"Fang, wake up," someone ordered from above him. "Gosh, you sleep like a brick...wake up!"

"Ugh...wha?" Fang slurred, slowly opening his eyes.

Max's face hovered above his, grinning. "Me, Iggy, Gaz, Nudge and Angel are going out shopping together. You coming?" After feeling his forehead, she quickly revised, "Nah, I think it's better you stay home."

Fang felt his own forehead consciously. "I feel fine." He paused. "Do I really feel warm?"

Max tutted. "Yes, you do. Now, Mr. I-Can-Do-Anything-I-Want, you're staying here until we get home. Don't force me to use the hot glue."

Fang smiled, abruptly kissing Max's cheek. "What'ver you say, Boss."

Max rolled her eyes, but Fang just smirked at her cheeks, which were dusted pink. "We're going."

"Be careful." Fang smiled innocently.

Max's heart fluttered at that smile. Jeez, that smile will be the death of me! "Yeah, like I'm really going to get hurt driving to the mall, which is about five blocks away."

"You're driving is crap, so," Fang observed pointedly.

Max hit him lightly. "Fine," she huffed. "Iggy's driving." The blind kid was a better driver than her, it was true.

Fang half-smiled this time, waving a little. "Bye."

Max ruffled his hair--she knew he loathed it when she did that-- and walked outside, where the others were already waiting.

"Ig's driving," she announced authoratively.

The Gasman groaned. "Why don't I ever get to drive?" He angrily got in the backseat, Nudge and Angel following suit.

"Because you're underaged and will probably crash us into a ditch just to try and run over a squirrel, which isn't nice, Gaz." Max flashed him a sweet smile and got in the car. Iggy backed out of the driveway, and Max watched the house disappear.

It feels like it's been...forever since the Winter Dance. She subconsciously reached up to place a hand on where the bullet had pierced her.

"Dawn and the twins are waiting for us, right?" Nudge piped up.

Max nodded. "They're probably already sipping smoothies in the cafe."

"Oh, Max!" Angel said excitedly. "Can we get some, too?"

Max nodded again. "Of course."

Iggy parked the car in the parking lot and waited until everyone got out. That's when Max took the lead.

"All right, let's go!" She started to walk, Angel and Nudge happily chattering away by her side.

Back at the house, Fang was on the couch, feeling quite paranoid. Since the Dance, he hadn't allowed Max to be out of his sight. He supposed that it couldn't go on forever, so that was why he hadn't put up a fight and stayed home.

Why was he feeling that impeding sense of doom?

"Just nothin'..." Fang drifted off into a deep sleep.

There was a black sedan rumbling down the road. It parked itself beside the sidewalk and two burly men got out. They held tranquilizer guns in their hands, possibly loaded and ready to shoot. But why? What were they doing?

"We're only getting clothes!" It was a teenager's voice. "No getting sidetracked, got it?"

Beside her, two younger girls giggled and said, "Okay."

A little bit behind them was a fair-haired boy with a younger one, who was pointing out the mall looked like.

The burly men were making their way towards them, though they stopped when the brunette whirled around.

"What's wrong, Max?" One of the smaller girls asked.

The brunette narrowed her eyes. "Nothing, Ange. My paranoia's just getting to me. Let's go."

"Max, Max, Max, look, there's a puppy!" The smallest boy shouted, pointing to the entrance of the mall.

"Didn't I just say no to getting sidetracked?" Max sighed, but the kids were already heading for the yipping weiner dog.

Max opted to stay where she was, getting out her cellphone and texting Jared.

Halfway through texting him, though, she heard something slicing through the air, then felt it prick her on her thigh. She looked down, her vision already starting to go hazy. A tranquilizer dart...? she thought. What's going on?

Then her weakening body was picked up and roughly slung over someone's shoulder. She wanted to scream out at the others to get away, but already the Erasers were slinking towards the unaware group.

Her limbs were numb when they threw her into the back of the sedan. She barely felt the car rumbling underneath her as they drove her away, barely heard the cries of, "Max, Max!"

Fang shot straight up, then immediately regretted it as his head became dizzy. Feeling himself, he realized he'd broken his fever through his sleep. Dr. M wasn't in the house anymore, he noticed.

He pushed himself up to his feet, heading to the kitchen for a cup of cold water. That dream...it was so scary, and at the same time, it felt real.

Fang gulped down some water and splashed his face with it too. Just a dream, he told himself. Max and the others are perfectly fine--

"Fang!" It was Dr. M, bursting through the door.

"Yeah?" Fang looked out from the kitchen to see Max's mom standing there, eyes wild.

"It's Max!" she said, sounding panicked. She added in a calmer, grim voice, "She's been kidnapped."