Chapter 11 - Realization
I couldn't move. Frozen into complete shock. I wasn't sure which emotion was winning in the grapple that was taking place in my chest. Confusion, rage, betrayal, hurt- I felt like I could die, but since I was technically dead I knew I didn't have time to be melodramatic.
Slowly, mechanically, I floated toward the six figures retreating in the distance, one flying clumsily compared to the rest. I always used to tease Max about being an uncoordinated flyer, but Derrick was making her look like the freaking Blue Angels. This doesn't sit well with me. A kindle of something reawakened in my core, helping me keep focus. I don't know how much time I had left, but I had to keep up with them in order to have some kind of hope in getting my body back.
But I was at an extreme disadvantage. Most of the Flock believed that Derrick-in-my-body was really me, and Max was undecided. I always had a chance in convincing her, but as long as they were in the air I had no way of communicating with her. Derrick was an experienced ghost, one who knew so much more to this non-life than I did. If there was some was of repossessing a Possession, he would have a better idea that me. Who would help me? The Flock can't. And I don't want Zeke to think that I can't handle this on my own.
Now what?
The flight was tense and awkward. I eventually caught up with Max, who was leading our formation. She had the strangest expression on her face; she looked concentrated. Now Max was always one who was planning escape routes in her head, thinking of plans, this was different. When we fly, it's like the most thrilling, most right thing in the world. It's hard to forget that we have such screwed up lives when we're in the air. Seeing Max like this was unsettling.
Lagging behind, but pulling up slowly, was Derrick. He was definitely struggling on what was a routine flight. The weather was perfect, the air resistance up at our altitude hardly affecting us (not that I could really tell - I couldn't feel a thing). He was oscillating in the air, bobbing like a jug in the water. It was not only the funniest damn thing I've seen in my life, but I was also extremely furious. He was making me look bad!
Max finally seemed to notice his horrible flight when he narrowly escaped bumping into Gazzy, who shouted in protest. She turned around and glared at Derrick. "Hey, what's the matter with you?"
"You're not hurt again, are you Fang?" Nudge asked. I grimaced. She was referring to the time when I had been slashed open by Erasers and nearly bled to death in the air. Then I felt insulted. Even then I didn't fly that bad.
Everyone's attention was now on Derrick, seeing whether he was clutching any part of his body, had a huge gaping wound, part of a wing missing... He was in one piece, which left everyone confused.
"Just...er, tired, I guess," he struggled to find something to say.
Max gave him a speculative look. I was so close to her that I wanted to scream in her ear that he wasn't really me, but just the ghost of a dead kid Possessing my body and running around like me.
Wow.
That made absolutely no sense.
See, that's what being dead does to you.
She seemed to accept this answer reluctantly, but she didn't make any indication of stopping for Derrick's benefit. I would have laughed, but I suddenly realized that if he dropped out of the sky from exhaustion, it would be my mangled body that I could never return to. Really, Derrick couldn't lose in this deal. I was so screwed.
While I imagined what strangling him might feel like, I noticed him staring at Max. A lot. Watching the way her wings beat powerfully through the air. The mess of her hair ruffled by the wind. The grace of her body... See, now he's got me fantasizing. I had more important things to do than think about Max. (Although once I figure out this whole body ordeal, she was definitely going back up to number 1 on the things I think about most). I was pissed before, but seeing him eyeing her up really made me wish I could punch something. If he tried any funny business with Max while in my body, I was going to make him wish that he had never wanted to live again.
I wasn't sure how long we had been in the sky, but eventually - and inevitably - Nudge blurted out, "Max, I'm hungry."
As if on cue, there was a universal rumbling of stomachs amongst the flock.
Max sighed. "Alright, we'll land." I knew that look on her face. We were already behind on the mission Jeb wanted us to complete, and stopping really wasn't helping us reach Virginia. But bird kids will be bird kids, and stomachs need to be fed. It's the way we were made.
The flock descended, and I hurried along with them. There was no way I was letting them out of my sight now.
The past twenty-four hours had been long for Max, and although she was exhausted and glad for the break, she really didn't want to stop. Of course she was relieved that Fang was back, but something didn't feel right. Maybe it was the way how he had just reappeared suddenly, or that he was acting strange. There was always the option that he had been kidnapped by the school and had his mind reprogrammed to want to kill us, but she didn't want to go too extreme like those crazy fanfiction kids.
Maybe she was just finding reasons to be mad at him. He had made her worried sick, leaving with no explanation. Did he not see what he meant to her? Did he not see the way he could bend her so easily? She had put a complete halt on their mission for him, and now he comes back and acts like nothing had happened.
Who the hell did Fang think he is?
In all honesty, the flock did need a break. The emotional wear is something that they hadn't experienced since our Hawaii adventure, and it had seemed like they hadn't had a breather since. This was a good time to recharge, but only that. She was going to make it clear that this was the last time they were stopping until they made camp tonight.
