A/N: Lots of POV's in this chapter. I am almost done setting up the plot but it starts to take effect. Also, it's my longest chapter. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do not own Maximum Ride or any of it's characters. I do however own Carolynne, Nick, Derek, Harshad, Tabitha, Raina, and Avel.

Chapter 10: Cursed

Angel

After talking with Harshad I went to the living room. I liked talking to him; it was nice to meet someone like you, even if they didn't have wings. You couldn't be picky. He could do the same things as me. We compared things we could do, and I could tell what kind of role he played in their flo-, I mean group. He was really peaceful and neutral, someone everyone could count on. You could call him the sticky stuff that brings everyone together. He was the nicest person you could ever meet. I wouldn't mind having him in our flock. He's a real optimist but he doesn't go overboard. I liked him.

I turned on the television and looked for something to watch. This stuff is so boring. They only had the regular channels. The inn had cable. It figures; they seem like real penny pinchers, just like us. I smiled at the thought. I heard something move across the room. I turned to see that Fang was reading a book on the couch. I thought he wasn't emo! That book looks otherwise though. I chose to ignore that fact; I'm sure it's just a misunderstanding. After all, you shouldn't judge a book by its cover. I stared at him for a moment then went back to watching TV.

I was sure he got annoyed with me, because he put his bookmark in and headed for the basement. I shrugged it off and resumed my show. It was boring, so I turned the television off again. I usually liked to watch something more enjoyable but nothing comes on around ten o'clock at night. I decided to go sleep; I had nothing better to do anyways. I stepped down the basement stairs to see Max, Iggy, and Fang arguing. They didn't even notice me come down the stairs. I couldn't make out what they were saying; they were all talking at once, so I decided to read their minds. It is a very useful trick, if you let it be.

I decided to read Iggy's first; he did have an unexplained bruise on his cheek. Those people shot at me… uh-oh… she was only bandaging my cut… How did he get a cut? I read Max's mind next. She seems to know things because it seemed she was right in the middle of things. Iggy's cheek… How'd he get that bruise… What is Fang trying to prove… He's being such a jerk! It's always the hardest to read people during fight. They're always so mad and don't know the consequences of what they say but I was reading Max loud and clear. She is so outspoken. I read Fang last. How dare he go after her? Ah, I could already see what this was about. I thought Max was in love with me! I'm not so sure about that one, Fang.

So this is what I think was going on. Fang was mad at Max because she was with Iggy. Iggy was with Max because apparently he'd been shot at. Who was shooting at them? Max was bandaging his face because he had gotten hurt. I read Fang more and he thought they had been about to kiss, which they weren't. Iggy did want to kiss her but wasn't sure if Max wanted to so he wasn't going to. Max wasn't exactly sure and wanted to think. It seems there was a love triangle and both boys were fighting over Max. I listened more to see if I was right.

"Why were you trying to kiss her?" Fang said calmly. He wasn't trying to draw attention.

"I wasn't trying to kiss him," Max replied angrily. She got up from the couch they were previously sitting on. "Do you even trust me?" I see that Max has mastered the bambi eyes. Good one; I have taught you well. Fangs expression softened a bit. Then, he turned to point at Iggy, anger igniting. "What about him?"

Iggy stood up this time. He was mad at being accused. He thought, did Fang even trust him? It seemed that he always took Max's side on things. "She wasn't going to do that. Stop being so paranoid, Jeez man."

Fang was getting angrier. I don't think you should do that Iggy. He might just punch you again. "I wouldn't have to be paranoid if you wouldn't go around kissing her the second I'm not there."

"I didn't kiss her, she kissed me first of all. Second, you need to give her and I more credit. I wouldn't do that to you. Just let her choose who she wants, if she likes me you can't force it. It's up to her Fang." The comment was said with such snide and anger I felt like he might spit on him in the heat of the moment. Fang didn't like it either because he punched Iggy.

"I'll give you another bruise to match the one I gave you before." Fang knocked him down, straddling him, while delivering a string of punches.

Max stepped in, "You gave him that? Why would you punch him?"

