Notes: READ THE CHAPTER TITLE! And r&r. and you might want to pull out the tissues, again.

Chapter 38: Two Months Later

Max's POV

Yea, it's true, two months have past. We're still in Antarctica and the whole Daniel-helps-us-out thing is totally working.

Unfortunately, Mia died about a week after Daniel came for the first time. We buried her outside the cave and we visit the grave on a daily basis. Abbey still cries every now and then, but we're mainly okay. Total is a total wreck, though. The world still hasn't ended and we're getting bored down here.

About 3 weeks ago, we reached our boredom limit and started a game of truth or dare. We play every night now. It's really fun.

I was outside, getting more food from Daniel.

"Here, Max. How's Nudge? Is that nasty cold gone?" He said handing me a box of freeze dried food and canned goods. I nodded. Yea, it finally happened, one of us had gotten sick. Nudge had gotten a bad cold about 2 weeks ago and she had to get flu medicine from Daniel. She was feeling much better now.

"Yea, thanks. Do you want to come in? The fire's going and I think Iggy is about to make dinner." I said taking another box out of his arms.

"No, I can't tonight. We're doing some new experiments. Actually, I should have left already." He said as he walked back across the ice. I put the boxes on to a pulley system we had rigged up and flew to the ledge. Angel was pulling the rope that brought the boxes up. I walked to the back of the cave where Nudge was laying.

"Hey, sweetie. How are you feeling? Daniel sends his best." She nodded and stood up. It was surprising how much a little cold can take out of you. She still walked weakly, but other than that and a slight cough, she was better.

"Here, it's chicken noodle." Iggy said, handing Nudge a heated up can of soup.

"Again? I've been living on soup for the last 2 weeks. Can't I have, like, ravioli tonight?" She asked and when I shook my head she gulped down the soup anyway. We all took cans of soup and sat around the fire, eating and talking.

"Today, I got to talk to a few fish. Angel lent me her power, again. I'm getting really good at imitating powers. I got the body temperature thing, like, permanently." Abbey said. For some reason, she was the only one without the ability to adjust your body temperature. We had also all slowly gotten our powers. Fang's new favorite thing to do was turn invisible and sneak up on Daniel when he was coming. It was actually pretty funny. Charity had gotten the gift of healing, she had miraculously healed Rayne's voice, but as hard as she tried, she couldn't help Iggy's eyesight. I think it had something to do waith Iggy not being abke to see for almost 10 years. Rayne only hadn't had a voice for a year or so.

Later that night, we all settled down for our daily dose of truth or dare.

"Who wants to go first?" Charity asked.

"I'll go." Rayne said. Now that he had a voice, we could barely get him to shut up, "Okay, Abbey, truth or dare?" He said turning to his original flock mate.

"Truth." Abbey wanted to admit one of her secrets to the flock? She was crazy.

"Okay, have you ever wanted to expose the flock, including us?" Rayne asked. Abbey shook her head.

"Nope, that's like mutiny," I was proud of how easily she blended with the flock, "Max, truth or dare?" She asked me. I was afraid of both.

"Dare." I chomped on my finger nail. She thought hard for a few minutes.

"I dare you to…give Fang a French kiss." She said with a twisted smile on her face. Where the 2nd youngest member of the flock learned these things, I'd never know. I rolled my eyes, as if I hadn't already. I got up anyway, and for extra effect, I plopped right onto his lap. He saw him smile and then we were kissing. I didn't want the younger kids to learn too much in one night, so I kept it short.

"That all you got, kid? Iggy-" I was cut off short by loud obnoxious noises outside and thought that maybe Daniel had decided to betray us. But walking outside, I saw the entire sky was black, too. Normally you could see millions upon billions of stars, but tonight, not 1 was visible. The moon/stars had gone out.

Then, Daniel was running towards the cave. We all flew down to meet him.

"What's wrong?" Fang asked, making Daniel stop his running.

"There's been a nuclear war. People here have approximately 30 minutes to live." Daniel yelled. We all stared at him for a few seconds. Then it hit me, he only had 30 minutes to live. He didn't even have a family. A mom, but no wife or kids.

"Daniel, what are you going to do?" I asked walking towards him. He held out his hand.

"Here, this is the key to get into our facility. Use it, there's food and stuff there. In 30 minutes, you can move in. Stay safe." He said handing me a small silver key. I took it graciously and slipped it into my pocket. I hugged him and he returned the gesture. Then he hugged each member of the flock in turn, except Fang.

"I have to go. Your notebooks are still in my room. The room is number 31, they're under my pillow. Make sure you take care of them." Daniel said. I nodded. A single tear slipped down my face. Jeb, Ella, Dr. Martinez, were they still alive to see this? And what about Ari? Daniel turned and began to walk away.

