Sorry for the long wait... I hope you guys think this chapter is worth the suspense!

Nudge's POV:

We all glared at Jeb in complete shock and rage when we saw Lindsay being thrown to the ground. The Flock, plus me (I wasn't quite sure where I stood with the Flock, now that I knew the true reason why they hadn't come to save me) and Collin, immediately made a protective circle around her, while she tried to stand, only letting slip a single gasp of pain. The girl's got guts.

Jeb's grey eyes were colder than cold, and he fixated them on me with the kind of hunger you see on the face of a vulture just as it's about to feast on the carcass of a dead animal. It made me shiver and I quickly looked away from him, to check on Lindsay. When I turned my gaze back to him it was filled with indescribable anger and hate. He actually flinched back, before assuming a calm facade again. I was good.

There was a tense silence, that only lasted for a few seconds until Max exploded. 'You!' She hissed at Jeb, her eyes portraying rage and betrayal. Welcome to my life. 'You told us she was dead. We trusted you. How-how... We trusted you. You told us Nudge was dead. We actually believed that you weren't a complete monster,' At this, Lindsay let out a snort of disbelief. Clearly she was on our side. 'We-I let you back in our lives, and you betrayed us,' Jeb gave a nonchalant half-shrug, 'I will KILL you for what you've done!'

Max lunged forward, his body perfectly poised to kill Jeb Batchelder on the spot, but Fang grabbed her around the torso just as she was about to reach him. We had all seen what had happened to Lindsay, and we knew that we needed to be able to fight if the time came. Fang tried to restrain her with the help of Collin, and together they dragged Max back and held her until she stopped fighting them.

Jeb watched the whole turn of events without saying a single word, or even giving any indication that he'd heard Max deliver the dangerous death threat. He didn't even flinch when Max came within inches of wrapping her hands around his chubby little throat. God, I hated the man like it was a religion. He began to talk quietly.

'You see, Maximum, before it was all about you. Everyone in the world wanted to control you; every test was based solely around you, every major scientist knew your name. But then, as you got older, you became too attached to this Flock of yours, too flawed, developed too much of an attitude... you became damaged. We were in need of an avian-hybrid for a new experiment –one that I am very much involved in – that could do the same things you could do, just one that could be broken into doing our will.

'After careful consideration, I suggested using Experiment N45g3 – the one you call "Nudge". She seemed to be the least important out of the six of you, the easiest to break, and the least likely to be missed. Unfortunately, she proved more challenging to crack that we had anticipated, but we found her weakness and –'Jeb's phone suddenly started to ring, loudly, to the tune of Katy Perry's "California Girls". We, all forgetting our current situation, stared at him in disbelief, getting a rather sheepish look in return. Weird...

After talking in low tones that even we couldn't hear, Jeb closed the phone and turned to us, a triumphant look on his face. A feeling of dread settled in my stomach – this could not be even remotely good. This was going to be very, very bad.

'I've just received permission to pursue a... personal project of my own in order to get you to co-operate.' Then, out of his pocket where his mobile had been placed seconds ago, Jeb produced a tiny remote control that looked as if it was used to operate those control operated boats or airplanes. I stifled the urge to laugh at the image of Jeb Batchelder attempting to control an airplane, and failing miserably.

I frowned slightly as I focused more clearly on the remote, it look weirdly familiar. However, all thoughts of the familiarity of the object were washed away by fear as Jeb, a wicked grin fixated on his ugly face, pushed one of the main buttons with deliberate force, as if intending to hurt someone badly with his finger's viciousness towards the button.

We all tensed, terrified of what the tiny button might do. A few seconds passed.

Nothing.

Just as I started to relax, a searing pain slashed along my crescent moon scar on my face. The white-hot pain felt like it was burning me; the pain it was giving me went up and up. I gasped and dropped to my knees, holing both hands to my scar which now felt like it was about to burst into flames at any second. Tears trickled down my cheeks, hard as I tried to stop them, from the intense agony I was going through. It felt like someone had doused my face in gasoline, and then sat it on fire, only to take a red hot poker and press it against my scar.

I went to scream in agony, but then realised that my mouth was already wide open, my vocal cords already producing the sound of a blood curdling scream. The only thing was... I couldn't hear it.

My eyes shot open to meet the other's terrified faces, to see their lips moving at fast speeds, to realise that I was the only one going through this. Not again. I pleaded. Please, God, no again. I'd rather die. Collin was staring at me in shock, his arms the only things supporting me, his lips moving at a crazy speed that I just couldn't keep up with. I gave up trying to understand his words, turning to the rest of the Flock.