They weren't listening anymore because they were going at it now. Max tried to stop the fight but they would just push her away and continue. This had to stop. I was right about why they were fighting, but how to stop it? I didn't want them to kill themselves over her. Our enhanced strength sometimes, can be a burden. I racked my mind for ways to stop them but I came up with none. I pounded down the steps frantically. Why couldn't they stop this?

With no other choice, I screamed. Not out loud, but in their heads. Iggy felt it first and he fell to the ground, clutching his head. Fang punched him while he was down, a low blow yes, but he managed to break his nose. I heard the sickening crack that pierced the air when his fist made contact with his nose. He then, fell to the ground too, his hand grasping his ears.

"What did you do, Angel?" Max had rushed over to me, holding me tightly in her arms. I had stopped screaming by now but now they were sitting up, my voice ringing in their ears. I took Max's hand and we left them in their self-pity. I can't believe them! Boys are so stupid. Max and I went to the living room and I told her all of it. She was surprised. Maybe a damsel in distress (sort of) got them to fight but a screaming one got them to stop. I stand corrected: those boys are extremely stupid.

Max

I can't believe them! I didn't know Fang was the jealous type. He gave Iggy that bruise on his cheek. Why would he have done that? Does he want me to get angry with him? Then it hit me. I wasn't supposed to find out. He was questioning me about Iggy like that but he is the one who punched him. He hurt Iggy because I hurt him. Here we were about to start dating and he had skeletons in the closet. Angel was so nice to tell me; I think she knows every one's secrets. She's good at knowing when things should come to light.

After she told me it was about eleven o'clock and I was dead tired. We went to the basement to find everyone in his or her previous positions except with blankets. Angel and I got back onto the couch and we lay there. Soon, I heard her deep breathing against my own. I wanted to sleep too but I needed to wait for everyone to fall asleep so we could investigate the men across the street. I never did get to see them because as soon as I got there Iggy made them notice us. That monkey.

I knew I was only saying it because I was mad but it felt good. It had been almost thirty minutes and the only one still awake was Fang. Iggy was wide-awake and was just staring with his blank, cloudy eyes at the ceiling. Maybe he was asleep but with his eyes open. I shuddered at the thought and waited. Fang tried to whisper me but I shooed him away. I didn't want to talk to him. About thirty or so minutes later, I heard his soft snores but it turned out Gazzy had just started snoring. It was a battle to stay awake and I was losing the will to fight. How about I close my eyes for a second and let Fang fall asleep? I closed my eyes and I slowly drifted out of consciousness.

Iggy

I stared at the ceiling, no one aware of my raging feelings, only aware of my blank and cold stare. Inside I was so angry! Not only was that a total abuse of Angel's powers I think I'm going to go deaf next week because of her. Who knew she could scream like that? I didn't even see her come down. I knew I might've acted a bit rude but Fang was being a bastard. He was being possessive. Max isn't his and, if I have anything to do with it, will never be. I loved her and he couldn't get in the middle of that. I know he went out with her before but Max is different in so many ways now I can't count and I love that. I am so attracted to her it's ridiculous.

Before she was different and seemed to be cracking under the pressure. I would find her mumbling to herself when there wasn't a voice. She was crumbling and while I was concerned she wouldn't let me help her. She was in her own world with Fang, a world which none of us could penetrate. It killed me to see our supposedly fearless leader like that. She was a shell of who she used to be. Her losing her memory refreshed her and she was full of life.

She was optimistic, and lovely. She was energetic and became more of a leader than she ever had been before. I smiled at the thought. She was beautiful. A new problem was approaching. She was slipping back into her old self with every new thing she remembered. Max was getting depressed. I needed to get the world saving going so we could move forward. This was the way to do it.

Finally, Fang was asleep. Once I made sure I started to move more freely. I got up and peered around to see Max on the couch. "Get up, he's asleep, Max."

She didn't move. I looked to see that she was asleep too, and dreaming. I didn't want to wake her up; and figured that I could do it myself. I patted her hair softly and made my way up the stairs, making sure I didn't wake anyone up. I stood in the by the couch in the living room and took a deep breath. I can do this. I looked through the window and saw them walking towards the house. I backed away from the window and took a fighting stance, waiting for them so I could take them down with my awesome bird kid strength.

