Yeah yeah. I haven't updated in... a long time. Bite me. Well, I'm updating now! Hope that helps...
"Whaaat?" The Gasman squeaked.
"That's where they took Angel," Max said. "And that's where we have to go to get her back."
Nudge looked speechless.
"Oh. Yeah," Nudge said. Looks like I spoke to soon. I can dream right? "We have to get Angel back. We can't let her stay there- with them. They're- monsters. They're going to do bad things to her. And put her in a cage. Hurt her. But there's five of us. So the rest of us have to go get-" Nudge didn't get to finish because Max put her hand over Nudge's mouth.
Slowly Nudge moved Max's fingers and said, "Uh, how far is it?"
That I did have the answer for. About a month ago I had looked through all of Jeb's files, I was the only one of us who enjoyed that even slightly- that's how I knew where the maps were- and along with the maps was a file about the distance the School was from different parts of the world. Including a place in Colorado.
"Six hundred miles, more or less. At least a seven-hour flight, not including breaks."
"Can we discuss this?" Iggy asked. "We're way outnumbered."
"No," Max said, Her eyes never leaving the map.
"Can we vote? They have guns. And a chopper." Iggy's voice had a sort of edge to it.
"Iggy. This is not a democracy," Max started. "It's a Maxocracy. You know we have to go after Angel. The six of us look out for one another- no matter what. None of us is ever going to live in a cage again, not while I'm alive." Speeches like these help remind me why she's the leader and I'm second in command. I wish the others could see her the way I do.
Max continued. "But actually, Nudge, Fang, and I are going after Angel. You and the Gasman- I need you too stay here. Hold down the fort. On the off chance Angel escapes and makes her way home."
All was still. We all knew what Max was really saying, Iggy's blind and can't fight and Gazzy's too young. I couldn't believe it. I mean it was the right choice- we are going to fly long hours and Gazzy might slow us down and Iggy is going to have a hard time finding things in a new place- but... Angel is all of ours. I know Max has a special connection with Angel, she raised Angel from birth, and I also know that Max is probably going to pull a few crazy stunts to get Angel back. All of these thoughts took place in a second before Iggy broke the silence.
"You are so full of it. That's not why you what us here. Why don't you just say it."
"Okay. It's true. I don't want you to come. The fact is, you're blind, and while you're a great flyer around here where you know everything, I can't be worrying about you in the middle of a firefight with the Erasers." Max sounded tense and worried. Yep, definaltly worrying about Angel.
Iggy looked angry but before he could speak Gazzy interrupted. "What about me? I don't care if they have guns and a chopper and Erasers. She's my sister."
"That's right," Max said. Where was she going with this? "And if they want her so bad, they might want you just as bad." Oh, there. "Plus, you're a great flyer, but you're eight years old, and we're going to be logging major hours."
"Jeb would never have made us stay," Iggy stated. "Never. Ever." Max presses her lips together, only I can see the anger, sadness, and nervousness there. Max was doing the best she could, and it's wearing down on her. Iggy should have said nothing. Actually I wanted to rip his wings off, he should try to lead the flock, then say that.
"Maybe not. We'll never know. Jeb's dead. Now everyone get your gear together." And there is another example of why Max is the leader, and not me. No violence there! I walked to my room and Iggy followed me.
"Max has gone nuts! She wants me to stay! I have all the bombs, I can be very valuable in a fight. Blind or not blind. What do you think Fang?" Iggy asked. Still time to rip his wings off.
I just shrugged, chanting Don't do anything you'll regret.
"Fang, you could convince Max to let us, me, come! You can convince Max to do anything."
That was true. When we were 11 I convinced Max to eat dirt because it 'tastes like chocolate'. Thinking of the memory brought a little smile to my lips. Iggy interpreting the silence as me agreeing with him it carried on his ranting. He's worse than Nudge.
Finally I thought, Screw calm, cool, collected. Anything to make Iggy shut up! I spun on foot, pausing from my packing, to glare at Iggy. "Iggy, shut. Up. Max knows what she's doing. I doubt you would even make it to the School with all of us alive, yet alone Angel."
Iggy looked confused, than angry. "Max is the one who lost Angel in the first place!"
"We would have lost more than Angel if you lead. Maybe Gazzy, maybe our lives."
"You're just sticking up for Max because you have a crush on her!" I blushed, well, as close to blushing as I could get. When we were 13 I told Iggy I had a crush on Max and he never told anyone. He just used as blackmail whenever he really wanted something done, or to escape punishment.
While keeping my face clear of all emotion I said, "Iggy, you know that's not the reason."
"I don't know anything now. I don't know you." With that Iggy turned and exited my room and went to his slamming the door. After a couple of seconds I sat on my bed and buried my head in my hands and thought about if I was doing the right thing and if what Iggy said was true. Yes, I thought. My crush does have something to do with my decision, but Max is still right. With a shaky breath I got up and finished packing my gear. A feeling told me I wouldn't see this place again.
