Yay! Another chapter! Also, the last chapter of 2009. Looking back, this was an okay year. Well, fanfiction and band wise anyway. The rest of it… sucked. Okay, well this chapter goes to the School. However, this chapter isn't going to focus on the person you'd think it would. You may have even forgotten that… Never mind. I don't want to spoil anything. Okie dokie, let's get on with everything else. Please take the time to read 'NeoFlock' and 'Deadline' by Talon666 and 'Dark Blue' and 'Maximum Ride: Wings vs. Wands' by Madeline Cullen. These stories deserve many spectacular reviews. So, on with this chapter. I hope you'll like it.

Cory took in a deep, shaky breath. It was quiet out in the hall and he couldn't stand it any longer. The Director wanted to see him again. He hadn't felt so nervous since he was in the first grade and was in the principal's office for beating up those goons who messed with Melody. Sure, he knew she could take them by herself, but when he saw she wasn't going to do anything, he had acted instinctively. The Director had been furious, so he told her he had protected her purely to get on her good side so he could observe her more closely. This was acceptable and he hadn't been punished. In fact, he had been highly praised.

He was getting restless so, out of pure impulse, he turned his head to the side. That creepy kid, Flint or something, was glaring at him and he turned back to face the wall in front of him.

He had known why he'd done that. All those years ago in the office, he had turned to look at Melody and he had felt much better knowing that she was grateful. She was smiling at him, her face unharmed. He had been glad she wasn't hurt.

Somehow, even though he wasn't supposed to, he had fallen in love with her that day. It just couldn't be helped with Melody. Everyone loved her except her enemies, but even they admitted that there was something special about her.

Cory couldn't explain how it had happened or how he knew. From that day on, he secretly made plans about telling her everything and then flying away with her someplace where no one would ever find them.

However, that hadn't happened. He had simply continued to report on her to the School until her capture, just like a good evil lackey. He hated himself for that, among a bunch of other things, a lot.

It was completely his fault that she had fallen in love with that knuckle head, Skye. Ooh, he loathed that guy with every fiber of his being. He didn't deserve Melody. He'd betrayed her. He'd hurt her.

However, was he, Cory, so different from Skye? Hadn't he also hurt her? Granted, she didn't know that he had, but still. Maybe, if he told her everything like he had dreamed about, things would be different. For one, she wouldn't have gotten captured. For two, maybe she'd love him.

But what if Skye was really her soul mate? Maybe he had done Melody a favor by helping in her capture. Maybe if he had told Melody everything and they had run off together, she'd feel like something was missing and she'd be sad all the time. A sad Melody was just plain wrong. Sick and wrong. It was like a bird that could fly, a fish that couldn't swim, a horse that couldn't run, a child that couldn't laugh. Skye had made her happy… once. For that, Cory owed him a lot. It proved that what he had done had one (only one) positive effect on the girl he loved.

Suddenly, the door to the Director's office swung open and Cory walked inside, jumping a mile when the door slammed behind him. He made his way over to the Director's desk. She was sitting in her chair, flanked by her faithful pet vulture, Tanner.

"What am I in for this time?" Cory asked, faking calmness.

The Director frowned. "This is no time for trying to be funny Cory." she told him sternly.

"Wasn't trying." he told her, sitting down in the chair in front of her and propping his elbows on the desk.

She grimaced, clearly disgusted with him. "Clearly."

Tanner rolled his eyes. "I don't see why you're entrusting the Tracker with this job." he told her. "He's in love with Melody." he said, smirking.

"That's ridiculous." Cory lied. "Why would I love her? She's nothing."

The Director turned to Tanner. "You be quiet. Because of you, she escaped and Skye turned on us."

Cory's heart jumped at that thought. Melody had managed to escape? She was out there, flying free? She was safe and away from this hell hole? He had hoped she'd get out. And Skye had turned? Well then, Tanner wasn't as powerful as he thought. He couldn't even control simple minded Skye.

"It wasn't my fault." Tanner muttered darkly, his eyes slits. Well, someone was obviously pissed.

The Director sighed and turned back to Cory. "I have a job for you Cory. A very important one."

"What is it?" he asked, cracking his knuckles. The Director usually made him run around the country to do errands. Kidnap a kid here, summon a whitecoat there, blow up a few buildings, and junk like that. Personally, he thought it was a dull and thankless job.

She grinned, creeping Cory out. She pulled open a desk drawer and reached inside. "I want you to kill Melody and little Jewel. Skye's to be brought back here for me to deal with." she said, placing a gun in front of him.

Cory stared at it, shocked. Kill Melody? He couldn't do it. He looked up at the Director and shook his head.

"No thanks. I think I'll pass." he told her. "See, I'm a Tracker, not a fighter. Too messy."

The Director looked at him, her eyebrows raised. "Oh, really. I seem to recall that you once beat up two boys to rescue little Melody."

Cory shrugged. He couldn't let the Director know that he couldn't kill the girl he loved, but he had to get out of it. He looked to Tanner. "Why can't he do it?"

"Two reasons." the Director explained. "One, he's failed me too much already. Two, you can track her. I figured it'd be easier if you found her and then killed her too." She stared at Cory hard. "If you don't do this, I'm going to have to think that you do indeed love Melody. Then I'll have to destroy you too."

Cory swallowed hard and stared at the gun. What was he going to do? His life or Melody's? Which was more important? What would Mel do if the situation was flipped? Simple, she'd pick his life. However, there was no way it'd be flipped. Mel was braver than he was. She wouldn't have gotten mixed up in all of this.

So, what was he going to do? His life or hers?

He sighed and picked up the gun, making his choice. He pocketed it and stood up. The Director was beaming at him.

"Wise decision." she told him.

He nodded. "Can I go now?" he asked.

"Of course." she told him.

Cory began to walk out of the room when the Director called back to him. He turned around, seeing Tanner glare at him like he wanted to kill him.

"Remember to bring me back Skye." she told him, grinning that creepy evil grin of hers. The one that always sent a cold chill down Cory's spine.

He nodded and walked out the door. He already knew where Melody was. He could sense her. No one understood how his tracking worked. Frankly, neither did he. All he knew was that, for some reason that he didn't understand, he could only track Melody. And now, he was off to find her.

Well, that was sort, but oh well. I warned you last chapter that it would be. So, this was shocking huh? Wonder what'll happen next. A fight perhaps? We shall see. Won't be updating again until next year. See you all then.