-Chapter two-

"I can't believe I'm doing this." I muttered as I shoved a pair of wrinkled jeans into my forest green suitcase. "This is absolutely crazy!"

"Talking to yourself again?" a deep voice said and I jumped. I turned and saw Fang standing behind me, looking over my shoulder at the articles of clothing thrown sloppily across my bed.

You see, ever since we saved my mom from Mr. Chu and his oh-so optimistic band of M-Geeks, we hunkered down at an old military base. Since it was no longer in use (other than some research and offices) and only select people could get in, we were safe here. We all had our own rooms and we had tutors teaching us everything we'd ever need to know, but my favorite part; wide open spaces for midnight flights.

We had been living here for about six months and, amazingly, we absolutely loved it. We had connections all over the world; we had the army protecting us; and even my mom and Ella could stay with us. There was only one downside. Jeb.

Although he, and many others, thought that I should trust him, I couldn't. I was unable to let my mind get past the 'traitor' part of his actions. Nothing, I repeat, NOTHING could get me to do anything for (or with) him again. Every night I closed my eyes, hoping that I would wake up and he would disappear but, to my great dissatisfaction, he came in every morning at seven-thirty sharp, pulling me out of bed and dragging me to the mess hall for breakfast (even though I had a mini-fridge and microwave in my room, he claims that I need the 'social interaction').

"Possibly," I said, turning to face Fang. "What's it to 'ya?"

He smirked and stepped around me, plopping down softly onto my bed. I sighed and ran my fingers through my hair. I moved the suitcase to the side and sat down, dropping my head onto Fang's lap. I looked up at him through tired eyes and felt the corners of my lips twitch up as he gently stroked my hair off of my face.

"Am I just crazy?" I asked quietly. He gave me a quizzical look and I sighed, continuing. "I mean, am I the only one who is paranoid about this whole boat trip? I feel as if I'm alone in this."

He shook his head as his fingers gently brushed my cheek. "Relax, Max." he commanded. As soon as he said it, I let my muscles loosen but they tightened up five seconds later. "You're not relaxing." he noted, massaging my shoulders. I felt his fingers mold against my skin as they worked into my collar bone.

"It's a little harder than you'd think." I said frowning. "I can't just relax and pretend that everything is going to be okay." I groaned and sat up, turning around to look up at Fang. He sighed and put his hands on either side of my cheeks, pulling my head up.

"You're really beating yourself over this." he noted, probably seeing my bloodshot eyes and astray hair. I felt his thumbs gently move against my skin and I felt my whole body heat up.

"Fang," I said, sighing. He really didn't understand how I was feeling. He really couldn't understand how I was feeling. It was a gut feeling; one that couldn't be helped; one that had been haunting me for the time being. "Fang, it's not safe. I know it."

He shook his head. "It'll be okay. Don't worry."

"Yeah," I muttered, rolling my eyes. "That's what everyone is saying."

"Well, you shouldn't. You have us to handle everything." he said reassuringly. "And you know, after everything we've been through, that we can handle anything anyone throws at us."

I took a deep breath, unable to believe what I was doing. I was really giving in. "Yeah, I know." I muttered, looking away from Fang. I hated when he was right but I hated being wrong more. I watched as he stood up, stretching out his legs.

"Goodnight, Max." He whispered as he bent down. He gently moved my hair off of my forehead and kissed me lightly. I watched has he turned on his heel and walked out of my room. I groaned and closed my eyes, falling backwards onto my bed. Time for my next task. Surviving two weeks on a ship.

There we were, me and it, staring each other down. I knew it would win. I knew I had to go although I didn't want to. I was going to try as hard as I could to make this enjoyable but I made no promises.

I inhaled deeply, smelling the salty water. I looked around and saw people all around me, bustling around the dock. I sighed and took a step forward, feeling my stomach plunge as soon as my feet left dry land. I continued walking up the steep metal ramp until the old blue paint on the metal turned into the sleek, polished wood floor of the cruise ship.

I slung my duffel bag over my shoulder and walked down the side of the ship, past some older couples waving goodbye to their families for two weeks, over to where the flock was sitting around a table on the open deck. Even though this cruise was set up by the CSM, some 'normal' people were allowed on with us if they had the right connections. I dropped my bag down next to the last open chair and plopped down, putting my head in my hands.

I glanced up at the flock who were all chatting away. Nudge, Angel, and the Gasman were talking about some cartoon movie they had seen the night before. They had stayed up way past their bedtime. I swear, sometimes they just do this kind if stuff to annoy me.

Iggy had his eyes closed, his forehead against the table. His cheeks were a dull red and it looked as though he was about to throw up. It looked like I wasn't the only one who didn't like boats.

Fang was looking at me, curiosity hidden deep in his eyes. I felt my stomach flip as the fog horn went off, signaling it was time to leave. I think I even heard myself whimper. Fang held out his hand to me, offering me his water. I swiped it out of his hands, bringing it up to my lips. I felt the cool rush of the liquid slide easily down my parched throat. I took a long swig out of the bottle, drinking more than half. I lowered it from my lips and handed it back to Fang.

"Geez, Max." he said, looking from the bottle to me. "You really hate boats." he said, pointing out the obvious. I rolled my eyes and stood up, picking up my duffel.

