"Harmony, we're done here." I yelled down to her before hopping over the railing and landing on the wooden planks. "What do you mean?" She asked with a confused look as Jace joined me from the stairs with a sigh. "It means we're heading out. Grab your stuff." I said and pointed down the hall. "I'm not finished yet Max." She said and I saw her small fists curling slightly. Be strong against the twelve year old Max. "It doesn't matter. We need to go now." I pressed on as Jace disappeared down the steps. "Max, she's still bleeding a bit. Just wait." Scholar told me as Harmony forced a small and frustrated smile. "I don't care if she's bleeding. Let's fly." I said and turned around to meet Crest. "Slow down Max, you heard the girls, we can't leave yet." He said, blocking my way to the stairs. "I told you. We're leaving her here and getting out before the Erasers come." I seethed as the rest of the guys came up the stairs. "Max, we can't just leave her here, she'll die!" Harmony shouted and I whirled around to face her. "Get your bags, this minute!" I demanded and felt Jace put a hand on my shoulder. "Max, cool it. We have time." He said quietly but I could hear the force in his voice. Just then Zen spoke up, turning nervously from the window. "Uh... we most certainly do not have any time."
I ran over to the window with Jace on my heels and peered out. I could faintly see Erasers sniffing the air and running around on the flat ground. 'Damn it." I said hushed as Jace turned. "Scholar, Caige, Harmony, Zen, in my room now!" He shouted. "What about her?" Harmony demanded and refused to move. Jace's hands were already on his temples. "Crest, help Harmony with the girl." He said. "Jace!" I yelled but he turned to me. "Max, please. We don't have any time left. We'll figure out what to do afterwards." He said as the kids disappeared upstairs and a loud banging came from the door. "Who is it?" I sang mockingly and curled my fists.
An Eraser busted down the door and turned to charge at me. I jumped over top and unfurled my wings in the space before dropping down on him. Two more rushed through the doors and charged for Jace. We both held our own until at least three more crashed through the window. Jace was pinned to the wall while both my arms got held and an all too familiar face walked in.
"Awe, look who's all grown up. How old are you now, nine?" I mocked as Ari scowled and marched over to me. "Shut you hole Maxie. I don't care what you say anymore." I pretended to act offended and gasped. Obviously he wasn't a fan of the arts seeing as he grabbed my neck in one hand and snarled at me. "And I thought you didn't care." I managed to get out as he gnashed his teeth and let go, letting me catch my breath.
"What, another boy Max? What happened to the last one?" He said smirking and made his way over to Jace. "Oh that's right," He said showing his claws to Jace. I wasn't listening to Ari, only focusing on his movements. "We killed him." "Shut up, Ari." I snapped as Jace seemed to acquire a confused face. He looked at Ari in a slight shock. "Ari?" He breathed and Ari looked down on him. "Do I know this kid?" He yelled before grabbing Jace's neck and holding him high in the air. "I guess dad never mentioned your older brother." Jace choked out with a grin as Ari looked at him with anger but more confusion. He dropped him down suddenly and kicked him hard in the stomach. "Don't screw with me." He shouted and kicked him again as I winced. "I don't have any brothers." Ari snarled and bent down, pulling up Jace's hair and looked at his face as if only to observe it more. "Like looking in a mirror, eh little bro?." I snarled at him as Ari turned his gaze back to me and slammed Jace's head on the ground. "Shut up!" He yelled and punched me hard in the stomach.
"Bring it down!" He yelled as the Eraser picked me up and out of the house before another set it on fire. "Jace get out!" I shouted as the flames started to spread around him. I saw Crest suddenly run out onto the walkway with his hands up, the vibration barely visible. I kicked away from the Eraser hard and jumped into the air, ripping myself and a few strands of hair out of his grip just as Crest pushed his hands forward, sending out a large ripple. The flames suddenly rushed outwards from the house and smothered the Erasers and their trucks in a river of orange and reds. I heard them howling as I dove back to the house, now ash covered.
"Jace!" I shouted before rushing over and getting under his arm. 'Fine." He mumbled, a stream of blood coming from his forehead. "Yeah right. You look awful." I said quietly before Crest ran over to me. "Take Jace, we're getting out of here." I said and he agreed as I charged up the stairs and to the rest of the kids.
"We're going, up and out!" I said and they nodded and stood quickly. Well, everyone except Harmony. " .her?" She said slowly with her arms crossed. "Go Scholar." I said and she nodded, the equations disappearing from her eyes as she blasted through the roof. "Harmony, we don't have time. Out no." I said as Caige flew through Scholar's hole. "I'm not leaving her." Harmony said and turned her head, her hair flying over her shoulder. "Harmony, come on." Zen said sternly as I groaned loudly, knowing we would get nowhere if I didn't agree.
"Fine, I'll take her, Zen out." I said and made my way over to the bad where Angel was lying. I paused a few second before scooping her up. "Right behind me, got it?" I commanded to Harmony who nodded before I flew through the hole. Obeying, she flew out after me as we headed into the sky, meeting up with Crest, Jace, and the others.
"Jace, you're bleeding!" Harmony exclaimed when flying up. He was flying by himself at least, that was a good sign. "It's a scratch Harmony. Calm down." He said, a howl interrupting him. We looked down at the ring of fire Crest's seismic wave had created. "Nice work." I said exasperated as we examined it. "We can't go back down, it's already too big to stop." He realized solemnly. "You really can't put it out?" I asked but he only shook his head. "That took a lot out of me. Guess rocks weren't really a challenge." He shrugged.
I looked to Jace who had been silent for a while. He was looking at the retreating Erasers. It was just then that I realized what I'd said earlier. "Jace, are you okay?" I asked hesitantly. He looked at me quickly with a blank face. "Guess you know about my last name now." He said quietly. "So you didn't hear..." I trailed off. "What?" "Nothing." I said quickly as noticed Angel slipping slightly in my arms. "Let's just find a place to land." I said tiredly and they all nodded as we headed further away from our ex-home.