Max was waving her arms around like a crazy person, her mouth stuck in a permanent flow of incomprehensible words. Angel was concentrating hard, her eyes shooting daggers at Jeb, trying to control his mind I guessed. The Gasman was helping Lindsay stand as she hurled what looked like serious verbal abuse at Jeb. Gaz's eyes showed pure terror and pain, his head whipping around to stare and Jeb, then back to me, to Jeb and then back to me, as if he could somehow break the connection with my sanity Jeb had created when he pushed that damn button.

Fang was crouched beside Iggy, murmuring in his ear, assessing the situation with his dark eyes, and trying to get through to me with his eyes as I sat there like the empty shell of a person. I was still screaming – I think. Iggy had my wrists in his hands, trying to gently force me to concentrate on him, and drag my hands away from my scar.

Through all the commotion, my eyes connected with Jeb's expressionless ones. He smirked slightly at me, an eyebrow rising in mockery. I sat up straighter, my head suddenly fixated on revenge – I do not allow people to mock me. I ripped my hands, now clenched in fists, away from Iggy grip and pulled myself away from Collin's tight hold. The Flock tried to stop me as I pushed past them, but I shook them off, already getting ready to fight.

My arms exploded in purple flames, my eyes widening with the powerful feeling that washed over me as I walked towards the man who had destroyed me. I am in control now. Time to show them what I could do... and I could do a lot.

My first strike knocked the Erasers that were running to protect Jeb off their feet, sending some flying into the solid wall; others were left curled on the floor, with their fur either singed or alight. Jeb was alone now. I knew it. He knew it. Everyone else knew it. I am in control.

My next explosion of power sent a wave of flames that circled around Jeb, which made him shrink back in real fear. I smiled sadistically, and stepped through the flames as if I was walking through cool water, my mind only focused on one purpose – make Jeb pay. I smirked when Jeb, seeing my success at passing through the flames, reached out his hand to pass it though. He succeeded in only burning his hand, and setting his sleeve on fire. I am in control.

It was like being in a silent movie, I could see his lips moving in fear, see the powerful flames grow higher and higher, and see the Flock make crazy gestures, all the time screaming. But I was blissfully numb. Collin was trying to pass through the fire, his face screwed up in pain, his clothes starting to catch alight, but he kept coming.

I sent a wave of power his way, gently wrapping purple strands of power around him, pulling him out of the flames and keeping him there. Jeb's face clearly showed that he'd just had an "accident". Gross.

'You're going to pay, Jeb Batchelder. I've been waiting a long time for this,' I grinned, showing all my teeth, my eyes glinting dangerously. A hard punch to the jaw sent him flying backwards, another had him on his knees before me. 'How does it feel, Jeb? To be defenceless before me? To not be in-freaking-charge?' I taunted him, each question followed be a brutal kick to his side.

'YOU RUINED MY LIFE!' I screamed, tears of anger and pain running down my face, my hair swirling around me like some kind of evil goddess. I screamed, yelled, cried, and shouted in his face, not noticing the team of Erasers that had come barging in as I couldn't hear the noise they made. The moment the thick, hairy arms circled around my waist, I let go. Power burst from me, in a continuous stream of purple energy, mixed with metal. At that moment, I didn't give a damn who I hit, I didn't care what was going to happen to me – I just... snapped.

Too soon I felt a needle jabbed in my arm, a hard object connected with my face, sending me flying into the wall. I didn't try to move as I saw the Flock and Collin come running over. I didn't care anymore. I could feel Collin shaking my shoulders, Iggy forcing me to look at him.

When I finally tilted my suddenly incredibly heavy head to meet Iggy's worried eyes, I saw terrified worry and anxiety; I saw his perfect lips moving at breakneck speed, and his tousled hair move slightly with every frantic glance that he shot back at the others when I didn't respond. I watched him blankly, already sunk into myself, like the time I had spent in solitary confinement in the School. Except, that time, Collin had saved me. But he couldn't save me from this.

I stared at Jeb with no expression visible. With no expression on the inside or out. I was numb.

I slumped to the side, feeling in energy drain out of me. Collin grabbed me, held me up and screamed inaudibly in my face, tears streaming down his. I knew what was coming. I would collapse unconscious in a few minutes, and then... the rest was a sick surprise.

My eyes flickered closed; my head became too heavy for me to lift up. And then my old friend came to greet me – the Blackness. It was such a good feeling - to not have to think, I embraced it. I'd focus more on my completely messed up life when I woke up. My last image was Iggy, his eyes closed in concentration and pain. The feeling of blood running my face was the last thing I felt.

But, for now, I was safe in the darkness.

Fang:

Nudge lay unconscious on the floor beside Collin (I think that was the kid's name...), and Iggy, with the rest of us in the background. My left arm was bleeding heavily, having been hit from the shards of metal Nudge had sent out as she was captured, and I glanced down at it in anger. They had grabbed us the second they'd charged through the door, and then extinguished the flames with what looked like a fire extinguisher that had spewed out ugly green fumes that made it hard to breathe.

