Prologue/ Chapter One
Normal Life… Not!
A/N: Well this is an idea that popped into my head so… why not! Disclaimer: Maximum Ride is James Patterson's, not mine, sadly…. –sigh- Oh well!
You might call my life normal. Well up unto this year it was. I lived a normal life, with a normal family and normal friends. I went to a normal high school and had a normal dog. I had a normal opinion about everything and was normal in trusting. I even looked normal, unless you count my hair. But everything that was normal about me was about to change, at the beginning of my sophomore year.
Well, let's get all the "normal" background before we move into the "abnormal." My name is Ivy Byrd. I have almond-shaped blue eyes, thick, wavy, white hair (yes I dyed it), I am tan, my nose is crooked from when I broke it in the fifth grade and I am tall and slender. Overall, again aside from the hair, I looked normal.
My mother's name is Megan Byrd, and my father? Nathan Byrd. I have one other sibling, my sister Eryn. I have one other sister who is as normal as nine-year-olds get. She has blue eyes and bright red hair. She is tall for her age, and will probably be a star basketball player one day, whist I bask in the glory of being Varsity Captain... of the Academic Team.
That's pretty much all the background, except where I go to school and where I live. I live on a corn farm in Illinois and I go to school at St. Joan of Arc Catholic School. It is an all girl school and I ride my bike to school every day, rain, shine or snow and yes, I ride my bike in my uniform, except on rainy days. Then I am fortunate enough to get to ride with my mother, who leaves a whole hour before I normally have too., but that's all beside the point. I should get on with my story, because one day, it might involve you.
Chapter One
Every child that lived under the roof of Megan Byrd had chores to do in the morning. You might have chores too, but I doubt they involve checking that our two horses have grain and making sure the raccoons didn't get into the corn silo. Those two were mine. I was up before dawn, completing those forms of torture, known as chores, when suddenly, my back started itching.
Now you are probably thinking, "Wow, her back just itched guys! Look out!" But this wasn't your ordinary itch, let me tell you. This was the most painful, itchy itch I had ever experienced in my life. And it was in only two spots.
I tried scratching it, but that just made it worse, as itching usually did. Maybe I just got bit by a spider or something... I thought to my self and, trying to ignore the itching, walked inside to the smell of coffee brewing and eggs being scrambled. My dad, who worked at home, usually got up and made breakfast, not only because he had the time, but because he liked to cook. And he was good at it.
"Morning, Dad," I said, sitting at the table.
"Morning, Blue Moon. Sid and Jake have food?"
"Plenty, but I on the other hand, need some of that."
"Get changed first." I sighed and got up, making sure to take off my boots and quickly dashed upstairs. I pulled off my jeans and the t-shirt I had slept in and put on some shorts, my skirt, an undershirt and a polo shirt that was required at out school. Gotta love the plaid baby. Over my shorts and under my skirt, though, I put on a pair of sweat pants. It was cool out this morning. I grabbed my sweater and ran back down stairs, skidding to a halt with socks and sweater in hand.
"Safe!" My dad called, laughing. "Come on, before your eggs get cold!" I went into the kitchen and sat, putting salt and pepper on my eggs and taking a bite. They were still hot enough. My dad looked at me and shook his head. "I still wish you hadn't dyed your hair."
"Oh come on, it's not like I'm getting points for it at school. Besides, it looks fine."
"But it's still a change from blonde."
"At least I don't have it sticking out in every which way, unlike your high school years."
"Did she mention your hair again?" Came the voice of my mother as she danced into the room. I rolled my eyes at her.
"Come on Mom! I've seen pictures. He had some pretty crazy hair." My mom laughed.
"Indeed he did. But it's not sticking out now, is it honey?" She turned to look at my dad. He had his little fake pout on. I laughed and so did my mom. She walked over and hugged him, then took some eggs for herself and took a cup of coffee too.
By this time I had finished my eggs and was getting ready to go. I had my backpack and my helmet. There were times when I wished I could ride Sid or Jake to school, but there was no where for them to wait by the school. My bike was stationary.
"Bye Mom, bye Dad. Tell Eryn good luck at her game. I have Academic Team after school."
