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through what weapons we had and mumbling about how much ammo was left.
    “I think we should stick with Max’s idea,” I said trying to convey as much confidence as I could even though I was starting to feel the fear creep in. “I say we haul ass to that van and we each unload on a bird. There are three of us and three of them. Sounds pretty damn even to me. If there realy is someone inside that van, we take them with us.”

Chapter 4
    “Sounds good to me,” Max said quickly and I smiled at him.
    “Carter?” Max asked for confirmation.
    “Ok, but we need to plan it out a little better than that. We can’t al pick the same target. Abby you drive, stop at about twenty feet away and take out one of the birds on the body and I’l take out the other. Max you ride shotgun. Take out the bird on top of the van and jump out to see if someone is inside. Ok?” We both nodded and got into our positions. I looked over to Max before starting up the Bronco. “Your leg good to go for this?”
    “Hel yes,” he said while he puled down the hammer on his gun. It was bizarre to me how at that moment, my body prickling with fear of what we were about to do that I found Max to be incredibly sexy. Leave it to me to think of something completely off the wal when my attention should be directed to more important matters at hand.
    I took a deep breath and focused my thoughts before I put the Bronco in gear and slammed my foot on the gas pedal. As we came speeding down the road the demon birds started shrieking loudly and spreading their wings in an almost chalenging posture.
    “Now!” Carter shouted as we got near the van.
    The Bronco jerked to a stop and I puled my shotgun from off my lap and fired at the demon bird closest to the Bronco. The bird flew backward landing in a giant feathery heap. I saw one of Carter’s arrows land into the other bird with a solid thud.
    The one I had shot was struggling to get up and it’s eyes locked onto me. I fired again the same time as Max shot at the one on the van and my ears rang from the assault on my ear drums.
    Carter opened the back to jump out and retrieve the arrow and I ran to Max as he approached the van with his gun raised. His movements were unwavering and confident, taking the short strides to the passenger side door without hesitation.
    As I neared the wrecked van I tried to peer into the windshield to see who or what was inside, but the cracked glass made it impossible to see. The spider web of silver lines completely blocked whatever was inside from view and I wondered how it managed to stay together.
    “I’m going to open the door,” Max said. I nodded and took a position off to the side, so I could shoot at whatever came out. “We aren’t going to hurt you.” He spoke toward the van and then I heard him whisper under his breath “unless we have to.” As Max jerked the door open the windshield crumbled into a glittering heap on the dark pavement. I could immediately see the form of a girl sitting with her knees to her chest and her eyes frozen in terror.
    “Hey,” Max said softly holding out his hand to her. “It’s safe now, you can come out.” The girl began to sob uncontrolably and Max got down on his knees to help her out. He nearly dragged her out of the van as she wailed. I thought for a moment that she would start thrashing him, but from the looks of her I was surprised she had the strength to even cry. Her body was frail and dirty and I wondered how long she had been in there.
    “My…my mom.” She let out in blubbering gasps.
    She clung to him weeping, not wiling to let go when he tried to pass her to me. He looked to me, confused on what he should do. I stuck my gun into the back of my pants and put my arms around the girl.
    My arms felt as if they could wrap around her twice as I held her to me. I tried to think of things to say to comfort her, but al that came to mind were things my Dad would say and I did not think this scrawny, barely teenage girl in