Okay, everyone, so here's the really late (sorry sorry sorry) chapter! Hope you like it!

Nudge POV:

It was just how I remembered it: The lights, the people who didn't give you a second glance, the sheer enormity of it all. It was perfect for us. We could walk around the city for years and never see the same person twice. The first night we got into the actual city, we collapsed in an abandoned building. Painful memories came flooding back to me, of the short time I spent here with the Flock, but I forced them down and put on a big smile for Collin. Who was snoring like there was no tomorrow. Boys...

The next morning, we were chased out of the building by angry homeless people, who apparently 'owned' the building we were sleep in. They had some heavy weapons, so, we sprinted the hell outta there, only stopping when we reached the safety of one of the heavily crowded streets. We were pushed, shoved, crushed, squished... you name it, someone did it! When Collin finally managed to drag me into a shop, that was equally as packed, we ducked our heads and headed to a secluded area.

The back was relatively secluded and we crouched down to talk, me not realising it was the lingerie section, 'So, Collin, where will we—Hey! Get your hands away from that! Listen!' I hissed at him, disgusted as he reached out to touch... well, he tried to touch something that was hanging up something, okay? I slapped his hand away, and firmly turned his chin towards me. 'Collin, we have to focus.'

'Sorry, Nudge! I got... distracted by...' He trailed off, his eyes drifting away from mine again. I sighed and pulled him away by the ear, heading for the racks of coats. I yanked him down, hidden behind the elaborate fur coats (they were fake, I swear!) and slapped him across the face. 'Okay, so I guess I deserved that one,' He grinned cheekily, making my heart melts. Wait, what did I just think?!

'You're good. So, should we head for the suburbs, or stay in the city? I think the city; it's easier to be inconspicuous...'

'Hmmm, yeah, the city's cool. Whatever you think, captain!' He did that quirky thing with his mouth again, and his now-black eyes seemed to twinkle like black onyxes. For the first time since we escaped, I really noticed his floppy hair that was just the perfect colour (pale blonde streaked with a chocolaty brown), and that I was drawn to him, like a moth to a bright light. We were lost in each other's eyes, our hormones going so crazy that they were practically on drugs. I leaned in against my will, feeling that something was wrong, that I shouldn't be kissing Collin. Iggy, Iggy, Iggy, my heart chanted, while my head screamed Collin, Collin, Collin. Closer and closer we got, me cursing my spilt personalities all the way, and just as our mouth were about to touch—

The coats that were hiding us were ripped apart, and I whipped around, expecting bloodthirsty Erasers ready to kill us. It was a girl. A teenager, around our age, with bags hanging from her hands and a shocked look on her face. I froze, feeling Collin tense up beside me. She stared at us, and we stared right back at her. This random teenage girl was the first person we had properly seen face to face since escaping the School (bar the homeless people). The silence was proof of her (and our) surprise and, as she goggled at us, her mouth a perfect fly-trap, I took the opportunity to study the girl.

The girl was beautiful, with a perfect figure and big eyes. She was wearing a necklace and matching bracelet and had sparkling diamond earrings. Her layered brown hair fell in waves around her face, and she was wearing glasses that really magnified her gorgeous blue-grey eyes that had just the right amount of mascara and eyeliner. Her make-up was perfect, without a smudge or mess-up in sight, not plastered to her face, but just simple. The mystery girl's clothes were amazingly fashionable and suited her perfectly, like she was born to wear tight tops that magnified her perfect body and skinny jeans that showed off her brilliant legs. The girl also had a cute skirt that was on over the jeans which gave the whole look a really good effect. She had loads of shopping bags in her hands and she was currently blinking her wide eyes a number of times, looking like she had just seen a ghost. Or two runaway mutants. Depends how you look at things.

I looked up at her, tucking my hair behind my ear and hearing her hiss of shock when she saw my jagged scar. Yeah, the one that occupies half my damn face. 'Jesus Christ,' she muttered, her eyes looking tortured. She looked away quickly, embarrassed.

