me: Sorry I updated so soon. I just really wanted to write the next chapter!
Angel: Well, what happened to Mark? You could at least tell me that.
me: He died in the BOOM!, so he doesn't get to see his new daughter.
Total: Aww! I'd hate to not be able to see one of my newborn pups.
me: ....no comment....
Angel: Yes. So disclaimer?
Disclaimer: MR no own. Same as last chapter.
me: And thank you to fangluvr4eva for giving me the idea for the flashback! So enjoy!
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"Andie, pass the ketchup," Katrina said, holding out her hand. Andie grabbed it and squirted a little on her French fries before giving it to Katrina. We had both had long days as work.
I looked around the table. Andie was picking thick fies and dropping them in her mouth, making the ketchup dribble down her chin. She wiped it with a napkin. Katrina looked like she was about to fall asleep. "Andrew! Use a fork! That's gross!" I said. Andrew was picking apart his pot roast meat with his fingers, making me crinkle my nose.
Albert's wife and two kids sat at the end in silence, they hadn't talked much since they found about about Mr. Albert Dale's death. I felt so sorry for them. And the Generals in Iraq and government officials probably didn't care. Meanwhile it was ripping apart everyone Mr. Dale loves.
"Mom," Andrew said. "Are you going to get the door?"
Then I heard the doorbell ring. I had been so soaked in my gaze that I hadn't heard the door. I stood up and opened it. The mailman was there, a concerned look on his face. "Hey, Max," he said. "I thought I might personally drop off this one." He pulled a few envelopes out of his bag and gave it too me.
One had Fang's writing and his base camp return address. But the other looked more official, typed writing, military emblem. My heart skipped a beat.
It was the same envelope Mrs. Dale got.
I tore it open and read the neatly folded paper. Tears came in my eyes. The mailman hadn't moved, waiting to see what happened. He was the same one who delivered the news to Mrs. Dale, and knew what it probably meant. Or a higher position rate.
Mrs. Dale must have seen the envelope on the ground, because she came over and wrapped her arms around my shoulders, reading the letter. She looked up at the mailman that was still there. "Fang was killed in battle," she said. The words stung even though I already knew it. "His tent blew up. They couldn't find his body."
I knew that Fang couldn't be dead. He had been in the military since the twins were born, before. He even said it was more likely getting killed here in America then in Iraq. (A/N A military officer came to our school for career day. You really are more likely to be killed here.) I knew he had somehow survived, I felt it in my gut. And usually my gut is right.
That night I lay in bed, thinking about what to do. I knew I was right, Fang was alive. He might have been blown away, and that's why they couldn't find his body, and maybe he just hasn't presented himself. Or maybe he really did die in the bomb. No, Max. Don't think that. He's alive. I know it.
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"Hey, Els. It's Max. Listen, I got a letter last night that said that Fang.....died in a bombing tent.....but I know it's not true. Fang's stronger then they know. I'm going to Iraq to look for him. Would you mind keeping the kids? I don't know how long I'll be gone, but give me a call back. Thanks, bye."
That was what I left on Ella's answering machine. That was the best I could do. Way to dump everything on her. Of course I told Katrina, but I couldn't think of what to tell the twins. "Bye, guys. I'm going to Iraq for a little vaction to save your dead father where I might get blown up! Have fun!"
No. What could possibly happen? I thought of what happened....that day. The day none of us like to talk about.
-flashback-
I, sixteen-year-old me, was woken up by being lifted about fifteen feet off the ground. I yelled for the others to wake up as I went into fighting mode. It was...Erasers? I thought they were dead! We hadn't seen them since that day Angel kicked me out of the flock.
My fist connected with his head, my foot with his stomach. But he didn't even flinch. Like he suddently became industructable. No matter what I did, the hardest punches or kicks, what would usually make an Eraser scream for their mommies, didn't even affect this one. He just held me with that iron grip.
The others seemed to be having the same problem. They were lifted out of their sleep, too. Then, as if they rehearsed it, they all slammed their fists in our heads, about a hundred times stronger then before. We blacked out.
"Guys?" I called when I woke up. I didn't know where I was. My vision was blurry, my nose stopped up, I didn't know anything. Maybe I did at the time, but I didn't remember it. It felt like I was on major drugs, more then when they made me think the first six months of our adventure was just a dream. "Guys? Report?"
They all grumbled their response. "What happened?" Angel asked. "I can't read anything."
I felt like I was about to black out again. I held my head, throbbing from the Eraser punch. Then something grabbed my wings and pulled. I screamed, trying to fight him. But I was too groggy to do anything but punch blindly. Then my back felt like it was on fire, right where my wings were supposed to be. I screamed louder. It didn't seem to affect anything. I just blacked out screaming, wondering if I would wake up.
The same thing had happened to the flock. They all tried to fight, unable too.
-flashback end-
I shivered at the memory. We had never seen the Erasers again, and I hope we never do. Nothing ever bothered us after that. Later when Fang, Iggy and I were in our early twenties, we felt it was safe enough to slip, but still kept careful contact with each other just in case.
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"Mom?" Katrina asked at the doorway. I looked up. I was packing best I could, with only things I absolutly need. "Why won't you take me with you?"
I stuffed in a thin blanket. "It's too dangerous, hun. And besides, if I am killed in this, I'll be your place to take care of Andie and Andrew."
"I could help you, Mom! What if...what if there's a small place you can't fit in? I've played soccer since I was five, I'm in shape!" Katrina had a point. She WAS a beanpole. "And I won't get in your way, if anything, you'll be holding us back instead of me."
True, she did have Fang's long legs. "Katina, I would love more then anything to take you with me. But I can't risk it. I may have already lost your father. I don't need to loose you too." I walked over and brushed some brown hair behind her ear.
Katrina nodded. "Okay, Mom. I understand. I'm a bigger girl then you give me credit for. Aunt Ella called, she'll keep us."
"When will she be here?"
"In two days."
I bit my lip and nodded. "Okay. We'll just tell the kids that...that I went visit Uncle Gazzy and Aunt Angel for an...emergancy meeting."
"So the movie and fashion show it out?"
"I'm afraid so. You'll be fine, Katrina. You've always taken care of Andie and Andrew when I couldn't. I trust you. Now go to work."
Katrina nodded and walked down the hall for the kitchen. She was right, she was more in shape then I was. And I would be more likely to hold us back then she would. But I couldn't risk it, who knows what would happen? I still didn't have a plan for when I got to Iraq. And I didn't have much time to think of one.
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me: Secrets in the next chapter!
Angel: Why couldn't I have taken care of my nieces and nephew?
me: Because you're a big-time music star.
Total: At least YOU aren't dead!
me: *rolls eyes* REVIEW!