AN: Here you guys go. I'm going to go make dinner, then I might write more after. As long as I can get through my homework quickly, there will be another chapter up tonight. I'm feeling really bad about giving you all these short chapters. :(

DISCLAIMER: Maximum Ride belongs to James Patterson.

CLAIMER: Any new plot ideas in this story are mine, unless otherwise noted.

Chapter Seven

We had flown through the night, heading to California.The sun was beginning to rise, and the sky had a pink tint to it. I decided to stop for breakfast, before Nudge began complaining.

"Guys, start looking for a place to eat breakfast!" I called out to my exhausted Flock. We flew for around twenty more minutes, before we came across a McDonalds. We landed, ate, and were back in the air in less than fifteen minutes. Obviously, I was desperate to get back to Fang.

Maximum Ride, I do not want you going after Fang.

I flinched as the Voice spoke; each word sent a stab of pain to my head.

And I want a pretty pony, but that's not going to happen, now is it, Jeb?

I'm not Jeb.

Then who are you? And where did Jeb go?

That is not of your concern.

Um, hello. You're in my head. It is my concern.

No. You're only concern right now is saving the world.

No. My only concern is saving Fang. How many times do I need to hurt you before you understand; Fang is not important!

He is to me!

You must save the world, Maximum Ride.

How do you expect me to save the world when the most important person in my life is in a living hell?

You will get by.

How? Do you even know how many times Fang has saved me? What he…what he stopped me from doing?

The Voice was silent for a moment. Apparently it did know. Good, I wasn't about to spell it out.

Fine. You may save Fang. But you must save the world immediately after doing so, or else I'll…well, you should know by now what I'm willing to do.

I shuddered at the thought of another brain attack. But the Voice had given in; he would allow me to get Fang back.

All right. Any chance you're going to tell me how to save the world?

That's up to you, Max. You have to prove yourself by saving the world.

Prove myself for what?

You'll see.

"You okay, Max?" Iggy asked, flying up beside me as the Voice left.

"Yeah, I'm fine. The Voice was just bugging me a little."

Iggy glanced over at me, as if he was expecting me to fall out of the sky any moment. "He didn't give you a brain attack?"

"No. We…compromised. It'll allow me to save Fang, but then I have to save the world."

"He didn't want to risk you falling out of the sky again without the almighty Fang around to catch you?" Iggy asked, a grin on his pale face.

"Guess not," I replied, chuckling softly.

"I wonder why Jeb suddenly switched sides again?"

"It's not Jeb."

"What?"

"I have a new Voice in my head. Did I forget to mention…?"

"Yeah, you did. Do you know who it is?"

"Not a clue."

We flew on in silence, stopping twice more for lunch and dinner, again at cheap fast-food places. Around nine, the whole Flock was complaining about their wings being tired.

"Fine," I said reluctantly. "We'll land as soon as someone finds a hotel."

"There's one!" Angel called out several minutes later. We landed and got a room, using Angel's handy-dandy mind controlling powers again.

"Get some sleep, guys," I said, letting Total out of my pack before plopping it on the ground. "We leave first thing in the morning." The rest of the Flock jumped into their beds, too tired to stack fists. They were all snoring softly before I had even sat down in the chair I would be sleeping in.

I didn't see how the other members of the Flock were so calm. Inside, I was freaking out, though I couldn't let it show, since I was the indestructible Maximum Ride. Fang being gone was like having half of me missing, only worse. Fang had already been gone for two days, and we were only in Utah. We had another whole state to go through before we'd reach him.

I just hoped they let him live long enough for us to get to him.

"Don't worry, Fang," I whispered before I fell asleep. "We'll be there soon. Just hang on."

AN: Again, sorry it's so short, but I update very quickly, so it should be alright. I mean really, seven updates in three days? That's a ton. So please review:P Oh, and Fang will be back soon, and the Faxness will begin. :P Of course, I can't make it easy for them, now can I? (Insert evil laugh here) :P Oh, guess what I just learned! You can't put stars in your stories. :(