In a nutshell, this girl was perfect. She was everything I wished I could be. I started to feel my eyes well up with tears at the thought of the life I could have had if the damn scientists hadn't decided to play 'God' with me, and I felt Collin nudge me, concerned. I sniffed a couple of times and wiped my nose with my dirty sleeve, I felt so inferior next to her with her gorgeous clean clothes and beautiful hair. She wordlessly reached into her bag and passed me a clean tissue from one of those little packets I've never owned. Or felt the need to own.

I took it, like a person might handle a bomb, and carefully blew my nose and wiped most of the dirt off my face. 'So... I'm, um, Lindsay and, uh... sorry if I was, um, interrupting anything important. Are you guys okay, though? You look like, well, crap.' She was blunt and straight to the point, her pretty face scrunched up in concern that just made me hate her more. We didn't need some stupid human snooping around us; we were fine on our own. Besides, there was something weird about her... I couldn't put my finger on it.

I went to duck away so I could cry my eyes out and rant about some stupid human who totally ruined our moment, but Collin started to talk to her, making sure to keep his metal-ish hand out of sight, 'Yeah, we're fine, just kinda lost. We got, uh, mugged, that's how we got all those cuts and bruises, and now we don't have any money... I'm Col—Conor, and this is Nud – uh, I mean...'

'Monique,' I cut in smoothly, finally having gotten my damn emotions under control, being around humans (and Collin!) was slowly cracking my stone cold exterior I had built up over the past year and a bit. Soon I would be the old, weak Nudge. I couldn't let that happen. Ever. 'Sorry about that, I'm good now.' I tried to smile brightly at her, but it probably came out more like a grimace. Lindsay gave me a funny look before hesitantly smiling back. Dang, I have officially lost my people skills in the time I was in The School, during that year I spent alone with my freaking thoughts. That's going to make fitting in with the humans a lot easier. Great, way to be, Nudge...

'Well, here's some money –I honestly feel terrible for interrupting your... well, whatever you were doing behind the coats- and, uh, I guess I'll leave if you want to continue... your, um, thing,' She pressed a wad of cash into my hand, shaking her head as I went to complain, 'No seriously, I'm real sorry for interrupting!' she ducked away, her bracelets jingling, and was gone before we had a chance to say anything else.

'Wait!' Collin yelled, starting after her, my mouth still frozen in surprise and my hand clenched involuntarily around the dollar bills she had handed us. I glanced down. Lindsay had given us over two hundred dollars. What the--

'Nudge! Nudge, she's gone. I can't see her anywhere, but look what was just around the corner...' He trailed off, opening a shopping bag; I recognised it from one of the many ones around Lindsay's hands. Inside, was two complete outfits, with jackets, shoes, jeans... everything. 'I even checked the sizes. They fit perfectly.' I was silent; it was like she had known we were coming. But how?

Rummaging through the bag, I found make-up bag (brand new), toiletries (for both of us), a bag for me, complete with a purse and more cash, a large hoodie for Collin (to hide his metal-ish hand), and lots of other necessary things to hide our mutant identities. 'This is impossible,' I found myself saying, 'How did she know?'

After ducking into the bathrooms and getting changed into 'our' new clothes, we looked at each other. The difference was kind of creepy. We looked completely different... perfect. I smiled, a genuine smile, as we bolted for the shop exit, ready to face the world now. The streets were still as jam-packed and crowded as they had been when we first landed (like, Jeesh, did this city ever sleep?!) and we struggled into Central Park, waiting for darkness.

Apparently, when night came to Central Park, it brought along weird people, some of whom were just annoying after a while. We sat at the base of a giant tree, waiting in amusement for the next drunk or teenager to stumble up to us. The funniest was the teenager who looked like he belonged in some kind of punk-rocker band, what with all his studs and chains. He swaggered up to us, looking all cool in from of his mates, crouched down in front of us amused mutants and (this was the not-cool part) planted a big kiss on my lips.

