Hi, it's me again, S.A Hikari, and it's my very first Maximum Ride fanficiton! (All the rest have been Naruto, with the exception of a Wall-E one-shot)

I do not own Maximum Ride in any way, shape, or form.

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Number 15 POV

I curled up, tightening my wings into a shade over my body as I crumpled in my cold cage inside the storage area. I heard a few scientists open the door, and light flooded into the room of cages.

"What?! Again?! Darn it!"

I peeked out from under my wing blanket. It was a familiar scientist, Chris, who had cried out. His back was turned to my cage, but I listened in.

"Yes, Sir. Max eluded us again."

… What?...

Chris grabbed the Eraser. "You find her, or you'll be the one battling number 15!" Hm?

The Eraser began to sweat. "N… no, Sir, I mean, yes, Sir!" Without another word, he took off in the other direction.

I opened my mouth and gasped… loudly.

Chris, alert and awake, perked up and looked directly at my 'sleeping form". "You awake, Number 15?"

I squeezed my eyes shut and pulled my head under my wings and made, the best I could, small sleeping noises.

Chris snorted and walked out of the storage room. "Oh, and little Number 15, you have a fight tomorrow at 6:30 AM. Be ready."

I turned over. I better get good sleep.

The night was hard. I kept thinking about this 'Max' person. Had he escaped the school? Was that even possible?

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The chain link rolled as my door opened. There was my audience of several scientists with note pads and glasses, their pencils ready and eyes glued to me.

A couple feet in front of me was my opponent. It looked like some sort of shark thing. It was standing in a deep puddle and glaring at me.

I sighed. Another victim, more torture, forced to fight me for their random experiments.

It snarled at me, evil intent in its eyes. It was so misshapen that I couldn't tell whether it was a male or female. The poor thing was probably agitated and shocked to no end to make it aggressive towards everything. Its dark eyes were beady. I hated to fight it, but I wouldn't get food if I didn't, and if there's one thing I know, it's that I will survive. If the Max person escaped, that means it's possible, and I'll do it, too. For that I'll need to stay alive.

The bell signaled for our battle. The shark thing ran strait at me. I lifted my heard to the sky and underwent a full out morph.

The shark thing stalled. A glint in my eye made the shark thing take a step back. I spread out my light wings and took to the sky. It looked up at my flying figure.

I swooped down and grabbed the shark thing by the protruding fin on its head. It was over. The thing screamed, but a clamp to its soft neck silenced it.

The metallic taste of blood graced my lips and tongue. I didn't understand why some people thought it was gross… I loved it.

The shark thing hung limp in my claws, the deadly wound leaking blood down his back. I was pretty sure it was still alive. I never liked to kill my opponents, but after they were beaten the scientists were just going to kill them anyway. I removed my mouth from the victim's neck and held it close to me, occasionally licking the open wound free of excess blood.

I flew to the floor of the arena and laid it down on the floor. I had never done this before. Usually I just left the living creature, or what was left of it, out in the arena center and returned to the iron door from where I came. I wondered what the scientists would think or say.

One stood up. I got up myself, looking him in the eye. This scared him a little bit which made me pleased. "Number 15, kill the specimen."

I was shocked, but stood my ground.

"Number 15…" the scientist said as if speaking to a child.

"NO!" I used my enhanced vocal chord to extend my voice, blowing them back. Needless to say, I was happy with my power. They stood there, obviously not saying anything. They knew I wouldn't kill the shark thing, not without becoming extremely angry at it for some reason.

Finally, after a long silence, I spoke. "Who is Max?" I asked in a booming voice.

The scientists eyes widened, surprised, I guess. But they ignored my question.

"You need to be more aggressive. You need to start killing the fallen. Do you want to be shocked? We will provoke you into killing if you don't!"

I returned with their exact response to my question.

Silence.

I smirked with my cleverness. "I'll ask again," I leapt into the air, hovering but four feet above the ground and floated over to them, flaring my nostrils and showing m teeth and talons.

But I dare not attack. Electric centers were focused at me all throughout the circular arena. If I were to become within a foot of the scientists, I would be killed instantly.

"WHO IS MAX?!" I screamed in their faces, knowing full well that my super voice might just make them deaf, but I didn't care.

Four of them covered their ears, but one dared look me in the eye. "She is the oldest living bird kid… and your purpose for living."

I'd heard about the bird kids before, but I didn't know about… that other part…

"What happened to her?" I demanded, ignoring the other thing.

"She escaped the school with five other bird kids."

That is what I wanted to know! I smiled content.

"But I wouldn't get my hopes up."

I looked at him again, fiercely.

"Because they escaped with the help of each other, and a scientist. You don't' have ANYONE, Number 15, and you never will."

I growled at him. I turned around to head back to the entrance door to be returned to my cage. As I walked, the scientist called out, "Oh, and Number 15,"

I stopped, but stared ahead, concealing grief behind my eyes.

"Your purpose in life… is to kill Max."

I sighed.

"You were specifically designed and created for it. And you will do it, whether you consent or not. We will change your nature."

I started back to the door and morphed back as I walked. I returned to my chamber, waiting to be back in my cage, where I didn't have to deal with this.

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I crawled into my cage and lay down, staring up at the scientists, begging for my food ration for winning. But he held no food. He beckoned in another scientist, who was pushing a cart with the shark thing on it. Before he shut my door he put it in with me. I stared up at him, but I understood. Then he left with the other one. As I held my knees, I looked at the shark thing. The wound on its neck was severe, but it could be healed.

Suddenly, its eyes twitched, and looked right at me. I expected to be hit my it's wimpy fins or something, but instead it whimpered. It was afraid of me, even though I hadn't morphed. Then I realized it. It wasn't in water and, because it was a fish, would die anyway even if I did heal it.

… And I knew they were watching.

I didn't want to. I really didn't want to, but I morphed anyway and, using my arm strength, snapped its neck. Hunched over, I took small bites of its flesh to satisfy myself. I felt better and better as I ate away at its body.

But I wouldn't change. I was strong, and I wouldn't.

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So, did you like it? I, for one, am proud of it. Granted, it is a tad disturbing. That's why it's rated T. And just as a heads up, Number 15 is a girl. I realize I didn't state that in the story. As to what she morphs to, is up to speculation on your part. It will clarify later. Once again, thanks for reading!

Sincerely,

S.A. Hikari