The Faux Pas
I flew, just jumped into the air and flew off. Iggy followed closely behind. We kept going until we were in the forest. We found the flock, their eyes staring at us for an answer. All I could manage was a chocked sob at the empty, pain in my heart…
I opened my eyes slowly. I felt the dried tears on my eyelids. My mouth was in a permanent frown. Is there a point to smiling? Not when you lose the love of your life there isn't. Cautiously, I sat up and observed my room. For two weeks we've been staying at my mother's house and that's only so the younger children could get a rest and regroup from Fang being taken from us.
Very aware of what day it was, I reached underneath my bed where I kept my backpack. Reaching inside, feeling the worn fabric cross my knuckles, I let my hand surround one sole item that I refused to take out. I pulled it out and let my fingers uncurl so I could see what I held.
"Merry Christmas Fang," I murmured.
I held a notebook, small enough to go in your pocket, with a black cover. I had gotten him this as a present for today. I let out a sob when I realized that I'd never be able to give him this. He wouldn't be able to write down any ideas for his blog or for his plans in here like I hoped he would.
A knock came at my door, when I didn't answer, I heard the hinges creak as it was forced open. Quickly, I tossed my bag and Fang's Christmas present underneath the bed. I watched the light flood into the darkness of my room and a shadow casted in the doorway's light. "Max?"
For the past two weeks, Iggy had taken complete charge, which sort of amazed me. When Fang and I were being leaders, Iggy was goofing off and blowing things up but now…
I carefully watched him, at least with his blindness, Iggy couldn't see me, the obvious bags from lack of sleep under my eyes and knotted hair. I curled my legs up to my chest and wrapped my arms around. His spiked hair was on the messier side. Wearing a loose tee shirt and baggy jeans, he stepped into the room. Iggy then shut the door and turned the lock. "What are you doing, Igs?" I asked.
I could barely see in the darkness, light was shining through the blinds. "We need to talk Max and I want to make sure the kids don't interrupt," Iggy noted. I felt his presence as he sat on the edge of the bed. "You barely leave. The kids are scared out of their minds about you. They've lost Fang," he practically heard me wince, "and now they feel as if they've lost you too." I gulped nervously and rested my chin on my arms.
Fang…
A hand rested on my shoulder and I was snapped back into reality, stupid, pointless reality. Iggy had his head turned towards me, his vibrant blue eyes were clear in the darkness. They were creeping me out a bit. "Max, you've still got three kids looking for you, waiting for you to show them that everything's going to be okay."
"It's not going to be okay, Igs." I whispered. I hadn't intended for him to hear but, his hearing was better than everyone else's. "I shouldn't have left him," I continued with a slight sob, which Iggy caught. His thumb began massaging my shoulder. Then, he pulled me towards him. Iggy's arms wrapped around me in a tight embrace. My own arms rested around his neck. "I'm broken Igs," I whispered in his ear. "Fix me, please." I needed to be the leader again, to move on, I just needed someone to help me. Iggy was the one I trusted now to do so.
"Max?" Iggy was confused as I watched the lines of his features carefully. He narrowed his blind eyes and his mouth was slightly open. I took my hand and placed it against his cheek, which made Iggy back away in terror. "No, Max, no," he shook his head but he didn't move from the bed. I reached out again, this time placing my fingers at the back of his neck and pulling him in. I crushed my lips violently against his, my eyes were shut. Iggy barely responded at first but as I became more persistent, he gave in. Our lips moved in sync and I did my best to swallow the images of Fang. I tried to imagine it was him I was kissing and holding. Deep down, I hoped and prayed that my actions now where with Fang, the one I really loved, and not Iggy.
And maybe, even as it began, I knew my actions were wrong and that I was using Iggy to my advantage. But at the same time, this was the only way that I could possibly be whole again, as I forced Iggy's shirt over his head. Just fix me, I thought and pleaded, hoping Iggy understood the reasons for my actions. And if there truly was a heaven and hell, I hope Fang, if he somehow knew what was going on, would forgive me.