In about a second, he was up against the tree, his arm twisted in the perfect place to break it. Collin's face was murderous as he flexed his metal hand, ready to punch the guy's lights out. Permanently. 'Aaaagh! Dude, calm down... I'm sorry!' The youth whimpered, practically crying with fear. I leaned against the tree trunk, chewing gum, my eyebrows raised.

'Don't. Apologize. To. Me.' Collin's voice was ice-cold and dangerous, his eyes full of fire.

'I'm sorry, girl! Get your boyfriend off me. Please don't kill me!'

Wait... boyfriend?!

Max POV:

We managed to make it all the way to New York in one long flight. The city was blazing with lights in the dark night, and I felt like a tiny moth, flying towards the bright lights... Hopefully I wasn't flying to my death. We touched down in Central Park, all tired and irritable.

I turned to ask Iggy what we were supposed to do; it was him that had wanted to come here, and to make sure he was okay. He had been unusually quiet for the whole flight, and had hung out at the back for a change, instead of up with Gazzy and Nudge. He was several metres away and I opened my mouth to yell for him, about to start firing questions at him, when he twitched a couple of times. I raised an eyebrow, it was weird.

Then again. And again. His forehead was creased in pain, his eyes worried and oblivious to my own questioning ones. I went to get Fang, but out of the corner of my sharp eyes, I saw Iggy start jerking, and fall. By the time I reached him; he was full out spasm-ing on the ground, his eyes rolling crazily in his head.

I couldn't help it. I screamed. The rest of the Flock turned around and saw us. They screamed. Iggy, still convulsing on the ground, screamed, in pain. We were frozen in shock. I was reliving that night with Nudge. My chest seized up, and I could only watch in horror as Fang ran over and tried to get Iggy out of... whatever he was having. Fang's attempts included: slapping Ig's face, screaming at him to 'Snap out of it!' and several other methods that didn't work. Finally, he just sat back, running his hands through his hair nervously. It was torture, watching someone you love go through what looked like hell on earth.

Then... it just stopped. His shuddering body slowed to a stop, and he rolled a couple of time, before coming to a complete halt under an oak tree. No one moved, all too scared it would start again. Silence. I inched a step closer to him, moving as if I was underwater. Another few steps, and I was nearly at him. When I reached him, I stretched out a wary hand, almost afraid to touch him.

I lay a tentative hand on his shoulder, and almost jumped a foot when he groaned. 'Iggy...?' I forced the words out from behind the lump in my throat. Not Iggy, please, no someone else. Take me, if you're going to take anyone!

'Uhhhh... What happened? Why does it feel like my head's 'bout to crack open like a freaking coconut?!'

'Why don't you tell us what happened, Iggy? What the freak was that, dude?' Fang's voice was strained with worry, his hands clenching and unclenching as he stood over Iggy's form like a dark angel. The kids were a few paces behind us, quivering with worry and fear. God, I was reliving that night all over again, I couldn't lose another Flock member. Not again. It nearly killed me the last time.

'I know what's up with blind dude...' A voice came out of nowhere, scaring the hell out of us tense mutants. I whipped around, ready to fight, Iggy struggling to get up, Fang ready to fight beside him. Gazzy was already pushing his sister behind him, reaching into his pockets for bombs and I could see his whole little body tense up, ready to fight for his life.

A girl dropped lightly out of the tree we were under, causing Fang to swear under his breath with surprise, while Gaz and Angel let out squeaks of alarm. I growled, pushing to the front and getting all in the girl's face. She was a little smaller than me, clad in ridiculous clothes for fighting, with her hair perfectly done. But her eyes were full of fire and amusement as she silently mocked me, daring me to swing out at her. I threw a punch, to see how she would react, but she didn't flinch.

My fist connected with her cheek, leaving split skin and what was going to be a massive bruise. Any normal human would have been reeling back from the shock and force of that blow, but mystery-girl didn't flinch, her cool eyes glinting in the darkness. Fang was beside me in an instant, snarling down at her as he tried to push me behind him. 'I thought you wanted to know what's wrong with your friend, not beat me up... Not that you would be able to.' She said calmly, smirking at me as she breathed the last part.

