We landed lightly on our back deck. Inside, a few lights were on. I kicked off my fashionable, uncomfortable shoes and went to find Fang. I’d brought him a piece of cake, and though it was a teensy bit squooshed, I was sure it’d taste okay.

I headed down the hall and tapped on the closed door of the boys’ room. No answer. Had he already fallen asleep?

I opened the door a bit and peered in. It was dark. “Fang?”

I flicked on the light. The room was empty; his bed was still made. The bathroom was next door, and it too was dark and empty.

“Fang?” I called louder. “We’re home!”

I headed out to ask the others if they’d seen him, and that was when I saw the note.

It was propped on the dresser, by the door — a white envelope with my name written on it in Fang’s spiky handwriting.

My heart dropped somewhere around my stomach, and my skin went cold, as if I’d stepped into a freezer. Slowly I reached out and picked up the envelope. I opened the flap and pulled out a sheet of paper.

“Max? What are you doing? We’re gonna take a couple more photos,” said Nudge, swinging around the door. “Since we probably won’t all be clean at the same time ever again.”

I swallowed. “Is Fang out there with you guys?”

“No — he’s not in here?”

“No. I found this.” I showed her the note, and her eyes went wide.

“What is it?” Her voice was hushed and solemn.

Breathing shallowly, I unfolded the paper. I didn’t want to read it — like, if I didn’t read it, it would make it not be true.

But I was not a coward. Even about this. So I started reading aloud.

Dear Max —
You looked so beautiful today. I’m going to remember what you looked like forever.

Nudge put her hand over her mouth.

And I hope you remember me the same way — clean, ha-ha. I’m glad our last time together was happy.

But I’m leaving tonight, leaving the flock, and this time it’s for good. I don’t know if I’ll ever see any of you again. The thing is, Max, that everyone is a little bit right. Added up all together, it makes this one big right.

Dylan’s a little bit right about how my being here might be putting the rest of you in danger. The threat might have been just about Dr. Hans, but we don’t know that for sure. Angel is a little bit right about how splitting up the flock will help all of us survive. And the rest of the flock is a little bit right about how when you and I are together, we’re focused on each other — we can’t help it.