"How long was I gone?" I asked.

"About four days," Fang answered, looking straight ahead.

I was surprised at this. I knew that I had had no idea how much time had passed, but when I said 'days', I was sort of exaggerating to myself. "Really? It only felt like a few hours."

"We probably could have found you earlier, but we didn't know where to start, because…" Angel trailed off, giving Nudge the opportunity to continue.

"…Because when we were trying to escape, you shouted. So we all turned around to see why you did, and as you kept running down the stairs, you just…vanished. Like, one second you were there, and then you just weren't. And the doctors disappeared, too."

There was a short silence.

"Okay, then. That's a bit screwy." I said flippantly. I wanted to seem calm, so that the flock wouldn't worry.

"Agreed." Total said.

We took off, and had been flying for a while before Nudge announced she was hungry.

I looked down. We were very conveniently hovering right above a restaurant.

"Okay, guys, we can eat here," I said.

We landed at the door and had just sat down when my stomach turned uncomfortably. It was the same sick feeling I had gotten back at Mom's house, right before I had saw the snake.

I stood up. "I-I'll be right back."

Walking shakily in the direction of the bathroom, I silently prayed not to get sick. I didn't need that right now.

I had just pushed open a stall when I heard a voice.

"Max?"

My heart stopped. Just for a second. I didn't die or anything, but there was definite heart stoppage going on. I didn't recognize the voice, so how did they know me? Heck, how did they even know I was in here?

I pressed myself against the farthest wall from the door, but it made no difference. I watched in horror as the lock slid open—with no one moving it.

A woman came in, and I assure you, I did not know her.

I realized I was trapped in the stall; the only way I could get out is by walking right past the woman. My eyes darted to the floor. Maybe I could roll underneath the stall before she could even notice what I had done.

"Max, you have to listen--,"

"I don't know you," I said, steeling my voice, "and it's going to stay that way. Leave me alone."

"I don't have time to explain, but listen. You must get out of here."

I wasn't really listening to her; I was trying to find a way out. Maybe I could just barrel right through her, maybe I could hoist myself up on the stall walls to get leverage to kick, maybe--

She anxiously checked her watch before continuing, "In exactly three minutes, the restaurant's power will go out. You and your flock—yes, I know about your flock, don't give me that look—need to be out of here, well out of here, before then."

The urgency in her voice made me consider that maybe she was dead serious, that this wasn't a trap, that I could trust her…

But that didn't mean I had lost sight of my natural instincts. Immediately I was skeptical. Narrowing my eyes, I asked, "How do you know--?"

"Now, Max!" She interjected sharply.

I nodded hastily and bolted out of the bathroom.

Fang, upon seeing my face, stood up.

"We need to leave, now." I said hurriedly.

"What's going--," Iggy started.

"I can't explain right now, because we really have to go!" I interrupted.

The flock all rushed around in a panic. I glanced at the clock. We had less than two minutes now.

"Go, go, go!" I cried. One minute.

We were just running to the door when we were plunged in darkness. The other people in the restaurant gasped and screamed in surprise and fear.

"What? No! We still had fifty more seconds!" I shrieked, as if the electricity would notice this mistake and come back on.

"Max, what is your problem?" Fang asked from beside me.

"The woman said…no, that's not possible…we still had time…" I babbled breathlessly.

"Calm down, everything's fine." Fang said calmly. "You said you saw a woman?"

"Yeah, and she told me we had three minutes to…" I broke off suddenly.

We could all see perfectly well in the dark, and now, thanks to night vision goggles, so could five men dressed in black suits that had just entered the restaurant.


A/N: Just wanted to say, don't worry, guys. You're all reviewing and saying how you're confused and don't know what's happening to Max…trust me, ALL WILL BE REVEALED. ;) I've been doing jot notes and planning out this story since chapter 45 of 'The Sky Is Falling', so I'm not just going about willy-nilly and putting whatever I want in this story.

BTW, I'm not moved into my house yet, I just begged my mom to drive me to the new house 'cause we only have wireless here and not at my old house. Our first day moved in is Wednesday, so I'll try to update then. Sorry about the wait, guys! Please vote the poll! And please, please, please, please, REVIEW!

Save the alpacas! ;)