Iggy was up, leaning heavily on the Gasman, but up all the same. 'Who are you?' He asked, his voice slightly breathless as he panted for air.

'That's for me to know and you to... well, it's just not important right now. Or ever.' She answered, neatly side-stepping Fang and me, making a clear path to the kids and Iggy. No you don't! Before I could react (and tear her head off), Fang grasped her throat, and yanked her back. He held her slightly off the ground and I watched as her feet dangled, the designer shoes glittering in the dark night. This is why you don't go into Central Pak at night, kids. There could be some freaks in there, like us.

'What. Are. You. Talking. About.' I growled, my heart pounding with pressure and worry for Iggy, even though I didn't show it on my face. I was in full on battle/tense-moments-with-enemies mode. Bring it on...

'Weird... the other freaks were more welcoming and, just, generally nicer than you guys. Guess we can't use the saying "birds of a feather" in this situation... Damnit, I like that saying. Anyway, I won't tell you unless you put me down. Right. Now.' She rambled, saying the last part in a deadly voice. I nodded to Fang who dropped her on the ground, where she landed lightly on her feet. 'Thank you. So... the blind dude, Iggy, well, his DNA is going crazy (don't ask me for a scientific-al explanation, 'cuz I really don't have a clue) at the moment and if you don't put it right (however you do that), he's going to die. And soon.'

The reaction from us was crazy. Angel flung herself on Iggy, her blue eyes welling up with tears (I could so relate), Fang snarled and hoisted the girl up by her shirt again, Gazzy's whole body tensed and he suddenly flung a small object at a far away tree... which promptly burst into flames. I just froze, my face probably showing all my worry, anger and desperateness. This could not happen again. Please no.

'Don't all look at me,' the girl said in a defensive tone when we all turned towards her again, 'I mean, Jesus Christ, I have no idea how you're going to fix him! For God's sake, just don't shoot the messenger.' She detangled herself from Fang's iron fists and started to back away. 'Don't follow me, by the way', She started to say as I went to go after her, 'It's nowhere nice I'm going... Trust me. Oh yeah, the name's Lindsay.'

Third Person POV:

Jeb Batchelder's face was impassive as the teenage girl in front of him completed her report. When she had finished, he calmly shuffled a stack of papers on his desk, while she waited impatiently. 'Yes?' He inquired in a tight tone, as she tapped her foot.

'I want my friend back. Now. You promised, we had a deal,' She slammed her hands down on the table as he shook his head at her, in a patronizing way. 'You said, if I did your stupid dirty work, you'd give him back.'

'I don't remember such a deal...'

'C'mon! I had no other choices. Now, finish your part of your damn deal!' She screamed the last part, her voice high with fear and frustration. She hadn't wanted to track down the mutants, really hadn't wanted to tell one group that one of them was going to die. But she's had no choice. They took him. And she had to get him back.

Jeb, still smiling in that creepy way, slowly pressed the red button on his desk. Lindsay, realising what that meant, screamed. As the guards flooded the room, she kept her big eyes fixated on Jeb's cold grey ones. No, no! She though as they grabbed her by her arms and started to pull her away. 'NO!' They dragged her down the dark hallway, her screams echoing off the walls.

'Please no!' Jeb, hearing her screams, smiled faintly. Stupid naive girl. He radioed down to lab where she was being taken, to tell them not to go too far. The girl could be useful in later times...

_

So that's it! I hope it wasn't too bad... And as for the ridiculously late update, everything was just against me these last couple of weeks, but I (finally) got this chapter up!

Oh yeah, the new character, Lindsay, is based on my best friend in real life, wait for it, Lindsay. I know she seems really bad and mean in this chapter but I will be developing her more as the story goes on.

Review? It makes me write faster :)

Happy March, all you awesome fanfiction-ers who take the time to read my story!
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