Chapter 13

MAX:

The sun blinded me as I got out of the car that was so claustrophobic, but I was glad all the same. I was itching to be out of that car from the start, and now it felt so good. I wanted to spread my wings out, them being held tightly into my back for so long, but I stopped myself in time. I didn't want, or need, to draw attention to myself.

Anne stood in front of me, blocking my view from whatever was ahead of me. She already had sunglasses on, so at least she could see. Grr.

Red-Haired Wonder went behind her, and Sam went behind me. Together we walked around a massive crowd. The crowd was huge. Nothing like I have ever seen before. Not even in New York with the Taylor Twins. This was something that was enormous.

Somehow, even though it looked everything like a rally, or even an assembly, I knew it wasn't so. There was no way this many people came to an assembly like this. The only way they would've come is if they had already known about me.

Which, from glancing at all of their faces, with my raptor vision, I could see that they did. So this didn't help me any. They were expecting some kind of display, but I was most likely not allowed to fly, and even if I were, Sam and RHW would stop me. Not like I cared, really, but two people of my same strength were something I couldn't defeat alone. If only Fang were here, we'd be able to get out of here.

Fang.

` He was going to be pissed once he knew about Sam being the main person in here. He was jealous, as was I with him and RHW (yes, I'll admit it now), but once he sees them together, he is going to be deadly. But with Angel's mindreading abilities, she would've already told Fang and the others that Sam was involved. I wondered if she knew about RHW.

Sam whispered something so low, it was hard for me to make out, and no one else could. "Angel doesn't know about Lissa, and Fang is already mad. He'll try to kill me the first chance he gets, but I hope he doesn't try."

"Why not?" I whispered so only he could hear.

"It'll be the end of him."

I knew I couldn't turn to face him without giving us away, but if I could, I would've worn a deadly face. One you would know not to mess with, because if you did, it would be your undoing.

"Max," he said under his breath, through unmoving lips (he'd be a good tranquilitiest), "I wouldn't have a choice. I'd try not to kill him, but if he pushes his luck, as I know he will, I'll kill him. I don't want to, Max, but this is more important. I'm sorry, but I have to put you above him."

I tried to keep my eyes ahead, trying to not look at him, but I did manage to say, "I'll stop him. But I am warning you, if you kill him, I'll kill you, and anyone else who tries to get in my way."

"You can try, but it's not something that can happen."

"What do you mean?"

He sighed so low that I wasn't sure if I had imagined it. "When I need something to happen, I can make it happen. It's one of my gifts. So I am making this, which needs to happen, happen. And if something tries to mess with it, then they are pushed away or eliminated. I know you like Fang, and I don't want to come in the way of that, but if don't get him to stay away from me, or this situation, it will be with consequences for him."

I glared at the back of Anne's red shirt.

"I know you don't want this to happen, but it will be over before you know it. Everyone is taking this out of proportion."

"How long?"

"The longer people try to interfere, the longer it's going to take."

Okay, so I wasn't going to get an answer. It reminded me of my voice, which I haven't heard from in a while now. I wondered where it was, or why it wasn't telling me some fortune cookie crap.

"What am I doing here?"

"We'll debrief you in a sec. Just let us get up there first."

I could see we were nearing the front. We stayed out of the crowd, going the long way up there. I didn't know why that was. Didn't people who were going to talk to crowds parked behind the stage and not with the crowds' cars?

"Usually," Sam said quietly. "But this time is different."

"Why is that?" I asked sarcastically, but my hushed voice made it sound weak.

"You'll see."

I vented in silence. We were close now. Just one more minute and we'd be there. And then, I wondered, why was it taking the others so long to get here? Even with Angel not hearing my thoughts because Sam was blocking them…she should've been here right about now. My baby knows Sam, and I think she might have gotten the location out of him, whether he knows it or not.

We got to the stage and we went behind it where there were people that were part of this. They came up to us and Anne got in front. She started talking to the people, and I didn't bother to listen it; there was no point in it.

She then sighed and turned back to the three of us. "Lissa, get the crowd to calm down and tell them she will be there in a minute. Sam, you tell her what she has to do. Get moving!"

RHW went off and up onto the Stage, her long red hair bouncing as she ran. She was fast, but not as fast as I was.

Sam took my arm and pulled me closer to the stage. He was about to say something, but then he was falling down, his eyes looking strait up.

I stared down at him in silence, and then I realized what had happened: someone had punched him. How could someone have snuck up on Sam?

I looked to see who it was, and Fang grasped my arm and started to take off. I opened my wings and took off with him. He looked pissed, just as I had suspected. I knew how mad he would be, and yet, I wished that we could somehow be safe, me and my flock, so we wouldn't be on the run. Now we have something else to add to the pile of running away from. Nice.

The crowd was murmuring now, and I could see they noticed the two of us. Then there was cheering.

Well, darn; now our cover is blown. It will only take them a little time to react now.

I saw my flock as we got higher and out of view. They all raced to meet me. I threw my arms around Gazzy and Nudge, hugging them fiercely. I hugged Iggy and said, "Thanks. I knew you wouldn't let me down."

He smiled slightly, but then he looked like something was troubling him. I was about to ask what when Angel came into my arms. I hugged her close to me, her wings were folded in. I stroked her hair gently.

Then I snapped back into perspective.

"We need to go: now," I said as I let go of Angel and she took flight. "We don't have much time before they come for us. Let's go."

"Max," Angel said. "I have to tell you something."

"Let's get moving and you can tell me on the way."

"No, Max. You need to hear it now."

"Angel," I groaned. "Fine. What is it?"

"You can't leave Sam."

I stared at her, wide-eyed. What was she talking about?

"Sam loves you, Max…and you love him, too."

"Angel, please, we have to go!"

"If you go, you'll be making a big mistake, and hurt him."

"Guys, let's move," I said as I scooped Angel up and Fang got Gazzy.

We high-tailed out of there, but not before it was too late.