The Flock had eaten all their food during the last pit stop, so they had to stop at a convenient store to pick up light weight food that was full of calories and artery-clogging goodness. They landed carefully in a spot where no one from the streets could see them. Then they had to walk several blocks before they finally reached their destination. It was a long process, but a necessary one. Even though the world knew who they were, they still didn't like the attention. At least Max didn't, anyway.
Taking the flock anywhere with food was a cause for chaos. Especially when the flock was hungry, which they always were. The group chose their food quickly and exited with strange looks from the cashier. As they headed toward a quiet area in a nearby park, Fang stopped suddenly and pulled Max aside.
There was a snigger from the other bird kids.
Max glared at them, but was blushing furiously. Maybe this would finally be her chance to ask Fang what was really going on. Why he's been acting strange.
"Just remember, PDA and eating do not mix," Iggy warned jokingly.
"You're blind," Max grumbled under her breath, still scarlet red.
She couldn't help but notice the strange look in Fang's eyes, like he was seeing her for the first time all over again. But he also looked calculating, sly. This was far different from the Fang she was used to.
Something didn't feel right.
Fang took a step toward her, smirking wickedly. "Max, I'm sorry that I was gone-"
"Don't waste your breath," Max said, not knowing why she was acting this way with him. After all, she did love him. Why was she suddenly being cold?
"Where were you?" she asked suddenly.
"Um..." He was at a loss for words, which was really what tipped her off that something was definitely not right. This... person was not Fang. He make look like Fang and sound like him, but the real Fang was not there. "I was, uh..."
"What did they do to you?" Her voice was not sympathetic or consolidating. It was harsh, demanding.
Fang was caught off guard. "Does it matter where I was as long as I'm here with you now?" he asked suddenly.
Max thought before responding. "It depends... You're not Fang II, or you haven't been brainwashed at all to want to kill me and the Flock, have you?"
He furrowed his brow in confusion. Oh, great, maybe he really is Fang II, Max thought.
"Look, just forget it, okay? We really need to eat now," she said.
This response did not seem to satisfy Fang. He stuck out his arm to block her path.
Max shot him a look. "What the hell do you think you're doing?"
He stood his ground, even though she had used her leader voice. That took a lot of guts, Max noted. But he had made the wrong decision.
Right when she was about to strike - playfully or forcefully, Max hadn't decided yet - Fang swooped in to kiss her greedily.
At first her body froze. It totally felt like Fang's lips, but the way he was forcing her was just... so un-Fang-like. They were in sync now, knowing of each other's needs and desires with just a glance. The way he attacked her lips, pushed his tongue into her mouth, and wound his arms tightly on her back was just too much for her. This wasn't sweet or passionate. It was disgusting.
She shoved him with so much force that it caught him off guard. He staggered to the ground, flushed and satisfied and confused. Max stood over him, breathing heavily, her lips red and swollen from the kiss.
"What the hell, Fang?"
"Did I do something wrong?" he asked, clearly puzzled.
But she was beyond words now. Her anger was so acute that she had to get away from him before she did something stupid. Something that might hurt the both of them.
He rose to his feet and bounded after her, grabbing her arm. "Hey!"
"Get off of me!" Max shouted.
By now the flock had become aware of what was going on, each of their heads turned toward the spectacle that Fang and Max were putting on. While each looked confused, Angel's expression was one of pure suspect. She frowned, looking as though she was concentrating deeply.
Fang's grip on Max's arm tightened, but suddenly there was a whoosh in the air. A cry of pain escaped from Fang, and he released Max as he grasped the back of his head.
She stalked away, but not before noticing the rock that was now by Fang's feet.
She wanted to be alone. It didn't matter that she was hungry, or that she had been through the emotional strain of Fang's disappearance. Now that he was back, it was like he was a stranger, and she couldn't deal with him or anyone right now.
She jumped into the air suddenly, not caring who saw her, and flew off with her hyperspeed. She hoped that no one was following her, but she didn't bother to check if they had.
When she had finally grown tired, she descended to a quiet area and sat slumped in a tree. She didn't want to think, but the thoughts crept up on her anyway. What had happened to Fang? Why had he changed so quickly? When she found out what the School did to them, she was going to-
Her thinking was pulled up short by a strange movement from the ground. A stick was moving seemingly by itself, tracing a large pattern on the ground. Words.
Max watched with shocked but tense eyes, taking in each word as it was spelled out on the ground. Once the writing had stopped, it took all her strength not too fall out of the tree:
That was not Fang. I am.
So, if you haven't already seen my rant on my profile, please do so soon to see a (sort of) explanation for my absence. Truth be told, there is not reason not to keep writing. May that be a lesson to everyone. :P Myself included. I had some free time tonight, and I thought I'd finish up this chapter even if it sucks. Like, seriously sucks. I can't write anymore because of this freaking writing class that I'm in. It is completely insane. We had a 5-page paper on whether we thought certain law proposals were or were not Constitutional. Gah! That class will be the death of me. If I'm not brain dead by the end of the year, I'll be amazed. I will try my best to keep updating, but it's hard with all this work.
-biteoutoflife-
P.S. college sucks.