Equinox
Chapter Eighteen
Fang immediately uttered a string of violent curses and stumbled back. I balked momentarily at his uncharacteristically emotional reaction. His dark eyes flicked agitatedly in seemingly every direction, and the tendons running the length of his arms were bunched so tightly I could see every vein bulging against his skin.
We hadn't talked much more about his and the flock's past, but I couldn't help but wonder how atrocious the School must be if the mere mention of it in print sent such a generally stoic boy into a full scale panic attack.
I quickly jumped to my feet and shoved the chair aside. Fang's hips rotated in a motion that indicated he was preparing to bolt out the door. I lunged in front of him, barring any further such movements. He responded like a caged animal, practically snarling as he attempted to shoulder me aside. I planted my boots firmly on the ground and grasped his biceps tightly, which drew his attention away from the closest means of escape and to my face.
"Calm down," I hissed, worry flickering over the crease in my brow. If someone heard us and came to investigate …
"Calm down!?" he seethed through gritted teeth, nostrils flaring. "I don't know what your game is, but we're not playing anymore."
My eyes narrowed. A game?
"If the CSM has any affiliation with the School then this is the first I've ever heard of it," I snapped. "Don't be stupid. I would never endanger you guys like that, even based off what little I know of the place."
For the few moments after, the only sound that could be heard between us were Fang's sharp inhales and exhales. Finally, he seemed to accept what I said to be the truth. The tension in his shoulders loosened incrementally, as he sensed no immediate danger. When I was sure he wasn't going to make any sudden escape attempts, I released my hold on his arms. My palm went to my head, where the beginning twinges of a migraine were forming.
Why would Anne be hiding a "top secret" file in her desk, and why would that file have mention of the School, a place that was, as far as I was aware, the playground for crooked scientists who liked performing experiments on kids? It didn't make any sense. The only experimentation done on behalf of the CSM was on paranormal creatures, and I had determined with absolute certainty that, despite their unusual appendages, the flock weren't creatures of the supernatural variety. What business could the School have with us? Protecting the human population and splicing human and animal genes were two totally different things.
I had only taken two steps back toward the only likely documentation that would give me any sort of answer to those questions when the sound of Dylan's elbow thudding against the door froze me in my tracks.
I shared a brief look with Fang before flinging myself into a flurry of movements. In a matter of seconds I had bounded back to Anne's desk, brushed the file and its contents off the edge, slid the false bottom into place, and gently closed the drawer with the faintest click to indicate that it had locked again. The muffled sound of Dylan's voice met my ears as I glanced wildly about to check that everything else was in its rightful place. Fang, employing his unusual affinity for stealth, had already climbed the cabinet and was disappearing into the air vent. I cast one regretful look back, yearning to take the papers with me but knowing Anne would definitely notice their absence, and took Fang's outstretched hand. With a heave, he pulled me upward. Crouching centimeters apart in the darkness, we fitted the grate back in place just as the handle to the office turned.
Anne's blonde head entered first, followed by a shuffling Dylan. He didn't so much as glance in the direction of the vent, which made me grin. Always so reliable, Dylan was. The look of relief on his face revealed that he had half expected to still find us within, though. After a precursory glance around the room, Anne seemed satisfied that nothing had been disturbed, and suspicions aside, addressed Dylan and requested that he sit.
"I really should get back to the others," he insisted, shooting her a carefully assembled smile. "Like I said, I just wanted to ask when I'd be cleared for hunting."
This was the story we agreed upon, should anyone happen to stumble upon him standing guard. It was innocent enough, and seemed reasonable considering the context.
I twitched slightly as Fang's rough fingers closed around my wrist. I didn't have to see or hear him speak to know that he wanted out of our current location. As quietly as possible, we began sliding back the way we had come, the sound of Anne telling Dylan she just wanted to chat for a few minutes fading in the distance.
-o-o-o-
Dylan and Gazzy were going to kill me. My only comfort was that Iggy would likely kill Fang, too. The source of their united murderous intent would be that they were still locked down at the CSM compound and Fang, Angel, Nudge, and I were driving cross country- without having informed them of our departure or plans.
We had left a note, of course, but still.
I had spent the last couple of weeks half-heartedly attending to the flock's training, but as the end of February drew near, my thoughts were glued to the School. No amount of snooping on my behalf got me an ounce of information about either the situation with paranormals or the School's relationship with Anne and the CSM. It had taken a lot of persuading on my behalf to convince Fang of my cause, but he agreed that finding out the connection between the CSM and the School was paramount, and I used that to my advantage.
… Because if I was getting nowhere at headquarters, then the only place left to find information was the School itself.
