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The next morning we were on our way to NYC. Again we were switching off carrying Phantom or Raoul. It was very hard flying with all the extra weight added, but at least we could take breaks by passing them on to someone else. Of course, I completely jinx myself.
Just as it's my turn to take the Phantom from Fang, some unseen force shoves an unseen railroad spike through my skull. I cry out, falling, while pulling the Phantom down with me. I can barely think with the pain and I curl up in a ball, holding my head and the wind rushes passed me and the Phantom. I can't even hear him or myself screaming above the load winds. I force myself to think. Iggy is carrying Raoul. Agggg. That makes the pain worse. I have to keep trying. Fang and Nudge are both free. They could each catch one of us. Unless Fang is too tired from carrying Phantom. Or if they don't get to us on time. AHAHAHHAHA) #&% ) $$^%^(&^!
Behind my eyes, bursts of red and orange flood my brain, as if fireworks are exploding inside me. Then it is as though someone has jacked a movie screen directly into my retinas: Lightning-fast images shoot through me so fast it makes me feel sick. I can hardly make any of them out: blurred buildings, fuzzy landscapes, unrecognizable faces, food, headlines from papers, old stuff in black-and-white, psychedelic stuff, swirly patterns…God, did I somehow get really, really high? Maybe we shouldn't have had those mushrooms we found last night for dinner.
Then a heavy force hurls itself into me. I can't even open my eyes to see what it is. This "thing" clutches me, as we continue to dive bomb towards the ground. The wind lets up a little. Just when I think maybe we might be landing, the branches of trees scratch my back, arms, and face. We must have crash landed into some trees. It has slowed our fall though. We land on the ground, the wind is knocked out of me, and my back is hurting almost as much as my head. The pain is so intense I think I actually blackout for a moment or two.
"Max?" Fang's voice penetrates the fog of unconsciousness. I push my eyelids open. The headache seems to have disappeared.
"Max?" He sounds concerned. Wow. I really must have been badly hurt if Fang showed emotion.
"I-I'm okay…Just um, Phantom." I babble, trying to get my brain to think again. "Did you catch the Phantom?"
"Yeah. Nudge got him." I exhale. I hadn't even realized I was holding in a breath.
"Max…Do you need to see a doctor?" Angel asks, sounding as scared as she looks.
"Probably. But I'm not going to a doctor."
"But-"
"We don't need anyone else knowing who we are. Look, I'll take an Advil, and I'll be fine. Let's just go to New York. Alright?" Fang gives me a long, level look, then shrugs and motions to Gazzy to take off.
"After you," Fang says, jerking his thumb toward the sky. I grit my teeth and leap into the air again. No fireworks go off in my head. I feel fine, just a little scratched up from the fall through the trees. So for about the third time we start off towards New York. We haven't even gotten there and already we're having issues (well, I'm having issues). This is going to take longer than I thought.
I give a whistle as I stare at the lights shimmering below us. We all gaze in amazement at the sparkling island of Manhattan. I honestly was worried for a while that we weren't going to make it, but here we are. Nudge is freaking out with excitement next to me. Fang seems a little hesitant about all the people. Gazzy is trying to describe what the city looks like to Iggy.
Finally, after scanning the city for a few seconds, I pinpoint Central Park. I figure we can probably camp out there for the night. Drop Phantom and Raoul off in the morning, find the Institute, and maybe by then I'll be far enough through the plot to jump to the next story. I can't help but wonder if maybe I could try jumping now. I did it in Gossip Girl. Not sure how or why it worked, but it did. I bet I could do it again.
But I also don't think I can abandon the flock. Even if they are fictional characters. They feel so real to me. But then again I also have a suspicion I may be slightly insane. I just don't know anymore. God, I wish I could just talk to Nemo, ask him some questions, anything. I know I must sound really whiny, and repetitive...I just wish I cou-
Hold the phone. What if there was a way to contact Nemo? Well, not contact, but leave clues? Signs? I don't know. Maybe, just maybe, if he jumps through here and sees something of mine he'll be able to follow my tracks. But what? I don't have anything of use. All the trophies I collected from the different stories vanished. So why do I still feel a weight in my pockets? I reach my hand in and it curls around something smooth and cool. I hadn't even realized I still had this.
It's the glowing rock that Jace gave me in Mortal Instruments. Oh sorry, witchlight (it's a rock). For a brief moment I wonder what happened to Jace and what the Editors did to him. I repress the sick pit that's growing in my stomach and focus on the rock, I mean witchlight. If Nemo sees it, he'll know it doesn't belong here. Or the Editors might find it and just have an easier time finding me. I contemplate this for a moment. Screw it. I place the rock down next to me in the tree we're sleeping in. This isn't going to work, but at least it'll make me feel better that I tried. With that I go to sleep.
The next morning I wake up very cranky because sleeping in a tree did not help my beauty sleep. Nevertheless I try to look on the bright side that if all goes well after today I won't have to deal with Phantom or Raoul. Knowing my luck nothing is ever that easy.
I shove everyone out of the tree so we can go get breakfast. "Come on everyone! Breakfast time!" By breakfast I mean the roasted nuts sold by vendors on the streets. I try my hardest to savor their sweet honey fried goodness. It's hard because I'm savagely hungry so I stuff them all in my mouth. All six packs of them. Anyway, not the point.
While everyone is busying eating their "breakfast" I suddenly feel something is wrong. So far my senses have proven to be accurate. I sweep the park looking for any suspicious characters. My eyes fall upon a sleeping hobo. My eyes narrow. I can tell there's something off about his curly gray badly kept beard.
