The Silence Before the Storm
Chapter 1: Bad Good Byes
takes place about 1 year after the book ends.
Max POV
I love them and that's why I had to leave them. They were like my brothers and sisters, but I felt a certain protectiveness that could only be described as what a mother would feel for her children. It kills me that I had to leave, but I had to. To give them a chance at a happy normal life even if I wasn't in it.
Its been a little over a year since I had killed Ari. After that, the rest wanted to look for their parents. Since I did not have any I strongly opposed this suggestion. But I gave in. hey you try saying no to angel when she gives you the puppy dog look. Fang saw my hesitation and said to me "don't worry Max. finding our parents wont change anything". Even then I knew he didn't mean it. He was just trying to make me feel better.
So our search began. We started with Iggy's parents. First we found them in a small town just outside of New Baltimore, Maryland. After we found them Iggy wanted to go meet them immediately. I convinced him to allow us to scout them out first. I wanted to get some information on this people before I let Iggy put his life in their hands. after all what type of person would give their son to a lab where they would be experimented on for a better part of 13 years.
From what I could I tell these were pretty decent people. the house was a red brick modern style house 2 floors. The woman who we assumed to be Iggys mother was the ideal soccer mom. It turns out that Iggy was not the only child. After their eldest sons supposed death they had 3 more children 1 girl and 2 boys. Every time we saw the mother outside the home she was hurrying to get various kids to and from various practices and activities. The dad was a doctor at a local hospital. He was a good guy. He would work at odd hours, but always had time to play with his children. We've seen him play soccer with his middle child the daughter and football with the boys.
As much as I hated to say it, I so far approved of these people. time for the final test. I walked up to their front door and rang the bell. Iggys mother came to the door. "I'm sorry" I said "but I am lost, can you tell me how to get to uhh.." I was trying to come up with a street "maple! Maple street?" please let there be a maple street in this town.
She smiled warmly at me and gave me directions and even offered me a ride. I graciously declined. I walked back to the group. I was angry how nice the mother was. I secretly wished her to be mean so Iggy wouldn't leave the group. I told them I approved and that if Iggy was ready to do this I was behind him.
We left the others behind with fang. I walked up the familiar path to the door. I led Iggy up to the door. He was practically shaking with excitement. I reached for the door it was flung open the youngest son Kyle age 6 opened the door. Not what I expected, but okay. "hi! Is your mommy home?" I asked. He nodded and yelled for his mother. While we waited I looked at this little kid and saw several resemblances to Iggy. They had the same nose and smile. At this point his mother had arrived. She looked at me and recognized me instantly. "need any help?" she asked and smiled warmly. I couldn't help but like her.
"ya. I'm sorry can we talk to you for a minute" she seemed to sense that we were serious and that something was wrong. She closed the door and motioned for us to sit down on the bench that was at the end of the large porch. I led Iggy and sat down. I put out my hand for her to take.
"hi my name is max and this is Iggy." She shook our hands. "are you alright?" she asked Iggy who was still practically shaking. "ya I'm fine" was all he said. He kicked me to continue. He wanted me to talk because he was incredibly shy and he wasn't sure what to say.
"he's just anxious, he's about to meet his parents for the first time." I hoped she was smart enough to catch the hint. YAY she did! Her eyes opened real wide and her hand flung to her mouth I saw her eyes dart about Iggy. Her eyes darted around his face taking in his brown hair,his chin and eyes that were so identical to her own,.
"what?" she breathed.
"did you have another son?" she nodded.
"did he die?" her brows furrowed and she nodded.
"I'm sorry but they lied to you. He didn't die, This is your son"
She shook her head "no..no he's dead"
She sat still for a few moments. I didn't really know what to do so I squeezed Iggys hand and sat still. Poor iggy. I think his heart just broke, I mean he's been looking forward to this since he learned what parents were.
Just as I decided it was time to leave his mother burst into tears. Iggy and I were surprised. Then what she did next almost made me cry. She lunged forward and pulled Iggy close. She kissed his cheek and sobbed into his shoulder(he was a lot taller then her). This is what a mother is supposed to be like. she pulled back and looked him in the eyes.
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry. They told us you died! I would have never left you! Please forgive me, please!" she begged. I saw Iggy blink back tears.
