We finally found a starbucks which overlooked a beautiful, there was a lot of trees even a lake which got me thinking that how can something this beautiful be in the middle of such a crowded city. I was told to find a table while they ordered some things to drink so I picked one overlooking the park and sat. I heard a bell chime which means someone is entering the shop so being the noisy person I am I looked over my shoulder, entering was four boys and three girls of varying ages, they all (apart from one boy) looked familiar. The youngest girl who was being carried by the oldest started to struggle in her arms, I heard the older girl say her name "Angel". Everything started flooding back to me, it was the flock. Angel broke free of Max's grip and started running towards me. I embraced her for what seemed like an eternity but I heard the others coming so I picked her up and rested her on my hip, she clung to me like wild animals do with their mothers.

"And who are you" spat Max

I repeated the phrase I used to say before bed and slow recognition crept onto the faces of Nudge and Gazzy who then walked and gave me a hug (I could tell they were worried about what Max would think) she still didn't remember so I showed her my wrist were my code was tattooed on.

"Oh yea" spat Max with a little less venom "I remember you, Dylan this is A18Z…"

"Call me Hope" I could hear Jubilee sneaking up behind me "Hi Jubilee" I said just before she could pounce.

"How come I can never sneak up on you" she complained but then stopped noticing I wasn't alone "who are these"

I started to name each member of the flock but paused when I got to the new one.

"My names Dylan" he pointed out "Max's perfect other half".

Max shoved Dylan playfully, by now Storm, Rogue and Jean had come over carrying trays full of food and drinks. Rogue passed me one of the drinks and we all sat on a larger table than the one I chose before.

"So how long have you been out Hope" asked Iggy who before this moment had been silent.

"uhm….." I thought "about four days and I spent one of them unconscious".

"So how about you" asked Storm obviously a tad annoyed that they didn't help me escape with them "how long have you been out".

"Seven years now" said Max "we have been captured a few times though" she hugged Angel close.

The bell on the door chimed again and there entered a woman and a girl, the girl was about my age they both seemed extremely annoyed, Max ducked down just before the woman could announce her voice intense "where have you been Max".

"We went to get a starbucks, but we got sidetracked because we met an old" she paused trying to find the right word "friend".

"Where did you meet" she asked.

"In the school seven years ago" I replied.

She turned towards me "and can you".

"Yes I can fly" each member of the flock looked at me "I am also fast in both healing and running and I have a couple more alterations"

"How are you fast in healing" she asked.

I picked up an unused knife and started to cut a line down my palm, she winced I did not.

"Just watch" I said and the cut healed instantly, there was nothing remaining of the cut just perfect skin.

"Extraordinary" she said "oh by the way I am Dr Valencia Martinez Max's mum and this is my daughter Ella".

"Hi" she said.

I cold chill went down my spine; I stood and looked around, something felt terribly wrong.

"What's the matter" asked Jean.

They followed them, all day to all the different shops waiting for the right time to pounce. Right now they were stationed outside a place called starbucks.

"Captain" growled one of the Erasers "we are ready to attack".

"Ok on my count" growled the Captain in return "one" they morphed "two" they crept closer "three" they pounced crashing through windows, doors and even walls.

Shattered glass was everywhere, you couldn't see because of the dust and that's saying something with my advanced sight.

"What's happening" I heard someone shout.

"Erasers" I hissed to myself. The dust started to clear and I could see that some people were on the floor hurt. I started to walk towards them, my foot hurt and so did my right shoulder. Dr Martinez was on the floor she had a number of gashes with an especially big one on her forehead, crouched over her was Ella.

"Ella" I said "get out of here, I've got your mum" she didn't hear me the first time so I repeated myself then picked up her mum. She still didn't move so I rested Dr Martinez on my bad shoulder and picked up Ella as well then headed out.

Outside everyone was gathered, I placed Dr Martinez and Ella on the floor it was only a few seconds later that they started to wake up.

"Ok is everyone here" I shouted, there were some hazy murmurs but even with that I was unsure, I looked around searching for different people, someone was missing but who …who … oh no Jubilee. I ran in to find her held up by her hands, unconscious by an Eraser. It was the one that was nice to me.

