Hey, peeps! Basically, Save You is somewhat close to the books - to a point, but becomes AU after. Basically, it's my take of the Flock destroying the last School/Itex building. Disregard global warming, the Uber-Director and (for those of you who have read Angel) the One Light thing. Angel isn't doing any of her creepy I'm Leader junk, The Voice doesn't make an appearance and the characters act like they did in book one. Total, Ella and Doctor M. are mentioned briefly in one of Nudge's rants, but other then that, they don't really come into the story at all. So I guess it's through book one? :)
Major thank you to: Kissy Fishy, my beta of awesomeness. :) She was - is - really helpful!
Claimer: I claim the right to disclaim Maximum Ride. How's that? Oh, I claim Grace and Pizta. They're mine. And… yeah, that's about it!
"Flock! U and A now! It's gonna blow!" I screamed. They darted by me while I held the door open, scalding heat coming out like an inferno. Fang came last, a rush of black wings, turning to look at me as soon as he was out. I knew he was waiting for me to follow, but I didn't.
"Go!" I yelled at him over the sounds of the fire that was hungrily engulfing the last Itex behind me. "I'll be there in a sec!"
He gave a short nod, turned, and did a running take off. He hovered far more gracefully in the air then I ever could, staying in place while the rest of the Flock circled nervously like hawks. The roaring flames lit up the night sky in angry streaks of color, making everything livid reds and crazed oranges.
It's almost over, I thought wildly, still standing in the doorway. I could barely think straight with all the screams and shrieks of frightened scientists and mutants alike. My blood hummed through me, pounding rapidly in my ears. It's almost done! We'll be free!
It was a bad time to have a revelation like that. It wasn't done yet.
I grabbed the shoulder of, what looked to be, a cat/bird experiment as she ran by.
"Are you the last one?" I demanded, ditching politeness and shaking her shoulder. The little girl looked at me with purple eyes. They widened in shock.
"Are you Maximum Ride?" she whispered in awe, almost inaudible over the flames. I gave a curt nod.
"Yeah, I am. Are you the last one?"
She stared at me blankly for a second, her face white even in the blaze of Itex.
"Are you the last one?" I shouted, almost slapping her. My skin was about to peel off from the heat coming out the door.
"Pizta! I don't think he got out!" she gasped. Her words came out so jumbled and so fast I almost didn't understand her. She was about to dart back into the door, but I grabbed her by the back of her white hospital gown.
"No! Get to safety!" I snapped, almost tossing her behind me with the force of my pull.
"He's my brother!" she cried hysterically. "My blood brother! The only – ."
She began to choke on smoke. She couldn't be anymore than eight.
My eyes softened. My Flock, my family, flashed through my mind. I knew what it was like to need someone so badly. To want to do anything and everything for them; to save them - no matter the cost.
I would do anything for them.
She was still struggling wildly and I held her back with both hands now. Maybe the scientists had given her super strength. I could feel a clock ticking away inside of me. We were wasting time.
"Fang!" I hollered. He dove down and landed lightly and silently next to me. "Hold her," I ordered, shoving her at him. He caught her wordlessly and held her easily with one arm around her malnourished body.
I knelt in front of her, grabbing her flailing fists as they lashed out at me. "Hey! What's your name?"
"Gracie," she said in a tiny voice, suddenly going limp in Fang's arms, head hanging, despair in her voice.
"Hey, Gracie," I said gently, pushing her head up with a finger to look into her purple eyes. Fang moved a hand protectively on her shoulder in case she got hysterical again. He watched me with his dark eyes as I talked to the girl. I felt it like an itch under my skin. But I couldn't stop myself from comforting her, even with time ticking away.
"There are five bombs in there, Gracie. Four of them already went off after we cleared them of experiments. This is the last one to blow."
I took a deep breath and forced myself to keep looking in her eyes calmly.
"Gracie," I said - but my voice was suddenly dry. I cleared my throat, and started again, my voice old and tired. "Gracie, the fire spread from one of the other buildings to this one before we set final bomb. We set the bomb in place, to play it safe, even though the fire probably will – is – destroying the building. It's a time bomb and it's about to go off in–" I glanced at my watch. " – two minutes and forty five seconds. The chances of me getting down in time to the subbasement and back – ."
I broke off as Gracie let out a strangled sob, burying her head in Fang's shirt. He automatically wrapped his arm around her.
And, seeing her like that, I thought of Angel. My baby.
The rest of my family flashed through my head in the blink of an eye.
I stood up abruptly and Fang's head jerked up to look at me, clearly knowing what I was about to say and not happy about it. He looked like he was about to say as much but I overrode him. "Gracie, listen to me closely. I'm going to try and get Pizta – " Fang's eyes darkened. " – but you have to promise me to get to safety, okay? I know you love him. I love my family too."
I was going to say more, but shut my mouth. I glanced at my watch. Two minutes and thirteen seconds. There was no more time to comfort her. There wasn't time to begin with.