"Ya, I forgive you mom. I've been looking for you for such a long time"
Okay I know I'm supposed to be the fearless leader, I'm not ashamed or anything but I started to cry. That was when I knew that, when the time came I would have to leave Iggy here. He had the chance at happiness, and I had to let him have it.
I think my sniffles lead Iggys Mothers' attention away from there discussion, to me. She said she was sorry for ignoring me and asked me who I was.
"I'm Max. I've been looking after Iggy and the others for the last few years."
I saw her eyes squint in confusion. "ig? Do you want to explain?"
"ya" he began "mom after I was born, and they told you I had died they took me. To a lab called the school. Me and Max along with 4 other kids they spliced our DNA with avian DNA."
He shuddered as the memories of his past came flooding back.
"we were experimented on every day. It was torture. When I was 10, me and the others were broken out by a doctor. He cared for us and taught us. But then he vanished we didn't see him for 2 years. That's when max started to look after us. Then one day we were attacked and they took angel the youngest. And wile on a rescue mission we were all captured. At the school we learned that Dr. Batchelder did not die like we thought, he betrayed us."
He took a pause then continued. I wanted to leave I really did not want to hear this again. It already took all I had to keep the memories at bay.
"we escaped again. Then we found out about the schools sister lab in new York. We all went there and destroyed it. That's where we found out about all our parents."
His mother gasped trying to take it all in. "what did they do to you?" she finally managed to get out.
Iggy stood up pulled of his wind breaker and stretched his wings. He looked like a broken angel. His fear was apparent on his face. I had seen him fight Erasers without letting a single speck of fear show, but here he is terrified that he would scare his mother away. She rose from her seat. She reached out and touched his wing. "oh my god! What else?"
"they tried to improve my night vision. They made me blind instead."
She started crying again. "I'm sorry" she said over and over again.
About an hour and a half I made my way back to the others leaving Iggy at his new home. I had spent the last hour or so watching the family. I had even pulled his father aside and I told him of the dangers that allowing Iggy to live here would bring. He said it was alright and worth it to have all his children home. I made him promise that he would by a gun. I hugged Iggy good night and left him and his family alone I would check in on him tomorrow. The rest of us would leave in 3 days. We would say our good bye then.
I meet back up with the others. We went out to a local restaurant with an all you can eat food bar. I told them what happened. Fang took my hand and squeezed it. He smiled reassuringly at me. I smiled back for this past year we have gotten closer. He was my best friend and I major crush on him, of course he didn't know that yet and I plan never to tell him. Especially not now. With all this separating the last thing we need is more emotions getting in the way.
I looked around at the others, our broken family.Nudge had grown even more beautiful this last year. Angel too. Her long blonde curls cascaded down her back. The Gasman too, was turning into a very cute/handsome young man. And Fang? Well, Lets be honest Fang is hot. He's about 6.3. a nice tan and dark brown hair. His eyes are brown and piercing, when he looks at you its almost as if he is looking straight into your soul. He has the cutest smile. It has gotten us out of trouble many times. Once someone caught Angel stealing some food. Fang went over to them and flirted and they let Angel go. I was a little jealous, but it was funny. Me. I had grown I am about 5.10. the long hair is back. I keep the black mess pulled up in a ponytail. I guess I'm pretty but I have never really thought about it.
That night we slept outside but the next 2 nights we were invited to spend the night at Iggys parents house, the girls and I slept in the living room while fang slept in Iggys new room. Iggy was so happy and excited, he was thrilled to finally have a family who loved him. And love him they did, even in the movies I have never seen a family filled with so much love. And I hated to admit it but I was jealous.
2 days later
The next 2 days flew by. We spent them getting to know Iggys family. Us six were slowly realizing how much separating was going to hurt, more then we ever expected. It was 7:00 am we were packed and ready to go. It was time for good-bye.
I blinked back tears as I watched Fang, Angel, Gasman and Nudge hugged Iggy and whispered their last good-byes. It was my turn next I walked up and hugged him. "bye Igs. I'll miss you. But don't worry we'll keep in touch. I love ya, be safe call if you see anything suspicious. Bye" on the way out I stopped to talked to his parents. "thank you for everything. Please keep him safe" and with that we turned and we flew off. Leaving behind one of our own.