The Ultimatum
"Subject 02 pronounced dead at 11:14 a.m…
Subject 02 brought back to life at 11:20 a.m…
Full recovery…"
Quickly, I sat up and opened my eyes, I grabbed the edged of my tee shirt, the fabric crumbled between my fingers. Sweat dripped down onto my eyes and I had to blink the droplets away. The voice was still echoing off the walls of my head, pounding away. I stood up fast, stumbling over my weak legs, and ran towards the edge of the beach. I ran full speed into the water and emerged myself into the freezing tides. I drowned out the noise of the voice and held my breath…then, remembering our trip on the submarine, I breathed in and out.
Slowly, my entire body relaxed, my arms moved slowly and I was afloat on the top. The voice was gone and my head stopped hurting. My eyes remained shut and the sun was shining through my eyelids so all I saw was a pinkish color. Was this how it felt to be Max? To have a voice stuck in your head that it hurts?
"Fang?" I jumped and planted my feet into the smooth bottom of the ocean. I heard Max, but when I looked around there was no sign of her. I stepped on to the dry sand and moved towards the edge of the forest. I had done a complete sweep of the place yesterday and all I found was no sight of land on the horizon and no sign of life on the island.
Fang! Her voice was panicked and I'm not sure as to where I heard it but I rushed on forward through the greens of the forest. The vines and bushes tangled around my arms and legs but I pushed past them. I felt branches scrap across me and I pulled my wings in tight so as not to get them caught against anything.
Before I even realized it, the edges of the forests blurred from greens into images. I couldn't focus on them but when I tried to, my eyes no longer focused on where I was going. I tripped over a log and I skidded into a clearing. I covered my face with my arm. When I lifted my eyes, I saw something that couldn't possibly be there.
White lights streamed down overhead. There was a silver table and men in white coats. "Subject 02 pronounced dead at 11:14 a.m." I sat up and watched as one of the scientists stepped aside. My mouth dropped opened as I recognized my own face on the table. "It's better off," the voice continued, "Now Subject 01 can focus on saving the world."
I stood up and moved towards the scene in front of me. Was I losing my mind? I stepped over to the scene. I reached out towards myself, my cheeks had remnants of blood from where I had been shot. My fingers stretched out and I felt the cold skin of my dead body. Shocked, I pulled away just as the "dead" me sat up gasping for air. Around me the scientists reacted, pushing me back down on the table. I heard a machine monitoring my heart rate.
One injected an IV hooked up to my arm with an unknown liquid. My eyes shut and my heart rate slowed down. "Subject 02 brought back to life at 11:20 a.m." There was an outbreak of murmurs. Questions on what to do, how I was alive, etc. where echoing all around me. "Report," one of the voices demanded.
"Full recovery," another voice called out from near the heart monitor. "What are we going to do?"The scientists exchanged looks while my body lie there completely alive. I took a step back away from them. How was I seeing all of this?
"Give him what he's wanted," I saw as a familiar face stepped forward through the crowd. Jeb, his eyes sparkling with evil, stared down on my body on the table. "Put him on a secluded island. Max will focus more now as long as she thinks he's dead."
Jeb's voice was getting louder making my head pound. I took a step back, did this actually happen? Does Max honestly think I'm dead? I shut my eyes and fell to the ground. Max…oh god, what was she going through? Oh geez, Max. I opened my eyes when my head finally stopped hurting.
I saw the forests silent in front of me as ever.
Was I going crazy?
"Max," I whispered, holding my head.
So, what did you think?
The Faux-pas means the Mistake.
The Ultimatum means the Challenge.
Don't always expect me to update this fast. I'm just sick right now and had to pass the time. If you could though, I'd appreciate to get the one review for this chapter. (which based off the reviews from last chapter and the ones so far for this would add up to twenty)
So please,
flyerac1029