Silence.

It filled the room to the brim, deafening in a certain way.

I just wanted to jump out of the window and high-tail it back to base. I was two seconds from doing so until ...

Until they all hugged me again, this time stroking the soft feathers on my wings.

"You don't care that I'm ... that I'm a freak?" I barely managed to whisper. The trembling in my body showed through my voice, tears brimming my eyes.

"You're not a freak, you're Max." Angel say innocently, staring at my wings in awe.

"As I said," Mom pulled back to look me right in the eyes. "Nothing can ever change how we see you." I stared at her, completely touched. Bursting into tears, I hugged her tight, not even bothering to tuck in my wings. I could now let my stomach settle a bit to know that my family would never turn their backs on my, "enhanced" or not.

Skippies~!

I sat comfortably on the couch now, slouching back and relaxing. The water-works were done for now, and we had to get to business.

"We have some bad news." Fang began. "Max feigned her death in order to escape the facility, so they'll be looking for new subjects similar to her." Mom just tilted her head a bit, confused. There was another silence, Fang hesitating to say the last of it.

"Mom ..." I said, attracting her immediate attention. "They're going to try and steal Angel." I got it out as quickly and quietly as I could, hoping Angel wouldn't hear as she slept in my lap. She had gotten so cozy being back with me, she just dozed off not too long ago. Mom froze, her face plastered with shock. She didn't know what to say, so Fang said it for her.

"We can guarantee her safety if you allow us to take her with us." Fang explained. "We live in a special base where specifically the enhanced reside. Our boss has made the exception of letting Angel refuge there."

"She would ... leave." Mom said, her voice quivering. I nodded. "She would be safe, right?"

"I wouldn't let those scientists even think of hurting her." I said, my voice grave. Mom started to sniffle, and gave her head a single tilt, forming a nod. I smile sadly at her, setting Angel down on the couch. I heard Fang wake her up and soothingly tell her about what was going on while I ran upstairs and pack some of her clothes and precious items, including her stuffed bear, Celeste. I slung her cute little pink duffle over my shoulder, bounding downstairs, where my Angel was sniffling through her goodbyes. She hugged Mom an Ella, who were trying not to cry for her sake. I took her tiny hand and offered her a small smile, as we walked to the door, waving sadly. I reached for the doorknob when the familiar dark green, polished wood was blown to bits right before my eyes.

A piece of debris struck my head, turning everything black.

Cold and terrifying black.

Get ready for ... TWISTS!

My eyes flew open, or at least I thought they did. I closed them again, and reopened them, only to be fooled again. It was pitch black and the air was cold and dank. Far too familiar. Abruptly, I hunched over on the cold, concrete floor, mouth open in a silent scream and body trembling in shock and horror.

It was all a dream. A fantasy. A hallucination.

My mind played the most horrible trick on me out of desperation. It had recreated a reunion with my beloved family, meeting friends that could actually understand me, and creating a person I ... I ...

Creating a person I loved.

I could admit it now. He was never real, so what could I have to lose? I was in love with Fang, ever since I "heard" his voice. I could stare into those midnight eyes all day, lost in their bottomless voids. I wanted to run my fingers through his silky black hair and be close to him. But I couldn't. He was a figment of my imagination.

"I should've known." I whispered to myself. "It was all a lie. Too good to be true. I'll never see him again ..." I trailed off, beginning to cry. "Fang ..." I cried and cried with my voice hushed. I crawled my way to my usual corner, huddling into a ball. I expected my tangled hair to get in my way as always, but it cascaded easily. I took a strand of it between two fingers and rubbed it, anticipating the gritty and greasy feeling. It wasn't exactly filthy, but it wasn't squeaky clean either. I was smooth like silk in my hand. I ran my hand down my arms. They were clean, too. I was going to continue my inspection when a groan alerted me.

I whipped my head around to the direction of the sound, cautiously crawling towards it. My left hand shot up when it hit the distinct form of a shoe. I poked it lightly, causing a form to move around against the wall. I heard one last rustle, and then a silky voice spoke.

"Hello?" it said groggily. I knew that voice.

"Fang!" I cried, wrapping my arms around his neck, which I automatically found in the lack of light. He was taken aback by my gesture, but wrapped his arms around me as I buried my face in his shoulder.

"M-max?!" he stammered, surprised. "What happened? Where are we?"

"Fang ..." I loosened my grip. Didn't he remember? "They got us, Fang. This is my old cell." Everything went silent. My own words had sparked horrifying realization in me.

"Angel! They have my Angel!" I shrieked, throwing myself at the thick metal door. I slammed against it, bruises forming on my arms. I didn't care, I promised I wouldn't let them touch my baby, even if it killed me. Fangs arms quickly found me and yanked me back. He landed on his butt with a thud, me toppling after him. I struggled in my moment of pure hysteria, then cried more. I sobbed and sobbed into his shoulder as he made soothing shushing noises, stroking between my wings. After my shrieking stopped, he separated just enough to talk right at me.

"I heard you crying earlier ... before this. Why?" Genuine worry coated his voice, making me practically melt in his arms.

"I ..." I furrowed my eyebrows, not knowing what to say. My tongue became twisted an my cheeks heated despite the chill of the room. I was in love with Fang. Without a doubt. The thought of him made my heart flutter in my chest. So what do I do now? I took in a breath and ran my fingers through my hair.

"I ... I think I'll tell you later."

Ah, I bet you loved that just as much as last chapter's cliffy. My friend says I pulled a Twilight: Breaking Dawn Part II if you know what I mean. When I sent her the draft, she said it hurt. Why don't you tell me how much you just LOVED thinking it was a dream in the reviews? I bet it was great XDDD

Stay insane, my friends.

-Completely Unstable

P.S. There's a link to a drawing of Epic I made on my profile, if you want a visual for next time she pops up.