Chapter Five: Five

Author's Note: Sorry it's so late, but I'm working really hard to catch up.

Disclaimer: I don't own Maximum Ride, or any of it's character's. Those are JP's. I own OCs. (That rhymes, to my child-like amusement.)

By the time we were all finished laughing our heads off, Fang was glaring at us all irritably. "What?" He demanded angrily.

"Ig—" Nudge started, but was cut off by Iggy.

"—Nothing, nothing, just enjoy your meal." He attempted a sweet smile, but it looked more devilish to me.

Fang sighed. "Iggy, I swear to God, I will kill you. I know where you sleep at night."

"Doesn't help much, I'm on first watch tonight." Iggy stuck his tongue out. The rest of us couldn't help but laugh a little bit.

Fang opened his mouth to say something else, but was cut off by Angel's yawn.

"Maybe it is time for bed. Angel's tired, and we all need to sleep," Max said as she smoothed down the blonde girl's hair.

"I'm not tired," Angel protested around another yawn.

"I bet you're not," Max said, kissing the blonde girl's forehead. "But we stayed up late last night after that attack, and we need rest."

Angel pouted a bit, but said okay.

I smiled. It was cool, seeing Max be all motherly. I mean, who knew someone with such a tough life could be so soft and nice? I'm certainly not.

So we all curled up around the fire. Iggy sat with his legs crossed, head cocked to listen for signs of danger, at least I guessed. Max laid down, but elevated herself on her elbows, obviously thinking. I pretended to be asleep, more for the younger kids' benefit than mine. Fang was sitting up and staring at me, not bothering with being subtle.

After an hour or two, when the younger kids were asleep, Fang stood up. He walked over to Max and nudged her gently with his foot. "I need to talk to you," was all he said before walking away into the woods, in the direction of the creek. Max grumbled under her breath, but got up to follow him.

I sat up and sighed. I could already hear the sounds of those two fighting. This was all my fault. I had hung out with them for a day, and was already ruining their friendships. I shouldn't have stayed, shouldn't have talked and been so friendly. I should have just left—

"They do that a lot." Iggy's voice brought me out of my thoughts. "Fight, I mean. It's not your fault. Fang pretty much just likes to fight, and Max is an easy target for him because she won't leave him."

"Are they dating or something?" I asked.

"Kind of. I don't even know at this point."

We just let that hang for a moment before Iggy changed the subject.

"So… Do you think it's possible that we're related?"

"I don't know. Those sickos are capable of anything." Really.

"Yeah, no kidding." He sighed.

"Is that how, uh..." I began awkwardly, then trailed off. I didn't know how to ask, because I didn't want to offend him or anything.

"I went blind?" He finished for me. "Yeah." He got a far-off look on his face as he said, not a little bitterly, "When I was little, like three or four, they wanted to enhance my night-vision, or some shit like that. When they were done, they put bandages over my eyes and told me that if I took it off, I became an Eraser chew toy. A few days later, they took it off, but I still couldn't see, and never could again."

When he finished his story, we sat in heavy silence. After a minute or two, he shook his head, as if to clear it, and turned towards me.

"But the past is past, so…. Anyway, you need to get some sleep. We've all had a shitty day." He smiled, and I gave a weak smile in return. He really wasn't kidding when he said we'd had a shitty day. I leaned back and drew my blanket over me, falling into an uneasy sleep.

I woke up before the others, and just sat for a moment before realizing that I hadn't had a bad dream for the first time in weeks. I couldn't even help the sigh of relief that escaped my lips.

I looked around me. Everyone was asleep except Fang, who had the last watch. Which would make it easier. I had already made up my mind, late last night. I was doing it.

I rolled up my blanket and stuffed it into my backpack. I put my windbreaker in there too. Fang watched all this warily, but didn't say a thing. He had probably already realized what was happening.

I stood up, and took in the scene below me. The Flock sleeping peacefully. Most likely the last image I would ever have of them. I shook my head to clear it, and oh-so-suavely immediately stepped on a stick that crunched loudly under my foot.

Max shot bolt upright with a gasp. She jumped up into a fighting stance, saw me, relaxed, realized what I was doing, and tensed again.

"Glory, what are you doing?" The hurt in her voice was clear. I was caught.

"I'm, uh— um," I started awkwardly. "I gotta go, Max. Maybe, um, I'll see you again sometime."

"Glory?"

Great, now everyone's getting up, I thought as I looked down into Angel's innocent blue eyes and noticed that Iggy was sitting up.

"Angel, I'm leaving. Me being with you only puts you in more danger," I told her sadly.

"We're in danger every day, and you with us makes us stronger," Max said fiercely, loud enough to wake the others.

"No, Max, it doesn't. It makes all of us vulnerable," I said back a little louder, getting defensive.

"He's right, Max," Fang tried softly.

"What do you know about this Fang?! You don't even like him, and you don't know him at all!"

Iggy opened his mouth to say something, probably to calm the heated argument, but was cut off.

Because then the Erasers came.

Yeah, this one is super cheesy and corny, but I had to try to write it really quick, because I'm trying to get back on schedule and write ahead so I don't get so behind. I've had writer's block, and I've been working on two million other stories, and my own independent novels that I'm trying to write. But don't worry, I'm working really hard, and I'm picking this back up. I'm determined to finish this.