A/N: This is my first ever fanfic, I'm a big fan of reading them and so thought I might try giving writing one myself a go so comments would be much appreciated, thanks

DISCLAIMER: I'm not James Patterson, unfortunately, and do not own any of the Maximum ride characters. All that is mine is the plot

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Chapter 1

Max POV

As I lay there staring up at the sky, all I could do was regret the decision I had made earlier that day. I had put my flock - my family, in grave danger and I didn't know how to put this right. Worst than all of this, I had put my sister Ella and my mother Dr. Martinez in an even bigger danger. The most worrying thing on my mind right now was that I had absolutely no idea where any of them were, and it was killing me not knowing if they were safe, as their leader I should know where they were and be protecting them, not lying on a beach in Hawaii. What would I do if someone hurt my baby, my Angel, or Nudge, man she could talk but if anything happened to her someone would have me to answer to. And Iggy, for a blind guy, he was an amazing cook – yeah I know, blind guy, cook doesn't add up but believe me - and like a brother to me, and Gazzy, he was too young to be out there without me, he needs me. Don't even get me started on how I feel without Fang here, he's my second-hand man, my go-to guy, I couldn't bear being apart from him before when our flock temporarily parted ways last time, I needed Fang here with me now. If only I knew all the answers, as if being a bird kid with a 13-foot wingspan and hyper-enlightened senses wasn't enough.

After a long while of worrying, I could sense that I was no longer alone. I saw the flash of a white coat out of the corner of my eye. How could I have been so utterly stupid and reckless?

"So Maximum. Awake now are we? I hope you are beginning to see just how easy you made my life earlier. How could you possibly believe that I would stay on your side forever? The school is calling for you Maximum, are you sure you don't want to go back?" Asked Jeb in a menacing manner.

I jumped to my feet in rage.

"Where are they?" I spat at him.

"Oh don't worry Maximum, they're safe…for now. We want you to answer us a few little questions before we can answer yours." He retorted. I glared back in return, if he thought he was going to get any information out of me he…

"Maximum, listen to me!" He shouted in an attempt to free me from my trace. "You are going to have to cooperate fully whilst we are here do you understand?" He continued. Again I just glared back in response.

"Now, up that mountain is a little cave, where your precious little flock are waiting for you…all but one that is. Fang awaits you on a beach on the other side of the island in a deep sleep, but the tide is coming in fast and soon he's going to be pulled out by the strong currents. On the other hand, if you run off to your precious Fang, the rest of your flock will be flown back to the School faster than you can say, "I love my dear father very much." My breath caught in a sharp gasp. My heart felt like it was going to tear apart at the seams, choose between members of my flock, my dear and precious family. He couldn't do this, could he? Oh why had I even trusted him in the first place? This was entirely my fault and now someone was going to pay.

What could I do? I could never ever let the younger ones go back to the school again. I promised them I would never let that happen. But let Fang be pulled out to the sea. What if he…I couldn't even bear to let myself think of what could happen to him. He was my Fang, I couldn't be without him, and if I got him, he could help me get the others back from the school, after all they weren't facing immediate de… I couldn't bear to think the word. That's exactly what they expect me to choose though, they want me to go and save Fang and try to rescue the others, and they are setting a very nice little trap. What was I supposed to do?

"Wait a minute, but Ella and Mom…where are they?" I suddenly remembered in a panic.

"Oh, they're…safe" Jeb replied with a grin that would suggest otherwise.

"What have you done to them?" I screamed.

"Your time is running out now Maximum…it's time to make your choice now…your precious Fang? Or the rest of your pestering little family?"

That was it; he wasn't giving me time to think. And with that I kicked off with my feet and flew off as fast as my wings could take me – which happened to be pretty damn fast now that I'd gained hyper-speeds, which were getting easier to control as I got more used to them – and followed my instincts.