Twenty Four

Max POV

"Iggy, I swear, we'll be there soon." I whispered to myself under my breath. I gripped the edge of my seat tightly, my jaw clenched as we were jostled around in the back of the ambulance. The people we had saved from the sinking bus had recognized us and hailed us heroes, effectively making us celebrities of this small town. Fang was strapped to a stretcher, tubes and wires already attached. The paramedics suspected a collapsed lung, which meant they would need x rays, in turn discovering who we really were. They had already pulled our soaked coats off and gave me a shock blanket. Fang was stable for now, and I hoped this trip would be quick and easy. But then again, when is anything?

We stormed into the medical ward with raised voices and panicked faces. Fang was wheeled away and I was brought to a separate room for my own examination. They had noticed blood on my clothing that I was not yet aware of its origin. A man stood there, ready for me with a stethoscope and a paper covered table. I sighed and entered the room. The faster this was over with, the better.

"Your brother, he's going through x rays right now." He said as she smiled at me. "What you two did in that bus for those people was amazing."

"Yet it's not amazing how the bus driver just mysteriously vanishes." I said, eyeing him instruments. "We don't even know what caused the crash."

"The police suspect the driver had a medical emergency."

"A heart attack? The guy was sweating and coughing, looking around like he was expecting something."

"Sounds like the classic symptoms of a heart attack. You are smart." He said swiftly and then changed the subject. "Please, sit up here."

"I think I'm fine right here, thanks." I refused and he didn't seem bothered. He moved towards me and I couldn't help but tense as he rested the bell of his stethoscope on my chest.

"Fang?" I whispered quietly. I was in his recovery room now, after about three hours of him sitting in the ICU. His left lung had collapsed due to a broken rib piercing it. It didn't take long for the doctors to patch him up, however, and he would recover in the next few weeks. Meaning the next two or three for our advanced healing. He lay in his hospital bed still out from the sedatives and meds they gave him. I leaned back into my seat and looked out the window. The sun was setting and frost was forming on the glass. We had lost the burner phone in the bus crash, along with all of our supplies in our packs. The flight to Chicago would probably be rough now. I didn't even have a way to contact mom or the kids now. Unless I asked to use a phone here. But then again, what good would it do to worry them? Fang was stable and would be back on his feet soon enough, and we'd be on our way. It was only a setback.

"Hey." I looked down at Fang in surprise. He blinked hazily, his eyes glazed over. "I'm cold."

"It's from your saline drip. I'll get you a blanket." I said and stood. I rummaged through the cabinets on the wall behind us, finding a red and black checkered throw. I lay it over him carefully.

"Thanks." He sighed and then winced. "When can we leave?"

"As soon as you're able. Though I don't know how we're going to get out of here."

"Leave during the night." Fang said quietly, his eyes struggling to stay open. He leaned his head on the pillow and sighed. "Or pull the fire alarm."

"We're not doing that again." I couldn't help but smirk and he flashed his rare smile.

I watched the last of the sun set and the room began to darken until the only light was from the glow of Fang's monitoring systems. By this point Fang had fallen asleep and I was exhausted. I got up and moved to the couch along the far wall and lay down on it. It was better than trying to sleep in those horrible seats on the bus. I tried to relax with my blanket, listening to the heart monitor beeping steadily.

Iggy POV

I had counted a month so far. A month since I had heard any of the flocks voices, or even felt the sun on my skin. I wasn't even sure if they were going to come for me. It had been so long since I had been able to fly free, or walk more than 5 feet without bumping into a wall, or do anything remotely close to relaxing. I was constantly bombarded by machinery noise, the antiseptic smells, and rough hands pulling me.

I was given an average of three injections every other day and blood was taken on the off days. I was forced to run or fly until I collapsed multiple times a week, sometimes even twice a day. Dr. Munth was the person in charge of this facility I was pretty sure. She seemed like a pretty vicious woman, who preyed on weakness. She had once visited me in my cell and spoke to me. Her voice had sounded steely and uncaring. She only wanted to know my name and who the flock were.

There had been conversations I had overheard in the rooms next to me, however. Some talked of average day to day things like their families back home and who their favorite baseball team was. Some mentioned how the weather was growing worse by the day and they may have to shut down until Spring. Yet others talked about the experiments going on at the school, and how the most recent subject could be a danger. I was that subject. They spoke of a tracker that was implanted in my arm the day Dr. Munth received me. A tracker that only Jeb knew how to follow. Rumors had swirled around of his death at the school in Death Valley.

