Hello, and thank you for reading! I have an idea for the next chapter, and I may be posting a bit faster than I have been (which is slowly)
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As my mouth hung agape, my mind raced at the speed of light. I went through a mental list of the facts. Fang and I were made to save the world? Check. The closer I got to saving the world, the eviler Fang became, and vice versa? Check. In order for the world to survive, one of us would have to die? Check.
My brain spat out the cold, hard facts, but my heart went numb. How could this happen? Why now, of all times? I felt my tear ducts working overtime, but I held the waterworks back, willing myself not to cry. I had to show my strength.
And I was apparently doing just that. As my mind went on its little rampage, my grip on Fang's hand had tightened and tightened until his knuckles were turning white and his bones were almost touching. He gently rubbed circles on my hang, loosening my grip, and I looked into his face. I saw the same emotions that I was dealing with reflected into his midnight eyes.
I turned to face Jeb, who was standing patiently for an answer. "Do you honestly expect me and Fang to just believe you? After everything you've done? You may say that you're on the good side, Jeb, but how can we trust you? How do we know that you're not just playing us so that the Flock loses a leader?" Throughout my little speech, I saw Jeb's resolve crumbling. Had he really thought that this would be an easy fight for him to win?
Then Jeb spoke. "Max, I thought that you would see that I am telling the truth. I have changed, and I am doing this for the welfare of the world. If you both live, you will either wind up killing each other later in a battle of good versus evil. The world would be in total chaos. Don't you see, Max? This is the only way to keep the world safe." He was now pleading with me, practically begging on his hands and knees. I snorted, ready to give him a piece of my mind, when Fang interrupted me.
"Can Max and I have a chance to speak about this? It's kind of a bid deal," Fang pointed out. Jeb nodded, obviously satisfied with this response. He turned to the door and lightly placed his hang upon it. Within seconds, the door opened with a swish and he was gone. I turned to face Fang.
"You don't seriously believe him, do you?" When Fang's expression remained emotionless, I became exasperated. "Fang, he's playing us! If he gets one of us out of the way, then the rest of the Flock is an easy target!"
Fang replied quietly, "I don't think so. He has the Flock-he doesn't need to kill one of us to get them." Damn Fang and his logic. I hadn't thought of it from this angle, but what reason did Jeb have to lie? He had the Flock, he had us; if he had wanted us dead, I wouldn't be thinking anything right now. Fang continued, "What if what Jeb said is true? What if one of us…has to die?"
I had never heard Fang have so much raw emotion in his voice. Hurt, anger, fear, worry, confusion, desperation, and …a hint of love? I could tell that he was really scared about this whole thing, and I was glad that I wasn't alone. I grabbed Fang's shoulder.
"Fang, I'm not going anywhere, and neither are you. We're going to stay together in this. We can work out this whole 'I'm good, you're evil,' nonsense." I smiled slightly, but Fang would not meet my eyes.
"Max, this is selfish. We are sacrificing the entire world for each other. Don't you think that that's a bit much? A bit selfish?" I was starting to see his point, but I wasn't about to give up on this fight. There had to be a way. But for now, I was willing to see the other side.
Disguising my nervousness, I replied, "Okay, we'll hear Jeb out." Fang smirked slightly, but I could see the anxiety in his eyes. Which one of us would give up his or her life to save the world? And almost worse, which one would be left behind?
Just then, the door silently opened, and Jeb's footsteps echoed through the room. "Max, Fang, I am glad that you'll listen." I gave him my most heart-stopping glare, but he continued on. "We have decided that since only one can live, we should keep the strongest one. A multitude of tests, checking everything from strength to intelligence, have been designed for you two. In a sense, it is sort of like the Olympics, where the winner gets an award."
He smiled hopefully, eager to see our reaction. I, however, was horrified. They were making our death into a game? How evil could you get? They were treating this like another test at the School, and I almost wished it was one. At least there, you had a chance of surviving-they had never actually wanted us to die. And I had always looked forward to seeing the other Flock members at the end of the day. Now, I have a 50% chance of losing; my consolation prize, a one way ticket to certain death. And even if I did win, I would have to live without my other half. My best friend, my love, my partner-in-crime, my right hand man. I didn't think I could do it.
Apparently seeing our reactions as an agreement, Jeb smiled and said "The tests start tomorrow morning. The will last about three days and the Flock will be watching." His expression abruptly turned sad, and in that moment, I saw how much pain this was apparently causing him. His own daughter, and her best friend, being pitted against each other! "Spend your time wisely." And with that, he was gone.
Tears began streaming down my face, out of my control. I looked at Fang and was shocked-trickles of water were cutting a clear mark down his dirt-covered face. He took his large thumb, calloused with years of fighting and outdoors-work, and gingerly wiped the tears from my face. I buried my face into his chest. I don't know how long we sat there crying-me sobbing into his shoulder, slowly soaking it with salty tears, and him rubbing my back, murmuring incoherent words into my ear.
Eventually, I rose up. My eyes were dry, devoid of even one lonesome tear, and his face was solemn. I was filled with an overwhelming sadness. In three days, I will never see his beautiful face again. Three days goes by in the blink of an eye. Seeing my distress, Fang gently took my face in his hands.
"Shhhhh, Max. It'll be okay. We'll figure something out." But I could hear his wavering tone, and I knew that he didn't think we could get out of this. And neither did I. Fang kissed me on the lips, softly but passionately. "Max, I love you."
I realized that the night before,-was it the night before? I didn't even know what time it was-I had never said those three words back. I looked straight into his eyes and spoke. "Fang, I love you too."
He smiled slightly, and we kissed again. I didn't know why those words mattered; one of us would be gone in less than a week, and it would just leave the other with more pain. But they did, and I said them, and they were true. I couldn't love anyone else. It was only Fang.
We eventually broke apart, and sat there in comfortable silence. There was no need to talk, and nothing to talk about. I leaned against his shoulder and fell asleep.
Max. Every time I said her name, tingles went down her spine. To be in a world without her would be like…like…nothing I could ever imagine. Immensely painful, I'd guess.
After she declared her love for me, I felt happy, ironically. We were about to die (well, one of us was,) and all I could think about was that the woman I loved loved me back. As Max fell asleep, her beautiful head lolling upon my shoulder, I began to think. Max was probably stronger than me. She could fly faster and higher. She would probably win the "competition," and I would be exterminated because of it. I didn't mind that as much. I would do anything for Max, even die for her.
It wasn't that I was worried about. No, it was the fact that Max loved me. I knew that if she was gone, I would not be able to contain myself. The Flock wouldn't matter, nothing would matter. I probably would not make it a month-maybe not even a week. I'd make sure that the Flock was safe before I disappeared into oblivion, ready to finally be with Max.
But I wasn't Max. Would she do the same? Or would she stay with the Flock, but be an empty shell? Or would she heal? I would never know. I would do whatever would help Max, whether it meant dying or staying alive.
I guess I just had to let things happen that way they did.
Max sighed, and I stroked her hair, falling into a sleep where I hoped that my nightmares were better than reality.