The last chapter! There'll be a short epilogue after this one. I can't believe we're nearly at the end - thank you, as always, for reading!

Chapter 63

"Yo."

"Hey." I kept my eyes leveled at the dark sky as I replied to Fang's short greeting.

"Mind if I join?" I heard the slight fluttering of his wings as he alighted next to me on the roof.

"Be my guest." I pulled my legs closer to my chest, hugging them with my arms. Fang sat down next to me silently.

"He's really not coming back, is he?" I whispered, turning to look at Fang. It was hard to hold back the tears, but every time I thought about Jeb, my throat grew tight. "What if he's…" The words were too hard to say.

Fang's expression grew dark. It was an expression I'd seen a lot of for the past two weeks. "I don't know," he said simply. But even as he said it, I got the sense that we were thinking the same thing. That it wasn't like Jeb to simply disappear without telling us where he was going. That it wasn't like him to leave us all alone.

Fang nudged me with his elbow. "Come on." He stood up, holding his hand out to me. "Let's go fly around for a bit."

I glanced up at him and his outstretched hand. His pitch-black wings extended to their full wingspan, ready to take off at a moment's notice. "Well?" he added.

I reached out and took his hand, letting him help me up. I tugged off my hoodie and tied it around my waist, slowly stretching out my white and brown-speckled wings. "Let's go."

Fang nodded. He turned and leaped off the edge of the roof, and for a moment, he free fell down the canyon. Then he stroked his wings hard, soaring upwards into the night sky, his black wings and clothes nearly blending into the dark sky.

I took a deep breath. It had been two weeks since I'd flown, which felt like an insanely long time. After the rain had stopped on the day of Jeb's disappearance, we'd flown around for hours, looking for any sign of him. But we'd found nothing. It was like he'd disappeared without a trace. And then there was the flock to take care of, especially the younger kids. I'd lost count of the times I'd found Nudge crying and had to wipe her tears away, and even though Angel had never been much of a crier, I could tell she was incredibly upset and confused by Jeb's disappearance. The Gasman had locked himself away in his room for several days, and I'd finally managed to coax him out with the promise of food, only to find his eyes red and puffy. On top of that, there were all the chores we'd been neglecting, bed times to follow, and the fact that we were starting to run out of groceries – things that Jeb had always taken care of. I'd always been the leader of the flock, but I'd never realized how hard it was without Jeb.

"You coming?" Fang called out, his voice dim as he hovered high above me.

I took one more deep breath. And then I nodded and threw myself off the roof.

I hurtled downwards, closing my eyes for a second and letting the chilly air rush around me. Then I snapped out my wings – ow! Note to self, no sudden unfurling – and with a few powerful strokes, found myself soaring upwards. I breathed in, taking in the cool, crisp nighttime air and the sounds of the forest below. My hair streamed out behind me as I rushed past Fang, smiling despite myself just at the sensation of flying again. There really was nothing like it.

"This way," Fang yelled, beckoning for me to follow him. He darted off, leaving me to wonder where exactly he was going.

"Are we going to the clubhouse?" I shouted over the wind. Iggy had been spending a lot of time there lately – occasionally the Gasman joined him, but I could tell Iggy needed some space. Kind of like I did, spending my nights on the roof frequently.

Fang shook his head as I caught up to him. "Nah. There's a cool place I know."

"Huh. Exploring without me?" I managed a small smirk.

He shrugged, glancing away from me. The moonlight shone down on his dark hair and wings, reflecting off his pitch-black feathers. "Only at night, when everyone else is in bed. When I can't sleep."

He angled downwards, expertly tilting his wings to fly in a tight curve. I followed him, echoing his movements, the same way we'd been doing since we'd come to the E-house and finally had the space to fly around. As we flew lower, steep canyon walls came into view. I expected Fang to pull upwards again, but he continued coasting at the same altitude, heading directly towards the sheer wall of rock.

"Uh, Fang?" I arched an eyebrow at him, but he didn't seem fazed.

"We're almost there. See that opening in the cliff?" he pointed, and sure enough, there was a small cave towards the top of the canyon wall. "That's my own hideout."

He swooped up, pulling his wings in as his feet touched the ground as if he had done it a million times before. The cave opening was large enough for me to stand in, but not large enough for my wings to fit all the way through if they were extended. As my sneakers scraped the rocks, I stumbled and tucked my wings in. Fang grabbed my hand and helped me regain my balance.

"Thanks," I murmured, quickly pulling my hand away from him. He just shrugged in response.

" 'S nothing."

"So this is your own secret base, huh?" I looked around, peering into the darkness. "Somehow, a creepy cave seems just perfect for you."

