Hey all of you totally awesome people! Yes, I am updating early. You may cheer. Everyone was begging me to update after I left you all with a cliffhanger, so I decided to show you all mercy. Aren't I kind? Actually, I think I really wanted to update sooner too. Alright, now time for the usual junk. Read 'NeoFlock' and 'Deadline' by Talon666 and 'Dark Blue' and 'Maximum Ride: Wings vs. Wands' by Madeline Cullen. They are both truly amazing authors. Well, I suppose I better get on with the chapter. Don't wanna drag that cliffy out any longer. Or maybe I do. Yeah, I do. Okay, I think I'll take pity on all of you now. You're lucky I'm feeling very nice today. Here's Chapter 24 for all of you wonderful people.
"Mel?" Jewel whispered to me, trying to be as quiet as possible while being heard over all of the yelling. "What're we going to do? We can't just sit here."
Wow. My biggest decision, so far, as leader. "We're going to go out there. See what's up. Kick some butt."
Jewel nodded and we both stood up and walked to the door. I pulled it open slowly and saw Willow and Flint standing behind Tanner with their arms crossed. Skye was standing next to the couch, hands balled into fists. Mike was no where to be seen.
"Ah. Thank you Melody." Tanner said, an evil smirk on his face when he saw me. "I'm glad you decided to make this easy for me."
I folded my arms and let out a hollow laugh. "Oh, is that what you think?" I asked, trying to sound as Max-like as possible. "Try again."
He shook his head. "Melody, Melody, Melody. I told you not to mess with me. Didn't I warn you?" And then he ran straight for me and knocked me backwards into the door.
We wrestled around in the floor. I was trying to strangle him and he was trying to do the same to me. My arms ached and Tanner's face was blood red. Sweat was pouring off both of us as we rolled around in the floor.
Somehow I managed to pin Tanner down and slowly got up, my foot pressed to his chest.
"Hmm." he said, thoughtfully. "Very impressive Melody. I really wish you would reconsider the side you chose."
"No way."
"Have it your way then." He grabbed me by the leg and pulled me down. Then he dragged me into the kitchen, giving me carpet burn as we went into the living room.
Mike's coffee table was broken. Obviously, someone had been body slammed into it, but I couldn't tell who.
Jewel was trying to kick Flint who had her arms pinned behind her back. I was so proud of her for putting up a fight. She was doing much better than I was.
"Melody, I really don't want to hurt you." Tanner told me, yanking me up.
"Well, I really want to hurt you." I told him. Then I kicked him swiftly in the place where the sun don't shine.
He doubled over and winced. "Shoulda seen that one coming."
Before I had a chance to do anything else, Willow and Skye came stumbling in. Willow was punching Skye with one hand and trying to stick a syringe in his arm with the other. Skye was trying to hurt Willow, but she was too fast for him.
As they came closer to us, Tanner stuck out his foot and Skye tripped. Willow seized this opportunity to run over to him before he could get up and I could get to him. She jabbed the syringe in his arm while she held him down with her foot pressed to his chest.
I had been so busy watching that Tanner managed to punch me in the jaw before I could even blink an eye. I went down like a sack of potatoes, my head smacking on the edge of the broken coffee table.
Everything was a little fuzzy from pain, but I could hear Tanner shout, "Let's move! Now! We've done our job!"
I managed to pull myself up and saw Tanner wave at me. "See ya later Melody." he jeered as he took off.
I heard Skye let out a groan and say, "Well that could've gone better."
"It was a sneak attack!" I shouted at him, my head in my hands. That was the most brutal beating I had ever received.
Skye shook his head. "I know Princess." Then he cried out in pain and grasped his arm. "What in the hell was in that thing? Oh God! It frickin' burns!" He was shaking. Definitely not a good sign.
I rushed over to him and grabbed his arm. It looked perfectly fine aside from the site of injection. "Did you see what color the liquid in the syringe was?" I asked him. I'd never admit it, but I was scared to death.
He nodded his head, his teeth clenched. "It was clear." he managed to force out.
"You're sure?" I asked. "It wasn't a light pink or something?"
He shook his head. "Clear."
"Well, most sedatives are clear, but you haven't passed out yet. I don't know what it is, but we'll have to keep an eye on you."
He looked up at me and held my gaze for a second. Then I quickly looked down and took a deep breath. Save my life? Yeah right. More like me saving his.
I heard another groan and then Jewel said, "I'm fine too. Thanks for asking."
