Critical Condition

Chapter 11

Max POV

From what I could tell so far, this dome was huge. The destroyed city that Nudge and I had woken up near seemed to be the center, with several buildings spread out to the far edges of the walls. It was early morning, and I stood on the church balcony watching the projected sun rise. I wondered again if it really was morning. It had been a cold night, with the temperature dipping just below freezing. Nudge and I hadn't slept much because of it. Our thin jackets didn't provide much protection from the frigid air and we had resorted to snuggling close together for warmth. The fire we had built didn't do much good either.

"We need to find them. What if those monsters got to them first? I would never forgive myself." Nudge said next to me. She was talking about the boys; Gazzy and Iggy.

"We'll find them. I doubt that Jeb just stuck the girls in here." I tried to smile but she only nodded. I sighed and looked back out at the desolate town around us. The shadows slowly disappeared as sunlight began to warm everything. I took a few steps back and then jogged towards the railing, jumping out over it, and unfurling my wings. Nudge copied me and we both climbed as high as the ceiling would allow. I would start my really finding out how large this place was and then slowly circle inwards, scanning everything.

Gazzy POV

Iggy and I had taken shelter in a large oak tree on the edge of the wall. Underneath us, a creek flowed freely, although it had frozen over during the night. It was bitterly cold and I wished I had a better coat on or a blanket. Now I was stretching stiff muscles and making sure Iggy was awake.

"Ig, you up?" I yawned. My breath came out in a cloud in front of me. There was an annoyed groan that gave me my answer. I hopped down from my branch and landed in the frozen grass. It crunched under my feet and I grinned as I saw the frozen creek. Flickering movement just below the surface caught my eye as I moved closer.

"Gazzy, be careful." Iggy's tired voice said as he too jumped from his branch. I ignored him and cautiously stepped out onto the thick ice. It held my weight and I crouched to peer into the crystal clear water below. There were fish!

"Ig, there's fish still alive down here!" I said excitedly. "We could totally catch one, make a nice breakfast."

"Not now. Come on, we gotta keep moving." Iggy's voice seemed weary and it put me on alert. Iggy stood still, his head cocked as he listened carefully.

"Can't we just get a couple? I'm starving." I begged, feeling my stomach growl.

"We're not alone." Was all that Iggy said. Instantly, I forgot all other emotions and trained my eyes on the trees around us. I could only see the thick trunks of trees, dead leaves decaying on the ground, and boulders scattered here and there. But then I heard a few small footsteps and Iggy's head immediately swiveled towards the sound. More were behind me and I turned to scan everything once more.

"U and A?" I whispered so quietly I wasn't sure if I had even said them.

"Now." Iggy whispered back and the instant the word left his lips I was airborne. My feet crashed through the ice of the creek, soaking my pants up to my knees. I gave my wings a few extra beats to compensate. Iggy was already above me, hovering to make sure I made it up to him. I glanced down to see three forms standing where we once were. Each were mutated beyond recognition. One had several tails and blue skin, another with yellow cat eyes and missing a jaw, but the third was opening its own pair of wings. They were bat like, covered in thin skin and muscle. Its body was short and stout, and its skin was a gross pale red color.

"Go north, one's airborne!" I shouted to Iggy, which meant go south. He instantly veered and we both put on the speed. I glanced behind us and saw that the creature was falling behind but wasn't giving up the chase.