DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN MAXIMUM RIDE!!!!

PLEASE REVIEW!!!!

~CHAPTER 1~SACRIFICE~

I started unlocking the cage. The girl looked up at me with a suspicious and confused look as she climbed out. "Who are you? Why are you doing this," she whispered. I turned to unlock the other cages. "Kids don't belong in cages," I simply stated.

"Max, let's go," said Fang from behind.

I nodded and gently gestured the girl to go ahead of me. She hesitated, but went; she started to calm down the other kids that we had just set free. They kept glancing at the glass door in fright. When we were out, I gestured to the flock and the other kids(who were still shaking, by the way). "Take them and go; I'll be right behind you," I said to Fang. He nodded and turned, "Come on, I won't hurt you, " he said, reaching toward the kids. They cowered, but then the girl gave them a kind look that was saying, he's one of us. Only then did they reach toward his hand. Then, I thought maybe it was a trick of the light since it was so dark, but I swear I saw Fang give a small smile. Whether it was real or not, I smiled at them anyway.

Without warning, I felt chills go down my spine. "Hello, Max," snickered a familiar voice. I whipped around and growled, "Ari." He and a group of erasers had surrounded us.

I yelled over my shoulder,"Fang, now!"

I heard yells and whimpering and I turned to see that erasers had gotten the other kids. All except the one girl and the flock. An agonizing cry tore from the girl's lips, but Fang held her back from leaping into the swarm of erasers. I roared, "Let's go!" I crouched down, spreading my 13 feet wings. As I took a deep breath, readying myself to fly, a sudden pain erupted behind my eyes, resulting in a swirl of red and white stars dancing around my head. My hand flew back to my head to feel warm blood on my fingers while darkness engulfed me. The last thing I saw was the tip of Angel's white wing disappear behind the curve of a tunnel.

I opened my eyes, groaning at my throbbing head. My arms were bound behind my back by hairy hands. "So you're finally awake, Max." I became abruptly alert and my head snapped up with an involuntary snarl. Ari's hairy face came to view. "I'm going to make a deal with you, Max," said a voice from behind Ari. I glared the figure walking in front of me. I tried to make my voice as steady and cold as possible,"I'm not interested."

Jeb frowned, "Come with us to the school, and we won't kill your precious flock."Ari snickered and licked his lips; Jeb actually turned to stare him down. My voice went deathly calm, "If you do a thing to them..."

Jeb smiled apologetically, "Don't worry, we don't have them yet. They escaped successfully."

Although I went limp with relief, I didn't let my face show it. I grew questionable," Then what-"

"I assume you have already figured out about your tracking chip inside your arm?" I went rigid, struggling to keep the shock from showing in my eyes. "Well, for your information, the whole flock has one. With it, we can track them wherever they are." I glared daggers at him, really wishing that looks could kill. He looked sincere and leaned toward me, " I'm sorry, but I would do it and I will, Max. I won't, however, if you come with me to the school and let us get you ready for what your destined to do." I had an impulse to roll my eyes, but didn't; I needed to appear as glacial as possible. Here he goes again. Saving the world. Riiiight.

Jeb saw my bored expression and smiled, though I could see the impatience in his eyes. "Now, Max, here's what you have to do so we won't touch your flock: tell them yourself that your leaving them, and make sure to not tell them about our deal."

I clenched my jaw, "I can tell them whatever I want if it means leaving them." Jeb shook his head gravely, "I'm sorry, but your going to have to go by my rules this time. Remember, I have ways of knowing what you say to them." I was confused; what kind of ways? I saw Ari wave binoculars behind Jeb's back. "Your choice, Max. Flock or no flock." I snarled, letting all the reluctance to tear out; I'm going to have to say yes to him. You don't really have a choice Max, said the voice, finally showing up. Where have you been? I have been with you Max, as I always am.

I shook aside the voice inside my head, looking up at Jeb's face with all the confidence I could muster. I sighed, "If you don't hurt them, I'll do it." Jeb nodded, unsurprised. A force hit me from behind yet again and black shadows overtook me.

I heard Jeb's voice talking softly, fading into another void with every word. "I always keep my word, Max."

I flew out to bright sunlight, the girl still struggling and sobbing in my arms. I put her down and tried to reassure her. "We'll rescue them later, when the time comes." She looked up at me, unshod tears still in her eyes. "R-r-really?" I nodded and she seemed to quiet down.

I looked around and immediately noticed that Max wasn't out yet. Why isn't she here; wasn't she following us? I looked at Angel, "Did you see what Max was doing while we were taking off?" She nodded,"She was about to take off, too" So why is she not here? Possible reasons flew into my head. She could still be fighting them, trying to get the other kids, was caught, or was hurt and slow on flying up here. Either way, Max needed help.

