A/N:
Hello world of Fanfiction! Well I must say, I've enjoyed writing this a lot! So much in fact, that I've already written a few chapters. Though I'll most likely just add one today and keep the others as sort of a safety net in case I get tied up in school or something. Anyways, enjoy! And thanks for takin' time to read the fic!
Disclaimer: I don't own Maximum Ride.
My life has never been one worth putting into stories. In fact, if you looked up the word 'Average' in the dictionary, it would most likely have a picture of my family next
to it. I was born in a normal townhouse in the suburbs. We had cookouts every fourth of July and Christmas parties every winter. My mom was a vet and my dad was
science teacher. I had a sister named Ella, who bugged me to death, but I loved all the same, and a little half brother named Ari, who never left his dads side.
But last year, all of that changed. My life went from normal, to horrible in just days. And this beautiful picture I just painted for you guys—this happy life, happy
family—all fell apart. But I didn't. I couldn't. I had to stay strong, not for myself, but for my family. I had to be unbreakable Max, because if I gave up, they would too.
And I had a feeling, that if I wasn't strong, if I allowed myself to crack just a little, I would break completely in half. So I shielded my family from my feelings, hid myself
away from the world, not once daring to cry, to let myself feel the pain I had been holding in for a year now. To me, feelings just made me weak, unstable, vulnerable.
So, I just ignored them, hid them away, and swore to ignore the past. That is, until I met him.
-Max-
I pulled my hoodie closer to myself as I rounded the next corner, my combat boots splashing against the wet pavement. The sun was low in the sky, causing
the shadows to become long and dark. I had to get there quickly if I was ever going to get back before curfew. Just a quick trip, I told myself. I'll be there and back in no
time.
And to make sure that did in fact, happen, I decided to take a shortcut. The alleyway loomed ahead of me, dirty and forgotten. Most people wouldn't give it a second
glance. But I'm not most people. I knew the Alleyway was a shortcut to Able St., and going through it would save me twenty minutes at least. So, I started down the
narrow pass. My footfalls echoing off of the slime covered walls on either side of me.
It was an eerie sound, the rhythmic pounding of my steps. And after a while I could almost hear even more footsteps, coming from all around me. My body tensed up, my
eyes scanning the darkness around me. How had it gotten so dark so fast? Anyone could be lurking in theses shadows. Suddenly, a crash rang out in the alleyway,
causing me to whip my head around, my eyes searching the darkness behind me. Nothing. It was probably just a cat. I almost laughed out loud at my own obvious
paranoia. There was nothing to worry about! And even if there was, I could take whatever they threw at me…right?
Wrong. Seconds later, another sound echoed off the walls, the unmistakable sound of a gun being cocked back. There's no way that's an alley cat. I thought bitterly, as
I clenched my fists. Somewhere in the darkness behind me, I felt the cool metal tip of a pistol dig into my back.
"What? No witty banter? No shouts of 'give me all your money!' No cliché bad guy speeches?" I spat, sarcasm dripping, my mind searching for escape routes. Seeing
nothing, I knew I only had one choice. Fight.
Now, I'm not stupid enough to attempt to fist fight an armed man. However, if I could get the gun away from this lunatic, I might stand a chance.
"I ain't a bad guy," He said, his voice sounding disturbingly close to my ear. "You're trespassing, this is our territory."
The words shocked me for a moment. How had I been so stupid? Nudge had warned me about wandering through here at night! What had she said? Something about
territories being changed…I couldn't quite remember. And now I was stuck with some crazy man with a gun pointed at me...who was most likely a gang member.
This day just couldn't get better.
Note the sarcasm.
In a matter of seconds, he had my body pushed against the closest wall, the damp brick digging into my cheek. Now I had NO maneuverability whatsoever. Which
translates to: I have no way to reach the mans gun, Basically: We're screwed, kids!
I let out a small grunt as the air whooshed from my lungs, frantically searching my mind for ways I could get out of this situation. I found none.
"What exactly is it you want from me?" I choked, my lungs lacking air.
His grip on me loosened for a moment, before jerking me around to face him.
He had his hood pulled up, and I couldn't make out his face aside from his disgustingly wide grin. He had a chip missing from one of his front teeth, his smile mocking
and cold. I wanted to wipe that smile off his face. My fists clenched, nails digging into my palm in anger.
"You know what I want. You're in my territory…that means your—" I lunged at him before he could finish his sentence, a blind fury fueling my veins, my fist colliding with
the man's face before he had time to even process what was going on, let alone, pull the trigger.
His hands automatically went up to his nose, (which I could have sworn I felt break) the gun falling out of his grasp. My eyes followed it as it slid across the concrete,
every second seeming to slow down, and then, we both scrambled for it, each hand grasping the gun.
This fight was a dangerous one, I knew, as we fell onto the ground, each trying to pry the weapon from the others hands. A shot rang out, then another, this one
finding its target.
I screamed out and grasped my shoulder, feeling warm liquid gush onto my fingertips. My flesh felt like it was on fire. Seconds seemed to go on for hours as I
doubled over, my eyes wide, my body crying out in agony. I bit my lip and held in my screams of pain, refusing to let this low life hear me scream again.
The man, now on his feet, pointed the gun at me once more. He had that annoying smile on his face again, but I was glad to see his nose bleeding profusely, the
bridge turned at an odd angle. Yep, it was defiantly broken. This fact made me smirk. Ah, the little things in life.
"Stand up." He barked, his voice slightly strangled from the waterfall of blood pouring out of his nose.
Wincing, I did so, my free arm clutching my injury tenderly. I glared at him, trying to look intimidating, though in reality, I had a freaking gun in my face! So of course, I
was inwardly terrified.
The man cocked the gun once more, his finger on the trigger. Just one finger movement and it was bye-bye Max.
However, the man never pulled the trigger. He didn't get the chance.
A/N:
Le Gasp! A cliffy!
Comments? Criticism? Flames are always welcome! I'd love you to help me become a better writer! So please review!