Author's note: I would like to begin this chapter by responding to a review. I would have responded to the reviewer personally but it was anonymous, so here we go. You (whoever you are) said, "But you know they use a different kind of thread for stitches? It's kinda plasticky. I can't remember much, the last time I had them I was 4-6." Though I have never had stitches myself, I do know that they do that in hospitals. Key word "hospitals." The thing is, if you're on some random island in the Caribbean and you can't get to a hospital and/or don't want to go to one, you're going to close up that wound using any means possible if you want to live. If you want to know, I got the idea for that from the TV show Lost in which a character has another character assist him after the plane crash by sewing up his wound using a needle and thread from a sewing kit.
To everyone else: I am SO sorry it has been so long since I updated.
Chapter 11
I woke up feeling like someone had jabbed about a million needles into the stub of my left ring finger. I was lying on something soft but hard at the same time - sand? It felt like someone was moving my hand - either that or it was moving independently of my brain - and I raised my head to see Fang wrapping my fingers in a clean bandage. And that needle feeling? Someone had jabbed a needle into my hand a bunch of times, and the thread that it had been trailing was still in there.
Fang noticed that I was awake and said, "Just relax, Max. At a hospital they'd have given you blood but I can't do that."
I noticed that Iggy was sitting silently nearby and felt a pang of guilt before I wearily put my head back down. Jeez, I hated being so weak. And I had been doing it so much recently. It seemed like I'd spent the past two days either crying, being unconscious, being carried by Fang, or a combination. And frankly, it sucked. In case you haven't noticed, I'm more the kick-those-Erasers'-sorry-wolfy-asses-into-the-next-millenium than oh-poor-me-someone-please-come-rescue-me-'cause-I-have-a-booboo. Yeah, that pretty much sums it up. If I'd been the second one, there's no way I would ever have lived long enough to be taken out of the School in the first place, because there ain't no one in there who's gonna help you up when you fall down. All we had there was each other, the flock, and that's pretty much all we have now. Plus Total, of course. But even though the flock does help me when I'm down and out, I hate making them do it.
I looked up at the sky, trying to ignore the intense pain in my hand and failing so miserably that I could almost swear it backfired and hurt more. The sun was directly overhead more or less, but even though the sky had been clear when the flock rescued us, there were now several dark clouds. Great. Just what we need. Rain on a beach. In case you didn't know, after rain finishes soaking sand it collects in huge puddles all over the place. And stepping in those things, besides being wet, is like stepping in quicksand. Not exactly fun. Plus, it's kind of hard to fly when all your feathers are wet, you know? Oh…I guess you probably don't. Whatever. You can imagine well enough.
Fang finished wrapping my hand in the bandage and stood up. "Rain," he said, nodding up at the sky.
"You should get the others," I suggested, trying and failing to sit up slightly. To tell you the truth, having someone tower over you while you're stuck lying on the ground isn't very pleasant.
"Yeah," he said distractedly, and I noticed him glance from me to Iggy.
Oh God, Fang, please don't tell me you think…"They'll be worried. Please get them," I said.
"Yeah, okay." This time he actually unfurled his dark wings and took off with a running start. I was left alone with Iggy for the moment, the world quiet except for the crash of waves a few yards away. I couldn't stand it.
"Sorry," I said quietly, turning my head to face Iggy.
He snorted in disbelief. "I'm sure."
"Ig…I'd do anything right now to be able to tell you something that would make you happy. But…I just…I don't feel that way about you, okay?" I said eloquently.
"Didn't seem like that when you kissed me," he said sullenly. He was idly drawing patterns in the sand with his finger.
I wanted to snap that he had kissed me, but thought better of it when I remembered that I had been about to kiss him back when Fang had showed up. Was it possible to feel more terrible than I did at the moment? More guilty? Maybe. But not by much. "I-I guess I was…caught up in the moment. I'm so sorry…please, Iggy, be happy again and go blow stuff up like you used to. Heck, pick some locks. I need you to be your normal self," I said awkwardly, realizing it was true.