The door opened and I prepared for a fight. The door opened and two men entered the room. I broke the first one's jaw but he snapped it back into place and I winced at the sight. The second grabbed me from the back and the first one punched me in the stomach. Oww! That hurt really bad. I felt like yelling, but I bit my tongue. I didn't want to wake them up. Maybe my petty actions caused the later events but I feel I'll never know.

My head was spinning from that last hit. I was still a little banged up from fighting with Fang. I shouldn't have done it. My nose was swollen too. I didn't notice he broke it because of the internal screaming that had invaded my head. It was mind numbing. Angel. I was dizzy and was not feeling well. Snap out of it Ig. You can do this. The reality was that I couldn't. They realized this as I fell to the ground. I felt a pair of large hands pick me up. They fastened me to a chair with rope from one of their bags. One man guarded the door and me and the other one went to the bedrooms.

What did they want? I was clueless. I was the one who beat up Sam. I knew they didn't want Max because they went to the bedrooms. Then whom did they want? Carolynne, she was the leader. I tried to get free and a smaller, boyish hand hit me. I looked up to see a blurred Sam. How could he? This was taking it too far. A minute later, and some knocking around later, they emerged with Nick. Nick? What do they want with him? My head was pounding and I tried again to escape. This only got me punched again and I knew I was going to be sore in the morning.

Nick was thrashing around but the enormous man had him. The man showed a thumbs-up and left with him in his arms. I kept moving around, trying to move but I was hurting and felt as if my body was made of rock. "It's over Jeff."

He took out a needle, and hastily shoved it into my arms. I started to lose consciousness and as a last effort, I spit on him. I think he hit me again but my body was numbing and I couldn't feel it. My head fell and that was all I knew that I had been beaten.

Nudge

I got such a good nights sleep. I sat up and yawned. I felt awesome and refreshed but I'm hungry. I went upstairs to do something the last of our groceries. All we had left were the tons of eggs I bought. Maybe Iggy's already cooking; I hadn't seen him in the basement, so he must already be up. The only thing was I didn't smell food cooking. If he wasn't up then where was he? I left the kitchen and peered into the dining room. No one was there. I entered the kitchen and saw a crumpled figure in the chair.

He had that familiar strawberry-blonde hair and clouded blue eyes. Iggy? He was all battered and bruised and most scary of all, he was unconscious. I ran to his side, and screamed. "Iggy!"

He didn't respond. I splashed tap water on his face and his eyes did not open. I was scared so I yelled for Max. I heard her footsteps on the stairs and in the other room I heard faint sobs. She sleepily entered the room followed by Fang. He's like her shadow, I thought. Her eyes widened. "What happened?" She was already at his side, patting his bruised face. "Why isn't he waking up?" Her voice was rising in alarm, with every word.

"I don't know Max. I came for breakfast and he was sitting here unconscious. I tried splashing water on him but he won't move," I exclaimed. How could this have happened? No one heard anything? This is impossible!

Max removed a scrunchy from her wrist and tied her hair up. She had a feeling this was going to be a long day, a feeling that I now shared. She lifted his head, and put her ear to his neck. I suspect, to feel a pulse. I heard a low grunt from Max's shadow. You're jealous of him? He's unconscious or even possibly dead you… Calm down Nudge. You're just upset over this. I better be. I sighed. "Good news, he's alive but it seems barely."

Next, Max untied him from the chair held him prisoner last night. He fell over, not even breaking his grip from unconsciousness. Max caught him and looked over at me. "A little help please?" she grabbed his shoulders and I grabbed his legs. Together we placed him on the couch. Fang had just come back from the bathroom with some water and Tylenol. Together Max and Fang started to treat him. They crushed up the Tylenol and forced him to swallow it down with water. They continued to work on him and I suddenly felt out of place. So, I went to investigate the crying. I started for the girl's room.

