Max (Maximum Ride 5)

Captain Perry looked at me seriously. "Yes, actually. More than the wings. This is, in fact, stranger and more impossible."

"Oh," I said. "Well, then." I gave a little cough. "Anyway, let's get her back in. You got any of those claw-arm thingies?"

"No, I'm afraid not," said Captain Perry.

"Max," said Nudge. She turned away from the window with wide eyes. I hurried over and peered out into the murky water.

"Oh, jeez," I said, my heart sinking. Or rather, sinking more.

Angel, being Angel, was being: (1) stubborn, (2) a rule breaker, (3) not sensible, (4) reckless,… and (5)… swimming directly at a group of the sea monsters, who were heading toward our sub at light speed.

"They're gonna kill her," Gazzy breathed, his face pale.

Yeah, I thought grimly. And then I'll bring her back to life and kill her again, for doing this to us.

One of the creatures spotted Angel. It slowed, turned, and began to head toward her.

"Oh, God," Nudge squealed, covering her eyes. "Max! Do something!"

I was already striding toward the door. "On it."

71

I SLAMMED MY FIST against the pressure pad that opened the air-lock chamber. I knew Captain Perry and the others were right behind me, and if they wanted to get sucked out of the diver air lock along with me, that was their business.

Ten seconds ago, one of those creatures had been speeding toward Angel. That image, seared into my brain, made me feel sick. I couldn't believe that after all we'd been through, everything we'd done, Angel had basically just committed suicide by sea monster.

The air-lock door opened, the interior of the chamber still wet from Angel's escape.

Brigid grabbed my arm. "Max—don't," she said. "You know you can't go up against them. The best thing would be for us to get out of here, fast, before they start attacking the whole sub. Remember what they did to the Minnesota? This one is so much smaller and more vulnerable."

"I have to go get Angel," I snarled with my endearing bulldog tenacity.

"Max—you can't help her." Brigid sounded close to tears.

"I'm not leaving her," I said, standing threateningly over Brigid, several inches taller. "If it's too late, then I'm bringing back her body. Either way, I'm not leaving without her." I looked at Captain Perry, John, Brigid, and the rest of the flock. "So suck it up and get out of my way."

John looked at me for a long moment, then nodded, and carefully stepped out of the air-lock chamber. He touched Captain Perry's arm, and, frowning, Captain Perry left too.

"Brigid," said John. Tears rolling down her cheeks, she let go of my arm and left the room, followed by a solemn, stiff-jawed flock.

Except Fang.

I glared at him. "Go on. Try to stop me. I dare you." It was like the old days when we used to wrestle, each trying to get the better of the other. I was ready to take him down, my hands curled into fists.

"I was just going to say be careful," Fang told me. He stepped closer and brushed some hair out of my eyes. "And—I've got your back." He motioned with his head toward the torpedo chamber.

Oh, my God. It hit me like a tsunami then: how perfect he was for me, how no one else would ever, could ever be so perfect for me, how he was everything I could possibly hope for, as a friend, boyfriend—maybe even more. He was it for me. There would be no more looking.

I really, really loved him, wit

h a whole new kind of love I'd never felt before, something that made every other kind of love I'd ever felt just seem washed out and wimpy in comparison. I loved him with every cell in my body, every thought in my head, every feather in my wings, every breath in my lungs. And air sacs.

Too bad I was going out to face almost certain death.

Right there, in front of everyone, I threw my arms around his neck and smashed my mouth against his. He was startled for a second, then his strong arms wrapped around me so tightly I could hardly breathe.

"ZOMG," I heard Nudge whisper, but still Fang and I kissed, slanting our heads this way and that to get closer. I could have stood there and kissed him happily for the next millennium, but Angel—or what was left of her—was still out there in the cold, dark ocean.