[A/N] There's a lot of talking in this. :\ This chapter's for the dreamteam! P:

Disclaimer: Don't own it, yadda yadda.

Claimer: Own it, yadda yadda.

[10.2] Regret; Part Two

A monster. A monster.

That's what his dad thought of him. A monster. A cretin. A freak.

It broke his heart. And now, his heart would be broken again. But he would be the one to break it. Not that Max wasn't a part of it.

"Listen, Max," Will said, as soon as we sat on the pier. "About me. And you."

Me? You? Eep! My girly side was taking over.

"I'm… not who you think I am. I mean," He sighed. "I'm not who you think I was. Am. Were. Whatever." He ran a hand through his light-brown hair, as breathed in and out a few times.

Like he was about to tell me something shocking.

I wasn't ready to hear this. I could just feel it.

"I'm… part of Itex." he said.

I gasped, and scrabbled backwards. "I'm really, really, really, sorry Max."

Tears shone in his eyes. Normally, this would've made me think he was all deep and sensitive and whatnot, but not today. I was trying to flee for my life.

The operative word in that sentence being trying.

No sooner than I had jumped up, my back hit something hard, and fluffy arms wrapped around me. Will had disappeared. There was no one.

Except erasers. And Ari. [A/N: Cliché! D:]

Fang stepped into Itex's domain, and a gush of cool air enveloped him. He went to room 503, the red wing. He stepped around the many scientists, totally glued to their work (although one was playing poker online, and was losing miserably,) until he found Runyon.

"Nine's finally convinced Three to go out with him," he said. There was the urge to scream, because Will going out with Max just didn't seem… right. That was why he to referred to the Subjects by their numbers, as it felt better to recognize them as "its" rather than beings.

And it always felt better not to be reminded of… them.

His eyes flared, but in sadness. They toned down from a rich crimson to a darker, more subtle mahogany. "That's just wonderful," Runyon said, as Fang avoided thinking about them, "That Nine managed to get Three. I heard she was… unattainable?" An invisible sneer was on Runyon's face. Fang's temper simmered.

Runyon knew that Fang's eyes stayed crimson as long as the monster was dominant. He was supposed to stay that way. After all, he was designed like that.

"Team Four? Send out the dogs. I think it's time for our two lovebirds to have a little… excitement." [A/N: There's an explanation of these paragraphs at the ending A/N. xD]

My breathing was more erratic, more wild. I hadn't seen an Eraser in years, much less fought any.

I was so out of practice. "Wha… what do you want from me?" Will, I thought I knew you better than this.

"Listen, Max. I want to join your side." Ari didn't have his typical gruff, "I'm gonna kill you, and it doesn't matter why-the-crap I am" tone. "I heard that Daddy's gonna do something really bad. I don't want that to happen, Max. I'm scared."

He released me, and morphed back into his ten-year-old state. [A/N: Three years have passed. I think that's how old he should be now. o3o] And he actually cried.

"Aw, you poor guy. Why the hell should I trust you?"

"Because if I was lying, you'd probably be en route to Itex, unconscious, and in a cage right now." Good point.

"Okay. Let's say I do let you join. What's the catch? And what 'bad thing' is Jeb going to do?"

Ari hiccupped, and hugged his knees to him. He spoke in a whisper. "No catch. Just let me and a few other Erasers join, and nothing happens. I swear. We'll still have to be at Itex though, but we won't say a thing. And for that bad thing… well, all I can say is that half the world's gonna die, Max. Itex is Eugenics to the extreme." He jumped up, and unfurled his wings. "Bye, Max. Will's gonna take you home now."

No duh he's gonna take me home. But he never mentioned how.

The next thing she knew, Will had scooped her up in his arms and they were… flying.

Will told her about his past, and his connection with Itex. [A/N: Too lazy to type it up. Imagine it as you wish. :D] He poured his heart out about the "disappearance" of his mother, and his encounter with Erasers. The only thing he didn't tell her was about how Runyon was his father, though.

It would've been absolutely shocking.

Of course, the fact that he was part owl, had wings, was originally working for Itex, and Ari wanted to join "their side" wasn't that amazing. Duh.

[A/N]

;3;

Don't hurt me. I CAN'T ACTUALLY TELL YOU WHY HE'S JOINING, OKAY? D: All I can say is that something big is going to happen at the end.

So um. The dogs being Ari and his crew and wolfy bad boys. :D They were sent out to intimidate Max and whatnot, (or fight her, go to your own conclusions), but no one at Itex actually knew Ari wants to join Max's side, which is why Ari never goes all killing mode on her. :D The only people who know Ari wants to be good is Ari's crew, lmao. :D

AND. Since Will's part owl, he has like, amazing hearing and sight. Like, twice that of our favorite hybrids' hearing and sight. 'Kay?

And when Runyon talks about the dogs, he means to send out the erasers, if you didn't get it. owo

And if you want to know, I'm actually almost finished with all the chapters. :D I just need a suggestion as to how often I'll post. (I was orginally thinking once a week, but there's like... ten-ish more chapters, (but they're all broken up, so it's a lot), and I have another story I'm eager to release, but am not posting until I'm done with Neon Lights. :| Suggestions are welcome! :D

Reviews would make me happy. :D Thanks for all the ones so far! :D

iBanana