Fang bent down, sliding his backpack off his back and rummaging through it. He pulled out two cans of soda, handing one to me. Then he sat down at the edge of the cave, letting his feet dangle off the side of the cliff.

I popped the can of soda open and took a sip. It was warm, but after flying, drinking anything felt refreshing. I sat down next to him silently as he opened his own can of soda.

"So," I said.

"So," he said back.

I sighed, setting my can of soda to the side. "Do you really think…" I trailed off, noticing the view from the cave for the first time. The full moon was completely visible, and it shone down on us, illuminating the whole forest below for miles around. A river snaked along way below us, nestled in between the massive pine trees.

"Nice view, huh?" Fang took a sip of his soda.

I nodded. "Yeah."

He glanced at me, and a small smirk appeared on his face. I studied him as he stood up and put his soda to the side. "But I didn't take you here to look at the view."

"Then what did you come here for?" I arched an eyebrow at him.

"It's been a while. Since we sparred."

I grinned despite myself. "Oh yeah? So, let me guess." I stood up, dusting off my hands. "You took me all the way here so the rest of the flock wouldn't have to watch you get your butt kicked. Am I right?"

"Funny. I was about to say that about you." Fang launched himself at me, his fist outstretched. I grabbed it with my open palm, twisting his arm around and shoving him away from me. I quickly advanced towards him, bringing my leg up in a roundhouse kick, but he ducked before my foot could make contact with his face.

"I don't believe it," Fang said. He shoved me backwards, pinning me against the rock wall. "Have you gotten rusty, great Maximum Ride?"

I smirked. "In your dreams." I brought my knee up, jabbing him right in the stomach. He gasped for air as I rolled out from under him. For good measure, I kicked at his shin as I jumped up and away from him, which brought him crashing down to the ground. I leaped up and pinned him down to the hard cave floor, my knee pressed firmly against his back.

"I win."

"That was a dirty trick."

"You know Jeb taught us to use as many dirty tricks as possible to win." I flashed him another grin. It was true – Jeb had taught us everything we'd known about fighting so we could defend ourselves if anything happened. And fighting fair wasn't always an option. Fang and I knew that better than anyone – he'd been my best sparring partner for as long as I could remember.

He looked up at me, returning my grin with a small smile as he picked himself up off the ground. "Fair enough."

"You know, maybe you're the rusty one." I laughed, grabbing my can of soda and taking another sip. "Ready for round two?"

"In a sec." Fang stood up, brushing dirt off his jeans.

I studied him. After a moment, I spoke. "Thanks."

"Yeah?" Fang arched an eyebrow at me as if he didn't know what I was talking about, but I could tell he did. Especially in these last couple weeks – I was starting to realize that he understood me the best probably out of anyone in the flock.

"For bringing me out here. It helps – you know, to get my mind off of… well, everything."

Fang shrugged. "Sure. Anytime." He sat down at the edge of the cliff again and I joined him. We were silent for a moment, staring out at the stars in the sky, letting the cool breeze refresh us after our fight. I extended my wings out behind me, and Fang did the same.

"I don't know what comes next," I murmured, turning my soda can around between my hands slowly. My throat still felt tight, but it was becoming easier for me to breathe now. "But… I'll do anything to keep the flock together and alive."

Fang nodded silently. I thought that was it, but then he said. "I've got your back. Jeb or no Jeb, you're our leader. Always have been."

I glanced at him, surprised. It wasn't like Fang to be so eloquent – usually one or two word sentences were more his thing. But before I could think about it any longer, Fang had grabbed his backpack and thrown himself off the cliff, snapping out his wings and gliding upwards into the sky again. "Race you back," he called out.

I grinned up at him. "You're so on."

~~::~~

SEVERAL MONTHS LATER

"I'm kind of nervous, Max." Angel clung onto my hand, peering off the side of the cliff into the steep canyon below. The wind whipped her curly blonde hair around her face. Her bright blue eyes looked concerned as she stared back up at me.

"It's okay. You've got this." I squeezed her hand tightly. "You've been practicing a lot. And worst case, Fang is ready to catch you."

"But there won't be a worst case," Gazzy jumped in, putting his arm around his sister. "You can do it, Angel. Flying is like, natural for us." He grinned, and the gaps in his teeth showed – he was nearly seven years old, and his baby teeth were quickly falling out. I was pretty sure he didn't believe in the Tooth Fairy anymore, but that didn't stop him from making a big deal about how he wanted a dollar every time he stuck one of his lost teeth under his pillow.

