Maximum Ride : A Second Forever

4

Don't be stupid, Max, said the dark figure. It came toward me. The rocks were grinding against my temples. Max... The figure purred. No. No. Leave me alone! Get away! I tried to fight, but I couldn't. I clawed at the figure, trying to get it to leave. I grabbed the hood and yanked it off. Not possible.

But it is possible, Max, he said.

No it's not, I shouted. I watched you die.

I didn't die, he said again.

Yes, you did, I screamed. I watched you die. I watched you die. You're dead, Dylan. You're dead. You're dead, you're dead, you're dead! And then this horrible screeching filled my ears.

My eyes shot open and I bolted up.

"Aah!" I looked around to see who had yelled. "Christ, Max. Calm down." I looked at the floor, where Fang was sprawled out. "Next time you're going to punch me off of the bed, at least give me some warning." His hand was pressed to his cheek, and in between his fingers I saw a red welt forming. Panic began to rise in my gut as I took in my surroundings. I felt a pinch in my arm and saw the needles and the tubes.

"No," Fang warned. "No no no no no." He lunged and grabbed my hands to keep me from yanking out the IV or going into hysterics. "You're in a hospital. One of the buildings that's still standing."

"But... doctors, and!"

"You trust this doctor." Me? Trust a doctor? There's only one doctor in my life I've ever-

Realization passed over my face, my mouth fell open, and I narrowed my eyes.

"No," I said. "You're messing with me. That's not- I don't-"

Fang raised his eyebrows. "I wouldn't lie to you about this, Max."

"But- but they- she... how?"

Angel entered the room. "And you..." I said, narrowing my eyes further. "You told me they were dead. So how in the nearly-knocked-out-of-orbit world is she alive?"

Her lip quivered. "I don't know, Max, I-"

"You don't know? You're the one who was monitoring them the whole time. You're the one who was listening to their thoughts. So tell me, Angel," I spit out her name with utter hatred, "how is my mother alive?"

"Um," she said, and she swallowed, looking at the ground.

"Angel." I growled, and Fang's face glittered with alarm.

"Angel, just... go outside for now, okay?" he said. She turned and left the room.

"Max," he began, "Angel did think that they were dead. But-"

"They?" I interrupted. "Ella's alive?" My eyes lightened when Fang smiled ever so slightly.

"Yes, Ella is alive, too. But anyway, Angel thought they were dead. The caves flooded, and when they did, she stopped listening. But when you had your whole survivor speech, Angel started listening again. She searched the whole world... and she found them. Apparently, Dr. Martinez woke up on the beach in our paradise, and Ella was with her. They found a boat that the lava didn't melt and they sailed to the mainland. They landed in Chile, and some survivors made a village there. When Angel found them, she flew to their village and told them that you were alive, and that you needed help. Some other bird kids, with the help of Angel, flew them back."

"Chile?" I asked. Then, "How long was I out?"

"Four days."

"Wait, four bird-kid-heal days, or four days, as in four risings and settings of the sun?"

"Four human days, Max." My eyes widened.

"Wow," I said, shaking my head. "Okay..."

Fang looked at me, his dark eyes searching my soul. I met his gaze, and when he mentally communicated with me, I sighed.

"Yeah, I guess. Angel?" I called. She walked in timidly, and she looked like that sweet little six year old that I once knew.

"I'm sorry I lost it. I just couldn't believe-"

"You don't have to apologize, Max. I can't blame you for being mad at me. Eight years has gone by, and you spent all of them believing that your mom and your sister were dead. You have a right to be mad at me."

My heart melted, and all of a sudden, I was that thirteen year old taking care of my baby, little six year old Angel.

"But that doesn't mean I have to be," I replied, my voice soft. "And I'm sorry, Angel. I know it doesn't make up for all the times that I've blamed you, yelled at you, hurt you... but it's a start."

She smiled ever so slightly. "Thanks, Max. It didn't help that those times that you were mad at me, I betrayed you, or left you, or tried to overthrow you. And I'm sorry for that, too. And, I know that Phoenix is technically your only daughter, you've always been like a mom to me, even if I was a bit mutinous."

I smiled back, and Angel came and sat next to me. I gave her a slightly awkward side-hug, but I squeezed her tight. Fang put his arm across both of our shoulders, and I felt so ridiculously happy, with all of the loose ends in my life tying back up. Angel straightened up quickly, and I guessed that she had heard someone's thoughts. She glanced sideways at Fang, and looked funny at the doorway.

"I'll give you guys some privacy." Fang was the only one in the room, and I started to wonder what thoughts were running through his head when Angel looked at me. "Ew, no!" she squealed. "Someone is here to see you."

I looked at the doorway, and I swear I almost started crying. I bit my lip to keep it from quivering, and my jaw was shaking. "M-mom?"