Hi guys! It really has been forever, hasn't it? *Buries face in hands in shame* I've been really busy with school to be honest, but in honor of me A) taking my most recent science exam and not dying and B) finishing my Chinese project, you all get a chapter.

Hope this isn't crappy. I'm not the best with action scenes... :/

Disclaimer: IDNOMR

Ch. 21:

Max POV

"Nudge! Ange!" I cried out happily.

"Max!" They both squealed, rushing forward to untie my bound body parts. I stood up quickly and abruptly; not even bothering to acknowledge the dizzy wave that took over me when I had stood.

"Where's Fang?" I asked.

"He's in there," Nudge nodded her head towards the door where I had first entered this room. "With Dylan." Nudge finished grimly.

I didn't take any time rushing toward the door and pushing it open with more force than I thought possible.

When I opened the door, the sight that hit me wasn't what I had expected.

Fang POV

I burst the door to the apartment open without a second thought. I scanned the room until my eyes landed on the blond in the middle of it, seemingly reading a book like he had no other cares in the world. With the slam of the door, he glanced up at the Flock and I.

"Can I help you?" He asked, uncharacteristically welcoming.

"Damn yes, you can help us." Iggy growled. "Where the hell is Max, you bastard?" I held my arm out, successfully blocking Iggy from Dylan. I still had no idea if Dylan was the Angel of Death or not. He could be just another human that the Angel was using in his quest to get Max away from me.

"Max?" He drawled out slowly. "Now, why would you think she was here?"

I looked Dylan right in the eye. "We have our sources." I said, earning an eyebrow quirk from Dylan. "Let's just say… A little birdie told us." I coolly said, trying desperately to play off my unease.

"Okay, then." He said. "She's in there." He motioned to a red door. Now, this is surprisingly helpful.

"Thanks." I told him, though suspicious rang through my voice. "You wouldn't happen to know anything about Angels, would you?" I asked, tilting my head to the side, sizing up my adversary.

"Angels?" Dylan laughed cockily. "What a preposterous idea. What do you think these "angels" could do?"

"I don't know." I pretended to ponder, playing along with his little game. "They could… teleport, maybe. Or they'd have super strength."

"Teleport?" Dylan asked. "You mean like this?" With a flash, Dylan was gone, a puff of black smoke left in his wake.

"Well?" The same voice rang out from right behind me. Taking my chance, I swung my fist backward toward the voice. My fist connected with a seemingly unsuspecting opponent.

"Nudge, Angel!" I yelled to the two girls. "Go get Max." I said, gesturing to the red door.

"Now, now, Fang. I think that punch was a little hasty." I whipped around to see an already risen, but not unhurt, Dylan, who currently had a trail of blood running from his split lip.

"Blood." I said curiously. "I thought you were invincible. And immortal."

Dylan's laugh rang throughout the room again, though this time it seemed much more twisted. "That's only a rumor. I'm only a year older than you. I'm sure we would've been friends in high school if we had been born normal."

"Somehow, I doubt that." I said, narrowing my eyes.

Out of nowhere, a pale blob sprung at Dylan, swinging like a deranged animal. "You bastard!" The blob, which I now recognized as Iggy, growled, successfully knocking over Dylan. But in one flash of smoke, Dylan was the one standing over Iggy, and with one small punch, I could tell Iggy was out cold.

With much concentration, I closed my eyes on the point behind Dylan, and once I opened my eyes, I was there. Dylan stood across the room with a bemused expression.

"Really, Fang. I thought you would be better at orbing than that. This is how you orb." In the same flash I had seen him use on Iggy, he was gone. I tried to turn and survey the room for Dylan, but I felt a hard blow on the back of my head. The force knocked me to my hands and knees, but I tried to pull myself up.

Do it for Max, I told myself. "Do it for Max." I growled under my breath, the adrenaline of motivation working it's way through my veins.

"That's sweet." Dylan said harshly, referring to my comment.

"Your tone says otherwise." I managed to cough out.