Fang had eventually conceded to show me the way, after he realized that insisting upon the danger of such a venture was in no way deterring me. You'd be lucky to ever convince a girl that kills dangerous creatures for a living that breaking into any sort of facility was "too dangerous". Then, just as our plans were coming to a wrap, he suggested that Angel tag along. He insisted that though he was wary to put any member of his flock in such precarious and potentially detrimental conditions, she would be useful, though the particulars of that usefulness were not made known to me. I then recalled his mention that Nudge was good with computers, and decided she would undeniably be an asset to our recon team should we come across a need for hacking.
Thus leaving Dylan, Iggy, and Gazzy behind to fumble over explanations for our absence. It would seem even more suspicious if all of us suddenly went missing. But a little coverage on mine and the flock's behalf was ensured with those left behind, because above all else, it indicated that we intended to come back, regardless of our shaky reasoning for suddenly jumping ship.
That reasoning being that Fang had a "family" emergency. Extended family, of course. Nothing too major, but something he needed to attend to on a whim. The girls and I were accompanying him for moral support. I mean, it wasn't like anyone would know better, least of all Anne. Just because the flock were missing immediate family members didn't mean they didn't have some great uncles out there to contend with.
Mostly I was hoping to avoid having to explain to Anne why I had left, and where I had gone, at all. I was more concerned with the conflict looming before us. I had a long drive back to formulate responses to any questions flung my way.
"I'm hungry," Nudge complained, snapping my thoughts back to the road ahead.
We were coasting through the lower part of Colorado, having put miles and miles and miles between the CSM headquarters and our roving vehicle, which I had politely driven off the property from the endless supply at the hands of our hunters. I'm sure it wouldn't be missed. We still had a long way to go before we reached Death Valley, though.
Because of course the creepy science facility that produced mutated children would be located in a place called Death Valley.
Fang had really only been able to supply me with a vague location, seeing as he and the others hadn't exactly taken any numbered routes when they had fled on wing. The three of them were uncomfortable enough as it was being confined to a car so long when they were used to flying through the wide open sky above.
Personally, I could see the appeal. Especially as I shifted in the driver's seat, flipping at the dials on the radio and pushing strands of hair from my face.
"Should we stop?" I asked, directing my words to Fang, who was leaning his head on the passenger side window.
He nodded, sitting up with a shake of his raven colored hair. From my peripheral vision, I could see his legs flexing restlessly. We had barely been out of the SUV the last couple days, even sleeping in it the past two nights. We were slated to arrive at the School today, but it was still early morning and we could all use a break to stretch our limbs. Plus, judging by the sudden silence of all the flock members present, the anxiety of returning to a place which was home to so many painful memories was beginning to dawn on them.
Wordlessly, I took the next exit, which deposited us along a narrow strip of quaint old buildings with big glass windows and bright, colorful store signs. Clusters of people laden in heavy jackets and soaking up the weak rays of sun above pocketed the sidewalks. I drove at a crawl down the avenue, until finally I found a small parking lot.
Nudge and Angel practically soared from their seats and onto the pavement. I attempted more reserve, but truthfully I was just about as relieved as they were to be out of that car. Sitting in one place for hours on end was so not my style. A moment later, Fang joined us at the edge of the lot, tucking his hands into the pockets of his (really what else do you expect) black coat.
We had only walked a few feet when Nudge squealed and pointed at the door of a restaurant, which was -admittedly- emitting delicious fumes of pancakes and bacon. Peering through the glass, I saw a small collection of mismatched tables and chairs, few of which were occupied, and a long counter lined with stools. A lone waitress leaned against the bar, smiling invitingly at us through the frosted window panes.
"You guys go ahead," I urged. "I'm going to walk for a little while."
Nudge was at the door as soon as the words left my mouth, tugging on the knob. A tinkle of bells announced her arrival, followed by a blast of warmth from the interior of the building. I shivered at the difference in temperature, but resolutely remained at the edge of the sidewalk. Sitting was the last thing I wanted to do right now.
Fang reached out and caught the door before it closed. "I'll come with you. You've got your money, right?" he asked, directing his last question to Angel, who was lingering on the threshold.
"Yup," she chirped in reply, patting the pocket of her roughly hemmed jeans.
"Don't wander off," Fang commanded sternly. "I'm sure we'll be back before you're done, but if not stay here. In the case of an emergency, you know what to do."
Angel nodded, then seeing the look of curiosity on my face, explained: "Find the nearest cover and take to the sky."
I made a noise in my throat that she seemed to take as understanding, because she turned away and dashed to join Nudge at the counter, who was already prattling away to the waitress who appeared slightly overwhelmed at the deluge of words spewing from Nudge's mouth. My view of them was cut off as Fang released the door and it swung shut, slicing across my vision.
"I'm impressed," I intoned as we began walking down the street.
Fang raised an eyebrow, his hands resuming their place in his pockets.
"I didn't think you'd let them out of your sight," I elaborated.
