Cheating Death – Chapter 21

By MyNameIsCAL

I was home alone with Iggy, waiting for Max and Mom to return home with Ella. Today marked a week since the incident at Gazzy's house. The phone was ringing. It was Nudge.

"Don't answer it." Iggy shook his head.

I stood, going to the phone anyway. "I will not watch the two of you fall apart."

Iggy's eyes fell on me. "Alright, give me the phone."

I handed him the phone, clicking the button to pick up the call.

"Hello?" Iggy grumbled.

"Iggy!" I could hear Nudge. "Iggy, please, come home."

Iggy took a long time to respond. "I…I can't."

"I'm really sorry, Ig."

"Are you?" Iggy closed his eyes. "I need time, alright?"

"Iggy…"

"Nudge…just…I'll call you in a week."

"Ig…"

He hung up.

"You were supposed to try and talk to her," I frowned.

He flung the phone across the table and it clattered onto the floor, the batteries flying out. "I'm done listening to you, Fang! I'm not going to let you have control of the few things I'm in control of."

I picked up the phone and the batteries. "Alright, Ig, I'm sorry."

He stood, his shoulder hitting the wall as he left the kitchen. Just as his door slammed, I could hear the garage door opening. I put the batteries back in the phone and went to the door, waiting for Mom and Ella and Max to come in.

"Fang?"

I turned to see Ella, wheelchair stuck as she made too sharp of a turn to get out of the door. It took me a minute to realize she was asking for help, so I hurried to push her out of her room.

"Thanks," she said, sounding embarrassed.

"No problem," I nodded. "Where were you heading?"

"TV room."

I pushed her there, handing her the remote. Max came in a few minutes later, holding a tray of food, Mom following closely behind. She set the tray on Ella's lap. Ella had been sleeping when we ate lunch.

We all took seats, Max settling against me, looking more tired than usual. I put my arm around her and she closed her eyes, head against my chest now.

"I think we need to make an intervention with Iggy and Nudge," she whispered. "Before either of them do something stupid."

"But how?"

"I don't know, we'll think of something."

You're running out of time.

I had to stop myself from answering out loud. What?

I said you're running out of time, Angel repeated. Something's gonna happen and you can't stop it.

What do you mean!

I won't show you because you'll try to fix it, try to save them, but you won't be able to.

WHO?

It's not one of the flock.

I turned my eyes to Mom and Ella.

"Fang?"

I looked down at Max. "I have to talk to you later, not here."

She nodded. "Okay, later then."

We lay in bed now, like most nights, starting off without talking until someone broke the silence.

"What did you have to tell me?" she asked finally.

"Angel told me I wasn't going to be able to save someone," I answered.

"Who?"

"Not one of the flock." I let out a breath. "That means Mom or Ella. She wouldn't tell me anything else."

Max said nothing.

"I almost wish Angel wouldn't have told me anything at all," I admitted. "Max?"

I felt her roll up into a ball next to me, her head against my chest. It only hit me now that I could have just not told Max because what was the point of telling someone that you knew that someone was going to die and you couldn't do anything about it, but then again, I would feel guilty if I didn't tell Max. I put my arms around her, the only response I could think of in Max's silence.

"Do…do you know how?" she whimpered.

I shook my head. "She wouldn't tell me anything. Not even if it was Mom or Ella. And I'm not sure if I really want to know anything else."

"I wouldn't want to know either." Max sniffled. "I…I don't know what I'll do if something else happens to them."

"I don't know either." I stroked her hair. "I'm sorry, Max."

"It's not your fault," she managed to say, shaking a little. "Good…goodnight, Fang."

I pulled her closer to me. "Night, Max."

It was early, but my own nightmares had awoken me again. I escaped outside, outstretching my wings, watching the sun rise. And yet the start of a new day only made things feel more uncertain.

I felt a hand on my back, between my wings. It should have startled me, but I got the feeling that freaking out wouldn't be a good idea.

"Can't sleep?" Max asked as I pulled my wings in slowly.

I shook my head. "Nightmares of my own. Angel hasn't said much to me besides what I told you last night."

Max let out a sigh. "Maybe we should have the flock over for dinner. Just so, you know, Mom and Ella can see everyone one last time."

I took Max's hand, staring off into the distance. "Does that mean we tell them what Angel told me?"

"Well, maybe." Max paused. "It might take some convincing to get Gazzy here though. Even Nudge. We should probably tell them."

"Yeah, we probably should."

"I'll tell them, if you want."

"Please…"

She nodded. "Tonight then?"

"That's probably best."

And we stood there for the next hour, watching the sun go up.

So the question that arises is who is it going to be? Mom or Ella? I'd hate to choose. But you know, Angel could be wrong. Anyway, new chapter will be up next week. Thanks for reading!