Max's POV

I ran through the night, the cold air nipped at my skin. As I ran I could feel my face going numb from the cold. I was only wearing a small cotton gown that did nothing to shield me from the harsh cold of the night.

I just kept running, further and further into the dark. I ran into my bare feet could no longer hold me as I collapsed to the ground by the river bank.

I watched as the river flowed swiftly, the refection of the moon was so beautiful. I was only a mere 10 years old, but I seen more horrible things in my life than any other person. I knew more than anyone could. I was only 10, but I felt like I had lived a thousand lives.

I stood up and my knees began to shiver. I didn't know if it was from the cold or the thoughts that raced through my mind. Voices screamed in my head from home. Jeb yelled at me as I could never be all he wanted. Fang told me he wished I was never in charge. Iggy told me it was my fault he couldn't see. Everyone wanted something from me I couldn't give.

I didn't want to go home, back to the angry voices. I knew the others just wanted to fit in, they were mad that the white-coats had taken their freedom and had experimented on them and given us all wings, turned us all into freaks. But that was no reason to take all their anger out on me. How was I expected to handle all this at only 10? Well I couldn't. Not anymore.

Behind me was a darker place. A place no kid should ever be put in, a place that haunted my nightmares, a place that would eventually kill me, sooner or later. It was a place that no one should know.

I thought back to my home with Jeb. It didn't feel like a home. Jeb may have saved us, but only to bring us to a better hell. We may not be in cages, but we weren't free. And I wasn't his pet. The only warm thing about that place was my bed. My warm bed that I had left, for the last time.

I slowly walked towards the river, the water was icy and it felt like my skin was exploding from the cold. I continued to walk out further until the water was up to my thighs.

I slowly let myself fall forwards, crashing into the water and it swallowed me whole in its frozen death. As I held my breath I could no longer smell the angry gin that always followed me around from Jeb's drinks.

My eyes grew wider than they'd ever been as I slowly began to skink. My body felt like a million pins were getting stuck in me from how cold it was and I prayed that soon the coldness would just make me numb. As I sunk I could feel my limp body slowly getting pulled down river.

My eyes were open but I had sunk so low now that I couldn't see the moonlight anymore, just darkness.

As my body drifted I decided to stay here, forever. I could feel myself slipping away as I allowed the icy water to fill my lungs. I felt myself leave my body, leaving my bodiless troubles behind.

Knowing my bed would never be warm again as the river would keep me forever.