"I know you can do it, Angel!" Nudge cheered. In just one year since her last birthday, she'd grown quickly – she was nearly my height now. Her long brown hair fell in braids down her back, and she tossed them over her shoulder as she reassured our youngest flock member. "And you've been practicing for soooooo long! I remember when you tried to fly for the very first time – with your tiny baby chicken wings! It was so cute even though you couldn't get a single inch off the ground."

I smiled at the memory – of Angel, trying to fly for the first time back when we were in the School, in a rare moment when Jeb took us into a large room and gave us the chance to stretch our wings out. Back then, the rest of those twisted scientists never even gave us the space to fly, to do what we were made to do. Here, in the middle of the forest where no one could ever find us, we were free to soar as high as our wings could take us.

And now, it was Angel's turn.

Fang bent down, putting his hand on Angel's shoulder. "It's time," he said simply. He extended his wings, taking her other hand so that Angel was sandwiched in between the two of us. As he stood up, I couldn't help but notice that he towered over me – Iggy even more so. Just thought of that alone was irritating.

"Well, what are waiting for? Let's get moving!" Iggy put his hand on Gazzy's shoulder, his pale blue eyes the same color as the cloudless sky above.

I nodded, looking down at Angel. "You ready, sweetie?"

She blinked up at me, then slowly nodded back. "I think so."

"Just remember what we've practiced, okay? You've really gotten the hang of it," I reassured her, bending down and brushing her curls back from her face. She beamed up at me, and for a moment, pride surged in my heart. We'd been practicing with her, Fang and I, teaching Angel all the tips and tricks we knew for flying, how to bank turns, how to throw yourself into the air and let the wind catch you and send you soaring upwards. She was ready.

"Yeah," Angel whispered, throwing her arms around my neck and hugging me tight. "I am ready."

"Then let's go!" Gazzy pushed Angel forward slightly. Okay, maybe not just slightly. Angel stumbled and tripped – right over the side of the cliff. I caught a glimpse of her surprised expression right as she tumbled over and then she was gone.

"GAZZY!" I turned and screamed at him. Fang took off instantly, his powerful wings taking him downwards towards where Angel had fallen.

"Angel! I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" Gazzy dove off the cliff, snapping his light brown wings out as fast as he could.

But he needn't have bothered. Because just then, I caught sight of Angel soaring upwards, her pale blonde hair glinting in the sunlight, a delighted smile on her face. Her pure white wings, just like a dove's, kept her aloft.

"Look at me, Max! Look!" she squealed. "I told you I could do it!"

"Angel!" Gazzy cried, slamming right into her with a hug mid-air. "Angel, I'm sorry! Are you okay?"

"Yeah!" she shrieked, hugging him back.

"Go Angel!" Nudge cheered, running straight for the edge of the cliff and taking off. I watched her join the other two younger kids and tackle them in another mid-air bear hug.

"You are lucky, Gaz," Iggy said, snickering. "I wish I could have seen the expression on Max's face. She sounded like she was ready to murder you."

"Rolling my eyes, Ig," I hissed as I shot him a look that was unfortunately lost on him.

"You're making that same face again, aren't you?"

"Oh, you shut up!" I elbowed him, and he extended his wings, laughing and taking off to join the others, leaving me standing alone on the cliff. Fang glided upwards to join the rest of the flock, and I caught a glimpse of a proud smile on his face as he watched Angel swooping through the sky, giggling as Nudge and Gazzy chased her.

She's a natural, I thought to myself. Of course she was – flying came naturally to us. There was no way for us to reverse the horrors and trauma that we'd endured in the School, but now at least we were free to use our wings to fly anywhere we wanted. Angel must have been reading my thoughts, because she turned and shot me another proud smile, her small face as radiant as the sun up above.

"Come on, Max!" I heard the Gasman call. He was waving his arm, beckoning for me. I looked up at my flock, so full of joy, waiting for me to join them. I wished I could freeze time, right then and there.

I had no clue what would come next. After Jeb's disappearance several months ago, even just thinking about how we would get through the next day was painful. Not to mention the weeks, months, maybe even years after that. Even though no one ever said it, we were sure he was dead. There was no other explanation. It was up to me to be the leader – to keep the flock together, taken care of, and alive. But even with Jeb gone, I wasn't alone. I glanced up at the rest of the flock, soaring together high in the air, expertly turning and diving and coasting upwards on the breeze, the way we'd done hundreds of times together.

For now, I pushed my jumbled-up thoughts aside. Up above, there was an endless expanse of vast blue sky, and my family, my flock, the five people I loved most in this world waiting for me. No matter what tomorrow brought, I knew they would be along for the crazy, wild, indescribable, Maximum ride.

"Well?" I heard Iggy call. "What are you waiting for?"

A smile appeared on my face. Slowly, I unfurled my wings. And then I stepped off the edge of the cliff and flew.