Critical Condition

Chapter 5

Angel POV

I couldn't pick up on any thoughts coming from the wreckage of Ben's house...all but one. I ducked into the house with Fang close behind me. I crunched across the shattered glass, stepped over the bodies of multiple erasers and found myself standing in what used to be the living room. Ben was picking himself up off the ground, his face streaked in blood and burned patches on his clothes. He looked up at us in shock. Fang grabbed him by the throat and lifted him into the air with ease with one hand, pinning him against the wall.

"Please, don't kill me!" Ben gasped, clinging to Fangs arm. Fang glared at him murderously, his black eyes looked more like black holes of fire.

"Where is Max?" he demanded, slowly squeezing harder.

"I don't know! I was to only collect you!" Ben tried to kick Fang away but Fang flung him to the ground, standing over him. Fangs wings opened up wide over his head, Ben's eyes widened.

"You told them where we were, now where are they going!?" Fang growled, throwing the man across the room. Ben tumbled over the remains of the crispy couch, landing in a dazed heap by the wood stove. He tried to scramble out of the way but Fang already had him in a death grip.

"New...York!" Ben gasped. "Jeb Bach..."

"Jeb." Fang hissed. I ran over to Fang then, putting a hand on his shoulder. He was shaking with so much anger and tension it scared me.

"Fang, please, we need to go." I said quietly, searching his angry eyes for any remorse. Fang finally let Ben go, watching him fall to the ground and wheezing. Fang turned on his heel and headed outside, I quickly followed. I could see the blood in the gravel, the large boot marks and areas of gouged earth. The flock was most likely unconscious and in route to New York by now, too far off for us to have a chance of tracking them down now.

"We're heading back to town to warn Dr. Martinez." Fang said angrilly, unfurling his wings hard as he took to the air.

"Maybe she can help us?" I offered but Fang remained quiet.

...

I was all out of quarters now. Fang stood in front of me and held the phone as he scanned the people walking around us.

"Dr Martinez, Ben ratted us out. Max and the others are being taken to New York." He said dryly. "What?"

"She can meet us here!" I said excitedly, hearing the rest of the conversation. Fang met my gaze.

"Fine, but hurry. We'll be by the old warehouse." Fang hung up the phone and turned to face me. "She insists on meeting us here. She wants to drive up to New York."

"Sounds like a road trip!" I said excitedly.

"It'll slow us down. We can fly the route in a single day, but driving will take us up to 3."

"The Erasers will be doing the same thing, we can even beat them to the institution and wait for them to transfer them inside. We can't go blazing in on wings and hope it all goes to plan." I finally gave into Fangs seriousness. He glanced at me, and sighed deeply.

"You're like a mini Max sometimes. Complete with stubbornness." He started walking towards the warehouse. "She'll be here in 20 minutes."

"I thought she lives 2 hours away by car?"

"We got lucky. She was driving up to Phoenix to meet with Ella." Fang answered calmly. I walked next to him, my mind running through plans.

...

"Dr Martinez!" I jumped into her arms in a massive hug. She hugged me tightly and ruffled my hair.

"It's good to see you Angel, I just wish it was under different circumstances." She smiled and looked up at Fang, who stood with his hands in his pockets next to me. She didn't reach for a hug from him, which he was grateful for. His soot streaked face and cold black eyes spoke for itself.

"Where's your car?" I asked and she pointed at a small green SUV.

"We need to move quickly if we're to beat them to the institution." Dr Martinez said.

"We? You can't go into that building, it's too dangerous!" Fang said angrilly. "You're lucky you're even here!"

"You can't stop me, Fang. You kids are my life and I will not stand for kidnapping and illegal testing." Dr Martinez got into the driver's seat of the car. I hopped into the back seat, Fang took shot gun. He looked tired with the soot and dirt, his still healing cuts from several days ago.

"Let me know if you guys need a break." Dr Martinez pulled out onto the main road, heading towards the main highway. I had felt excited about this road trip, but now its purpose was beginning to sink in. Max, Iggy, Gazzy, and Nudge were on their way to the school.