Friends, Family, and... Feathers? Book One: Abducted By The Flock
Chapter Four:
Suddenly everyone is talking at once. Nudge is saying how she wants a long-lost sister. The tall kid (Iggy, maybe?) seems to remember. Max puts on a sour face. I hear the little blonde boy whisper a question to her.
"Is Cali like us?" hmm... Wonder what that means.
"Ask her yourself," Max says curtly.
"Can someone please fill me in here? Because I am completely lost!" I cry,trying to be heard over six voices.
Finally, they quiet down. "Okay. I recognize you," I say, pointing at Fang. "And I think I remember you two," I point to Max and Iggy. "Who are these three?" I ask, gesturing to the younger kids. "How do I know the rest of you? Why were Fang and I separated? Why was I in a cage..." I trail off helplessly.
"Okay. Listen. When we were younger, we lived in a lab called the School." Everyone, even me, shudders when Fang mentions it. "While we were there, the scientists experimented on us. It was awful. Anyways, when I was five and you were four, you disappeared. We assumed you were killed. I didn't speak at all for months..." he trails off.
"So, you got to go live a nice, cushy life with your loving parents, while we-" Max starts but I cut her off.
"A cushy life?" I bellow at her. "I remember that day!i was found in a field, nearly bled to death! I had no parents! For the past nine years I've been in and out of foster homes! Homeless some of the time! They were abusive! Some didn't feed me! I ran away SIX TIMES since I was nine, only to be returned to the worst of the worst. Every night I wake up screaming with memories from the School, foster care, homelessness. I have unexplained scars on my back, which are extraordinarily painful, I might add! And you have the NERVE to say I've lived an easy life?" I'm sobbing uncontrollably again, hyperventilating and gasping for air. Fang pulls me close to him and I lean into his chest and cry. He glares daggers- no, more like nuclear bombs- at Max.
"Max, how could you make her cry? Do you know what she's been through today?" the little blonde girl asks.
"No, Angel, I don't. Please share," she says sarcastically.
Angel whispers something in her ear, presumably about my attempted murder, and Max's face falls.
Nudge chooses to break the awkward silence.
"So, you used to live at the School? How long we're you there? Cuz I was seven when we left... I'm eleven now. Actually, I'll be twelve in a couple months! We should have a birthday party! I think the theme should be pink! Or cute little bunnies! Or SPARKLES! Just, glittery stuff EVERYWHERE! So, anyways, you're Fang's sister! Did you remember me? How about Max and Iggy? So, you must be like us! Can I see your wings? I bet they're black. Black looks really good with pink... IGGY! Will you make me a black and pink cake for my birthday? Oh, and I don't want another bomb this year! You have to get me a real present! My favorite stores are mmph-"
She is suddenly cut off when Iggy blocks her mouth with his hand.
"Nudge! My ears are BLEEDING!" he shouts. I struggle to contain a laugh. S
Hang on a second. Did Nudge say WINGS?