Disclaimer: Sky doesn't own Maximum Ride, okay? HOW MANY TIMES DOES SHE HAVE TO ADMIT THIS? *runs aways screaming*

"The world is a dangerous place to live, not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don't do anything about it." –Albert Einstein

It was around twelve o'clock when we arrived at Iggy's house. I couldn't believe that this was happening. It all sounded crazy. Too insane to be real. It felt like one of my nightmares. At any moment I would wake up, and Max would be safe, no one would be part bird, and I would still have my job. But no, my life was just too insane for that.

I ran my hand through my hair. Since three hours ago, I've called Max's school, Angel's school, and Max's house. No one had information for me. I even tried calling Nudge and JJ, but they wouldn't answer. Eventually, I called the New York police. They said that they would look into it, but that was all.

I felt like I was alone in all of this. Well, there was always Iggy, but you and I both know that he can't stay focused on something for very long.

So, basically, I was alone.

Iggy and I had finally decided to crash at his place, since both of his parents worked late and Gazzy was at school. If Dr. M saw that I wasn't at school, I would be so dead.

Iggy immediately plopped on the couch and turned on the television. I just rolled my eyes and decided to be productive. I opened my laptop and began researching Itex. Sure, I had researched them when they offered me a job, but I had to dig deeper. Obviously they were involved in this somehow.

After surfing the world wide web for a while and found nothing new, I finally gave up. It was apparent that they covered their tracks really well.

I sighed as I put my laptop in my bag and placed my head in my hands, frustrated. My best friend was kidnapped, and here I was, sitting in a comfy chair, while Iggy pigged out on potato chips and watched the news.

Wait, the news? Iggy never watches the news.

His eyes looked distant, like whatever was on the screen was really freaking him out. I looked at the screen and my mouth dropped at what I saw.

The headlines read, "Gunman sited at New York High School." Nudge was on the screen, being interviewed by a reporter. She looked terrified and spoke frantically. "My friend! I can't find her! It's been hours…" She looked like she had been crying.

"Did you see this gunman?" A blond reporter asked, trying to calm her down a little, but she was obviously failing.

Nudge shook her head. "No, I didn't see anything. But I heard a shot. Just one. I think, I think my friend was there, but I can't find her!" Nudge burst into tears again.

The reporter let her leave and spoke into the camera. "It Is apparent that not many students saw the claimed gunman, but a single shot could be heard throughout the school. More information soon to follow."

So, that's what happened. And why Nudge and JJ weren't answering their phones.

I clenched my fists and shook my head. Everything suddenly got to me. Max's kidnapping. The whole part bird thing. Iggy just acting like he didn't care. Rage suddenly burst out of me. (What? It happens. You should have seen my temper tantrums when I was little.)

"Did you ever even care about Max?" I yelled at him. "You were being a pain in the butt before about wanting to meet her for real and how you two were friends, but now she gets kidnapped, and you're here just sitting and eating chips and doing nothing! What the heck is wrong with you?" I swear, I could have punched him right then.

But then I really looked at him. He had tears on his face.

He had been crying, and I didn't even notice.

I am such an idiot.

But it wasn't only that. It was his pale face and his frown that really got me.

He was hiding something.

"Iggy," I said, concerned, all my previous anger quickly diffusing. "What is it?"

He looked at me, but reluctantly spoke. "I got a call from Gazzy while you were on the laptop. Angel's missing."

I stared at him. "What?" I know that Max had mentioned to me something about her, but she was too hysterical for me to understand what she was actually saying.

He just nodded. Now I understood his distant look. He viewed Angel as his little sister, of sorts, since his mother had a miscarriage when he was younger. A girl. She would be the same age as Angel if she had lived. So her disappearance would affect him more deeply than most.

But even then, I knew that wasn't everything. "What else?" I asked softly.

He just shook his head. "It's just a thought I had. It's probably nothing…" His voice trailed off.

"Iggy, what?"

He fidgeted. "Well, you know how the file, Max's file, mentioned 108B? And how that one was part bird too? Or something like that?"

I nodded, wondering where he was going with this.

"Well, I just remembered that the one thing I read in your file, in Dr. Emerson's office, was Experiment 108B."

My face paled as I realized what he was going to say.

"Fang, I think that's you. I think you're part bird."

I almost started hyperventilating right then and there. How? Wouldn't I notice something like that? Wouldn't I know if I was part bird? That's something that wouldn't normally go unnoticed.

Of course, this wouldn't normally happen at all.

I sat back down in the char, stunned.

"Of course, this could all just be theory." Iggy pointed out hastily.

I nodded. Yeah, yeah that was it. No proof, just a theory. Theories were wrong all the time. I hoped this one was too.

I sat there for a few moments, letting this thought sink in. But then I realized that we had a bigger problem. If Max was kidnapped because she was part bird, or an experiment, or whatever she was (at least, I'm assuming that was why she was kidnapped), and if I was also like her, then, would they be coming for me next?

I suddenly felt an urgency to leave, paranoia kicking in violently.

And I made a split second decision.

"Iggy."

He looked up. "Yeah?"