I was just about there; I could tell because the volume of the sobs was louder. Raina rushed past me. I whipped around to see why she did that. She was usually nice and would apologize and continue on her way but today she was in a hurry. She moved down the hall fast and ducked into another room. I wanted to see what was wrong and followed her. Inside her room, Avel was like Iggy but he had gotten the least of it. He was out cold and had a few nasty bruises on his arms and maybe more. Raina was hunched over his form, patting his face with cold rags from a small tub of iced water.

It was a horrible sight. He was deathly still. The only movement he made was the slow and shaky breathing from his chest. I almost couldn't bear to watch this but I needed to know. Who did this and what do they want? What was the purpose of breaking into their house? Did they have something of value that they would want? It's all so confusing to me. Every few seconds he would suddenly breathe in. I thought he was going to wake but he didn't. His broad nose was puffy and fine lips were bluing.

"Ray, what happened? Is he okay? This is just like what happened to Iggy downstairs, except he's worse and-" My voice was quiet and scared, not like me at all.

I was interrupted. "The Doctor did this. I recognize it."

"Recognize what?" I blurted it out without thinking.

"The toxins. They gradually leave in the pores but these are symptoms of his medicine."

"What?" I was confused. What medicine? I've never seen anything like this.

"See?" She started pointing things out on his body. She placed a finger to his lips. "They are blue. He isn't cold it's just a mechanism they use to know which medicine they used just by looking at him. They make it color coded." That explains why his lips were blue. I thought he was succumbing to hypothermia. I mentally exhaled and let her continue. Next she picked up his hand. "His body is pale, a side effect. You shouldn't worry it's very minor." She put her cheek on his for about five seconds and lifted it again. Then she put her hand on his forehead. "His body is pretty warm; you could call it a fever. Feel it." She pointed to his cheek. I put my palm onto his skin. It wasn't warm; his skin was a little hot. It didn't burn me but it didn't feel warm at all; it felt cold. I pulled my hand back and put it on my leg, trying to heat it up.

She felt him again and shrugged. Guess she didn't feel it. "So is he going to wake up?" I slightly winced; I was afraid of hearing the one word I didn't want to, no.

"Yes, but it'll take a little while."

I exhaled in relief but, "How long?"

"Maybe ten, twelve hours?"

Don't they have to go to their school? Will they think they aren't coming? I am asking so many questions today; I hope I'll get answers soon. "Don't you have to go to school?"

She nodded. "I can get him awake if I keep putting cold water on him."

"How come?"

"He's been unconscious about six or seven hours so I could cut the time in half by doing this." She smiled at me and continued working. I took this as an opportunity to go. When I was at the door she told me one last thing. "There is one thing that bothers me though."

"What?" What else could be bothering her? We do have two unconscious boys already. Those made me wonder if everyone else is okay. Why would they break in just to beat Ave and Iggy? There had to be a greater purpose to this. If not, they are dumber than we thought. I highly doubt that. I have learned this quickly in my thirteen years of life; the smartest and scariest people in the world are by far, scientists.

"They only use this stuff when they don't have time to fight. They mean business." With this said I turned around and started helping her douse his face. She was going to need all of my help.

Tabitha

I woke to the sound of Car's crying. Why is she crying? I sat up and rubbed my eyes. I groggily walked to her and tripped over Ray's bed. I expected to hear a voice of protest but there was none. Oh, she had already gotten up. I stood still to hear some yelling for Max but I wasn't her and didn't go. What could be wrong with her? It's way to early for this. She was sitting on her bed with pink puffy cheeks and red eyes. Then something hit me, hard.

Car.

Never.

Cried.

She was our strong and fearless leader. This is bad. Something must really be wrong with her. "Car, what's wrong?"

"I'm cursed and destined to be alone!" Her voice was loud and her arms were flailed in the air. They had moved back and forth with every word.

"What are you talking about? You have Nick." She cried harder. I slung my arm around her shoulder and wiped tears away with the other.

"Not anymore!"

What is she talking about? Nick is probably less than twenty feet away. He's probably just getting some breakfast to eat. "What do you mean?"