I was hungry, and tired, and cold. I didn't know how much longer I could deal with this systematic kind of abuse. I knew my stamina scores had been declining these past few days and Dr. Munth was pushing me harder than ever. At the end of every test I felt like my chest was on fire and I couldn't breathe anymore. She had described it as an allergic reaction. She said that Fang had reacted badly to the drug as well. Apparently I was more resistant to the drug and she wanted to figure out why my system was more accepting.

"Let's go!" The whitecoat yelled and I barely registered the stinging pain of the baton striking my back. He was pushing me towards the treadmill station once again and my feet felt like concrete bricks. I knew that this test would be my worst score yet and I dreaded what would come afterwards. I stepped onto the cold belt of the treadmill and heard the door slam shut. The belt began to move and I drowsily followed it. My mind was spinning and I struggled to keep my balance.

After 20 minutes I couldn't do it anymore. My legs gave out and I lay on the now stopped belt motionless. I focused on my breathing, trying to calm my racing heart. I imagined myself far from here, with the flock somewhere peaceful. Like the beach we had visited a long time ago. The crashing waves against the sand and the seagulls crying overhead. I could hear Gazzy and Angel laughing as they played in the water, Max and Fang going on about plans and routes we should take, and Nudge was handing me different shaped shells and rocks. We had relaxed on that beach for the rest of the day and tried to enjoy life.

"On your feet!" A man vaguely said and I felt myself being dragged upwards. I didn't have the strength to stand as they dragged me back to my cold cell. I was dropped inside and the door locked once again. I lay on my side in the spot they left me. I closed my eyes and breathed slowly. If I was never going to be with my family again, then let me die here tonight. Because I couldn't keep doing this.

Max POV

The door opened to our hospital room and the same man who had examined me stepped inside. His face looked awestruck and confused all at the same time. He was holding up x rays and looking at Fang bewildered.

"Your healing rate is remarkable. Faster than I've ever encountered." He smiled and set the x ray down on the table for us to see. You could see the white lines of Fang's ribs and where the break had been. Now it was smooth and had formed a callous over the area, just like the numerous other healed breaks I could see. I wondered if my x rays would look as battered as Fang's were.

"So, that's good news, right?" Fang asked, sitting on the edge of the bed. He was ready to leave, as was I.

"I've got better news." The doctor smiled and we looked at each other nervously. "The people you helped save, they pooled together money to help pay for your medical bills."

"Really?" I said, stunned. "So, we can just leave?"

"Yes." The man smiled. "Your healing is on track and I can discharge you whenever you'd like."

"Now." Fang stood, pulling his stickers off his chest. "The sooner the better."

"Of course." The man smiled and walked out the door. Still in shock, I looked at Fang.

"How do we know this isn't some stupid trick?" I asked. He shrugged.

"We don't. Which is why we're going." He pulled his IV line out without a second glance. I stood and grabbed out clean coats. The hospital staff had washed and dried them for us. We silently opened the door and crept out into the hallway. No one in sight, we moved towards one of the many marked exits. We'd be airborne as soon as the door opened.

Half an hour later, we were many miles from the hospital and landing in a thick pine tree for the night. The bark was frosted over and I reluctantly sat down on one of the wide branches. I shrugged my coat on and zipped it up tightly, shivering in the frosty air. Fang was panting, his face looking strained as he did the same. He was still recovering but was still capable of flying short distances.

"I think that might have been our most smooth hospital visit yet." I stated and he rolled his eyes.

"We were still in the hospital regardless. We don't even know what happened either."

"The doctor guy wouldn't give me a straight answer either, said the driver must have had a heart attack."

"You think maybe the school had something to do with it?" Fang glanced at me out of the corner of his eye.

"No. They would have done something much more drastic that wreck a bus I feel." I leaned against the trunk of the tree.

"Remember that Jeb said; everything is a test." Fang scoffed and sat down next to me. I leaned my head on his shoulder, suddenly exhausted.

"We just need to find Ig before it's too late."

"He'll be ok." Fang yawned and closed his eyes.

"How do you know?"

"Iggy won't give up without a fight."