Chapter 25
Fang shut down his laptop and stared silently out into the dark night. He had flown the short distance across the bay and into Delaware and chose an unpopulated beach to touch down for the night. He had a strong desire to update his blog after the episode with Max. There were still tons of hits to his site, even more than when he was rallying kids from all over the world to help stop Itex. He wondered if he would need their help again.
Itex.
What were they up to? Why were they suddenly targeting the flock? Were they rebuilding like Max thought? Would they try to execute their By-Half plan again? What kind of surprises were they hiding up their sleeves?
Would they try to take them back to the School?
Fang shuddered – the sights and smells all came rushing back. White coats, cages, half-dead experiments,… Erasers… Ari…
He forced the thoughts out of his mind as he leaned against his pack.
His thoughts shifted to the flock. He wondered if they were safe. No. He knew they were. Max was there.
Max.
Why did she have to be so hard-headed? He pictured her – stubborn and confused. He saw her – hands on her hips – flying off the handle.
Brushing Nudge's hair, consoling Gazzy in her arms.
Her face ghostlike upon waking from her dream.
He relived holding her hand at the beach – how that had flustered her.
Her tender lips beneath his.
He quickly remembered their goodbye – the tears in her eyes.
What did she want from him? Why did she keep pushing him away?
He rolled on his side, trying to settle in.
He thought about what he said to her.
I can't keep doing this.
He knew he couldn't, despite how he felt about her. It was too hard. Maybe, just maybe she would come around.
But it would have to be her move.