I'm back! I am sorry for the long wait but I have been very busy and had a small case of writer's block but it has been overcome. Thank you everybody for all of the reviews!!!! Please keep reviewing with your thoughts and ideas, I really appreciate it.
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On with chapter 12. ENJOY!
Disclaimer: I do not own Maximum Ride. All rights to publish Maximum Ride remain with JP.
I was floating in a dark void of nothingness. I could faintly hear voices around me but whenever I tried to concentrate on the words they would jumble together beyond recognition. Every way I looked I was surrounded by an unchanging darkness. The blackness surrounding me was so deep that it looked as if someone had colored the walls with sharpie. Time seemed to stop as I stayed trapped in my dark prison of nothingness. There was no way to tell how long I stayed the way I was.
At some point the voices started to get louder and louder but I still was unable to decipher what they were saying. My mind was frozen beyond the point of knowledge. As the voices grew louder my head began throbbing. My world of quiet nothingness had turned into a nightmare. The voices came from all sides, overriding my senses. The throbbing in my head turned to a fierce pounding that spread throughout my body.
As the darkness began two recede the jumbled voices began to make sense and I was able to decipher the words.
"Dr. M, you have to help her!"
"It's too late; even if we took her to a hospital she's lost to much blood."
"No! We can't just sit around and watch her die."
I wanted to speak but my mouth couldn't form words. I wanted to tell them that I would be okay. My vision returned and I was able to see the forms of Max, Fang, Iggy and Dr. M leaning over me with concern practically radiating off of them. No one seemed to realize that I was able to see what was happening and they continued to panic.
"Her pulse is slowing," Dr. M said worriedly and I could faintly feel her fingers pressed against my wrist.
Several gasps followed this statement and as my senses fully returned I was able to hear the muffled sobs of the younger kids and a faint whisper from Fang, "It should have been me."
It was at this moment that I could feel my power begin to work its magic. The bullet had hit me in the stomach since it had been aimed at Fang's heart and I was shorter than him. As the skin tissue of my stomach knit itself back together my strength began to return. Everyone had turned their bodies away from me out of grief except Iggy but he was blind so he was unable to see what was happening.
When the process was complete and my stomach was completely healed I sat up into a sitting position.
"What'd I miss," I asked trying to lighten up the somber mood.
Ten faces, counting Total, swiftly turned my way each showing a mixture of shock and confusion.
"What is going on," Iggy complained annoyed at only being able to hear me but not able to see what was going on.
"I'm alive," I said rolling my eyes at all the gaping faces.
"Ember," Angel screamed breaking the younger kids out of their reverie and causing me to be trampled by her, Nudge, Gazzy, Ella and Total as they all tried to hug me.
After everyone had accepted that I was alive I began to give hugs to everyone else, except Max who was eyeing my suspiciously. As I walked up to Fang to give my last hug to him I noticed that he would not look at me. When I reached him I lightly placed my hand on his cheek and turned his head to face me.
In the moonlight I could see a single, silent tear making its way down his face. The look on his face showed me every ounce of pain he had felt at thinking I was gone and that it was his fault. I threw my arms around his neck to comfort him and he wrapped his arms around my waist.
"I'm so sorry," he whispered, "I should have protected you."
"It's not your fault," I told him, "I knew I would be okay."
He pulled back slightly to look at me and when I was sure he was okay we went to sit with the rest of the Flock.
"I assume you want an explanation," I said to Max.
"It would be nice," she said although she did not sound as sarcastic as I thought she would.
Once again we all sat around the camp fire and I prepared to tell them the truth. The only problem was I didn't know if they would accept me or not. Angel sat encouragingly at my side holding my hand and I gave her a small smile in thanks.
"I have a power like Angel," I began "The scientist noticed that after they pierced my skin or broke my bones that they would heal almost instantly." I took a deep breath before continuing. "They began to test me to see what the limits on my ability were but they found none. The more severe the injury the longer it took to heal but even after they cut off my arm it only took minutes for a new one to grow back."