"Hold my honey-roasted nuts." I say to Fang, while pressing them into his chest. Then I roll up my sleeves and approach the sleeping hobo.
"Nice getup. I must say I almost didn't recognize you."
"Whaaa?"
"Please. You can't trick me that easily. And pretending as if you don't know what I'm talking about isn't going to trick me either."
"I-I don't know what you're talking about-"
"Shut it!" I grab his jacket. "Where are your Eraser buddies? Are they following us? Where are they?!"
"Please!"
"I'm not going to let you keep terrorizing us like this! I want you to stop following me and the flock and just let us live in peace!"
"Uhh. Max?" I hear Fang say behind me. "Not now Fang. I'm in the middle of something."
"But Max-"
"I'm going to give you till the count of three to run away and tell all your friends to leave us alone. One. Two." I let go of the Eraser in disguise and watch him scamper away, pretending to be frightened.
"I bet those Erasers won't bother us now. Not after I scared their friend like that." I turn around and bump into some guy's chest. He grabs my shoulders and pulls me up.
"Max. I don't think that was an Eraser." Angel says from somewhere in the background.
"Oh…" I stare up into the snout of the Eraser holding me up. I guess my senses aren't as trust worthy as I thought.
"Well. This is awkward. But to be fair, I think by expecting the unexpected (aka dressing up as a hobo) I was really one step ahead of you."
"Let's see who one step ahead of whom is after I rip your throat out." He purrs.
"Nice grammar." I comment. "But I don't think ripping my throat out is necessary." I gulp. He looks serious about that throat ripping. Before either of us can react, Fang throws one of my packets of nuts at the Eraser's head.
"Hey! Those were my nuts!" I scream angrily.
"I'm trying to save your life!" Fang yells back. The Eraser turns and is distracted by the nuts and the yelling. I take the opportunity to kick his shin and as he let's go I make a run for it.
"Run!" I yell at the rest of the flock. We run through the park, zigzagging through tourists and street musicians alike. I take a quick peek back, and my heart sinks as I see the Eraser has been joined by several other Erasers. I run a little quicker. Then Iggy yells out "Left!" I automatically follow his directions, as I merge into the crowds of people entering the Central Park Zoo. Because nothing's better than doing a little sightseeing while being chased by murderous genetically modified wolf-dudes.
The flock melt into a school group. I suppress a giggle as the Phantom and Raoul also kneel down, trying to blend into the group of school kids. Meanwhile I also see the Erasers have spread out and are searching for us looking frustrated. One of them tries to get in, but a policeman blocks his way. "School day only. No unauthorized adults." After I get in I rejoin the rest of the flock inside. The Phantom and Raoul were able to successfully get in too (don't ask me how).
"The zoo!" Nudge says, practically quivering with excitement. "I've always wanted to see a zoo! I've read about 'em- I've seen them on TV. This is so great! Thanks Max."
"Whoa. Whoa. Hold it right there. I don't think staying here is a good idea." I begin.
"Why? The Erasers can't get in here. We're safe, and we've never been in a zoo before!"
"Yeah, but…" I was hoping to get rid of the Phantom and Raoul today. I guess it would be nice to have one more afternoon together before I ship them off to Broadway. "Oh. Alright."
"Yes!"
So we tour the zoo. There are polar bears, sea lions, and penguins. The polar is playing with his ball and rolling it around and in the water. I am able to relax a bit. We go to the next habitat, which it the monkeys. The Phantom is just fascinated by them. Maybe it's because of that music box he had? I don't know, but he keeps singing to them and poking at the glass. We get a lot of weird looks from people. Screw it, I am so used to it by now it doesn't even faze me.
After a while everyone starts getting tired though, so we decide to leave. I direct us to where the Phantom of the Opera Theater is. We land on the roof.
"Where are we?" Gazzy asks.
"We're just making a quick stop here. Phantom, Raoul? We're going inside." So we disappear into the door leading into the theater. Once inside there are people running and yelling and commotion everywhere. Some people are in extravagant costumes, others are in plain black clothes with headphones on. The Phantom and Raoul look confused.
"I know everything has been really confusing lately, but I want you guys to know that I really appreciate everything you've done, and we've had great times together. That being said, I think if you love something you should let it go." I have to pause a moment. I'm actually getting a little choked up. I wasn't expecting this. "I think you guys are going to like it here. And- and…Oh god! I'm going to miss you too so much! Even though you're completely homicidal, annoying, won't shut up, lunatics who keep squabbling with each other. That's a complement." I wipe a tear from my eye. Then the Phantom and Raoul both hug me.
"Christine…No more talk of darkness, let daylight dry your tears, I'm here." Raoul starts singing. The Phantom looks outraged that he beat him to the punch. I just start laughing hysterically.
"Phantom, I want you to promise me no more murdering people. And Raoul and I want you to promise me to actually try to come up with fool proof plans and listen to what other people (me) have to say…Oh man…It's been a blast you two." Just then one of the guys in black with a headphones on runs over an interrupts us.
"Raoul, Phantom, you guys are supposed to be on in five minutes."
"But-" Phantom starts.
"No buts, get out there." He pulls them away, and I give them one last fleeting wave goodbye. My stomach hurts. I feel…sad. I can't believe I just admitted that. I sigh. I head back upstairs.
"Max? Where'd Phantom and Raoul go?" Nudge asks, looking sad too. I glance back longingly at the stage door.
"They're in a better place now." Angel takes my hand (she can read my mind and knows what I'm thinking and how I feel), and squeezes it tight.
"It's alright Max. You still have us." I smile down at her.
"You're absolutely right. Come on. Let's go find the Institute.