Okay, I know this one is really lengthy, but I didn't really want to split it into separate chapters...
Thanks for the reviews, everyone! I really appreciate it :)
And I will try not to go AWOL on it... you could even give me your opinion on what should happen next, because I haven't planned the ending yet. :| I will try to keep this up.
part one
(flock's POV)
Iggy winces as he listens to Nudge's incessant crying. "Angel," he says, "can you go get her?"
Angel nods, though Iggy can't see it. She heads to the lobby, where Nudge and Dylan are. Iggy, Angel and Gazzy are watching Max, just in case she wakes up.
Gazzy snores softly on the chair next to Iggy's. Poor kid; he stayed awake all night, worried, and talking to and crying with the flock. He's only nine.
The door opens. Iggy turns his face towards it. He hears Nudge's sobs, calmer now.
"Hey, Ig," she says, voice cracked. She pulls a folding chair up to the hospital bed and sits, chin in her hands.
Angel stands next to Nudge, patting her shoulder. She looks down at her sadly, her own blue eyes filled with tears. She's reading everyone's dark thoughts, their fears about whether Max is going to wake up, the questions they have about her being in this condition. It's a lot for a seven-year-old to take.
Iggy hears Nudge gasp.
"What?" Iggy asks, listening to the heart monitor. It remains steady. Nothing's changed.
"She-she twitched," Nudge says, sounding disappointed when nothing more happens. She lets out a deep breath.
"I'm gonna go call for some food," Iggy tells the flock, standing up. "What do you guys want?"
He gets three different answers, since Gazzy wakes up to the mention of food. He sighs and heads for the door, feeling for the doorknob.
"It's open," Nudge says. He walks into the hallway.
"Iggy," he hears Dylan say. "How is she?"
"Fine." Iggy's voice is steely. "Do you want anything to eat?"
"No, I'm okay." Dylan walks into the hospital room. Iggy doesn't trust him; neither does the rest of the flock.
A doctor walks up to him. "Everything okay?" she asks kindly.
"Yeah. Just getting some food."
"All right. Cafeteria is that way." She turns Iggy's shoulder in the direction of the cafeteria.
"Thanks." He heads toward it.
The walls are white, which helps Iggy see a little bit. He sees the dark space where the door is, and pushes it open.
The hospital the flock is in isn't like any other hospital. It's run by the CSM, Max's mom's company. It's one of the three hospitals they run in the country. When the flock found Max, they took her to a normal hospital and called Dr. Martinez, and her scientists flew her to the hospital in Mullen, Nebraska. Dr. Martinez arrives at noon today.
Iggy frowns to himself as he slides down the buffet line, asking for a green Jell-O for Angel. He knows how things are going to be. He knows what's going to happen-not to Max, but to the rest of the flock.
They're in for a big surprise.
Fifteen minutes later, Dylan is still in the waiting room. He's the only one here; well, he and the receptionist behind her desk.
Why would anybody come here, anyways? he wonders. This is a CSM hospital, not a walk-in emergency room. Only freaks are treated here.
Freaks like me.
He cracks his knuckles, and unfolds his wings slightly. Every muscle is tensed and aching but he barely notices. MaxMaxMax, his mind won't stop saying. He can't see her, all crumpled and bruised. Not now.
The automatic doors to the entrance slide open, and he hears running footsteps. He looks up.
"Where is she?" a woman demands, running toward the desk. A girl, maybe 12 years old, follows her.
"Dr. Martinez?" Dylan finds himself saying. He gets to his feet.
Dr. Martinez turns toward him. "Dylan?" She runs over to him. "Where's Max?"
"Down the hall, take a left," he says, pointing. Ella, staring wide-eyed up at him, looks like she's about to cry. "Is she okay?" she asks.
Dylan looks down. "Um. Here, let me take you to her."
Dr. Martinez nods, and she and Ella follow Dylan to Max's room. Dylan hangs just inside the doorway and watches them.
"Oh, sweetie," Dr. Martinez breathes when she sees her daughter. She rushes over and takes her hand. Ella bursts into tears. Angel hugs her, crying too.
"We found her like this," Gazzy says. "We still don't know what happened."
"Could I see her X-rays?"
"Yeah. I'll get a nurse," Nudge says, walking out of the room.
Dr. Martinez holds her hand over her mouth. "This... God. Who could've done this?"
"A monster," Iggy says angrily. "Worse than an Eraser. Worse than Jeb, or any of those f... scientists." He restrains himself from cussing.
Suddenly, Angel screams. Everyone who was sitting down jumps up.
"What? What is it?" Gazzy asks urgently.
Angel has stopped crying, looking at the door. "I hear-"
"Who?" Iggy asks, reaching for her arm and finally grabbing it.
"It's-"
Someone appears in the doorway, a tall, dark figure. Everyone looks toward it, except Iggy. The room falls silent.
"What?" Iggy asks desperately.
"What happened to Max?" comes a different voice, deep and strong.
"Fang," everyone says in unison.