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Nudge got up and slunk over, looking absolutely wrecked. “Ella’s been ranting about this all afternoon,” she whispered. “At first I thought Iggy was just being supercute and lovey-dovey and humoring her, but since that weirdo came to the door and talked to him, he’s started to seem really wonky.”
“It’s just for kids. This will set us free.” Ella’s voice, suddenly loud, made me jump. I looked into her glazed eyes, and a shiver ran down my spine. This was… eerily familiar.
“Just for kids?” I asked. She stepped closer to me and so did Iggy. I started to feel a little hemmed in.
“Yeah. ’Cause we’re the only ones who can be trusted,” Ella said, her eyes sparkling. “The group is meeting at my school tomorrow, and I really want everyone to come. Say you’ll come, Max. Please!” She was practically shouting at me.
“Yeah, maybe,” I said. “It’s just that, I mean, it’s not the best time for the flock. We’re kind of in the middle of something, you know? Hansy’s gone, everyone’s beat up, and Dylan and I found this hidden school of spider-eyed kids.” I couldn’t help looking at Dylan and remembering our night spent curled up together on the ledge…
“It’s really important that you come, Max,” Iggy insisted, and now even my name was starting to sound a little creepy. Ella held Iggy’s hand and nodded at him encouragingly, then said, “The One Light will set us free.”
“And what are you guys going to do with this group?” I asked, feeling like I was talking to Pod People.
Iggy and Ella replied at the exact
same time, in the exact same tone of voice. “We’re going to save the world,” they said, and stepped closer to us.
33
“I THINK I found something,” Maya said, looking intently at the computer screen.
The rest of the gang had gone out for lunch, but Fang had wanted to stay behind to research the Doomsday Group and update his blog. More news stories on the group had been popping up by the hour, and the Internet was exploding with posts about this hip new “earth cleanse.”
To his surprise, Maya had volunteered to stay with him.
“Check it out. These aren’t whitecoats, Fang. They’re kids. All of them.”
“No way.” Fang leaned over her shoulder, reminding himself to keep it light. They were just doing research. He didn’t have to think about her sweet smile or the sound of her voice.
“Seriously,” she scrolled down. “I’m getting hits for ‘Doomsday Group’ literally all over the globe. It’s gone viral on the Net just since yesterday.” She opened a new window. “And check this out. All these kids are posting about the enhanced generation. They’re babbling about a future world of clones,” she whispered. “It’s so messed up.”
Fang nodded, raising his wings a little. “I get it. Believe me.”
“You actually don’t get it,” Maya said, turning away from him. “You think we’re alike because we’ve both been genetically engineered, because we both have wings.” She got up and began pacing. “But I’m a clone. Can you even fathom what that’s like? To be made from someone else? Someone who still exists?”
Fang’s throat felt dry. What was he supposed to say?
“You are different, Maya. You can still be you,” he said lamely. She laughed bitterly—clearly, that hadn’t been the right thing to say.
“You mean I can be her,” she said. He started to protest, but she shook her head. “I’ve seen those brooding looks. And you know… you’re great.” Fang felt a pang. “But do you think I don’t know why you look at me that way? I know you want me to be her. Everyone has always wanted me to be her. But I can’t. I’m just… me.”
She looked up at him seeming totally vulnerable despite how amazingly powerful she was. But she was right. She’d always be a bit like Max to him. And Fang, despite his wrecked heart, almost couldn’t keep himself from kissing her. Thankfully, before he could screw up in such a royal way, the gang burst through the door, howling and armed with…
Cheez Whiz.
34
I TOOK A big step back and found myself against a wall. “Whoa!” I said, holding up my hand like a traffic cop. Pod-Ig and Pod-El stopped. I smiled. “Give me a little space here. Please. I need room to read this stuff.” I turned the flyer over, and they edged away.
“We’re going outside again for a sec. Maybe you guys should go tell Gazzy about saving the world,” I suggested. “He didn’t look totally convinced.” Ella nodded eagerly. I felt kinda bad for sicking her on the Gasman, but if he’d been immune to her brainwashing up till now, I figured he was safe.
I watched through the window as they drifted toward the kitchen. My knees were shaking, and I could feel my heart racing.
“So, we’re all agreed that the lovebirds are totally, like, programmed, right?” I huffed.
“Affirmative,” Total said, nodding.
I sighed, annoyed. “So basically, in the middle of all this other crap, we’ve gotta go take out Ella’s flyer-wielding ‘friend.’ I have a can of whoop-butt at the ready for the cool kid who sucked out my family’s brains,” I said.
