Chapter 13 - Death

Miraculously, we were moving as a Flock again through the air. Okay, it wasn't quite the same, because I wasn't really mean, but I think you get what I'm trying to say. I couldn't quite say that I knew what they were feeling, but I sort of got the understanding that they felt me with them, even if they couldn't see me. My presence brought us strength, not to sound egotistical or anything—although Max always did complain about my big head—but we were all together with the somewhat-realization of what has been going on. I'm not quite me, but at the same time I am, which seemed to be enough at the present moment.

I wonder how weird the confrontation with Derrick would be. It's pretty creepy knowing that someone else in my body would be fighting against the Flock. I knew how I felt when we faced Max II, but there was a difference, too. She wasn't the Max, so it didn't quite matter what happened to her. This was my body, however. What happens to my body if I'm beaten up badly? Will the Flock hold out because it would seem like they're fighting me? (Even thought it is pretty obvious with the personality difference that Derrick is not me.)

As we flew together in determinedly, faster than I think I had ever seen us fly together (except for maybe when we were escaping Erasers), we came upon a shape in the sky.

It wasn't too uncommon for us to be flying above or with objects in the sky, like birds or helicopters or airplanes, but this one was very recognizable to us. Lanky, dark, and awkward. There was no mistaking the object for Derrick. If I had any breath in my spirit, it would have hitched. I don't think I've ever been as nervous in my life about anything as much as I am now. Sure, whitecoats and Eraser fights and hospitals are up there, too, but this meant a lot more.

Okay, maybe they all meant life or death for mutant bird kids, but I think you catch my drift.

In all those other situations, at least there was a way to escape. Now, not only were we unsure with how to handle the situation, but the reality of death hit me so much harder than it had before. If I couldn't get my body back, then I would be dead. For good. I couldn't stand another hour in Dead School let alone a lifetime. Or at least however long it took for me to pass on to the other side, whatever that was. Hell, purgatory, heaven. I knew I could probably do some hard time in purgatory, but I'd rather live my life a little longer before I reached that step.

"Okay, guys, lets plan our attack," Max said through tight teeth. I could tell she wasn't as happy about having to attack me. It was like that time I had to watch her fight Max II. Knew it was necessary, but it was hard to see just the same. Except she didn't have to fight against the person she loved that time. This was going to be difficult on the both of us.

"Although he is in Fang's body and has Fang's strength, this ghost probably has no idea how to use his powers," Max observed.

"Psh...he could hardly fly," Gazzy added.

"I say we come in from above and surround him from all angles. When he tries going down, someone will swoop below and cut off his route to the ground. We'll want to take him in the air." Her voice was grim.

The rest of the Flock could feel her solemnity, but they each looked determined. I was glad they understood what they needed to do and were willing to fight me, even if it totally wasn't me.

"Let's do this!" in a flash, Gazzy and Angel shot forward, gaining on the distance between themselves and the dud-like Derrick in the air. They were directly above him, a good distance higher, although he hadn't noticed there presence yet. Max then nodded toward Nudge, and she tapped Iggy's hand and the two went ahead. They came to flank him on either side. We were close enough to hear their exchange.

"Miss us?" Nudge asked sweetly, coming alongside Derrick. His flaps became uneven, causing him to drop slightly.

I kept my eyes on Max, who looked intentionally determined, almost to stiff. I knew that if we settled this whole ordeal, I would pay for it later.

When Derrick made a downward movement, Max shot in with her powerful wings and cut off his path.

"Where do you think you're going?" she said in her toughest voice.

Derrick glowered at her, but then his face contorted into a strange grin. "I was just coming back to you, babe?"

I'm gonna kill that kid, I thought to myself, seeing red, somehow.

Max grimaced. "No one calls me 'babe', not even Fang," she almost spat. I understood how pissed she was, and boy, was he gonna get it.

"But I am Fang," he persisted stubbornly. Wrong answer, I thought with a laugh.

"Don't play games. We know who you are, Derrick!"

That really caught the kid off guard. He looked as pale as a...ghost. Ha-ha, I know, I'm so funny.

"Now!" Max shouted, and the Flock converged on Derrick.

Derrick was really in trouble now. The coordinated Flock swooped around him, attempting to confuse him. From above, Angel and Gazzy curled in their wings and dropped on his back like two bird-kid bullets. Their combined weight and velocity knocked the wind out of him and he dropped several hundred feet, forgetting to flap.