He scoffed and almost smiled, but not in a happy way. "Oh yeah, that's right. I'm jus the blind guy who likes to blow things up. Happy-go-lucky good-old-fun-time Iggy. Leave everything else to Fang."
I didn't know what to say but was spared answering by the rush of wings overhead. The rest of the flock landed one by one around us.
"Oh my gosh, Max, did that hurt?" Nudge asked, running over to look at my hand. "I mean, I know it already hurt but did the needle make it hurt more? I hope I never have to get stitches."
"Oh, it was fine," I said, trying to smile. "I was asleep."
"Good," said Angel in that sweet little six-year-old way she has, "I don't like it when you hurt." Total barked in agreement and was about to lick me when I sent him a death glare.
Thunder rumbled in the distance and I noticed that the sky was even darker than it had been a couple of minutes ago.
"It's gonna rain soon," the Gasman noted, as if we couldn't all tell already. "Can we find a cave or something?"
Fang had been silent up until then, no trace of his thoughts showing on his face. "There's a big arch of rock a little bit that way. Let's go." The flock nodded and jumped up, hovering in there air. Without looking at them, Fang said, "No, we're walking." He got down on one knee and carefully slid his strong arms under my body, standing up with an effort.
"What? Why?" I asked. Notice that I didn't bother to pick a fight about walking on my own. I knew there was no way I could do it, even though I hated that fact.
"Because you, oh injured one, weight more than a ton of bricks. I can't take off with this load. It's not far," he said, with a hint of humor in his voice. The rest of the flock landed again and we (minus me, of course) started walking, with Fang leading the way.
Much as I despised looking weak, I had to admit that the feeling of leaning my head against Fang's lean, muscular chest while he carried me was wonderful. Feeling his warmth, listening to his steady but fast heartbeat…Snap out of it, Max. I noticed that Iggy, who was walking with one hand lightly brushing Gazzy's arm to stay on track, was focusing all of his attention (well, most of it I guess) on Fang and me. Don't ask me how I could tell that since he, as always, wasn't actually looking at us, but I could. I felt so bad for him. What if I had had to see Fang carrying the Red-Haired Wonder like this, with her all cuddled up to him? It wouldn't be quite the same situation, but somehow I don't see puny little Reddy carrying Fang, you know?
We arrived at the arch Fang had talked about, a big rock formation sort of up on a little hill, looking totally out of place surrounded by sand and various forms of tropical plant life. The ground under it was made of the same grey stone, but had a lot of sand and stuff on it.
As Fang was setting me down and Nudge was putting a folded-up windbreaker under my head, it suddenly started pouring. And I mean suddenly and also pouring. One moment it was dreary but not even sprinkling, and the next it was as if a dam had very suddenly been taken away and the river of the sky was coming down all at once. Poetic, eh? Not really. Just wet. Because you see, rain pretty much never just goes straight down. It was driving diagonally into the arch, leaving absolutely nothing dry. We huddled together, or actually the flock huddled around me. Lightning cut through the sky every so often on either side of the arch, followed by thunder so loud that everything shook. Everyone was silent and miserable, hoping that this thing was going to pass quickly.
Without warning, the arch suddenly shuddered violently, even though there was no thunder at the moment. Everything around us was lit up with a light so pure white that it seemed unreal, and then I felt a piece of rock hit my good hand. My eyes widened as I saw more chunks falling. Angel was screaming something. At least one other person was moaning, and Total was whining like a puppy.
"Fang! We have to get out of here!" I yelled above the noise. No answer. Adrenaline shot through my veins and I was able to sit up. Though the light was gone now, I could see him lying face down on the ground, blood trickling from the back of his head. A large chunk of rock was near him. They were still falling, and suddenly Angel's screams were cut off. I muffled a yell as something very hard and heavy landed on my right leg, pinning me to the ground. Then I felt another rock collide with my head and saw stars before collapsing into darkness.
