A/N: Merry Christmas! Three chapters again - guess you've been on Santa's nice list. Little preview in chapter 52 to the next part of the adventure! I hope you enjoy! And please take time to review! Thanks!

Chapter 50

Breakfast that morning consisted of doughnuts, bagels, muffins, and other assortments of delectable pastries. All courtesy of your local Dunkin' Doughnuts' dumpster. We felt like we hit the jackpot when we swooped down behind the shop and began foraging. I'm guessing business was a little slow the day before.

And bonus – I could acquire the necessary cell phone service to dial my mom. I had attempted said feat earlier in the low mountain ranges – to no avail.

My mom picked up Jeb's phone before I could even place the phone to my ear.

"Max?" she said. I could hear the relief in her voice. "I was so worried. Are you okay?"

I looked around at my flock and my eyes laid to rest on Fang, whose eyebrows immediately shot up at me. I flashed one of my friendly neighborhood scowls at him and continued with my mom.

"Yeah – some of us better than others." I paused as Angel approached my side. "How's Total?"

"He had a broken bone in one of his hind legs," replied my mom. "I set it and it's almost healed. I think his healing powers are quicker than yours." She paused momentarily and then carried on, "Of course, as soon as he reached consciousness, he ranted about dying and his love for Akila and all the places he'd never seen. Quite comical. I felt as though I were watching Shakespeare."

I smiled and Angel breathed in deeply as she wrapped her arms around my waist.

"Is everyone else okay there?" I asked. "I'm sorry Ella had to be a part of all that."

"Ella is fine. She's conked out on a couch in the waiting room," replied my mom. "Don't worry about us. We're all good here – just tired. You just get here as soon as you can and we'll catch up then."

My mom detailed their location and I committed it to memory. I glanced down at Angel. Her gritty eyes revealed her break down to tears a few hours ago when she had curled up in my lap to fall asleep. I stroked her hair and turned to the flock.

"Total's back to normal," I replied to the questioning faces before me. "Or as normal as Total can get."

"Can we go get him now, Max?" Angel asked, her innocent blue eyes gazing up at me. Innocent – riiight. I had to keep reminding myself that Angel was not all that "angelic".

We made sure that no one was in the back part of the parking lot, took off running, and leapt into the air. Within minutes we were high above the clouds, breathing in the freedom that came with flying. Soaring miles above the ground with my family – nothing could beat this. And it provided a slight tinge of happiness to my otherwise fairly dismal world.

"Where are we going, Max?" Gazzy wondered aloud.

"Somewhere near Syracuse," I answered. "My mom gave me a few landmarks."

Not too much detail though. After all, we were using Jeb's phone. No telling how much we could actually trust him.