I walked toward the sewage opening and glanced at the flock,"You guys stay here. I'll go see if Max needs help." They all nodded in unison and I jumped in, unfurling my wings in the tunnels. The first thing I noticed was the silence: no flapping, no splashing, or any noise at all except for the occasional squealing of rats. Something's wrong. I flew over where we took off; I spotted Max in a pool of her own blood. Anger and worry engulfed me all at once; if only those erasers were still here. I landed beside her and took off my jacket. I started to rip it into strips and wrap it around her head when she came to. She blinked and immediately winced as she started to get up. "Stay down," I ordered,"Your hurt."

She parted her mouth, about to protest (probably abut to say that she was fine) but closed it after I gave her a look saying, there's no point in doing that. She sighed and laid back down. Why did they leave her here, and alive, too? Why did just leave her here injured? I shook those thoughts out of my head; I'm just glad she's alive. Then I thought of more pressing matters; I'll ask Max what happened later. I have to get us out of here, the erasers might come back, and the others might not be safe either. I picked Max up and started fly, grunting the whole time. "Your really heavy, you know that?" Max, however, was already asleep.

I tried to keep my breathing slow so it would seem that I really was sleeping. I decided that the best thing to do would be to leave a note when they all fall asleep. I know myself well enough to know that I wouldn't be able to tell them face to face. I can't even imagine what angel's reaction would be. Well, maybe I could, but I didn't want to think about it.

I felt warm sun on my cheeks and readied myself. I opened my eyes and yawned. I heard Angel's and Gazzy's gasps, "Max!" "Don't worry; I'm alright," I said forcing a smile.

I noticed the other girl standing behind them. I winced slightly as I got up and walked toward her; she looked about nine or ten.

I gave her a kind smile, "Whats your name?"

"I d-don't have a name," she stammered. I nodded; I didn't have a name when I was in the school, too.

"Why don't you give yourself a name?" She smiled, apparently liking the idea. She thought for awhile.

"How about Eli: short for Elixir."

"Perfect. Now you have a name. Eli, I would like to welcome you to be a part of our family," I gestured to the rest of us. Her eyes went wide, "Really? I never had a family before, except if you count my friends who couldn't make it with me." Fang came in and nodded, "They count, too. They're as much of a family to us as you are to us now." Eli grinned, tears of joy in her eyes. She ran up to Fang and gave him a big hug around the waist. I smirked at his expression. Surprisingly, Fang (though hesitating for a second) patted her on the back.

I smiled sadly, knowing that I would have to leave all this soon. I heard Angel gasp; I slowly turned toward her. Please, Angel, don't say anything, I have to do it. I thought about what Jeb told me while my heart almost broke by the expression on Angel's face. She nodded slowly and I gave her the kindest, most thankful smile. I didn't notice it, but Fang saw the whole thing.

It was nightfall, and I was waiting for everybody to fall asleep. When I finally heard slow breathing, I quietly got up and took out the paper from the institute. We had read it before we went to sleep, and, unsurprisingly, there nothing was there about me, possibly except for a jumbled mess of numbers that we guessed was a code of some kind.

I took a pen (You would be surprised at how many pens people leave in a park, a New York park at that.) and wrote my note to the flock using moon as my light.

I'm sorry, but I have to leave you guys. I can't tell you why, but maybe Angel will tell you, and I hope you guys will understand. Fang, I'm leaving you in charge of taking care of everyone, and please, don't come after me. Don't worry about me, I'll be able to protect myself.

Goodbye forever,

Max

I heard rustling behind me and I started to hide, but the person already saw me: it was Fang. I hastily hid the note behind my back. Fang raised an eyebrow, but pretended not to notice.

He turned serious and put on a blank expression. "Max, what happened to you back I looked down, hiding my face so Fang wouldn't be able to see me grimace. He sighed, "Max, I saw the look Angel gave you; if its that bad, you need to tell me." I shook my head, still concealing my face. I didn't trust my voice at that moment. Suddenly, I heard Fang tense and try to grab the note. Right when he took it from my hands and was about to read it, I reached over, wrapped my arms around his neck, and kissed him full on the mouth.

After a while I pulled back and whispered, "I'm sorry, Fang." I then flipped around as he was reading the note and flew as fast as I could, glancing back one last time at his face. He had already read the note. Too bad for him, I was long gone before he could come up behind me. Fang's expression kept reverberating in front of my blurred eyes: pale, and the most indescribable hurt swimming across his wide, dark eyes. I bit my lip to prevent racking sobs from coming out and flapped as faster.

I'm sorry, Fang.

By the time I got out of my stupor, she was already gone, and I knew I wouldn't be able to catch up to her. To hell with that; I'm going to try anyway. I flew on Max's trail for hours but still had no sight of her. I stopped in mid-air and turned back to the park: she's already gone.

I reached up to my mouth as I remembered her soft lips pressing against mine.

Our last kiss...

No, I told myself firmly. I'll tell the flock, and then we'll go after her, we have to. Whatever reason she left, she didn't do it willingly: her eyes when she took off was proof enough. Someone forced her, someone.... Jeb immediately came into mind and then I thought of Max. I gritted my teeth, refusing the emotions to come out as Max's face echoed through my head.

I will come for you, Max. I promise.