Saving the World and Other Extreme Sports

40

"Okay, the second they undo us, make sure all heck breaks loose," I said when everyone was awake the next morning-at least I figured it was morning, since someone had turned the lights on again.

The flock nodded, but with none of the angry thirst for revenge they would need to escape.

"Look, we've had our backs against the wall before," I reminded them. "These guys always screw up, always make a mistake. We've gotten the best of them every time, and it'll be the same here."

No reaction whatsoever.

"Come on, guys, buck up," I coaxed. "Let's see some insane rage put apples in those cheeks."

Nudge smiled faintly, but the others seemed lost in their own worlds, tugging without purpose against their straps. Fang sent me an understanding look, and I felt so frustrated and stuck that I wanted to howl.

The door opened with a whoosh, and I quickly met everyone's eyes: This was it!

It was Jeb. Followed by Anne Walker, whom we hadn't seen since we ditched her Martha Stewart farmhouse in Virginia. And the unholy trio was completed by a golden-curled little girl: Angel, who was eating a chocolate-chip cookie and calmly watching me with her big blue eyes.

"Angel!" Gazzy's voice broke as he understood that his sister had turned against us. "Angel, how could you?"

"Hello, Max," said Anne Walker, not smiling, not looking at all adoptive mom-like.

I sighed heavily and stared at the ceiling. No crying. Not one tear.

Jeb came and stood right next to my bed, so close I could smell his aftershave. Its scent awoke a slew of childhood memories, the years between ten and twelve years old, when I'd felt the happiest I ever had.

"Hello, Max," he said quietly, searching my face. "How do you feel?"

Which was a ten on the "imbecilic question" scale of one to ten.

"Why, I feel fine, Jeb," I said brightly. "How about you?"

"Any nausea? Headache?"

"Yep. And it's standing here talking to me."

His fingers brushed the covers on top of my leg, and I tried not to shudder.

"Does it feel like you've been through a lot?" he asked.

I stared at him. "Yeah. Kind of. And sadly, I'm still going through it."

Jeb turned and nodded at Anne Walker, and she made a noncommittal face back at him.

I started to pick up that something was happening here that I didn't fully understand.

Good thing I'm used to that feeling.

"Max, I've got something to tell you that I know is going to be hard to believe," Jeb said.

"You're not evil? You're not the worst lying, cheating, betraying jerk I've ever met?"

He smiled sadly. "The truth is, Max, that nothing is as it seems."

"Uh-huh," I said. "Is that what the aliens told you when you quit wearing your foil hat?"

Anne stepped forward. Jeb made a motion like, Let me do it, but she waved her hand at him. "The truth is, Max, that you're at the School."

"No freaking duh. And uh, wait-let me guess-I'm some kind of bird-kid hybrid. And you captured me. And, and, I'm strapped to a hospital bed. I bet I even have wings. Am I right?"

"No. You don't understand," she went on briskly. "You're at the School, Max, because you never left it. Everything that you think you've experienced for the past five months has all been a dream."