which we had'nt come up with a name for yet, descended.
"Yes. We have located subject eleven. It is near here. We have no exact coordinates, but it can't be far."
Angel!
The others looked at me with an odd mix of hope and dread. I put two fingers behind my back, out signal for "wait." The men began to move forward, away from us, making enough noise to scare away the whole forest.
"Now." I whispered, barely audible.
We lunged foreward, grabbing at the humans. The man I landed on let out a satifying oof before I punched him square in the face, breaking his nose. Nudge was sitting on some guy's shoulders, her legs wrapped around his neck, screeching and pulling his hair like a crazed monkey. I couldn't help but laugh. Gasser was grappling with one of those geckos, drilling out kicks and punches faster that Omega's eyes could follow. (A/N: If you don't remember Omega, that's just sad. If you do, thumbs up! Omega was one of my fav JP mutants.)
That's my boy.
"Eat fist, you dirty rotten scum sucking Angel stealing jerks!" I heard Iggy yell, and knew he was just fine.
Fang was right beside me, and Coral was... In a tree. She was shaking, and her eyes were wide with fear. I rolled my eyes inwardly. Sissy. We could win without her.
I landed a roundhouse kick on a man's chest, and I think I broke one of his ribs.
"Retreat! The subject is not worth our effort!" One yelled, and the humans quickly disappeared into the chopper, leaving the few remaining geckos to blow up in our faces.
"I don't know about you guys, but I'm starting to get tired of things exploding in my face." I muttered.
"Gross..." Nudge squeaked.
Yeah. Gross is right.
"Coral, what are you doing?" Gazzy was looking up into the tree.
"It... It's... I... B..." She stuttered.
I sighed. "Get out of the tree, nutcase."
She started to climb down, but her shirt fabric caught on the branch. She tried to yank it free, and stumbled, falling out of the tree onto her rear. I snickered.
She groaned, but then blinked, and resumed her wide eyed expression.
"What's with her?" Fang whispered.
I shrugged.

Coral's POV
I was dreading every step. I had seen Angel. She was a little ways off, oblivious to the fight happening. I also saw who she was with. Just thinking about it made my heard stop, threatening to consume me. That's why I was in that tree. They were'nt enemies. No, not even in the slightest. But every step in their direction brought more pain from the past with it. I knew I needed to tell them I saw Angel. I took a deep breath.
"A... Angel. I saw... Angel." I choked out.
"You did what? And you've been sitting on this? Take us to her!" Iggy yelled, showing a mix of happiness and outrage.
I squeaked. "Ok."
My brain went on overdrive.
Angel. Bats. Sparks. School. Past. Blood. Blood. Blood. Pain. Never. Never again. Never again.
"Hey! Earth to Coral! Hey!" Max huffed, snapping her fingers inches from my face. "Angel! Now!"
I nodded, breathing heavily. Cold sweat dampened my palms and the back of my neck, and I slowly walked toward the spot I saw. First there was a clearing. In the center of the clearing was evidence of a fire. Around it were three people. The first was Angel. She didnt look well. Her feathers were limp and dirty, and she seemed to shiver a little. The second was Fang's age. He looked normal. He had shaggy silver hair, he was average height for his age, and... And every once and a while you could see static sparks come off his hair. The third was my age. His yellow hoodie hid his head and his back, but I knew what was underneath. His long, fuzzy, chocolate brown hair. His large sensitive mutant ears. His furry bat-wings. I sucked in a pained breath. They all turned to us.
Angel smiled weakly, but then she coughed, and Max rushed to her, cooing softly. The two boys turned to me, astonished.
"Coral..." The bat-boy whispered.
"You know them?" Fang questioned.
"Have you... Who are these people? And why are you with them?" Murmured the silver haired boy.
"Cork... This is... This is the flock... I live with them now. Angel didnt tell you?"
"So her name is Angel. She wouldn't say a peep."
Max smiled at Angel, looking proud.
"Have you told them?" The bat-boy mouthed.
I shook my head. "No... Zhone... It hurts... I told you and Cork, but..."
"Told us what?" Max growled, glaring at me.
I guess I need to... But I... They can't know... I...
"Here goes..."

I LOVE cliff hangers! Sorry bout that! *smiles wickedly* hope you like my O/C's! And if you have a name for the gecko things, put it in your reviews! Secrets revealed next chapter! Whoo hoo!