Water was everywhere, on my skin, in my eyes, in my lungs. Every time I went to take a breath I choked, every time I tried to move, it seemed as if the water turned to stone and moving an inch was strenuous.

There was a pressure building on my chest, begging for air. Fang's voice called out to me, but I couldn't respond. I wanted to speak, but I couldn't open my mouth. His voice grew louder and less distant. But where? Where was he?

I was trapped in place by a force I didn't understand, the water was as solid as glass and I couldn't move to break it. Finally, the volume of his voice seemed to shatter everything.

I sat up in bed, gasping for breath. Fang was in front of me, his hands planted on my shoulders, shaking me. His eyes were wide and his skin was pale, "We have to go! Now!" He grabbed one of my feet and forcefully began to shove them into a pair of combat boots.

"What's going on?" I inquired, panic reaching my voice. He didn't answer me as he began to put on my other shoe. I swatted his hand away. "I can do it," I snapped. "Now tell me what's going on!" He let go of me and finally looked me in the eyes, all I saw was fear.

"The School is here. Eraser's and these robotic things are surrounding the house," his voice was calm and controlled but I had never seen Fang look so scared. "Nudge hacked their earpieces, they're not here for us. Skylar, they're here for you."

I leapt into action, dressing in a pair of leggings and a tshirt as quickly as I could. I paused for a moment before shrugging on the closest jacket I find and began exiting the room.

The Flock was gathered in the living room. All eyes turned to me. "What do we do?" Max asked, looking to Fang. I knew that she could come up with a plan on her own, but she wanted Fang to be the one to decide. He ran his hands through his hair, stressed. "I'm not sure."

Come on, I thought to myself, we need a plan. I paced back and forth, too aware of everyone's heavy gazes. I could only see one way out of this. I drew in a shuddering breath, "I'll hand myself over to them." Choruses of protests began to sound. "Enough!" I had never heard myself be so loud, but if there was a time for it, it was then.

"If it's me they want, they'll leave you guys alone when they get me. They'll probably take me to the closest School, which is the one we just came from. Dylan, you remember where it is right?" Dylan nodded solemnly. Fang interjected, "That's a big if. What if they don't take you to that School?"

"Then I hope you guys are able to find me, but I can't just sit here and lure everyone to their deaths! It's my fault we're in this situation, I'll be the reason you get out."

I took in all of the faces around me, Max, Dylan, Angel, Gazzy, Nudge, and Iggy. Fang. If this was my last time seeing them, I regretted not getting to know some of them better.

Iggy, with his loyalty and utmost trust and compassion for the rest of the Flock, I hardly had had a conversation with him. Gazzy, with his twisted yet hilarious sense of humor, he was just a little boy who loved his sister unconditionally and who had seen too much. I knew a bit more, but not much.

Angel was smart kid, but she was also kind. She loved her family and would do anything for them. Nudge, she had always advocated for me, always trusted me. And I had never been more grateful. She creative and loyal and intelligent and so much more. All of them, all of them loved so much.

Max. There wasn't a lot to say about Max and yet there was. She loved her family so fiercely it took my breath away, always protecting them and always putting them first. I vowed if I ever saw them again, and I hoped I would, I would get to know them all and put in more effort showing them how much they had meant to me. They may not have known it, but they had shown me what family and love was.

I hugged each and every one of them, not wanting to let go. I almost burst into tears when Gazzy didn't let go and wetness coated Nudge's cheeks. When I came to Fang, I was surprised the cracking of my heart wasn't audible. "I'm sorry," I whispered, gazing up at him. "I'm so sorry." I didn't know whether I was apologizing for leaving, coming back, or hurting him. I realized it was all three.

I was startled when Fang drew me to him and kissed me. I melted into him, kissing him back with as much force as I could muster. My body was electrified and everything else faded away into nothingness. I pulled away too soon for my liking, knowing time was of the essence.

Fang held me in place, "I love you. I want you to know that I love you and that I will go to the ends of the Earth to find you and bring you back to me. I will always protect you." The tears I was holding back flowed freely and I was breathless. "I love you too," I choked out.

And then I had to pull away. It was as if I was numb and all to aware of my emotions at the same time. I wanted them to rescue me, but not if it meant one of the would get hurt. I knew they would do it anyway.

Because that's what family was, it was what family did. I had left and yet when I said goodbye to them, I still saw the will to fight for me in their faces. It was terrifying and beautiful. I was still crying when I exited the house and raised my hands in surrender.

Author's Note: Hi guys! Sorry that chapter was a bit late but I was so tired last night from a stressful week of tests and homework. If you have any story or plot ideas, or any thoughts in general about this chapter, please leave a review. I've been thinking of starting a new fanfic, so if you guys have any TV shows or books, (I've probably read or seen all of them considering how much I read and watch,) let me know. I would love a story idea or something like that. Thanks! XOXO- Skai.