A/N: Some of you may notice that chapters are gone. This is because I wasn't pleased with the story. So, I decided to remake it. Due to school(Yippee. Hear the joy in my voice. I'm sorry, was that sarcasm?) and some computer issues(why won't the darned thing just load?!) and the fact that I'm turning into a perfectionist, the updates might take longer. On the bright side, it should be a better story!
Disclaimer: No. I don't own Maximum Ride. I am not middle-aged or male, and I'm not facing the threat of losing my hair.(Whew)
My feet pounded the ground as I ran. Beside me was my younger brother, Jay. He cast a frightened glance over his shoulder, tightening his grip on my wrist. I suppressed the urge to look back. I wasn't going to think about the vicious wolf-men chasing us, nor the cages…no. Not going there. I focused on my breathing.
In, out. In, out.
Jay squeezed my wrist so hard I yelped. He was struggling to keep up. I debated making him fly. He stumbled again, and I scooped him up. We were both panting.
In, out. In, out.
The hairs on the back of my neck stood up straight. A sudden crunch to my right made Jay jump in my arms. Another crunch came from my left, then from behind me. I broke out of the trees, into a rocky clearing. My feet skidded on some stones and I threw Jay out of my arms.
"Fly!" I yelled at him.
His silvery wings snapped open and he flapped once, twice. He was already many yards in the air when I managed to get my feet underneath me. The ground shook as several Erasers thundered out of the trees. I began stepping back and risked a glance over my shoulder, my eyes widening at the sight of a cliff just behind me. Suddenly I was faced with a decision—straight up, forward, or over the cliff?
Not much of a decision.
I stepped onto the edge of the cliff, feeling the wind begin to yank at my pants and flimsy tank top. One Eraser took a step forward. That sealed my choice. I jumped off of the cliff. The wind whipped my hair up, making it hard to see. Then I snapped my wings open and stopped falling. I jerked up, feeling a familiar pull in my wing muscles as I started flapping. Finally.
Freedom.
