Chapter 31

We arrived at a safe home in the San Bernadino Mountains in California. The town's name was Running Spring which sort of made me have to use the bathroom. Gazzy and Nudge kept up a good conversation. Iggy was busy sightseeing everything for the first time.

I had Fang.

So we were pretty good if it weren't for the fact that Angel was two hours away (by car) in a hospital with Jeb who I had no choice but to trust. Fang put his arm on my shoulder as we pulled into a secluded house, very well hidden.

The house was made of a dark wood like the surrounding trees. There were two floors and on the second floor I saw at least five windows with different colored walls so they had to be different rooms.

I stepped outside first followed by the rest of the flock. Iggy was carrying Ari. The driver thanked me for the hamburger before driving away. "You never dropped us off here." I informed/warned him.

He gave me a smile, "Who are you? I was just asking for directions on how to get to San Diego." I nodded my head assured that he could be trusted.

"Max!" I felt a solid force run into me, breaking the hold I had on Fang's hand. Ella was crying into my shoulder. "Max, I'm so glad you're okay. Jeb told us about Angel though! I'm so sorry."

I wrapped my arms around her and gave her a quick hug. "It's all right Ella." But the thought of Angel came to mind and it really panged my heart.

Then, I watched as Ella backed away from me and went to Iggy. She wrapped her arms around him, "I heard you got your sight back! Iggy I'm so happy for you." He would've put his arms around if he wasn't holding Ari at the same time. There was a deep red on his cheeks and I looked at Fang, who rolled his eyes and gave me a smile. It was a weak smile, even for Fang, but under the circumstances, it was enough.

My mom waited on the front porch of the home. The door was a nice red and house appeared even bigger as I got closer to it. It was almost completely surrounded by shrubs, plants, and trees. I could hear a river nearby.

I ran up to her and wrapped my arms around her, holding her tightly. "Max," she whispered, "I'm so glad you're okay. Come inside so we can talk." She backed from my hug and gave everyone of the flock a hug as well. I smiled when Fang took his. He looked uncomfortable as usual.

I stood by the doorframe when he walked in and then followed him, reaching for his hand. "What is this place?" I called over my shoulder. Something about the place felt more than just a safe house.

On the right was a large living room with a simple TV, a book case, a computer, and a big couch. The walls were light blue and the couch was cream colored. The hard wood floor was the same as the hallway I stood in, it was dark and beautiful like a rich color of mud.

Okay, maybe not the perfect example.

The stairs to the large upstairs was in front of us. On the left was a super large kitchen with two fridges, two stoves, and major counter space. It was bird kid heaven, especially for Iggy who was our master chef when it comes to cooking.

I'm in charge of burning the water.

We walk into the kitchen, with its bright lights. I see pictures on the fridge, just like the ones in my wallet (minus the one of Fang and I). Thinking of it though, I held onto the backpack strap tighter where I had placed it.

"This will be our home, once we bring down Mr. Chu," Ella said, leading the rest of the flock in behind us. "There's enough bedrooms for all of us to have one, except for you Total, you can share with Angel."

Total wagged his tail a bit. The poor dog was still crying over Angel in the hospital. "What of Akila?"

"She's living with some friends of ours for now," my mother said, pulling from the pantries some bags of chips and other food. My stomach rumbled because the two cheeseburgers and fries hadn't really cut it for me. "As for Ari," I was surprise my mother had figured it out so quickly, "He can use Angel's bed until she gets better. I've had it set up for you the way I thought you'd like it but feel free to switch rooms around."

"I'll show you after we talk!" Ella said with excitement. "They have a nice school, the Rolling Spring High, home of the Knights!" She laughed.

After Mr. Chu, I would be living here I told myself. Maybe giving normal a try wouldn't be so bad. As if Fang was reading my thoughts he whispered to me, "Imagine Max, our lives actually being easier and living here." I smiled at the thought.

And maybe I was getting ahead with myself but maybe, I needed to do more of that. I just keep worrying about the problems and the present that I never think of what the future will be like after all of this is done. The images were really nice inside my mind.

"Mom, do you know what Mr. Chu is up to?" I asked while I opened a bag of plain chips. The flock began digging in as my mother brought out cans of soda. Total was given a bowl for chips and a bowl for soda.

"Well, I noticed a lot of trucks claiming to be eco-friendly moving into a vacant building in Death Valley where the School use to be. Except my group can't confirm what group the trucks are with or what they are delivering," She took a bite of a chip and looked at me.

With her dark brown hair and tan skin, you wouldn't think Dr. Martinez was my mother. I had to take after Jeb to my disappointment. I gave Fang a glance and he nodded his head. It definitely had to be Mr. Chu posing to be doing the right thing. Evil people are such bad liars.

"Death Valley is only a half hour fly from here," Ella said. She blushed when everyone stared at her, "What? We drove out to the building and estimated your speed and calculated the distance. Put them together and Bam, your time."

Iggy stood there with Ari still in his arms, "Wow, that's brilliant." I tilted my head and stared at him. Iggy then blushed when he caught my stare.

"We'll leave soon, flock. This is it." I informed them, wiping the crumbs of the chips on my jeans. Fang once again slipped his hand into mine.

"We're finally going to save the world."