I spun around and faced the door to the burning building again, my wings shooting open. If I flew down the corridors with my super speed, I would just make it back from the subbasement in time to get out of the building. Maybe.
I can only hope my wings won't catch fire, I thought, gazing down the ignited hall. Even a few steps away and the heat was almost unbearable. Iggy and Gazzy outdid themselves with this one.
I felt something suddenly hug my knees from behind, which surprised me so much that I almost fell over. I had to grip the door's edge to keep from falling and I pulled my hand away fast with a hiss. The metal edges of the door were scalding. I twisted my head to look down and over my shoulder at Gracie.
"Thank you, Miss Max!" came Gracie's muffled voice from where she hugged me around the knees.
I flushed and awkwardly patted her head. Miss Max? This is a first. Fang's going to tease me about that if I get out alive. If I get out. "Gracie, you gotta let go. Um, I can't get Pizta if you don't let – ."
My life was bad enough. If I could take away the pain Itex had created for these experiments, I would...
"Oh!" She let go and ran back to Fang. He stood very still staring at me, eyes so dark they seemed endless, his wings' sheen reflecting the fire.
"Max," Fang said in a low voice that carried to me somehow over the sounds of Itex burning. "I know I can't stop you, but you can't possibly get back in time."
"Fang," I said lightly. "Remember that crappy movie Nudge and Angel made us watch a few months ago? High School Musical?"
Despite the situation, Fang still managed to light up my world with a small smile, strained though it was. My heart beat a little faster. "Yeah?"
"'We're all in this together,'" I quoted. I gestured at the experiments huddled in a group at the edge of the forest. They were watching us with eyes that shone in the fire. I doubted that the makers of High School Musical had had this in mind when they made the song, but it fit.
Our eyes met. Time seemed to freeze, but then the moment was gone.
"Good thing you're indestructible," he said finally. "Go. Time's ticking."
He turned without another word and flew into the air with noiseless, ebony wings, Gracie in his arms. I watched him a second, before I glanced at my watch and cursed.
One minute and ten seconds. Crap, crap, crap.
~MR~
I flew down the corridors - literally – upping my speed as much as I dared, even though I knew I could probably squish myself into a Max pancake with my reckless flying if I wasn't careful.
I think it's obvious what you have to do, Max, I told myself. Be careful.
Becoming a breakfast food wasn't what I was worried about, however. I was more scared my wings would catch on fire.
But I finally reached the subbasement without incident and skidded to a stop. As I glanced at my watch, I stretched my wings out to cool them as much as possible so I could fly soon.
Thirty five seconds.
I let out a loud expletive, then began choking on the smoke. I sucked in some smoky air when I could breathe again. "Pizta!" I yelled, and then began coughing again.
"Here!" I heard the faint cry and dashed towards the corner of the room. The smoke must have covered it by the time we got down here so we didn't see the cage the first time.
Scooping up the weak and coughing boy in my arms, I leapt into the air and immediately jumped to hyper speed.
Twentysix seconds left...
Please, I prayed, making a hairpin turn. Don't let me be a Max pancake.
You have to admit, it was a very original prayer.
I was out of the subbasement, now on the basement floor, one floor away from freedom.
Twenty five seconds...
Last floor, last floor, just have to get through the door! I chanted. I flew faster, holding Pizta tightly to me. I didn't even know him. Why was I doing this? If I died...
Better to not think like that.
I took a risk and looked at my watch, letting go of Pizta for a split second.
Thirteen seconds…
I began to mentally count down. I wasn't going to make it.
I swerved around one the corners and twisted up a flight of stairs with a tilt of my hot wings. There were about sixteen twisting corridors in all on this final floor.
I felt Pizta bury his face in my neck and his grip tighten around me.
Did he hear it in his head too? The voice that said we wouldn't make it out?
Twelve...
Five more corridors. Thank you, super speed.
I heard Pizta whimper in my ear.
Nine...
Two more corridors.
Five...
We were on the last corridor.
Four...
Three...
Two...
I saw the open door ahead of me, a glimpse of smoky sky and sooty air.
And I blasted through the open door –
One.
– just as the bomb went off.
I remember feeling an agony so horrible that I can't describe it to this day. I remember using my body to shield Pizta, him trembling in my arms, a blast of tidal wave-like heat hitting my back…
I remember being thrown forward as Itex exploded behind me.
We're free, I thought, sprawled on the grass on my stomach, wings on fire, the world turning gray at the edges.
In my fading sight, I thought I saw Gracie run up and hug him from behind. I gave a weak smile, the world darkening at the edges. I tried to stay awake, but... was I even needed anymore? My family, and every mutant like us, was now free. Forever.
It's over. We're free. I closed my eyes, embracing the blackness, and knew no more.
R&R! I hope to update every Saturday!
Don't you just love cliff hangers?
*evil smile here*
all my platonic and purely uncreepy love,
SS