"I had a vision last night, right when it happened." Her tone grew deathly grave. "I wanted to wake you and Ray up but I couldn't stop it, I couldn't. During that vision I was trapped and there was nothing I could do. I was just laying here while he was taken."

Her eyes fell and silent tears stream down her cheeks. Could her vision possibly be wrong? They have been before. I left her to look for him. I checked in Harsh's room but he wasn't there. Harsh and Derek were still sleeping, loud and full of snoring. I checked his room but all was there was Ray and Nudge leaning over Ave; he was obviously unconscious. Okay, something did happen last night but what? I peered into the basement to see if anything else happened but Gazzy and Angel were sleeping. The others were probably getting breakfast. I checked the kitchen and it was empty.

In the living room Max and Fang were hunched over Iggy, and he was hurt too. His injuries were much worse than Ave's. It looked like he was beat up repeatedly and then left alone. He was unconscious too probably with the same thing Ave's got. I repeatedly scanned the room but Nick was nowhere to be found. I was officially worried. Car's vision was right. Nick was gone. Who had taken him and where did they go?

I raced back into her room. Her tears had subsided but I knew she was still sad. "You were right. He isn't here. What do we do?"

"I'm not sure. I've never tried to look for one of them after they've gone missing. All I get is dead ends."

I'm officially confused. "What? This has happened before?"

I must have made her sad again, because more tears emerged from her eyes. "I know. I'm a boyfriend killer."

"Boyfriend killer? What are you talking about?" If this had happened before, why would she even go out with Nick? Did she want him to get kidnapped? That's not like her at all. Car is our right and fearless leader. She would never do this to us. I don't believe shoe would. Car cares about us and would never do that. I know she wouldn't.

"I'm not sure why it happens, but just about every boyfriend I've had has disappeared. Or even one day, flat out stops talking to me." She took a shallow breath. "I don't know what happened but want to find out. We are going to find him. No teammates left behind, ever."

"So what are we going to do now?" I breathed. This was going to be a new one for us. None of our teammates has ever been taken away. We have been effectively weakened.

"We are going to ask for the flock's help."

"What? How are we going to keep them with us? We don't have extra plane tickets and we don't have hotel money either."

Her mood seemed to lighten. "Of course we can keep them with us, dummy. They can fly there, and we can keep them in our empty clubroom. That reminds me, bring extra blankets."

In our clubroom? That was strictly for us psychics. If this for Nick, then I guess we could accommodate. How are we going to sneak six kids into our clubroom? I have to admit it will look very suspicious. All of us crowding into a small hallway; these teachers are bound to catch us sneaking. We can work that out later. There is another problem. Iggy and Ave are unconscious. What if they don't get up in time? We can't take seemingly dead people on a plane. We'll get arrested for sure. We just have to make sure they wake up before our flight. Right now it is ten a.m. and we need to get to the flight by three fifteen. This can work if we just keep up the cold water then they are bound to get up.

"Okay, let's go tell them."

"You go start," she said. Her face turned a light shade of green. What? She held a hand over her mouth and ran to the bathroom. What? Oh, the lovely side effects of her visions.

Carolynne

"You go start," I said. I could feel the nausea sweep over me and bile rise in my throat. I ran to the bathroom and threw up in the toilet. This was new. I hadn't thrown up since last year. Maybe I was developing a new but useless ability. What's the point of seeing what's happening at the time it's happening? Are the visions trying to tell me what's inevitable? I sure hope not, but I had a feeling that that is exactly what they are trying to tell me. Of course this will raise questions. What else is inevitable exactly? I feel helpless. At least when I discovered new things Nick would be here to help me through it. I wiped my mouth and stood up. I opened the bathroom cabinet behind the mirror. Where the heck is my Tylenol? I need that; they know it. I sighed and splashed cold water on my face. It didn't help at all; I just look paler than before. I think I'll just make some milk. I sprinted to the kitchen, my head beating like a loud drum, took out a half gallon of milk and poured some into my cup. I hurriedly shoved it into the microwave.

