Chapter 1

Oh God. Not that feeling again. Like I was burning up, heat rushing all over my body, that sensation from back when I first heard the Voice inside my head. (What, you mean you don't have one? I think Target still carries them.) Usually, it would be spouting advice and ordering me around like it was my mother. Though it had proved life-saving in the past, it was still a bit irritating at times. But now, annoyingly, it was utterly silent. What, cat got your tongue? Wait.. It's more like, cat got your mind? Or- you know what, never mind.

Butterflies in my stomach, I turned to Nudge. "How does this look?" I asked nervously. I had never really been a girl for dresses. My usual attire is a worn-out t-shirt and holey jeans. She looked up and down, giving me a thorough inspection, tilting her head for a moment as if considering something.

When she was satisfied, she replied with a grin,"I think it looks beautiful, Max! You could be on the runway any day of the year in hole-y rags and still bedazzle us all!"

The corners of my mouth twitched up in a small smile. "Is 'bedazzle' even a word?"

"Of course it is! And a real pretty one, too." I sighed. Same old Nudge. Twirling in my dress, I closed my eyes and thought. This was the biggest day of my life. And I felt comfortable... in a dress. Who thought of that idea, anyway? Why would anyone want to run around or work on, like, a farm or something and have to hike a giant mass of cloth up above their knees? And shove up the sleeves? But this dress, for some reason, felt right. Like I was safe, somehow, though I know that could never be. Not even now, six years after we saved the world. The flock, I mean.

Angel, Gazzy, Nudge, Iggy, Fang, and me. Little Angel was twelve now, a tall, gangly teenager, with her blond curls and calm tone that may make someone do things they might not have wanted to do- but she's been able to do that for years. She can control people- or animals- with her mind. And read their thoughts, too. That's just what we need, isn't it? A beautiful pre-teen that could rule the world as we know it by simply asking the president to send out a death ray. And yet, she still fulfilled her childhood dream- not the one of not living in a dog crate- but to grow up to be like me. And at that age, I was exactly the same. Minus the mind-reading/controlling part. Whenever I see her, I want to cry and hold her close, to tell her that I'm proud of her. Yeah, I guess you could say I actually express feelings now. But I've been doing a lot of that lately...

Gazzy, of course, still lives up to his name. But one girl seems to be able to put up with that. The Gasman's fourteen. That's how old Iggy, Fang and I were when we all saved the world. But now that he's that age, I don't think he'll be fighting off Erasers or battling hurricanes. Instead, he, Angel, and Nudge all go to this Lerner school the bigwig government people set up for us a while back. No one wanted to go at first. Wow, big shocker there! Like as mutant bird kids, we actually went to school back when we turned 5. We did do to the School, though. But eventually, they got to like it, I guess, what with actually being able to sleep in one home for more than a day or two, and have a routine that was hardly ever deviated from. That never was for me. I can't stand having nothing to do, no way to fight off mortal danger. Just, normalness seems so... insipid and irksome. Yeah, I guess Nudge's dictionary studying kind of wore off on me. But Gazzy likes that tiresome familiarity. And he loves how, being 'normal', despite the fact that he's super fast and strong, has air sacs and can fly, he can date. I never would have thought, six years ago, while worried about the safety of the flock and being with my mom and saving the world all at once, that my little trooper would find a straight, black-haired Asian girl that adored him and didn't find his wings creepy in the least. I could relate to that feeling now. It was nice to have someone who loved me for who I am and what I stand for, not for my freakishness. Which not many people do.

Nudge cleared her throat audibly, startling me out of my daydream. Sighing, I turned toward her and grimaced as she threw Total into my arms. "Here, hold him for a second, will ya? I have to go get you that mirror." Rolling my eyes, I held him at arms' length, careful not to let any of his hairs onto my dress. He stared indignantly up at me.

"I had a bath for this occasion, remember? I did it especially for you! I'm not going to be treated like a.. like a dog when I am so civilized and sophisticated! All the ladies think so." I groaned, and Total jumped out of my arms, into the air. I waited for him to land safely on the ground, but instead found myself looking up as he hovered near the ceiling, wings flapping furiously.

"C'mon, Total! Couldn't you just stay grounded for a few more minutes? You'll scare the workers." I placed my hands defiantly in my hips.

Grumbling, he slowly came back down. "S'not my fault I'm a freak," he muttered. Sighing sadly, I inwardly agreed with him. None of us asked to become genetics experiments, but hey, it's not like we actually had any choice in that. Being tiny, uncomprehending babies and all. Not even some of our parents had a choice in their children being stolen; but some, like Gazzy and Angel's, willingly handed them over for a big, fat check. Isn't that what all parents do for their children once they've earned a reward? Sell them?