His eyes flashed in anger, the sea blue pits turning noticeably darker. "You should have just left her alone." He hissed, taking a stride towards me. "You shouldn't have taken what wasn't yours." The black smoke appeared once more and he was on me, holding me to the wall in fury. I could feel the watchful stares of Ella and Gazzy watching what was going down.

I laughed shakily, ignoring the fact I was the one currently being forced up against a wall. "What was she, then? Yours?" I asked, trying to get on the last nerve of Dylan. If I knew one thing, it was that he had a temper.

"You smug freak. She is mine." He glared, trembling with fury, as he raised a fist to punch me once more.

Taking advantage of Dylan's angered state, I promptly spat in his face. I wasn't at all surprised to see some red mixed in with my spit as it connected with his face.

Dylan dropped me, hands rushing to his face in the effect I had been hoping for. While he was still obscuring his own vision, I sprung up. I wasted no time grabbing Dylan's shirt and ramming him against the wall.

I decked him repeatedly, leaving him in a dizzied state, but I knew it wasn't good enough, he could still orb away. I had to get him angry. Angry enough for him not to be able to concentrate.

"So, Max is yours, huh?" I asked conversationally.

The dizzied Dylan managed a small, "Yes."

"Hate to break it to you, man, but I'm the one she's in love with." Dylan's eyes once again darkened, my statement taking the toll I had hoped for.

"Did I ever tell you that she hates you? Yep, she's told everyone about it." I added, fueling the fire that was Dylan. I knew he couldn't orb anymore, but he could fight, so while I still had the advantage, I began to punch the bastard. After I have no idea how long, he crumpled to the floor into a heap.

"Wow." A familiar voice rang out. I turned my head toward the voice. Max stood there, next to Nudge and Angel, leaning against the red door.

"Max." I said, rushing over to her.

"Hi." She said simply before wrapping her arms around me tightly. I returned the hug smoothly.

"I had no idea you were such a hard ass." She muttered, "Beating Dylan like that."

"He deserved it." I told her honestly.

"I know." She whispered, raising herself up higher and kissing me lightly.

"We're all safe." A disbelieving voice said. I looked around at Ella, who was standing next to the Flock. We all just stood like that for a while, staring at one another. Somehow, I'm still unsure quite how; we all got into a semi-awkward, but surprisingly comforting group hug.

"Well, isn't this touching?" The sarcastic comment breaking out tight circle. We all found Dylan standing in front of us, beaten and bruised, but standing. And we were all pretty shocked at what he was holding.

Max POV

My eyes grew wide at Dylan, who I had seen only moments before being beaten senseless by Fang. And he was holding a gun.

The shotgun was smooth, silver, and deadly. He held it threateningly, cockily. Just like Dylan would.

"Put the gun down." I growled at him, not bothering with pleasantries.

"Now, why would I do that?"

"You don't want to hurt anyone." I said, trying to reason with this psychopathic Angel.

His sour laugh sounded in my ears. It was nothing like what I heard when I had first gotten to know him. Back then, his laugh was soft and sweet, not as bitter as it was now.

"Max, I hurt people for a living. It's what I do. It's been in my family for generations. I wouldn't even have been in this situation if you had just died when I put you on that damned list. But no. You had to go make another angel fall in love with you, of course."

For some unknown reason, I felt my lips curving upward. "Maybe it's fate."

"Maybe it's wrong. You should've just died." He glared at me directly. "But now, since you didn't, I'm going to wrong the person who wronged me." The gun he was pointing at me shifted to the left, and I turned to view who exactly he was aiming at. The shock went through me as I stared at the gun, now pointed at Fang.

I heard the loud click! Of the gun being loaded, and Fang and everyone else just stood there like statues, knowing there was nothing we could do. Every memory of Fang rushed back to me. The man in the diner, the guy I had fun with at the carnival, the guy that had listened to me complain about Maya as we laid next to each other in sleeping bags.

Dylan pulled the trigger and the bullet went flying faster than I would've thought.

Then, without a second thought, I dove in front of Fang.

How's that for a cliffy? This chapter is extra long because I've been gone for so long. Again, sorry about that!

-cutiepie5514