I'm in a super awesome mood right now, so I'm posting 3 more chapters tonight!! ((that would be Chapters 25, 26, and 27...in case you didn't know...)) =D

I'll probably post through 30 tomorrow. :)

CHAPTER 27

Max POV

"What are you all doing here?" Jeb asked us during lunch.

"You first," I said in reply between bites.

He sighed, "Alright, Max. When you all left at the opening of the school, the government wasn't completely sure what to do. Because I've had experience with gifted children, such as yourselves, they asked if I could stay and help. Then, other experiments that survived were sent here. Most of them actually came of their own free will."

"You mean there are others like us here?" Nudge asked excitedly.

Jeb and Anne laughed quietly.

"Only a few," Anne said. "I'm afraid the branch of Itex in Germany did a lot of damage to the number of other experiments out there. That is, before you destroyed it."

It still irked me when someone called us "experiments."

"What do you all do with them, exactly?" Iggy asked.

"Would you like to take a tour of the school and find out?" Anne grinned.

No one was quick to answer like I'd expected the younger kids to do. Instead, I threw a glance to the others that said "be on your guard" and tapped the back of Iggy's hand twice.

Fang POV

Following lunch, Jeb and Anne led us on a tour of the school. It wasn't a bad place, actually. It had dorm rooms with beds and all kinds of stuff for the kids.

Max leaned closer to me and whispered, "At least there's no dog crates around."

The side of my mouth twitched into a half smile, but quickly fell when Jeb turned around to tell us about the next set of rooms.

We saw some other kids here and there during the tour. One girl, who, I think, was about 7 or 8, was part cat. She was running around a little obstacle course while some adults were writing stuff down about her.

I ground my teeth at the sight. Were they doing experiments here?

Max, feeling my tension, turned to see me, then, to what I was looking at.

"Are you doing experiments on them?" I asked, anger flooding my words.

"No, no, of course not," Anne stated. "We allow the children to run around freely in our obstacle courses as they please."

"Then, what are they doing here?" Max growled, pointing at the observers.

"They are simply taking notes on her," Anne explained. "We need to know a little bit about these kids in order to take care of them properly."

"Do they at least know what you're doing?" I questioned.

"Yes," she answered. "We ask the children if we can watch and take notes. We do nothing to push or hurt them."

This place was looking better after all. An environment that kids, like us, could grow up in without fearing anyone. Unless, of course, Ann and Jeb are lying.

"They aren't," Angel stated in my mind. "It's all true! Well, what Anne says, anyway. I still don't get anything from Jeb."

She was smiling at me, and I nodded.

"Max?" the Gasman whined, tugging on Max's arm. "Can we play on one?"

Max looked at me, wanting my opinion. I shrugged, which meant, "I don't see why not."

"Sure, sweetie," she replied.

"Come with me," Anne smiled. "The largest, most fun, course is in the gym."

Max glared at Anne and said, "I do not want anyone 'observing' them."

Anne nodded, "Not a problem, Max."

Max POV

"Aren't you coming, too?" Iggy asked, noticing that Fang and I hadn't joined the younger kids on the course yet.

"Not yet," I said. "I need to have a word with Jeb."

Iggy nodded and asked, "What about?"

"I just need some answers," I replied in a whisper so only Fang and Iggy could hear. "Iggy, you're in charge until we get back."

Both of them looked at me, puzzled.

"Alright," Iggy shrugged, not saying anything that would get him hit.

He ran, unfurling his wings, and flew over to the others.

"We?" Fang asked, confused.

In all honesty, I needed Fang there to help me get through all of this, but I wasn't about to tell him that.

"Someone has to keep me from strangling, Jeb," I joked.

He laughed quietly and nodded. "Let's go, then."

Without thinking, I grabbed his hand and led him to where Jeb was standing. As weird as it was, I didn't let go of Fang's hand.

"Jeb," I said coldly. "I need to have a word with you."