Now all eyes were on Jeb, who was struggling to stand, with the help of a small round whitecoat. Jeb's face was bloody, bruises already beginning to show, his once impeccable white coat was now stained with blood and singed at the edges. Remind me never to get into a fight with Nudge again. He spat blood from his mouth, wiping his bloody nose on his sleeve, before looking at Nudge's still form with disgust clear on his face.

'Take Experiment N45g3, Co11n, and 1gg1 to lab 8... Oh, and bring the others along as well,' We stared at him in horror – the dude was mad. We were all restrained again as the Erasers grabbed Nudge's still body; Iggy's cursing body, and Collin's struggling one. They were shoved in crates, and quickly rushed through the doors.

I tried to desperately to follow them, kicking, biting, doing everything I could think of. Unfortunately, that only ended with me being pressed up against the wall, three Erasers pinning me against the hard rock. 'Why are you doing this?' The Gasman yelled from his position in a sore looking head-lock, with another Eraser holding his legs to keep them from kicking everyone and everything in their reach.

Jeb ignored him, instead turning to Max, 'Don't you see, Maximum? I'm doing this to protect you; they would have hurt and broken you otherwise. You'll thank me later, once you've seen this, I promise.' With that, he spun on his heel and marched out of the room. We were picked up, not easily, and were taken to some kind of observation room with one solid wall of glass.

When they finally dumped us on the ground, being very careful to lock the twelve or so locks on the outside thoroughly, I turned to Angel, 'Can you hack someone's mind, and get us out of here?'

'I-I c-cant, Fang,' She was almost sobbing now, 'They all have some sort of block, and-and it hurts... it hurts so much!' At this she dissolved into huge cries, which racked her small body. Max gathered her into a hug, gesturing to me to check what was out the massive window Lindsay leaning on. It looked out onto a lab that looked like it belonged in a horror film, scientists scurrying around inside it, Nudge, Iggy and Collin firmly strapped down to steel tables.

Lindsay had her face pressed to the glass, her tears making train tracks on the barrier that separated us from them. 'Collin!' She screamed, agony clear in her voice, 'Collin!'

'I don't think he can hear you,' I said gently, trying to get her to lean against me, signalling the others to come over. They had the same reaction as me – pure horror. Max gasped in shock, that quickly turned to anger which she took out on the solid glass in front of us. Gaz took a bomb out of his pocket, moving to the end of the glass, throwing the device at it hard, his eyes lighting up when the large boom took place. He cursed loudly when it only succeeded in blackening the floor, and his face, the glass staying as intact as ever. Angel just put her hand on the glass; fingers spread out, and cried even more.

Suddenly, Jeb's voice flooded into the room, a manic smile visible on his face from his position on the other side of the glass. 'Hello, children, I thought you might want to see what development we've made with your friends.' He moved to Iggy's side, Iggy completely unconscious. 'Unfortunately, this subject began to develop seizures, of a kind, that were a result of his DNA collapsing,' He injected a clear liquid into Ig's IV drip, saying 'This will help rebuild his DNA structure, though it may cause a few more fits!'

We stared at him; mouths wide open in disgust, as Jeb started to laugh – more of a cackle, really – uncontrollably. On the table, Iggy started to convulse, his eyes snapping open to reveal empty pupils, his head flopping to the sides like a fish on dry land, his body only being held on the table by Velcro straps. It was horrible to watch.

'Now, onto this one,' Jeb moved to Collin's still form, putting drops of green liquid in his mouth, and slapping his face to wake him, 'Oops, maybe that was too much serum... oh well!' Collin's body suddenly jerked up, his eyes wide and unfocused, 'He should start to come round in a few seconds.'

'L-Lindsay...' He started to mutter, his blank eyes searching the room wildly, 'I remember... I REMEMBER! You... and me...' Lindsay's face was smushed against the cold glass, her lips saying one word over and over again: Collin. Collin's words were becoming harder to decipher as he spoke faster and faster, becoming agitated by the second.

'Let's move on, shall we?' Our eyes were trained on Jeb as he slowly made his way into the middle of the room, where the most whitecoats were gathered around Nudge. 'This is our most crucial test on N45g3, if she survives this, she will be the most valuable asset this company owns.' I froze – If she survives... Jeb picked up a strand of Nudge's caramel coloured hair, feeling the softness for a moment, before holding his opened hand out for a syringe.

I shuddered as the torture instrument came into view, it was the biggest freaking needle I had ever seen... and I had plenty of experience. He glanced up at us for a split second, smiling sadistically, before plunging the needle into Nudge's heart.

And there goes chapter 22... I can't believe I've gotten this far! Please leave your thoughts, comments, questions, suggestions, and anything you feel compelled to share :)

I'll review faster if I get a good response...

Peace Out,
addicted-2-oxygen *.*