The Disbanded: Divided We Stand – Chapter 53

By MyNameIsCAL

---Max's POV---

I lost track of time as I sat with Ted and Cal, talking about things when the smell of smoke filled the air. Sniffing, I asked them if they smelled anything.

Cal shook her head. "No, I'm sorry, I don't smell anything."

Sometimes I forgot that humans didn't have heightened senses. But I smelled smoke. It seemed to be getting stronger.

"I smell it now," Ted mumbled, standing.

And then the fire alarm went off. Cal started to grab their bags.

"Are you insane!" Ted exclaimed, throwing his hands up in the air. "We gotta get out of here!"

Cal dropped the bags and we burst into the hallway. The smoke didn't appear to be coming from our floor. We followed the crowd down the stairwell. I didn't see smoke until we hit the first floor. Hotel employees were trying to motion us out in an ordered fashion.

"Do not wander off!" One of the security guards shouted. "It's white out conditions! Stay in groups! Help is on the way!"

The wind knocked the breath out of me. It wasn't safe to be out here. A mass of people were huddling together, but Ted led us a couple feet in the opposite direction, locating our vans.

"Stand on this side, it'll block the wind more!" He said over the roar of the wind.

I could hear Iggy shouting my name.

"IG!" I called back.

He emerged from the heavy snow and I grabbed him by the arm. Ted was working on trying to get the van open.

"I don't have the keys," Ted muttered.

Iggy dug around in his pockets, pushing his way past Ted. Within seconds, the van door popped open.

"Alright, all of you, inside!" Ted opened the back door and held it from closing. "I'll try to find the others."

"No, I have to find Fang," I insisted.

"Max, you don't have a jacket on," Ted frowned.

But I ignored him and headed back towards the crowd.

"Fang!" I shouted.

The people around looked scared, or perhaps, just lost. They're all looking for someone and security is trying to keep them all contained, afraid to lose anyone. One of them insisted I join the crowd, but I push past him and continue shouting for Fang.

And then Fang came, stumbling away from all the people. I grabbed him by the arm and pulled him into a hug.

"Hey," he wrapped his arms around me, leaning onto me a little. "I'm alright, Max."

And then I could hear beeping.

He tightened his grip around me. "It's just touching that point. Nothing to be concerned about."

We stood for a moment, his weight on me as he took in deep breaths of air.


---Fang's POV---

I had been scared not being able to find Max at first. The snow and all the people disoriented me. People were pushing and shoving, everyone was trying to find out what was going on.

"Fang," Max sounded concerned now. "Are you dizzy? Does your chest hurt?"

I closed my eyes. Sure, I felt a little dizzy. But did my chest hurt? Not at all. She continued asking me questions, running through every symptom she could remember that would be associated with a heart attack.

"Max, I'm fine," I interjected. "Look, it's stopped beeping now."

"Are you sure you're okay?" Max still had her arms around me.

A gust of wind hit us and she didn't wait for my answer. "Come on, the others are waiting inside the van for us."


---Gazzy's POV---

Fang looked like someone had knocked him over when he came into the van with Max. He was limping badly, but there was no sign of his chest giving him any problems. I guess he didn't grab his crutches on the way out, but then again, none of us had grabbed anything.

"Max, you must be freezing," he said, pulling off his jacket as they settled in the seats across from me.

I watched as he draped his jacket over her shoulders, revealing his scars. There was a new one too, just below his heart rate monitor. She slid into his arms and then they were hidden again. And then Fang's eyes met mine. I looked away.

"It's ok, Gazzy," Fang said calmly. "Can't hide it forever."

When I didn't answer, he stretched his leg out with a wince. There was only silence. I wanted to say something, but I just didn't know what.


---Iggy's POV---

The fire was brought under control quickly. It wasn't long before Ramirez came knocking on our van door telling us they were letting people back in. The only damaged part of the hotel was the restaurant.

The snow had died down. It was still falling steadily, but according to Max, things were a lot clearer now.

Fang was exhausted. Max and I were practically supporting all his weight by the time we got back to the room. I wondered how long he had been walking about without his crutch. He muttered thank you as we set him on the bed.

Before I left, I turned towards Max again. "He's gonna be fine, Max. You'll only stress him out by stressing yourself out."

She sat on the bed next to him, stroking his hair. "I know. Thanks, Ig."

"Yup," I nodded. "Anytime. Goodnight, Max."

"Goodnight, Ig."


Right, that was random, I know. But uhm, everything happens for a reason, yes? Anyway, I'm gonna get them out of Alaska soon and perhaps get something to lighten the mood in the next few chapters. Sound good? I know it's getting slow, but things gotta slow down before I can speed up again. Thanks for reading!