Part II: Miracles, Mistakes, and Rainy Days

(note that Part I is Taking Back the World ~sorry if I didn't mention that before)

Chapter 22

SAFETY was a dump of a house from what I saw on the outside. We flew another hour after landing in the field to arrive in front of this house that looks like its going to start flying in a tornado like Wizard of Oz. We did have the dog after all. Fang still carried Ari as we stepped towards the home, Max II in the lead beside Angel. I strayed back from the flock to follow them. Mela even seemed to know where she was going and what this place was but I still had no idea. My mind was ticking with possible questions and answers which of course the Voice couldn't answer.

As for before, I realized how the word wood was used intead of would...that was just an example on how lightheaded I was. Fang glanced over his shoulder to see me there. He was checking to make sure this was real and that I was back. Believe me, I was reaching for my arm and pinching it a few times to make sure I wasn't having a nightmare right now. I didn't want to witness anymore blood at the moment. For the next two days, I would have nightmares though...Brigid had managed to inject the evil medicine in me before the alarm went off after all. We were at the door now as I wondered what I expected to see behind these doors.

"There are twenty new memebers," Mela was informing Max II. I watched the two at the front door, discussing as if they had been friends before. I supposed maybe, during the troubles of my own adventures, the two had met before. Mela had known what SAFETY was. "The rooming will be crowded but I don't think people mind sharing." I looked at the house, I figured the nine of us could barely move in the small worn down place. I was about to rebuttle when Mela raised a hand, "You'll see."

Then, the door swung open and my eyes caught stairs that led down below the earth to show a large living room on the right and an even larger kitchen on the left. The children we had released where there including those I hadn't seen since New York or ever. Max II stepped forward at the top of the stairs and they recognized her. "Listen, we're going to need everyone to double up, pronto. We've got twenty rooms and about forty of you so those who live here offer up a room to the new arrivals." She then began walking as all heck broke lose. The children were reached over to grab their roommates.

My head was weak, I was spinning now. I had afterall flown for about two hours without any food and I was exhausted. I walked beside Angel holding on to the railing so as not to fall over. Everything was in good shape. The kitchen was very high tech with two fridges, an over, and cabinets. They were all silver and there was a fancy silver island in the center. The living room had a large L shaped red couch and a tv worthy of competing with the large movie theater kinds. Not that I would really know, but it did sort of make me feel like going to the movies.

"Maybe we could go sometime," Angel suggested with a large smile. "People go there to kiss and not watch the movie. That's what one of the kids here said." I blushed as Angel's eyes shifted between an unknowing Fang and a terrified me. Then, there was a quick flash of Fang and I at the theater, like in the old fashion movies where the boy does that stupid, yawn to get an arm on your shoulder. I laughed when I thought of him doing that but I also kind of wished he would, in the pathetic kind of way.

When I reached the bottom of the stairs, four sets of arms wrapped around me in a tight hug. I opened my eyes to fully acknowledge my flock. We were safe and together. Nudge, Gazzy, Angel, and Iggy were there holding me tight. Total was bawling, "We had almost lost you to the black depths of the hidious Underworld, my dearest Maximum. Oh, what would've happened had you not come back to us? The tragic abyss we would've been left in." Big dog tears rushed out as he pushed through legs to lean his small black body against me. Fang stood back still holding my brother. I knew he would need an explanation. When the flock stood back, I smiled at all of them, then realized that Iggy couldn't see it.

"Iggy," a new thought suddenly rushing through my head as I reached into my pocket to pull out my wallet. We all gathered at the island as I unzipped the small pocket meant for change. My fingers digged into the too small hole as everyone stared. "I have something for you," I managed to say. Fang was still holding Ari, my head was still rushing, and all of my flock was staring at me. Total was shivering and crying still on the floor being the drama queen that I loved him for being.

Angel was suddenly next to me placing a glass of water on the table, already knowing what was going to happen. I held my palm out to reveal the two small pills that had given me in case my medicine had failed and made me blind. "They gave me something similar to what made you go blind. It was a variation of the same formula. I think...maybe...if you take these than you might be able to see." Iggy's fast reflexes reached out towards me to try and grab the pills even though he had no idea where they were. I pulled them back and shook my head, "You have to think about this Iggy. We're taking a huge risk."

His eyes narrowed and were cold. I felt myself shake from the hard, stone face that he wore. "There's no need to think, Max. I've lived like this long enough. I want to take them. Give them to me." Something about the eagerness and hope in his voice made me want to say no. We had no idea that this could work. In fact, he could die if the pills worked agianst him instead of for him.

I shot my eyes over to Fang who seemed to be saying that if I didn't want Iggy taking the pills than I shouldn't have brought them up. I sighed knowing he was right and Iggy gained the sense that he had won. His skiny fingers and hand reached out patiently. I closed my eyes and dropped them in his hands. Then, I pushed the glass into his other hand. We watched as Iggy took the pills without a seconds hesitation. "There," he announced, "Now I'll either see again, change not at all, or die." He seemed all right with those options.

