Chapter 33

(Nudge's P.O.V.)

I couldn't believe it! They left me behind! Those jerks! This was so unfair!

Gazzy apparently felt the same way as he smashed a plant into the ground, mashing it into the concrete. Yeah, we were left with Kari's brother, Derrick. He had taken us to a park. A park. I mean, jeez, what are we, 3? Well, Angel's close, but . . .

She looked at me. "I heard that," she pouted, "I'm not a little kid!" I sighed. Mind readers were not fun. Now, by now, I would've been spouting my mouth off about something. But here there was nobody to talk to except for Derrick, and he was off trying to woo some girl that was spilling out of her top. There was nothing to do but sit and fume. There was no way I was going to play babysitter to a grown kid. Angel and Gazzy I can take, but Derrick – Derrick can jump off a cliff with his wings closed.

He came back and sat on the bench. He had a bright red handprint slathered across his cheek. Nice.

"I don't like this," Gazzy said, stomping back, "We need to go help Max and Fang and Iggy and Kari."

Derrick leaned back, squinting into the sun and yawning like it was no big deal he had just been slapped and degraded. "Well guys, sorry, but I'm in charge and I say we wait until Max comes back for us."

I shouted, "Who says you're the boss?! The note said 'NUDGE, work with Derrick and take care of the Flock, not the other way around!"

He looked abashed, "Well . . . I'm older, so you have to do what I say!"

I snickered meanly, trying to get him off my back, "Ha! Your own sister doesn't listen to you and she's younger! Why should we?! We don't even know you! You don't even care about any of us!"

Angel interrupted in her Twilight-Zoney voice, "He cares about Kari. But he doesn't care about any of us. Only Max. He cares about Max. He wants to get her into bed with him. Nudge, what does that mean?"

I blushed in anger and humilation. My face hardened. "It means we're out of here, Angel!" I said as I snapped open my wings and flew into the sky.

(Kari's P.O.V.)

How long had it been? How long had I been in this inferno? I felt weak. Iggy wasn't getting any better. How futile was this try? To save his life? I loved him. But what if he didn't pull through? What if Max and Fang didn't get back in time? What if they did get back in time, but I couldn't go on? What if I failed? I gave a racking cough. I needed to help Iggy. I stood up, catching myself before I fell, and picked up Iggy. He was so heavy. I – I didn't have the strength to get him to somewhere warmer. I knelt down, falling to my knees and screamed still. Please hurry, Max.