We parted as a group of middle-aged women laden with shopping bags charged down the center of the walkway, talking loudly to one another, though mostly I detected complaints about the cold. When Fang and I rejoined, I couldn't help but notice that he was considerably closer than before.
"They're safe," he stated by way of reply.
I scoffed. "And I wouldn't be?"
He was quiet for a moment, pressing his lips together as if he was mulling over his response. I took that time to look past him and to the shops we were passing. Most were just junky thrift stores, full of odds and ends things that maybe you'd buy on a whim, but never actually go looking for on purpose. One of the more up-kept buildings housed designer clothing, judging by the neat rows and fashionably styled mannequins dotting the show window.
"You have a knack for attracting danger," Fang finally said, smirking down at me.
I scowled, knocking his shoulder with mine. He shoved me right back, and I stumbled off the lip of the sidewalk. My right boot sunk calf deep in a pile of black sludge that was remnants of snow. I shook as much as I could off, glaring.
"And sometimes I'm just forced into it," I retorted pointedly.
We resumed our wandering, falling into a comfortable silence. Ahead, a cart had been set up to distribute hot chocolate. My stomach rumbled at the smell, earning me a snicker from Fang. I rolled my eyes and charged forward, arriving just as a father and his daughter departed. The boy working had to be around my age, and thus smiled brilliantly at the sight of an approaching female.
"H-hi, how are you?" he stammered, a flush of pink tinging his cheeks at his accidental stutter. His brown hair was tucked under a hat, and he tugged nervously at the strands peeking out as I smiled demurely.
"I'm great, how are you?" I rested my fingertips on the edge of the cart, leaning slightly forward.
He cleared his throat, beginning to pour hot chocolate into cups. Perhaps a nervous habit? He had four and a half filled before he realized what he was doing and abruptly put the thermos down.
"I'm pretty good," he said, swallowing thickly at the flutter of my eyelashes. "Thanks for asking."
When I didn't offer any more words, he quickly went on to ask, "Would you like a cup?"
"Uh … no thanks, I changed my mind," I answered apologetically, shooting him one last smile before traipsing down the street.
A few yards down, I caught up to Fang, who had a steaming cup of hot chocolate in both hands. He had easily knicked them from the cart when the boy's attention had been otherwise ensnared by me. The kid still probably hadn't noticed.
I took my cup, ignoring the jolt sent streaking down my arm as our fingers brushed. I sipped meditatively at the thick, delicious, sugary liquid. The warmth quickly spread to my extremities.
"You are such a flirt," Fang teased, shaking his head.
"Hey," I reprimanded. "It got us free drinks, didn't it?"
"Maximum Ride, you are an absolute heart breaker." His obsidian eyes were brimming with mirth, and the sudden flash of his teeth and the sound of his laughter gave me a painful squeezing sensation in my chest.
I looked away, coughing over a sudden thickness in my throat. Cautiously, I swallowed another mouthful of hot chocolate, glancing anywhere but Fang and his heart wrenching smiles. I needed to exercise some control over my own emotions, or else I wasn't sure what I was liable to do.
But the more time I spent with him, day in and day out- training, fighting so close to one another, even sitting next to him in a car … every word, every stare, every touch- made feelings I had every reason to suppress manifest more strongly than ever.
It had to stop.
-o-o-o-
"There must be cameras everywhere," I whispered, though we certainly weren't near enough to the building in question for anyone to hear us speaking.
Fang nodded grimly, crouched next to me behind a pile of boulders and brush. Nudge and Angel were to his left, sitting cross-legged in the dirt. Angel's eyes were closed, and she seemed to be concentrating intently on something I couldn't fathom.
"How are we going to get in there?" I breathed, resting my forehead on my closed fist. My braid fluttered in the breeze, and I swatted it back down.
Fang's gaze was steely as it met mine. "It was hard enough getting out. I've never really stopped to think about getting back in."
I could be mistaken, but I'm pretty sure the words 'only a lunatic would want in' were muttered beneath his breath.
My sigh of frustration was cut off by the rumble of an engine. A sleek black car, followed by a nondescript gray van, approached from the corner and both dwindled to a halt outside the nearest entrance. The van's back doors flew open first, and two men and a woman in white coats jumped to the ground. Fang stiffened at the sight of them, and without thinking I reached over and rested my hand on his shoulder. He leaned slightly into me, but neither of us took our eyes off the growing crowd of people assembling by the vehicles.
The last person to depart was the passenger of the black car. Something about his posture was vaguely familiar, and I found myself scanning every part of him as he loped toward the School. His hair was brown and cropped short, and he was wearing a blue dress shirt with a white coat draped over his arm. Just as he reached the door, he paused, turning as if he had left something in the car. I was pretty far away, but my eyesight was better than most, and as the man ducked his head into the vehicle and back out again, there was no mistaking the recognition ringing throughout my mind and straight into my bones.
My father.