Prologue
I was thrown against the wall, wrists clapped into heavy manacles. The whitecoat grinned, an expression that could not mask his cruelty. I swallowed. For four years, I managed to disappear after my failed attempt at saving the world, a vague and futile mission. The world had fallen to war and destruction. I hid with my flock , thinking we could continue to fight to survive and we would be fine. Turns out I was wrong.
"Where's the other freaks?" the whitecoat spat, grabbing me by the collar and slamming my back against the wall. I blinked as fresh pain rippled through me, but said nothing. "Where are they? I know you know!"
I said nothing, just lifted my chin. The whitecoat, a fat little man despite the food shortages, began to turn red with annoyance. He was merely a pawn, not the head of Itex, those who made us and now wanted to destroy us.
"Tell me!"
Still, despite his fists that began to pummel me, despite his desperate shouts, and his threats and the physical pain, I said nothing. I've endured all of this, and more. I've had my heart ripped open and stomped on. I've had my mind utterly fucked with by people who I thought I could trust. Like my mom. And my dad. I've been beaten and bruised and bloodied. Fuck. I've had my DNA messed with so I wasn't even human. I was not about to open my mouth to make myself have an easier time. If I died, then so be it, as long as those I loved managed to live the rest of their lives without being hunted. As for everyone else, well, that was their problem.
It was harsh, but when you've lived the life I had, you became like that. You cared only about yourself and maybe your family. Who ends up like that, you may ask. Who could be so heartless, so emotionless? That would be me. And who am I? I am the one and only, the incomparable, indescribable Maximum Ride.
And I couldn't save the world. Hell. It looked like I couldn't even save myself.