When it was done, I yanked it out and drunk it in gulps. Soon in a few seconds my headache lightened and a felt a little better. Remembering Tab and the others I walked into the family room, cup in hand. "Feeling better?"

I nodded. "You tell them yet?" She shook her head. "We were kind of distracted by your running to the kitchen."

"Oh, well I had a vision last night while this happened. I saw Iggy getting beat up by two big guys and Sam. Then they- -" Max interrupted me.

"Sam across the street?"

"Yes, you know him?" I asked. I thought they only knew us.

"Yeah. He's a bad guy. I met when Iggy and I were at Amiele's." They stayed with that nice old lady down the street? She runs a small grocery store near the city that supplies us with fresh café ingredients.

"That little creep! I ought to go straighten him out right now." I saw anger swell in her eyes and I shook my head. This is not your fight, Max. It's mine, mostly. I need to find out what they want with him, and me and end this all. She calmed down to listen to what i had to say.

"No. What I was trying to tell you is, they took Nick."

"Why?"

"I'm not sure," I wasn't sure I wanted to tell them about my breakdown. That was kind of personal business.

"What are you going to do?" Her eyes shone with excitement. I guess she could tell what I was going to say next. She was just waiting for and invitation. I'm starting to like you more and more Maximum Ride of the flock.

With a smile I delivered the news. "That's where you come in, flock. I want you to…" I knew Tab was getting excited too so I let her finish my sentence, I knew she wanted to. "Accompany us to our school!" she blurted. Tab knows me so well.

Fang

I swear her smile could've blinded me. "That's where you come in flock. I want you to…" She glanced over to Tabitha who finished her sentence. "Accompany us to our school."

Coincidentally, I was drinking water at the moment. It must have gone the wrong way because I started choking on it. I heard an "Ew, Fang," from Tabitha and didn't care. Max, you better not agree with this. You better not.

"I'd love to!" Her eyes were sparkling and she looked happier than she had been in a long time. The way the words came out of her mouth was natural and it looked like she had been anticipating this. Had she? A mischievous grin swept her face; she had been waiting for something like this to happen. "No disrespect to Nick but I was waiting for something like this to happen. Iggy was right!"

Iggy? Is that what she'd been talking to him about? That sure explains a lot but why would she talk to him about these things? She used to talk to me about these things all the time. I remember when she told me that she was feeling hopeless. Is this what she meant? She just wanted something exciting to happen? That's probably not it. Max is smarter than that and doesn't go seeking adrenaline; it's not her. There must be something she's plotting behind these excited, warm brown eyes.

By then I had finished choking. Did anyone care? "You're not serious," cough. "Max."

She looked at me like I was dumb. "Of course we are doing it!" Her arm was up in the air and she was pointing at the ceiling like mad. What was she pointing at…God? Sorry that was off topic. I would say she looked like the main character of the S.O.S Brigade (Haruhi Suzimiya). Don't ask me how I know that. You just get bored on the computer sometimes and you go youtubing. The most random things will pop up; believe me.

She was so determined, and it scared me. "Why?" Her smile widened and her pointed hand turned to me. "Because the people who did this are probably connected to Itex that's why, Fang. You want to stop Itex don't you?"

"Of course, but do we have to? What if they're just a whole other evil organization?"

"Angel and Gazzy agree with me, don't you?" Angel and the Gazzy? When did they wake up? "Come on down!" She yelled; her voice filled with newfound confidence. Out of nowhere, Angel and Gazzy appeared.

"Come on Fang; we have to go!" Angel projected her bambi eyes at me, and I cracked under their sweetness. Knowing Max, she probably had this planned out. Darn that Max. Gazzy stood beside her, his face barely holding a smirk. I knew he was waiting to laugh out loud (ha ha lol). What is wrong with me today? I sighed and said, "Okay."

Everyone cheered and I swear I heard Nudge whoop from the other room. The thought of all this made me smile. Max whooped too, obviously have heard Nudge in the other room. "You smiled. I thought I would never see this day come," her voice was wet with cheerful sarcasm.

Max smiled at me but just seeing her smile made me grin even harder. And that, of course, made everyone whoop louder than before.