Nudge returned, dragging the full-length mirror. I smiled at her and walked toward her as her long, curly brown hair got tangled in the packaging tape. "Leave it to you to get your hair stuck, of all things, Nudge!" Laughing, I untangled the knotted mess, thinking about how much she treasured her hair. 'It's my best feature,' she had whined one time when an unseemly amount of gum was matted in her curls. Nudge had become a beautiful high schooler, her coco skin the envy of any girl who had brains, and the reason many awkwardly tall and muscular boys would drool. When we were on the run, the only time we'd had time for makeovers or anything that would show off beauty was when we got free makeovers in New York, searching for new identities. I had realized then that Nudge had the potential to be gorgeous when she aged, if we lived, but now, with plenty of time for eyeshadow and blush and lipstick, she looked even better than I could have imagined. Still wary about the whole makeup thing myself, I had cringed unwillingly as foundation was piled on, making unseemly wrinkle lines on my forehead. However, my little makeup queen working on me was able to fix and smear the necessary colors to blend it all together. Nudge was overly excited about this event, more so than even I was, I think. She probably was glad I had finally caved and allowed her to transform my normally boring self. The 17-year-old Nudge could hardly be described as boring. Fashion sense still ever present, her unique, individual styles made even her girlfriends jealous. Her motormouth personality had ebbed a tiny bit, allowing for her boyfriend to get a few words in edgewise. My little girl, all grown up and with a bronze-haired wonder!

Smoothing out her hair, I sighed, wondering if we'd ever have moments where she was still the tiny, filthy, scared Monique we'd once known. If she'd ever need me to protect her again. Whether it be from Erasers or heartbreak, I wouldn't care which.

"Thanks, Nudge. It means a lot to me," I said cordially. She grinned.

"I wouldn't miss it for the world!" she cried, wrapping her arms around me carefully, so as not to crease the dress. Ironic. We did actually save the world...

Looking me over one last time, Nudge held me at arms' length. Gently, she edged me toward the mirror. I gasped. I looked stunning, if I do say so myself. The strapless dress hugged my curves, flowing from my hips to sweep the tops of my baby pink shoes. My blonde hair tumbled down in soft waves, catching the light in shimmery glares. And my wings, having grown another half foot or so, stretched 14 and a half feet across the room, the brown primary feathers blending perfectly with my black and white secondaries. They may not be as magnificent as Angel's blindingly white heavenly wings, but they still kick butt. I must admit, though, I was looking more like an angel from above with every style change. Surely, a few people would have to gasp as I walked down the rows!

Seeing my content, Nudge smiled giddily and handed me a small bouquet of pink lilies, my favorite. Grinning even wider than before, I hugged her firmly, one last time, before I walked slowly to the door of the dressing room. After she had left, my nerves came flooding back to me. I shook nervously, unable to control my feelings of unease. But I always felt that familiar cautiousness, though I hadn't been in a fight to the death for over five years. The room began to spin, and I was holding my head to stop seeing stars when Dad came and steadied me.

Yep. Jeb. Since Itex had been thoroughly destroyed, he'd decided to try to make it up to us for ruining our lives at such a young age. At first, no one had forgiven him, though it seemed like he was truly sincere. But we'd had years to work it all out, being around him because we'd lived with Mom, Dr. Martinez, so eventually, he became the father we'd had in our house overlooking a canyon back when we escaped the School for two precious years of our lives. The father we wanted to love us and always care for us.

"You okay, Max?" he asked, the room beginning to come back into focus. Putting on a brave face, I smiled the best I could and nodded. Jeb proudly took my arm in his and led me to the door. "It's time, honey," he whispered. Taking a deep breath, I stepped forward into the huge room, what seemed like hundreds of smiling faces looking my way.

I walked slowly down the aisle, my white dress trailing behind me, wings carefully extended the tiniest bit. In the front row, Mom sat crying, silent tears rolling down her cheeks. I embraced her firmly before continuing to the front of the room. "I love you, Max!" she sobbed into my hair.

"I love you, too, Mom," I managed to gasp, her bear hug crushing the air out of me. Dad tugged my arm slightly, pulling me out of our embrace. My heart beating wildly, I pulled down my veil to cover my excited, nervous face. Gracefully, I climbed the altar, taking a quick glance to my left before taking my place beside my maids of honor. Nudge smiled at me reassuringly, and Angel grinned, well, angelically.

I'm so happy for you, Max! she sent into my head. Her talent was very convenient for a time as quiet as this. Thanks, Angel! I love you! I replied. I turned toward the priest, but not before catching Gazzy and Iggy's eyes, well, not Iggy's, but he sensed me staring. They looked dashing in their crisp black suits and ties, smiling exultantly up at me.

Then it began. I grasped my flowers tightly, staring into his eyes. Though he couldn't see mine clearly through the veil, I knew he was trying. The priest calmly read his speech, but I'll spare you the details. The first part was rather boring. We exchanged vows, and I was trying to keep a steady yet calm voice as I recited them. Soon, much too soon, it felt, he was saying, "...Do you take Maximum Ride to be your lawfully wedded wife, through sickness and in health..."

He said, "I do." My heart swelled.

"And do you, Maximum Ride, take..."