Max hid behind a rosebush. The thorns dug in to her skin, holding onto her for dear life. She had no idea if the flock was alive, for they had been captured. The scientists wanted them to participate in a barbaric fight to the death to see how well they could fight against some of their genetic "successes". But without Max, the testing could not go on. She heard faint footsteps. She froze like a statue, carefully breathing. The figure came closer, and closer, and closer. It was a scientist. Max shuttered. The scientist was drenched, and was carrying a fish net of some kind. All of a sudden, another scientist appeared, holding a taser. A third one appeared holding a shotgun. Finally, a fourth one appeared holding a harpoon. They had planned exactly how to capture her, and knew what to do if she tried to escape. She realized it was either surrender herself, or get harpooned. Max slowly crawled out, feeling immense pain taking over her body with every movement she made. Finally, she managed to crawl out of the rose bush. The scientist reacted quickly, aiming their weapons directly at her heart. Trembling, she lifted her arms, which were covered in nothing but blood, into the air. They rushed to grab her before she could take off. A scientist tasered her, and her world became entirely black for a couple of seconds. When she came to, her body was being placed into the net. They tied the bottom of it closed by her feet. Instead of carrying her, she was dragged onto the ground, since no one could carry her. Great, she thought. Now on top of getting captured she was getting fat. Or the scientists were wimps. This made her chuckle. One of the scientists kicked her in the stomach. She couldn't breathe. Max was left gasping for air as she was thrown in the back of a van. Her body ached. At least she could finally get some sleep. The engine started to rumble and the car of death started to move. "Max?" A young voice said. She looked up. She knew this voice. The flock stared at her from their cages. Angel had a glimmer of hope in her eyes. "I can't believe you're alive!" She squealed. Dylan looked at Max like a puppy dog that had just been reunited with its owner. If he wasn't in a cage, he probably would've tackled her. "Max I knew you'd be alive. You always come through." He stated. Max rolled her eyes. "They told us you were dead, that you had been hunted down and killed for disobedience." Nudge said. "Yea." Gazzy responded, on the brink of tears. "So Ig, why are you the only one that hasn't said anything?" Max asked, still out of breath. "Well I'm sorry I didn't SEE you." He responded with a smirk on his face. "Smart aleck." Responded Max. "So what has happened to you guys?" "They haven't given us any food or water since they captured Angel." Dylan explained. "Well how…how did you survive? Angel got captured what a month ago? Two?" Max said, the panic rising in her voice. "We…we've been eating the rats that have come in, and we drink the water that comes in through the hole in the roof. Not much, but were still alive." Nudge said in a very calm and mature voice. Max was proud, for she had taught them well. After a couple of hours, no one was awake except for Max and Dylan. "They haven't slept in days. We have been up for nights, talking about you, trying to keep your memory alive." Dylan told Max. "I cried every night. I didn't want to accept the fact that you were gone. I still had hope that you were alive. Dylan was in tears. "I was worried that I had lost you and there was no hope for freedom. I'm just so happy to see you again." "Dylan…" Max started to say. "Soon we're going to have to play the barbaric games and it'll all be over. Why are they doing this?" Max was crying as much as she had when Fang left. Fang. She had been in a couple internet cafes and had been checking his blog regularly. No updates for at least 3 months. Around the date when Dylan had been captured. Could it be connected? No, maybe Fang had heard somehow about them getting captured and was working so hard to save them he had no time to update his blog. But, he always finds time to update it. Even if he was about to be murdered he would find time to update his blog. What if… "Max are you still awake?" Dylan asked. "Yea, yea. Sorry I think too much." Max responded, snapping out of her trance. He stuck his tongue out. "I think we're going to be playing something more like the hunger games, because they will be hungry for our blood and we will be hungry for theirs." He said this with a shaky voice. He is right, Max thought. If they were going to win, they would have to be blood thirsty as well. A purple fog enveloped the room. Max and Dylan felt lightheaded and in no time fell asleep.
This was no ordinary gas, besides the fact it makes people lose consciousness. It induces nightmares to the person who inhales it for 2 weeks. Too bad they didn't know. The blood thirsty scientists would finally get what they wanted. What do they want? You'll have to read more to find out.