On the Couch

Chapter 6

Surprises

Fang's POV.
"Where's Max?" I asked as Nudge came in with a handful of old dresses she was throwing out.
"I thought she was with you?" she said, throwing her clothes to the side.
"Oh great! We lost Max, again!" Iggy said as he walked in, "Least Max 2 isn't here!"
Gazzy blinked, "Max is gone? Did someone steal her, or did she run off?"
Angel ran down the stairs, "I heard Fang's thoughts-what happened to Max?" she looked very innocent, but I could tell she knew something we didn't.
I kneeled by Angel, "Angel-I know you know where Max is-where is she?"
Angel looked at him, "Ari stole her and took her to the school."
Nudge gasped dramatically, which brought my nerves up to a snapping range.
"Ari's alive?" Gasman asked, his breath coming in short gasps.
I ruffled Gazzy's head, "Don't worry, we've kicked his butt before, we can do it again. I promise."
Iggy scoffed, "His kicked your butt so many times, I bet you still have scars!"
The pink lines on my stomach suddenly felt warmer.
"Well-we need to find Max!" Nudge said.
"But that means we have to-"

"Go to the school."

Max's pov.
"Max, sweetie? Are you sleeping?" Jeb peered into my cage where I was half-asleep.
"Not anymore." I grumbled.
"Well, c'mon sweetie. Get up, we have some tests for you."
"Leave me alone! I'm not going anywhere you want to take me!" I sneered, rolling over so I don't see his sorry face.
Don't cry, don't cry, he's just toying with your feelings! I thought as I held back throw-up and salty tears.
"I know you hate me, sweetie, but I want to check your running skills and the baby's growth."
"No." I sighed heavily, "Can you not get a freakin' hint! I'm tired of being on the run because of you! Can't you just go die in a hole?"
Jeb got up, his cheeks a bright pink, he rushed off.
I wish Fang was here, holding my hand and telling me everything would be ok.
I wish I had my flock with me so I could hear their breathing and be comforted.
But, wishing won't help anything, I'm not that helpless!
I got on my hands and knees and hit the bars with my shoulder.
It racked my skull, but I did it again till I felt like my shoulder would fall off.
I had made a large dent in one bar, but it was still there.
Sighing, I screamed bloody murder.
Jeb came running in with Ari and two other erasers with laser red eyes.
"Get Max out, take her to testing room number 56."
Ari yanked me out and handcuffed me, but before he could get the other cuff on, I banged my head on his and he fell over.
While he was recovering I jumped on him and to the door. I extended my wings and burst out the nearest window.
My wings stopped working for a second, and I panicked, the ground rushing towards me.
"Oh-c'mon! Work you crappy wings!" I flapped down hard and soared into the air.
Time to go home!

I got home the next day, in worse condition than before when I was in the cage.
I was dusted with dirt and my hair was caked with twigs and mud, my baby bump was getting bigger and I had to stop at least ten times to puke and/or barf.
When I opened the door, I expected to see six pairs of surprised bird kid eyes on me.
But the house was empty.
"Angel? Fang! Is anyone home?" I called into the house.
I looked everywhere, but there was no one home.
Usually the flock doesn't leave all together, unless...
Before I could finish the thought, guess who popped up, the voice, MAX, GET OUT OF THE HOUSE!
Why? I thought.
BOOM!
The house exploded into millions of pieces.

Fang's pov.
We were only a few miles away, when I saw our house go up into flames.
"Nudge, Angel, go check out the house, catch up with us at Death Valley."
They nodded and flew off.
Fang flew ahead, "We're coming Max