Chapter Six: Never Come Back

FANG'S POV

The Flock and I arrived at the School in half a day, a new record. We land in front, surprised that we aren't met with Erasers or guns. We tense, getting to battle mode and watching the sky and landscape for any signs of trouble.

The fact that we got to this point with no inference sets off hundreds of warning bells. A door opens and we all turn in that direction, ready to put up a fight in order to save Max.

Only one person walks through. Oh my god. It's fucking Jeb.

As Jeb is about to utter some sort of greeting, I cut him off. "Where's Max? I know you have her."

Jeb only smiles. "Of course. How predictable we have become it seems." He chuckles and it causes panic to rise. This is the weirdest we've seen Jeb and it doesn't settle right with me.

Angel? I ask, hoping she can figure out what's going on.

I look to my side to see her shake her head ever so slightly. Sorry, Fang. I can't access Jeb's mind, remember?

Oh, fuck. That's right. It's alright. Thanks for trying.

"Listen here, we don't want any trouble."

"Yeah, right. I find that hard to believe." Gazzy spits in Jeb's direction, furious.

Jeb's smile widens. "If we wanted trouble then we wouldn't have just approached Max."

"What?" says Gazzy, as confused as the rest of us.

"You mean Max willingly went with you? That doesn't sound like her." says Nudge, shifting uncomfortably.

"Oh, but it's true. I mean, we had to threaten your lives first but that way, everything was less messy."

My blood boils. "Give us Max, now." I have had enough of Jeb and the School to last twenty lifetimes. I just want a life with Max. One without running.

"Oh, I can't do that. What I can do though is let you go free and live without interruption for the rest of your lives. It's pointless trying to fight this time." As Jeb finishes talking, hundreds of Erasers come from every direction, seemingly having come up out of fine air.

We are outnumbered and as I look at the Flock, I know that we are at a loss. My shoulders slump in defeat. This time we aren't getting Max back.

"Good, very good. You finally realize it's pointless. Oh, and if you ever try anything, we won't hesitate to kill you. We'll keep our distance but we'll always be watching."

I glare at Jeb as I spread my wings and take flight. It seems like I may have given up easily but the weirdness of the situation and the attitude change of Jeb makes me question everything about the kidnapping. It's best not to challenge this especially when everyone's lives are at stake.

As we fly away from the School, I look back, devastated that we might never get Max back. This time, it'll be her who gets herself out. She's on her own no matter how much I want to break in and get her out. Even though I know it's pointless, I'll be guilty for the rest of my life knowing that I didn't even try and put up a fight.

It's alright, Fang. You're right. Something isn't right about the situation. We can't do anything without getting all of ourselves killed. Max wouldn't want that.

I hope you're right, Angel, I really do. It just feels like we gave up too easily. Doesn't that seem strange to you?

The whole thing is weird and strange, Fang. Who knows what really happened. Something isn't right about Jeb and maybe that's why we gave up without a fight.

You think we were tampered with?

Yes, I'm afraid I do.