"Hand her over" I hissed weakly.

He winced "give yourself up and I will let her go".

"I will never go back" I spat.

"You will have to" he sighed.

"I'll never".

"A date" he sniffed "will appear on your neck, the date of extermination, the date of death".

"You're lying" I yelled, tears starting to well up in my eyes.

"Unfortunately not".

I heard the patter of feet behind me, a lot from what I could tell.

The Eraser threw Jubilee on the floor and shouted "I'll be back" and followed with the statement "check the neck".

We headed out side where the rest were waiting for us, they were being questioned by police officers and treated by paramedics. I was pulled over and asked numerous questions while medics attempted to treat my injuries which were rapidly healing in front of their eyes, I answered the questions with little detail, scared what will happen if I reveal to much I mean how much do they know.

We headed back to the house, the flock, Dr Martinez and Ella came to. To save room I flew with the flock and Storm (since they came on the subway) at first I struggled to keep up since I have only flown once before and we all know how that ended, not very well. It took about half an hour to get back and by the time we did I was tired but that was nothing compared to the distances the flock had flown, on the way back they were telling us about some.

"You ok" asked Dylan putting his hand on my recently healed shoulder, he quickly pulled it back.

"It's ok" I said "it's healed"

"You really do heal fast" he questioned.

"Yes it's a blessing and a curse" I unwrapped my tail from around my waist and took my hat off revealing my horns. Dylan giggled hysterically so I pushed him lightly on the shoulder.

"So how old are you" I wondered aloud "you look the same age as Max so seventeen but there's something about you which makes you seem younger".

"Honestly" the said biting his lip "three".

If I was drinking I would have done a spit take.

"Three" I stammered "but… what….. how… uhm…. What"

"Three years ago I was cloned from an original Dylan who died in a car crash".

"How come I never saw you at the school then".

"Dr Gunther Hagen made me".

"Ok that kind of explains it".

There was a loud bang inside and we ran in, the first thing we heard was a voice full of annoyance shouting "I can't believe you blew up the microwave".

"Must be Gazzy" joked Dylan.

"No" I said "it must be Gambit".

"You care to bet" he asked.

"Go for it" I said

"Ok" he thought "loser must do a dare of the winners devising.

"Deal" we spat on our hands and shook them then headed off to find out who blew up the microwave…. I lost.

When we got there, there was chaos. Gazzy was being chased around with a brush and everyone was talking over everyone else.

"So what's my dare" I asked slightly worried.

"Kiss me" he said.

I looked at him, then at Max and replied "You said it yourself, you're Max's perfect other half. I can't"

"Either kiss me" he challenged "or bund your hands and wings and jump off the roof".

"Fine" I said holding my head up high, he leant down for a kiss but I walked past him on the hunt for string. It wasn't that hard to find, there was a whole load of it in one of the drawers.

"W-where are yo-ou going" he stammered.

"To the roof" I replied certainly "it was your remember".

"b-b-b" he stopped. I headed towards the servants stairs because they lead right up to the roof. Once he got his act together he said with a hint of sarcasm in his voice "You're not actually going to do this are you".

"Of course I am" I turned around to look at him "you did dare me".

The roof was large and flat, there were some pigeons resting on there but as soon as they spotted us they flew away. I tied up my wings and with a great effort managed to tie up my hands aswell. It was a clear drop, straight down, any ordinary person would die. I on the other hand may retain injuries which would take an hour or so to heal. I edged carefully toward the edge, a notch of fear crept its way in to me so I just closed my eyes took a deep breath in and stepped forward. It feel like I was falling, more like I was just in mid-air hanging so I decided to open my eyes. I was back on the roof with a very annoyed storm and a mortified Dylan. They start to undo the knot which kept my hands and wings bound together.

"Why" she croaked her voice filled with hurt and sadness.

"He dared me to" I said starting to feel bad, what if they kick me out now.

There was a moment of silence then Dylan spoke "I didn't think she would actually do it" his voice was timid, like how little boys voices go when they are being told of "anyway you could have just kissed me" implied Dylan.

"Ew" I pretend vomited "anyway you're Max's"