Chapter 3

After the flock and I were assigned to our rooms, I began unpacking-as if I had anything to unpack, maybe a cotton t-shirt and a pair of old jeans, but that was about it. Grabbing a pillow, I flopped down on the bed and took in a deep breath, a mix of emotions coming to me at once. There was joy over seeing my mom and my half-sister, Ella, comfort knowing that my flock would be somewhat safer for the next few days, but there was also worry. What was this mission and what makes it so dangerous? Is it even dangerous at all, or are we just doing 'research,' like on the Wendy K? And is there something they're not telling us? I closed my eyes and let out a deep breath, trying to keep my head and my sanity, or what little of it I have left. There was a knock at the door.

"Come in," I said, without opening my eyes.

"Yo," said a familiar voice. "Time for dinner."

I sat up. "K," I replied quietly, already knowing that this wasn't the end of our conversation.

Reading my mind (not literally of course, Angel has that covered.), Fang closed the door behind him. "What's up?"

"I'm fine," I answered. "Just thinking about the new mission, that's all."

Fang nodded, understanding exactly what I meant. He sat down on the bed next to me and grabbed my right shoulder, pulling me closer to him. "Whatever it is we can handle it," he said, rubbing my shoulder. "We always do."

I nodded into his chest, laughing to myself. I must've said those ten words to myself thousands of times but it only made sense coming from him.

"I know," I finally said after a long pause. I took his hand off my shoulder and started to get up. "But right now, let's focus on the positives. We're not on a cave floor, we're not eating desert rat tonight, and--." I stopped myself before I could say it.

"And what?" Fang asked standing up.

Come on, Max, think. "And, my mom made cookies," I said lamely. "So, let's go with that and take the good with the bad," I added. Lately, I've been sounding like a fortune cookie on steroids. Gee, do you think anyone's noticed?

"Max, dinner's waiting," my mom called from the kitchen.

"I'm coming," I answered. I looked at Fang, who was in between me and the door. "You ready to go?" I asked, wondering if I was going to get a straight answer.

"Yeah," he said, surprising me. "Ready when you are." He stepped out of the way and made a gesture to the door.

When we got downstairs, everyone was sitting at the table. Considering I was used to tossing the ketchup over an open fire, saying this was a step up for me would be an understatement. I walked to the table and took a seat. Fang sat next to me.

Ella, Angel, and Nudge were sitting next to each other, giggling about something I couldn't understand, while Total sat on Angel's lap, waiting for Dr. Martinez to come back with a booster seat. Gazzy and Iggy were sitting at the end of the table and Gazzy was whispering something into his ear. I rolled my eyes and prayed to God they weren't figuring out how to turn potato casserole into a bomb. Fang and I were across from the girls (who were now so hysterical I thought I would have to spray them with water to get them to calm down) and Dr. Martinez had set herself a plate at the other end of the table. That's when I noticed it. I counted again just to be sure. 10. She set ten plates. Nudge, Iggy, Gazzy, Angel, Total, Me, Fang, Ella, and Dr. Martinez made nine. I looked at Fang and realized he'd noticed it to.

Jeb was coming for dinner.