Everyone's faces were turned towards me displayed expressions of shock and horror.
Max was the first to regain her composure, "Do you have any other abilities?"
"It's not really an ability because I was born with it but, I have a photographic memory which allows me to remember everything I learn. That's why the whitecoats taught me so many things. I think I know about twenty different languages," I explained.
"Why didn't you tell us," she asked defiantly.
"I didn't want to give away all of my secrets in case you decided not to let me stay," I muttered quietly. Looking up I stared directly into Max's eyes, "You would have done the same."
"I did," she replied, "We all have different abilities but I suggested we not tell you because I didn't know if we could trust you."
I watched as she contemplated telling me the abilities of her Flock. Surprisingly she decided to continue, "I can fly at super fast speeds, breathe under water and have a voice in my head that tells us what to do. Fang can turn invisible if he stays still and can breathe under water. Iggy can see white and feel colors. Nudge can attract metal objects and is an excellent hacker. Gazzy can mimic voices and you've already witnessed his other skill. Angel can read minds, breathe under water and change into a bird of paradise."
"Wow, your abilities are way cooler," I said smiling.
"Yeah right, you can heal all of your injuries and can remember everything you see..." Nudge said before Iggy placed his hand over her mouth.
"Um, there's something I haven't mention yet," I stuttered awkwardly. "I can do more than just heal myself, I can heal others too."
"Well, that could come in handy considering the Erasers are back," Jeb said obviously not getting my point.
"That's not what I mean," I continued, "It's not just injuries I can heal. It's injuries, sicknesses, diseases and disorders, whether the person was born with it or not," I finished looking straight at Iggy.
"Do you mean that you could…?" Mac trailed off obviously catching on.
"Yes, if he wanted I could give Iggy his sight back," I stated.
"I want more than anything to be able to see again," Iggy said determinedly.
I looked at Max for permission, with a slight nod of her head I walked towards Iggy.
"Close your eyes Iggy." He did as I said and once they were closed I gently laid the tips of my fingertips on his closed lids. Taking a deep breath I let the energy in my body flow through me and to Iggy. My strength quickly began to fade as it transferred to Iggy. Healing others took a great amount of strength but at that moment I realized I would do anything for him.
Just when I thought I would collapse the process was complete and I stepped back from Iggy and sat in a chair behind the others to regain me strength. I watched as he hesitantly opened his eyes and looked at each of the faces surrounding him.
"I can see," he whispered in complete disbelief.
"Iggy!" everyone screamed as they crowded around him with hugs and congratulations. Every time he looked at someone he would hold them at arm's length and memorize every feature on their face like he expected his sight to disappear at any moment.
After her hug Max came over to sit beside me. "What you did was incredible."
"I would have done it sooner if I knew you would be this accepting of my ability."
"The point is," she continued bluntly, "within the last 24 hours you've stood up to a gang for us, saved Fang's life and given Iggy back his sight. I guess what I'm trying to say is that I trust you and welcome to the Flock."
The two of us shook hands and gave each other understanding smiles before redirecting our gazes back to the Flock who had all begun to stare at us.
"Ember," Iggy said slowly walking towards the front of the group to stand before me.
"Hey, Iggy," I said standing up and watching from the corner of my eye as everyone else went back to the house, probably to give us some sort of privacy.
"Thank you," he said throwing his arms around me.
"You're welcome," I replied returning his embrace. While we stood there I couldn't help think about how right it felt to be in Iggy's arms.
When he let go I waited patiently as he memorized my face like he had done with everyone else.
Leaning down he placed his lips by my ear and whispered the one word I thought I would never hear used to describe me, "Beautiful."
Yes, a cliffhanger again!! I know I'm evil but I have the day off from school tomorrow so I will be writing the next chapter. Review if you want it to be posted faster!!!!
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Till the next chapter!