"Oh no you don't!" Max said as Derrick came whirling down toward her. Not able to catch himself in time, he fell right at Max when she pulled back her fist and caught him with an uppercut under the chin. I saw the blood flow from his mouth.

Ouch, I though, reliving the glory days of our fights with Erasers. I'm glad I wasn't the one taking that blow. I'd also had enough sparring incidents with Max to know what that felt like firsthand.

This time, though, he managed to unfurl his wings and catch an air current, keeping himself aloft.

"Iggy, Nudge!" Max commanded, not needing to explain what they were needed to do. The pair flew at Derrick from opposite directions, meaning to hit him with a powerful strike—

Unlike the last two blows, he anticipated this and tucked in his wings, dropping like a sack while Iggy and Nudge continued at each other at full speed. The managed to pull back enough to lessen the blow, but they still ran into each other and dropped instantly.

Max dove toward Iggy and Nudge, which Gazzy and Angel mimicked, knowing that their help would be needed. They were able to come under the wounded pair enough to support their weight until they felt good enough to fly by themselves.

While all this was going on, I watched as Derrick continued toward the ground, looking to make his get away.

Shit.

My whole life I was the silent, non-emotional rock, but when I finally had something important to share, I couldn't communicate it to the Flock. This was just my luck, wasn't it? Why did the universe hate me?

Max noticed at that moment where Derrick was, and she was not happy. "Dammit! We need to follow him. You guys okay?" she addressed Nudge and Iggy.

"Think so," said Iggy unsteadily.

"Just a headache," Nudge replied. "Nothing major."

Troopers, I thought, hoping they would hear me.

"Okay, let's go," Max said, and they descended upon Derrick as quickly as they could. They were able to trace where he landed well, but by the time we hit the ground, Derrick had already disappeared.

"Ugh," Gazzy grunted. "He's good."

"Not quite," said Angel, looking rather smug. "I can still hear his thoughts, however confusing they are."

"Where is he?" Max asked, eyes scanning all the possible paths from where they were.

"Right here," said my voice, although we all knew it was Derrick.

The Flock whirled on him, and even I had been caught by surprise. Apparently he discovered my ability to blend in with my surroundings. But there I was, standing thirty feet from the Flock, with a bloody lip that was swelling, looking like an Avenging Angel (do I really need to point out how ironic that sounds?). He didn't look the least bit intimidated now, even though he was outnumbered five-to-one, plus one ghost.

He must have had something up his sleeve.

"This ends now, Derrick, just you and me," Max said, stepping forward.

"Wow, that was snappy, missy," he jeered. "Did you get that line from a movie?"

As he snickered, Max glared daggers at him. "If I win, you'll give Fang his body back?"

He didn't stop laughing. "You see, babe, there are two problems with your plan. The first being that you really only have a couple hours before your precious little Fangy-poo will be dead for good."

I swore that each member of the Flock held their breath, myself included, even though I didn't have to breathe.

"And the second thing is, if you hurt me in any way, you also hurt Fang."

Max's eyes widened, and I was seriously getting extra-pissed with Derrick. Not only was he refusing to fight a girl (I mean, I know it's Max, but he might not know her reputation), but he was also holding out for my 48 hours to run out and then lied about a physical connection between us. I'm freaking dead! I can't feel anything that happens.

But I couldn't tell the Flock that. At least, it would be really inconvenient to write it out in the sand.

But then that got me thinking. Only a couple hours left...I couldn't let this kid get away scotch clean, torturing the Flock by leading them to believe that hurting him would hurt me. Which it obviously wouldn't. I mean, I already died, but that didn't stop Derrick from being able to possess my body. Even if I were to die again, what would stop me from being able to take it over again...

Oh. My. God.

I knew what they had to do.

I quickly ducked to the ground and wrote in the sand, right in front of Max, 'You have to kill me.'

I am SO sorry about not getting to this story sooner. I knew what I had to write, I just couldn't make myself do it. After this chapter, there really is only two more and then Ghost of Me is finito. Done. I can't believe it's almost done, although it should have been finished a long time ago. I really am sorry for that. I blame college. :P

With ANGEL just coming out, I actually pasted a lengthy Author's Note on my "Anything But Easy" story, which contains my thoughts and some other random things about the story. You might want to check it out if you have time. If not, that's cool, too. What did you guy's think about the book? Love it, hate it, not sure what to make of it? Ranting is always fun!

Please review!

-biteoutoflife-