"We're going to New York. And as soon as possible." I spoke seriously. I would get to the bottom of this fiasco, no matter what.

I would save Max and Angel. And no one would be able to get in my way.

If only I had known what kind of trouble I would be getting us into.

"Sir?"

The Director turned around in his chair and looked at the red headed scientist. "What?" He snapped back at her, not in the mood to talk to anyone.

She looked afraid and hesitant to speak. "You commanded that experiment 108A go through with transformation, correct?"

He rolled his eyes. "Yes. Why?"

The young woman looked down and rubbed her hands together nervously. "Well, you do realize that the transformation began a couple months early, right?"

The Director paused. Yes, he had taken that into consideration. However, it wasn't normal for a scientist to go back and question his decisions, no matter how drastic they were. He raised an eyebrow at her. "I did realize this, why?" He questioned.

"Well, me and a few others were just wondering if that was the smartest move…"

He laughed. "Oh? So now you're questioning me?" He stood from his chair and loomed over her threateningly.

The woman's eyes widened, and she backed away slightly. "Oh! No, no of course not, Director, but when the experiment started showing unexpected… side effects, well-"

He interrupted her, suddenly interested. "Side effects? What sort of side effects?"

"Her bones aren't transforming fully. And it looks like there may be some brain damage…" She said quietly, afraid of the Director's reaction. She knew that he viewed the experiment highly.

"Brain damage? What sort? Will she survive?" He spoke hastily. To anyone who did not know the man, he would have sounded almost worried for the experiment's well being.

But of course, this was the Director. He cared for no one.

"She will survive, but we fear that the link has been broken, and she will experience bouts of intense pain. We have her on medication now, but we can't keep her on it forever."

"Why not?" He snapped.

"Well," she hesitated. "Well because that could kill her, sir, or potentially cause more brain damage."

The Director sat back down in his chair with a sigh. "I guess we will have to pull her off of it at some time then, but try to postpone that as long as possible. And cancel the strike on 108B, and have him undergo the experiment on time. We can't have this happen to him as well. Perhaps we can use him to save the link." He eyed 108B's file, which was on his desk. He would have to go through it again later. He ran a hand through his hair tiredly. "Is that all, Brigid?" He asked.

The young scientist bit her lip anxiously. "Actually, there are a few more matters."

"Go on, then."

"He has her file, sir."

Finally, something going as planned. "So, Dr. Emerson did his job, then. Good."

Brigid looked like she wanted to say something, but she held back, which the Director noticed. "What's on your mind?" He inquired.

She hesitated once again, but finally worked up the courage to speak. "Well, I was just curious, what was the purpose of placing the file in his hands?"

The Director smiled. "Mind games, Brigid. You know how much I love mind games."

Brigid shivered. Her boss gave her the creeps, sometimes. "Oh, and the two of them quit this morning."

"That's to be expected." He cracked his knuckles. "Anything else?" He asked, annoyed.

"Experiment 108B has bought a ticket for New York. He's leaving in two days. Shall we send someone to follow him?"

He squinted. "Yes. Send in Jackson. Tell him to be covert. No one is to notice that he is even there. Is anyone accompanying the experiment?"

She looked at her clipboard. "Yes, it seems that his friend named Iggy will be coming as well. A third ticket was purchased, but it is unknown who will be using it."

He frowned. "Find out. And quickly." He cracked his neck slowly, making Brigid flinch. "Is that all?"

Brigid looked down at her clipboard once again. "Oh, yes." She hesitated. She knew that this information would perturb him. "Her, her mother, sir."

This got his attention. He sat up in his chair quickly. "What about her?"

"She's been asking about her."

"Impossible, she-"

"Not her, sir. I mean her mother."

The Director looked up in surprise. "What?"

"I'm afraid she's been researching Itex, sir. Around a month ago. She's become suspicious that she's been lied to."

The director ran a hand over his face. "Great." He muttered. He couldn't have her ruining all of this. He needed a solution, and fast. "Could you make an accident happen, perhaps?"

Brigid's eyes widened. "But sir-"

"Don't question me!" He roared.

Brigid shrunk back. She had only been at this job for a little less than a year, and she already hated it. But she nodded anyway, jotting something down on her clipboard. "As you wish, sir."

He sat back, relaxing slightly. "Good."

"Oh, and sir, what about the young one? Experiment 163A?"

"What about her?"

"Her process had been scheduled for today, bur she gave a fight and the procedure was postponed to an hour from now. Shall we stick with this plan, or wait?"

The Director sat back in his chair, thinking. "Wait a little. See what happens. If starting the process early created side effects, I'm curious if waiting will as well. I'll let you know when I want it to happen."

Brigid nodded, adding more notes to the clipboard. "That is all I have for you, sir."

"Good. You are dismissed."

Brigid nodded and walked out of the office, relieved. The Director got up from his chair and began to pace. He was thinking. Thinking about these experiments that he had come to know.

He thought about Max.

One thing that he had not anticipated upon receiving this particular assignment was to end up actually caring for the girl. Of course, his job and experimentation came first, but he could not help but take pity on her.

He had raised her, after all.

I hope you enjoyed the chapter! Leave a review if you like; they're always appreciated!