"Right. Goodbye, Blue Moon!" I opened the wooden door, then the screen door and headed into the misty morning. The sun was just starting to come up. I grabbed my bike, jumped on, and started the long ride to school.
xxx
"Sir, she's started the first phase!" A man sitting in front of what looked like a security desk said, wheeling around in his chair to face a man who was wearing and grey pinstripe suit. He never saw the Administrator's face, or knew his name. He was just told to watch for any sign of vigorous itching or other of the signs started.
"Good. Keep on her. After three days the itching will stop, however, if you start to notice her itching again after three days, inform me at once."
"Yes, sir." The man turned around, watching the screen that had a girl riding a bike and nearing a large school building.
He heard the door being closed behind him and settled back for another day of watching.
xxx
The Administrator walked down a long hallway, listening to his echoing foot steps. He came to the end of the corridor and pressed his hand to the wall. A door opened and he walked through into long, brightly lit corridor with many doors lining it. He walked down it until he reached the last door. He pulled back a small panel and looked in.
"You bastard!"
The Administrator looked back to the far wall of the room. There, chained by his hands and neck was Subject 17. "Kreal, get some stronger controlling devices. We will need this one soon." A man wearing a white lab coat nodded at the Administrator and dashed off. The Administrator looked back inside. Subject 17 had been subdued by the electrical currents that he knew were being run through the skin tight suit he was wearing. His outburst must have increased them.
"You will pay for what you have done to me!" Subject 17 yelled. The Administrator moved slightly so his other eye was in the light.
"Oh no. You are paying for what you did to me." The Administrator's voice was cold, as cold as the metal eye that wrapped around his head, like an android. Subject 17 let out a yell of surprise right as Kreal returned. In his hands he had an oddly shaped belt and things that looked like shoulder pads from football, except for the fact that they were made of metal. In his teeth he held a syringe. The Administrator opened the door then shut it after Kreal walked in. The Administrator watched as Kreal put the equipment on the ground and took the syringe in his hands. He walked up to Subject 17 and quickly jabbed the needle into his arm. Subject 17 slumped, asleep.
"Good. Put them on him." The Administrator said. Kreal nodded and walked over to the things. First he grabbed the belt. He snapped it around Subject 17's waist then two separate pieces snapped to his leg, all of which held special pieces of equipment that would weaken Subject 17. Then he placed the shoulder pads onto him. They would not only make his movements clumsy, but that would also sap his strength.
"I'm coming in Kreal," The Administrator said and opened the door. Kreal had just finished checking the leg belt and stood up to look at the Administrator. The Administrator walked up to Subject 17 and looked at the man's left side of his face. A piece of what appeared to be a robot covered his face from his forehead down across his left eye, which was replaced with an artificial one. They had learned their lesson about tampering with both eyes long ago, but that was with another Subject. Subject 17 was different, more powerful.
"Come on Kreal, you need to get back to work." The Administrator turned on his heel and walked out of the room, Kreal behind him. As the door closed, the Administrator could hear Subject 17 stirring.
"What have you--" Subject 17 started to say before the door closed and the Administrator closed the panel, completely shutting Subject 17 in silence.
xxx
"Good morning ladies! Let's get out our notes. Now, you read 'The Devil and Tom Walker' last night. What were some parts that you liked?"
English class. Lunch next. Hungry.
"Come on ladies! I know it's early, but this will wake you up!" Our peppy English teacher, Mrs. Harper, said, nearly jumping. One of the girls who was actually awake raised her hand. "Yes Anna?"
"Well I really liked at the end when Tom said, 'If I have made a penny off you, then the Devil take me!' and the Devil shows up."
"Wonderful! That's a really good piece of irony too isn't it? What else?"
This went on for some time, people offering half-meant answers. It was just my luck I was placed in the honors class with people who shouldn't be in honors. I sighed and started doodling on my notebook. I chanced a glance at the clock. Five minutes left. I sighed and looked out the window. There was a boy, walking across the courtyard. He was wearing blue jeans, a blue shirt, and a blue sweat shirt. He didn't have any shoes on. His hair was auburn and messy. At his side trotted a little white and brown dog. He looked up and saw me looking at him. I quickly turned away. When I turned back, he was gone.
"Have a nice day ladies!" I came back to class and out of my mind.
"Come on Ivy!" I grabbed my backpack and dashed out of the room with my friend. Lunch time. Finally.
A/N: Well... that's the start of it... please review, or I might not keep writing... and how sad will that be?? Very... :-( So yeah... :-)
Neko signing out!!!
