Chapter 10

MAX?

Fang POV

"So how do you like Vegas so far?"

Danielle's hair floated in the breeze as she spoke.

"It's cool."

I sounded so awesome right now. I mean it's like one of those spies in the movies. All secret-y and stuff…

"Just cool? Come on Cole..."

Her giggle sent shivers down my spine.

"Well…"

"Yeah?"

"It's really nice."

"You're really nice."

OH MY GOD…

I needed to do something.

The silence was just so…so…so awkward.

I put my arm around her shoulder as we walked along the street.

"Cole?"

She turned and faced me.

"Yeah?"

"What do you think of…"

"What do I think of what, Danielle?"

She wasn't gonna tell me that she was a dude, right?

"What do you think of… us?"

Crap…

"What do you mean, Dan?"

She just stared at me with a look that read you idiot…

"You know what I mean, Cole."

NO I DON'T FREAKING KNOW WHAT YOU MEAN!

"Uh…"

"Do I need to explain?"

"Maybe that would work better…"

"Okay, Cole. I'll explain…" Her green eyes glued to mine as she stared up at me, "After I win this race."

And just like that we were off.

Running like the wind along a sidewalk in the city of Las Vegas…

Crap!

When did my life become a soap opera?

I quickly caught up to her using my super speed and all.

"I…" Danielle puffed, "Win…"

"Hey! That's unfair."

"Nothing's fair in love and war." She teased.

"Very Funny… Ha, ha." I had just enough sarcastic charm in my voice.

"You hungry? Wanna go get some pizza?"

She began dashing off down the road, but I caught up pretty quickly and put my hand on her shoulder to sop her.

"Not so fast, Missy…"

I was good at this.

"Since when did you become my mother?" She rolled her eyes kiddingly.

"No, no, no… You're not getting away so easily. You never finished explaining what you meant."

She tilted her head ever so slightly.

"Is that right?"

"Mmm hmm."

"Well, Cole…I'm sure with your looks and personality and all, I'm sure you've had several girlfriends before."

Uh…sure let's go with that.

"Not exactly…"

"Huh?"

"I… I mean I just had a couple serious ones."

"Oh. So, then you and me both… We were kind of… you know? What people call 'popular' growing up?"

"Uh… sure."

Yeah popular… a popular target for mutants and robots to use as a chew toy…

"Then you'd get what it's like for me… And I get what it's like for you…We have a lot in common."

Yeah, she so gets me… well other than the wings, flock, and crazy ninja skills… But those things so don't matter! Give me a freaking break. We're not even the same species.

"I wouldn't be too sure."

"Cole, can I trust you?"

"Yeah, sure. Why?"

"I mean like… Can I really trust you?"

"Yeah. Why?"

"Because… I have a secret. A big secret… One that I haven't told anyone."

Yeah and I'm a flying fourteen year old with bird DNA.

"Danielle, whatever it is, I'm sure it can't be that bad. Try me."

"Well… How 'bout I show you instead?"

"Okay then…"

"Follow me," she motioned with her hand and we were off. Running through the street.

After about 45 minutes running at full speed, we stopped at this meadow, at least that's what I thought it was, but dumbass Fang has no clue about anything, as far as I know.

"Cole. You're sure I can trust you, right?"

"Yes. Danielle."

"Ok."

We entered the field and sat down on some large rocks scattered around the perimeter.

"Danielle?"

What was I saying?

"Yeah, Cole?"

Uh…..think of something.

"What were you gonna show me?"

"Oh yeah. Cole, I'm not like other girls."

No shit.

"Obviously! I mean you're amazing Danielle."

Please tell me she isn't one of those narcissistic mental cases!

"No Cole. I mean I'm really not like other girls. I'm different. Genetically."

She better not be working for Itex or something.

"Huh?"

Play along, Fang. It's a trap.

"Here, watch this."

Danielle tossed off her jacket and did a spinning flip in the air, but that wasn't what surprised me most.

No, because anyone can do that.

What left my jaw dropped was when she took off in flight across the sky.

Danielle could fly.

Crap.

In an instant, I took off and soared up beside her.

She didn't look surprised for some reason.

We were gliding around for almost an hour.

And that's when I saw it.

From the corner of my eye, I made out some type of aircraft, flying at hyper speed.

Flying straight towards us.

"Danielle!"

I quickly pulled her out of the way and ducked down to avoid some metal object that must have been a grenade.

"Cole! You saved my life!"

"Not yet I didn't."

In the blink of an eye, there was a second one, and a third and soon enough we were surrounded by them.

I grabbed hold of Danielle's arm and dove down to the surface of the field.

The air escape was too dangerous.

We would have to run.

As if by instinct, Danielle and I were running off, in a direction we had never gone.

Not the way we came here, for sure.

We were both running faster than ever before.

Almost at the speed of light.

I had no clue if they were still on our trail, but I had no time to look back.

In 5 minutes we had reached what seemed like the end of the world.

But it wasn't.

In fact, I knew the place very well.

We were standing in a forest.

Looking at my previous home.

Where Max and the rest of the flock were still living, I thought.

I began to walk forward with Danielle, to run into the house.

For protection.

I tried to open the door, but I couldn't.

It just wouldn't budge.

I looked through the window and saw Max, and Dylan, and everyone else huddled together.

They were all looking at Max, who seemed to have this huge lump on her stomach.

Iggy could still cook, right?

Then I found out I was dreaming, because in what world do babies fall from the sky?

Yes, you heard me right. Babies fell from the sky.

Then again, in what world do flying bird kids roam the earth?

I finally understood.

Max was pregnant.

It made no sense.

We had never… you know….

Who else could it be, though?

Dylan.

But Max wouldn't….

Would she?

My head was spinning.

"Cole?"

Huh?

I opened my eyes to find myself lying down on a sofa.

"Dani?"

"Yes, Cole?"

"Where am I?"

"You're at my house."

Oh. That would make sense.

"What happened?"

I slowly sat up to find an aching bruise on my forehead.

It killed, but I'd been through much worse.

"Well, Cole. After I showed you my wings, and you started to fly, you kind of fainted and fell."

How manly of me.

"Wait… So we didn't run from those flying things with the missiles and the boom and the Whoa and the 'Watch out!'?"

"What?"

She giggled softly.

"I must have hit my head a little too hard."

"Yeah."

Wait. What about Max?

Was that true?

I needed to know.

"Hey Danielle?"

"Yeah, Cole?"

"I've gotta leave pretty soon. Do you want to come on a little trip with me?"

"It depends. Where are we going?"

"Home."