My eyesight gave out and everything became a blur. I leaned agianst the island only to feel some prescence beside me. "Just a few steps," the voice was warm and a whisper only I could hear. Fang passed by me with Ari in his hands. I followed him, I motioned behind my back to the flock that everything was okay and then, gave the symbol to them to go play. I heard Gazzy dragging Iggy towards the television as Angel asked Nudge to read a story with her. Total, still bawling, followed the two youngers girls. All the other children were still in their rooms or heading back out to the living room.

We were in a hallway that seemed as in bad condition as the outside of the house. I used the wall as a crutch while following Fang, sort of knowing where we were going from the time I was in his mind. Fang opened the last door and I saw the bedroom completly now. In the left far corner was a small bed and the same in the far right. Fang went to place Ari on the bed on the left. I stepped inside and went to kneel in front of Ari. I grabbed his hand, wondering how I would wake him up. "Why does he seem so familiar?" Fang asked patiently, resting a hand on my shoulder. I was shaking terribly from being so weak.

"It's Ari," I went to stand. Fang stared at me before I closed my eyes. I held my forehead in my hands trying to hid the dizzy effect that now seemed to be occuring. "He was never an Eraser. I'll explain everything later. I stumbled and fell in his arms.

"Sleep," he whispered the command. I nodded my head but couldn't move. My head felt less in pain now that Fang was holding me. Max II was right, something had happened to me. Then, I shifted a moment into the nightmares, bright red and faces all around me, and I jumped. My fingers grasped his black tee shirt and crumpled it up in my fists. A hand smoothed my hair while another rested at the small of my back.

I suddenly felt myself fly but Fang's hands never left me. He had picked me up so easily as if I was a feather. Although, I did have plenty of those (funny, Max, real funny). I nuzzled my head against his chest feeling the heat and his heart at the same time. Then, I was placed down on the other bed in the room. His fingers sweeped my hair out of my face. I couldn't open my eyes but I didn't want to be stuck in the nightmares. Just as his hand was about to leave me, I reached up and grabbed it.

"Fang?" I managed to whisper. His hand held mine tightly. I realized then how much I didn't want to ever lose him again, not for a minute. If I was ever close to dying agian, I would want to die in his arms. He could never leave me, never ever. Maybe it was the fear of the nightmare and being lost again but right now, I couldn't have him leave. "Stay, please." Then I admitted what I probably never said out loud to anyone, even him, "I'm scared." Suddenly, a warm presence was beside me, holding me tightly. Strong arms held me as I laid my head right on his chest and placed my own hand on his chest feeling it fall and rise.

"Max," his breath touched the top of my head as one hand played with a strand of hair. I felt his fingers touch the skin at the small of my back where the white shirt had risen some. I opened my eyes for him, seeing now I wasn't as dizzy as before. I could trace the way his dark eyes were hitting the light hovering above me. My heartbeat raced seeing how close we were now. I was leaned forward, using my elbow to push myself towards him. I pressed my lips against his for a second.

When we separated, I kept only an inch away, still tasting the sweet touch of his lips on mine. I lowered my gaze a bit in order to look just past my eyelashes. "I missed you," I whispered. His hand was there on the back of my neck. Our pulses intertwined there into one fast rhythmic beat. I wondered if he would ever get the chance to see how important he was to me in my mind like I had seen me in his head.

"I love you," he responded, the words holding just as much weight and importance as what I said but also with an even larger effect to my heart. Fang-Gosh, I hope I never get tired of saying his name, seeing his eyes, or tasting his kisses. I couldn't ever see that happening. Like right now, I wanted his kisses more than anything else even though I was tired and technically needed sleep (but the nightmares was a good reason to avoid that too).

We shifted so that he was leaning over me, he was propped up on one elbow as I laid on my back. My hand held his neck feeling the strands of his hair poking at me. His gaze looked at me and I gave him a smile, "I love you too." Then, he was moving forward so that our lips could connect. For the longest time we were there in the instant moment of being back together again. The kissing was feirce and when he went to pull away, I forced him back to kiss me. One of his hands traced at the skin at my waist as my own hands felt the tendons, muscles, and bumpy scars of his arms.

Finally, Fang stopped kissing me and just stared at me. I could feel the shock that was there on his face. We were so close, so much heat that I never wanted to leave me. He let out a breath, "Sleep, Max." Would I have loved to do that but I shook my head. I wanted to have him, to taste him again on my lips. I wanted anything but to face those nightmares. He narrowed his eyes but he was still soft, "Why not?" He couldn't feel the trembling of my body, not from being tired anymore but from getting so much time of him to myself. But I had to go to sleep, he was right.

My eyes fluttered for a moment and I leaned up to give him a short kiss on the lips. "Fang," I whispered, "Promise you'll stay?"

"What are you afraid of?" But we both knew I wasn't ready to answer. Instead, he laid back down and wrapped his arms back around me. I shut my eyes and felt his beating heart on my cheek. I listened to his lungs and air sacs let breathe in and out. "I'll always stay," Fang's lips kissed the top of my head, "As long as you want me around." I smiled and I knew he knew that I wanted him around forever.

I feel asleep in his arms scared of what I might see.