I looked up and saw her staggering over to us from the kitchen. She was all cut up so I figured she was the one who had been body slammed into the coffee table. She sat down next to me silently.
I decided to use the silence to assess my own injuries. I rolled my shoulder, wincing from the pain. Tanner had really jerked me around. My head hurt too. Other than that, I seemed to be fine.
I pulled Jewel's arm towards me and lightly ran my fingers over her cuts with my eyes closed. I opened them and took another look at her injuries. They were gone. I did the same to her other arm and to her face.
"Does it hurt anywhere else?" I asked her.
Jewel shook her head, so I rounded on Skye.
"And you?" I asked.
"Other than the throbbing pain in my arm, I'm fine." he replied, his teeth still clenched tightly.
I nodded. "Okay, we should probably head out ASAP." I informed them, standing up. My legs shook a little, but I managed to keep my balance.
Skye huffed and held out his arm. I tried to hide a grin as I grabbed his arm and pulled him up. When he was at full height our eyes met again and I had to quickly look away before it was too late.
"What the hell?" I heard Mike ask from behind me. He had a confused look on his face.
"Thanks for nothing." I growled hatefully as I pulled Jewel up on her feet. The coward. He hid while we fought for our lives. Although, I doubted Mike could've been any help. Heck, we probably would've had to save him.
"Hey, look." he said, raising up his hands in surrender. "I'm a hacker not a fighter. You said nothing about fighting."
I shook my head, exasperated. "Never mind. The important thing is that we're all safe and sound." Skye snorted so I added, "Well, mostly."
Mike nodded towards Skye. "What's wrong with you kid?" he asked.
"Nothing." Skye said, trying to play off the fact that his arm was red and that he was supporting it with his other arm.
"To heck it's nothing. Anyone can see you're hurt." he said.
Before Skye had a chance to say anything rude I jumped in. "Okay, so he's hurt. We heal fast. He'll be fine in a couple of hours."
Mike shrugged and asked me, "Well what're you guys gonna do now?"
"Yeah Mel." Jewel said, sounding much better than she had earlier. "What are we gonna do?"
I sighed. Why did they have to depend on me for everything? Oh right. Because I was leader that's why. I really had no idea why Skye had wanted to challenge me for the position. I bet, looking at what I was having to do, he was glad that he didn't win that argument.
"I don't know where we're going, but I do know that we're leaving. As soon as we pack." I told them, walking back towards the spare bedroom.
I heard Jewel's footsteps following behind me as I walked down the hall. I walked on the door and sat down on the floor. Jewel sat next to me and we began searching for our things. Once the bag was packed, we left the room and headed for the living room.
I saw Skye pull his hoodie over his head. He looked like he was in a whole lot of pain. I felt a pang of sympathy and wished I could do something for him. But then I remembered what he had said to me not too long ago and I got over the urge to reach out and hug him.
"What?" he asked. I blinked rapidly. "What were you staring at me for?" Oops. I hadn't realized I'd been staring. I must have been really deep in thought.
"I wasn't staring at you." I said, hurriedly. "I was staring off into space. You just happened to be there." I slung the backpack over my shoulder.
"Ok, guys." Jewel said. Jewel. I had forgotten she was there. How could I have forgotten that? "I say we get going. For all we know they could come back."
I nodded. Wait. Wasn't it my job to give orders? I thought I was the leader. I guess that Jewel noticed I was a little out of it and decided someone needed to take charge of the situation.
We headed out without giving a glance to Mike. I highly doubted we would ever see him again, despite what Angel had predicted in my dream.
Hmm. Angel's predictions. That was something else to think and or worry about. How did she know what was going to happen? Then again, she said they might not happen. It was just feelings she had. But, this was Angel we were talking about. Would they really come true. The prediction about Tanner had come true. But then again, I had expected it anyways. I mean, it would have been weird if it didn't.
Even though I was sort of in a trance, I managed to lead Skye and Jewel into an abandoned alleyway and we took off.
When we were up in the air, I heard Skye gasp in pain. He was going to be in for a long flight. According to my watch, it was 9:00 in the morning. I had no idea where we were going or how long it would take to get there. But, Skye would heal, right? Right?
Well, I hope that makes you guys happy. I had fun writing it. So, what is going to happen next? Ah, a mystery. A mystery that will be solved (well, sort of) next Sunday, on my next update. I know Sunday seems like a long time away, but… who am I kidding? It is a long time away. Well, leave me a nice long review and I'll see you Sunday. And remember to always wash your hands. (From President Obama's latest speech. I had to watch it at school. Long story. I love creative writing class.)
