Sorry for the wait.
Chapter 21:
Max:
We flew apart, breathing raggedly, eyes wide. Its safe to say that he was feeling the same I was, bewildered and shocked. Did that really just happen?
His wings opened with a snap and he took off through the air towards camp as I ran with all I had. I could hear the struggles and shouts and in seconds, I was in the middle of it. Fang landed a few feet away, diving into the fight.
"Max!" Angel shouted and I was at her side in seconds, driving the Eraser to the ground with one solid kick. They were everywhere, landing every second, the whir of helicopters above whipping my hair around my face.
With one quick sweep of my eyes, I located my Flock. Iggy had a bloody nose, his eye swelling purple and blue. The Gasman and Nudge had about six Erasers on them, coming from every direction.
This was bad, way bad and it shouldn't have happened. I should have been there instead off kissing Fang and other pointless stuff. Angry at myself and the Erasers, I threw my all into combat. A few managed to get in a kick or punch at me, but I dealt out twice as much I got.
I held one Eraser by the ear, drawing back my fist for a solid punch- and hopefully cramming his nose into his brain- when a hot, meaty hand landed on my shoulder, pulling me back and almost knocking me to the ground.
"Pick on someone your own size, Max" Ari growled in my ear, his voice low and gravely. It sent shivers down my spine and made me want to take the longest shower in history.
"I would, but you'd never fit into my jeans. Have you called Jenny yet?" It was hard to breathe with his arm around my throat and I'm not sure he heard me, which is probably for the best because I don't think his self-esteem could take another hit.
His arm tightened and for a second my vision splotched, but- with a sick feeling in my stomach- I bit down, hard, on his hairy arm. Ari howled and loosened his grip giving me room to maneuver. I grabbed his wrist and in one swift motion, flipped him over my head, onto his back.
I kicked him once in the head, grimacing at the sound it made and left him. Fang had really made a dent on the conscious Erasers, nearly half of them moaning on the ground. I guess its all that pent up blatant hostility. For a second, his eyes flashed to mine and I cringed at the blush I felt creeping along my face.
Angel? I thought and the little girls head turned towards me. She ducked and her leg whipped out, knocking a snarling deformity to the ground.
Yes?
On the count of three, I want you run straight into the woods, doesn't matter what direction, just run. After thirty seconds, take off, straight into the air. Got it? Tell the others. We had to get out of there while we had the advantage and without Ari, those goons were hopeless. They only knew how to take orders, not think of some on their own.
I watched as the Flock received my message, via Angel Instant Messaging- AIM. Nods, wide eyes, either way, they all got it and counted in their heads. One… two…
After two, we all turned heel and ran, dashing through the trees, leaving behind confused Erasers who after a second took off after us. One, two, three, four…. Maybe thirty seconds was too long. I should have made it ten. Why thirty anyway?
I could see Iggy on my right and ran over to him, taking his sleeve gently, guiding him. Seven, eight, nine, ten…. Another flaw in my plan- how would I know if one of the kids got caught? My stomach sank but I shook it off. I'd know, somehow I would.
"Come on, Ig" I murmured and I'm sure he would have glared. I was trying to keep pace with him, but my anxiety kept inching me forward. My thoughts flickered to Fang guiltily, wondering if he was okay. Twenty one, twenty two, twenty three….
Glancing behind me, a snarling Eraser tripped over a stray root, sliding face first into the dirt. Serves him right, the creep. Thirty.
At the same time, Iggy and I opened our wings and shot directly into the air, our arms coming up to cover our heads against the branches. Only ten o'clock in the morning and already it was off to a great start. Just a typical day in the life of me.
A few feet over, Nudge hovered in the air, looking down into the trees. The Gasman appeared from all the green, whooping in victory. Fang bulleted up into the sky, an Eraser holding tightly to his ankle. He kept going up and up, disappearing in a cloud and seconds later, the Eraser came howling down. But where was?...
"Max!" Nudge shrieked, pointing down and my heart started pounding. Suddenly, I was zipping through the air and then plummeting down into the forest, where Angel was being crammed into a crate.
"Let her go" I commanded, my voice steely and cold as ice. The Eraser conducted the whole thing turned and sneered in a perfect imitation of Ari.
"Or what?" Oh, he had comebacks like Ari too, lovely. I wondered if they're trained in verbal battle.
I didn't answer, just clamped my hands over the guy whose sweaty paws were wrapped around Angels waist, trying desperately not to get kicked by her flailing legs. He dropped her like fire and fell to his knees, whimpering pathetically.
Like the good girl she is, Angel leapt into the air, vanishing into the sky and freedom. I moved to follow her but a hand anchored me to the ground, pulling me back down. There were only three erasers left- the temporary leader and his two whipped cronies. When he said jump, they asked how high. And he wasn't even Ari, tsk tsk.
One round house kick to the jaw, a solid elbow to groin and all that was left was the Mr. Commander. I had to admit, he was better at fighting than Ari. Ari always let his anger towards me get in the way and that's what got him, but this guy didn't know me, he just had a job to finish.
"Give up, girlie" I swung and he dodged, grabbing me elbow and pinning my arm behind my back in a sharp twist. Tears stung my eyes but I shook them off.
"Girlie? You obviously don't know who I am" I gasped as he bent my arm back even more, threatening to break it. There was just enough room to open my wings and with a powerful gush, they snapped open, sending him flying backward.
"It doesn't matter who you are" he grumbled as he stood, his clawed hands curled into huge fists. He glared at me "Its who you used to be, cause you're practically dead"
"Oh, now I'm really scared. Shaking in my ten dollar boots" I said with a grin and I honestly thought he would charge me, like any other hot-headed eraser, but his hand fumbled at his belt and I froze. My blood ran cold.
"You should be" He growled and pointed the gun at me. I was sure he wouldn't miss, not even if I ran. His gaze was as steady as his hand and a wry grin spread across his face. My gaze flickered to my left as I thought about taking off, but he chuckled. "Uh, uh, uh. No flying for you… no speeding away either. I've been practicing" he winked and I felt nauseous.
Okay, so worst case scenario, he shoots me and I die. Best case scenario, he shoots me and I live but in severe pain. I also probably wouldn't get far with a bullet wound and I know he wouldn't hesitate, so even my best case scenario isn't that good. Or he misses but how could I be that lucky?
The Eraser took a step towards me, slow and steady like a predator, and cocked the gun. The click made it seem that much more real and my heart started to pound like crazy, reverberating in my rib cage.
My life didn't flash before my eyes, no pearly white gate and angels singing- though that may have been nice, a bit corny but still. A soundtrack to death. Instead, all there was a loud, echoing, blood chilling boom!
But the bullet never hit, no searing pain. My eyes opened- I realized they were closed- and I saw the Eraser look at me, stunned, before falling to his knees, then his chest. My eyes wide and breath unsteady, I lifted my eyes slowly and there he was.
Just hidden by shadows, Fang stood, arm raised and gun barrel still smoking.
aw, Fang killed for Max. Cayute. Review if ya want. I'll get the next chapter up tomorrow, really. and i just realized that this chapter was relatively long... oops!