3 weeks passed and it was only Fang and I who remained. Angel and Gasman were safely at home in their parents arms in New Jersey. I will spare you the details but meeting their parents was very similar to the meetings with Iggys. They seemed caring enough and it turns out that Angel and Gasman were taken from them also. They were a young couple but they were thrilled to have their children home and safe. After their two children's supposed deaths they did not have any more children, this upset angel she really wanted a younger brother or sister.
Saying good bye was heart breaking, we left two of our friends that day. And although we knew we would see them again, I couldn't help but feeling we wouldn't.
Nudges house was next. The flight to Nudges home was silent. We hurt to much to talk, even Nudge and that was saying something.
Her birth father left before she was even born. We soon found out that Nudge was kidnapped from her mother when Nudge was only a few months old. Her mothers name was Abby and like the others she burst out crying when she finally held her baby in her arms again.
Now it was Fangs turn. We flew down into the woods near his house, it was to late to disturb his family. We made camp, we made a fire and sat looking at each other. "you scared?" I asked struggling to make some conversation. Neither of us wanted to admit it was our last night together.
"ya a little bit. But I am mostly excited. I mean seeing the others with their families made me think, I must have one to. I mean.." he broke of there. My face must have given away some of the torturous pain that was filling my heart. "I'm sorry" he said. He moved over and sat next to me and held me. As I wept into his chest.
I must have cried myself to sleep because the next time I opened my eyes it was light. I was still in Fangs arms. His eyes were closed, he looked so peaceful when he slept. He awoke and saw me looking at him. We stared at each other for a moment and without saying a word he leaned in and covered my lips with his own. At first I was completely shocked. Then I felt my self starting to kiss him back. Let me take a moment to say OMYGOD FANG IS KISSING ME! OMIGOD! About a minute later we pulled apart. I felt myself blush. And fang turned away looking embarrassed. I didn't really know what to say so I smiled and stood up. I helped him get up. I hugged him and looked into his gorgeous brown eyes. "ready" I asked.
"ya" he breathed. We turned and walked through the woods to Fangs future home.
A kind man answered the door and invited us inside. As I walked into small but cozy house I looked around and noticed that this man lived alone. There were no family portraits, no toys no nothing that looked like any one else lived here.
We introduced ourselves. His name is Matt Wright. We talked for almost two hours. It turns out that he was Fangs father and that Fangs mother left him years ago, We learned that Fang "died" when he was born.
His father was thrilled when he found out that this was his son. The look of relief on his fathers face when he learned his son had survived, could not have been faked. So I knew he was not some Dr. from the school or anything. He went into detail about all the fun times Fang and him would have. He got soo excited about going fishing, camping, playing baseball and basketball he was like a little kid on Christmas, I had to laugh.
His father was a little alarmed when we told him about the school and our wings. But he was ok with our"abnormalities". But he was furious about theway they treated children. It took about 15 minutes to calm him down. He threatened to "go hunt them down and skin them alive" and some other threats that I don't feel very comfortable repeating.
He invited me to stay but I peacefully declined. I wanted to let them get to know one another, and I didn't want to be a burden. I felt like I really didn't fit in anymore. So I left the next morning. This good bye was a lot more awkward then the others. I hugged him and kissed him. On the cheek. Jeez don't worry I wouldn't kiss him on the lips with his dad right there.
So I took off again. The last of my family. I left my closest friend who also happened to be the man that I loved. And I never even told him how I felt. And that was it. I flew away from the east coast and I headed west into the setting sun to the only home that I had ever known.
Its hard to describe exactly what I was feeling as I left them. I felt by separating us I was doing exactly what the enemy wanted. Which I most likely was, but you try saying no to the rest of them when they are all giving you the same puppy dog face. I couldn't ignore the growing sense of danger that churned in my stomach. I couldn't help but feel that I was lowering my family into a trap, that I couldn't avoid. One by one I was lowering my friends my family to their deaths.
Review please.
A/N: i know it aint that good but it will get better. Sorry I didn't feel like goin into that much detail about the others meetings with their families I was too lazy. I apologize for all the errors. Ya I think I messed up a lot of stuff like the kids real names and family stuff I don't remember them all exactly so i am going to make them up. I am also sorry for the bad spelling.