A/N: Whoa! Thanks for all the feedback! I really suggest reading Gray Like Ivy before this, for anyone who stumbles on this. Review hog time: If you liked Gray Like Ivy, why not review? It really inspires me, and it's the only I get out of the deal. Think about it, I write every day, put a lot of effort into it, and don't get anything in return, other than feedback. But the feedback makes it totally worth it, so do your part please! THANK YOU!

"What?" I asked, too stunned to move. Avery smiled at me.

"This is Max," she told the man, apparently the Director. He was dressed in a gray silk suit that looked like it had cost a fortune. He smiled dazzlingly at me and extended his hand for me to shake it.

When I didn't move, he dropped his hand with a little cough.

"Well, it seems there's been an awful misunderstanding. I think we could be helpful to each other. We could make your every dream come true, Max. You'd be swimming in riches."

The Director chuckled a little, and I liked him less every second.

"What do you say, Max? Will you help me get you your dreams?"

"What do I have to do in return for these dreams?" I asked.

"Oh, a few missions here and there, taking out a few of our enemies," he said, waving my question away. No way, I thought. We won't ever be his hitmen. I smiled back nastily.

"I'm sorry, but we don't take hiring offers. We're on our own. And right now, my dream would be to be far, far away from you."

His eyes narrowed. He was about to lunge at me.

"Let's go!" I shouted. The Director pulled out a remote control from his expensive suit and pressed a button. Chase and Ivy jerked a little and crumpled to the ground. I noticed they had electronic bracelets around their ankles.

My eyes blazed with fury.

"What did you do to them?" I screamed. The Director kept his cool, his green eyes smiling.

"Oh, nothing. They'll wake up in an hour."

"Iggy! Fang!" I said. They shot forward and each grabbed an unconscious bird kid. I looked hatefully into the Director's eyes.

"On three," I said. Of, course, that meant on one. "One!" I shouted, and all hell broke loose.

I charged forward and decked an Eraser in the eye. The Director scurried off into a hallway with his precious daughter so they wouldn't get their hands dirty. The Eraser fell and I stomped on his snout, leaving him knocked out.

The hallways were filled with the sounds of screaming and fighting. The two unconscious bird kids sort of weighed down Fang and Iggy, but they still kicked Eraser butt.

I heard an encouraging crack as Nudge screamed "JOBROS!" or something. She has…interesting battle cries. The Eraser I was pummeling finally fell, and I crunched over his nose. Iggy tumbled forward into the hallway. He handed me Ivy and I hoisted her up on my shoulders. Just as the Director had said, she was still out.

We barged out of the hallways, unconscious and dead Erasers lying behind us. I counted Nudge, Angel, Gazzy, Iggy, and Fang with Chase. Still carrying Ivy, I led them into the hallway I thought led to the way out. We were almost there when I stopped abruptly. I stayed frozen, openmouthed at the sight of them.

"What?" Iggy asked. I didn't answer, looking into their eyes.

"WHAT?" he yelled.

"It's…them…" Nudge said. I looked at their blank faces.

"What do you mean, them?" Iggy asked, frustrated.

"It's all the mutants from the Pagoda. I think they're brainwashed," Angel said.

I looked into their faces. Were they clones or the real deal? They all had matching pale green eyes, which is strange. They filled the hallway, at least fifty of them, arranged neatly in rows. They were all four to nine years old and most of them had wings. There were also some with scales, extra limbs, and fur. They didn't seem to see us.

I tried taking a step forward.

"Hello?" I said. A little winged boy, maybe seven, came forward. His blank eyes stared ahead, seemingly past my body.

"You must come in for testing," he said, emotionless.

"No," answered. He smiled strangely.

"Die, then." I tried to open my mouth but there was this hissing sound and a sickly sweet smell that made me dizzy. The last thing I knew of was falling to the ground, trying to move Ivy so I wouldn't hit her on the way down.

A/N: Press that button! Do it! REVIEW!