"Bye! Thank you!" Gazzy called as we flew back to the cave to wait out the worst ½ hour of our lives. We sat in silence in front of the dying fire, none of us bothering to set another log on it. Finally, I had a feeling it was all over.

"Come on guys, let's go check things out." I said as I picked up our last box of supplies. I began to cry as I jumped off the ledge and knew that most of the flock members behind me were crying, too. I flew low and slowly, so low I could see my reflection in the dark ice. I finally came to where the research facility stood. What I hadn't thought of before was how many dead people would be there. I didn't want my flock to see that.

"Okay, I'm only taking in Charity, Iggy, and Fang. Everybody else stay here. This isn't going to be pretty." I said as I walked to the front of the building. I was right; there was the first body right there. He was probably a security guard. I didn't look as Fang dragged him to a corner that was covered by a dying bush. I unlocked the door and dragged any bodies I saw to 1 room.

Then I saw him. Daniel. He was lying on his bed. It was awful.

"Iggy, I need you!" I yelled. Iggy couldn't see, so if I didn't tell him, it wouldn't hurt AS badly.

"Yea, Max? This is Daniel isn't it?" Iggy asked me, running his fingers lightly down the front of the body I had led him to.

"Yea, I can't. He helped us too much. Can you, please?" I said, turning around. He had done so much for us. He risked national security. For a bunch of untrustworthy hybrids. Now, he's gone. Iggy nodded and dragged the man that had helped us so much into the room of the dead.

"You know, we're going to have to bury them soon, right? It'll start to smell if we don't." Fang said, coming visible behind me. I nodded.

"Yea, we'll bring them to where Mia is. The ground is softer there." I said. I left the room with my notebooks in hand. Walking back out to the front and my awaiting flock, I addressed them.

"Guys, I hate to do it, but we're going to have to bury them, today. They'll start to smell if we don't." I said looking at the sad, teary expressions of my family. They nodded solemnly.

Over the next hour all 15 bodies we found were moved back to the cave. We dug a big hole and gently laid 14 of the bodies in it. Covering it up, I said a few words.

"These researchers were trying to help our planet. God, please watch over them. Amen." I said.

"Amen." The people around me chorused. We dug 1 more hole, for the most important person who lost their life.

"Daniel, you were amazing. You helped us when we really needed it. I'm eternally grateful." Fang said. I nodded my approval.

"Thanks, man. For everything." Iggy said.

"Daniel, you helped me when I got sick. I basically owe you my life. I'm really sorry if we caused you any trouble." Nudge said. Tears were running freely down her dark colored face.

"Thanks, a lot." Angel couldn't even say any more. Abbey wasn't able to say a word in between her sobs.

"Daniel, you did a lot for us. Thanks." Charity said.

"Thanks, man. I'm sorry." Gazzy said. My turn, now.

"Daniel, you're one of the only people who knew about us. Thanks for keeping us a secret. I appreciate it. You were way too kind. Now, you're gone." I went to brush a piece of hair off my face and found that it was soaked with tears that needed to be shed. We flew back to the new 'house,' where Total sat waiting for us. Each kid claimed a room and I sat down where they kept the food. Looking around, I saw that there was enough food to last us almost a year. And I mean to satisfy our hunger. We would be able to wait it out until the sun was visible again.

6 MONTHS LATER

Finally, I could see the sun this morning.

"Omigod! Everybody up, NOW!" I practically screamed running through the 'house.' People were awakened, not by my loud yelling, but by sun streaming through the windows.

"Max! Sun! Are we leaving?" Nudge ran up to me with a breakfast bar in her mouth. I nodded. All the members of the flock poured into the room and Angel patted my belly. It was big and round. Yup, I was pregnant. Fang kissed me good morning.

"Hi baby Ella." Charity whispered to my belly as Iggy handed me a mug of coffee. I had only found out 5 months ago. About 1 month after Iggy turned 15. I'd be 16 in 2 weeks. I know I was young, but I was going to be responsible.

2 days later, we stepped off of Antarctica for the first time in 8 months. The warmth of the sun was unbelievable. I saw small living organisms swimming through the sea below me.

We all had more strength and were able to fly straight to Argentina, we did. I saw experiments all over. I had no idea there were so many. It was now mine and Fang's job to rule them. I hope we can manage.

Finally, the end. Did you love it, hate it? There will be a sequel, don't worry. Love me. Max is about 5 ½ months pregnant. The sequel will probably start in a week or so. And there will be another series, too. It'll be Max's notebooks. IDK what it'll be called, but I'll let you know as soon as I know. R&R! PM me if you have any questions about my story. I'll answer.

Love & bye for now,

Kiki