"I'm going to go find my cabin." I said, looking from one flock member to another. I got a couple nods and one or two 'kay's.

"I'll come with you." Iggy said, pulling his head off of the table and standing up. He swiped his bag off the back of the chair and quickly maneuvered himself around Fang's chair and over to me. We started to walk down the side of the ship. I tried to avoid looking at the waves surging past us in the water.

"Hate the boat?" I asked Iggy, already knowing the answer.

"I don't think hate is the word." he answered bitterly, his tedious eyes going haywire. "More like despise. Detest." I heard him sigh and I frowned. I knew Iggy didn't like boats but I didn't know it was this bad.

"Why, though?" I asked. I had never found out why he 'detested' boats.

"It's like I'm losing my hearing too." he said, looking up at me. "When I try and listen to something I would be able to hear on land like footsteps, I can't hear them. All I can hear is water. Nothing else." I looked up at him, sympathy showing in my eyes.

"I'm sorry." I muttered realizing how bad he must really have it.

"It's okay." he said. I grabbed his arm and pulled him to our left, down a hallway leading to the indoor rooms. He groaned and hung his head. "Max?" he asked, looking at me. I couldn't respond. "Can you be my eyes? Just for the next few weeks. I need a way to see since I lost my last ability to."

"Sure, Ig." I said, stopping dead, looking around. "No problem." he turned and gave me a quick hug.

"Thank you." he whispered in my ear. I could feel in his breath that he was shaking. He pulled away from me and I reached into my pocket, pulling out two card keys.

"Your room is right behind you." I said, watching him turn around and slide the card through the automatic lock. I made sure he got into his room before I turned to my own.

I had convinced Jeb to let us all stay in one hallway and share rooms; just so everyone was more comfortable. Iggy and Fang were sharing since they were the two oldest males in the flock. Angel and the Gasman because they were the only two blood relatives. Nudge and I because, well, we were the only ones left. I was the unlucky one. Nudge wasn't a good sleeper and by that, I mean she had metal objects zooming towards her as soon as she let her guard down enough to fall asleep; therefore, she's up all night. I'd have to make sure everything metal was either confiscated or securely fastened to the wall or floor.

I let myself into the room and tossed my bag onto the small armchair sitting in the corner of the room. I collapsed onto one of the beds and closed my eyes, feeling the darkness take me over.

"Max? Max? MAX!" a voice called from above me. I opened my eyes slowly and saw dark hair falling around my face. "Are you coming to lunch or not?" The voice said impatiently as I realized that it was my lovely roomie, Nudge.

"Yeah, yeah." I mumbled, sitting up. "I'm coming." I stood up and stretched out my back, feeling it crack as I turned. I looked back over at Nudge, who had a look of disgust on her mocha-colored face.

"Ew!" she exclaimed, shuddering. "How can you crack your back like that?" she asked, horrified. She ended up going on a rant on how she can only crack her pinky toe without getting creeped out. I tuned her out after 'Like oh my gosh!'.

We walked out of the door, joining Iggy and Fang, who I assumed came to get Iggy, in the hallway.

"Have a nice nap?" Fang said as we started walking down the hallway. I looked over at him, surprised. How did he-?

"How did you know I was sleeping?" I asked, narrowing my eyes.

"I know everything. As I keep reminding you." he said, smugly. I rolled my eyes and concentrated on getting to lunch. I made sure to keep an eye on Iggy. I knew he could sometimes be sensitive about being blind but I wasn't sure how long he could joke about it.

We reached the cafe where we were going to be eating for the next two weeks in about five minutes. A good walk from our rooms considering six tired, hungry bird kids is not a very pretty sight (or sound).

I took an empty seat in between Nudge and Iggy while I grabbed a plate and put a mound of salad on it. Who said we weren't healthy?

I just sat and watched as everyone talked. As I poured ranch dressing onto my salad, I looked around. Angel and the Gasman were talking to my mom about why Ella couldn't have come. Sadly, she still had to go to school. Unlike us, she went to an actual school rather than being home-schooled.

Nudge was talking to the ship's technician or whoever he was about the engine and how the ship worked; basically all of that science-y stuff only Nudge would understand. She was so entranced in the conversation that she kept missing her mouth with her fork. To my left I saw Fang and Brigid talking. Actually, it was more like Brigid was talking and Fang was nodding his head. I listened a little harder and heard her describe everything that there was to do on the ship including swimming, games, parties, and so on. Fang honestly looked bored out of his mind.

I noticed that Iggy was starting to join in on Nudge and the ship's technician. He started to add in questions about the capabilities and what kind of fuel the ship used. I guessed he was feeling a bit better.

That left me; the only one not talking to someone but I really didn't mind. I liked when I could get my thoughts together. I sighed and reached out, grabbing a piece of garlic bread, seeing Brigid staring at it with disgust.

"Don't like garlic?" I asked, noticing she was eating regular, buttered bread. She looked up at me and smiled.

"Not since I was a little kid." she said, absentmindedly twirling her fork across her plate. "I don't know why but as soon as I hit thirteen, I've hated garlic. It's weird, I know." I nodded, agreeing. It was weird.

That's how the whole meal went, useless conversation and mindless eating; just like every other day.

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