CHAPTER ONE

A/N: Ello, everyone! I'd just like to say that it took me awhile to get everything together and to come up with a good plot and everything, so hopefully this will work out. Anyway, I'd like you to know that this story takes place after STWAOES and after Angel returns in BTVS ("Beauty and the Beasts"). If I add something in that wasn't in either of those histories, then please let me know, and I will try to correct it.

Disclaimer: I sadly do not own Maximum Ride or Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

Days after we'd left Arizona and headed into California, I was feeling lost all over again. Everyone was telling me that I had to save the world, but I had no idea where to start. Maybe if my instructions hadn't come from a little voice in my head and my "father", one of the few people I knew personally that I would never feel comfortable with again (Jeb, in case none of you picked up on that), this whole thing would be a heck of a lot easier to handle. But no, my life had to be the one everyone chose to screw up. It was like I had a giant target painted on my forehead, along with neon signs that read, "Pick on the Mutant Bird Kid."

Fang glanced over at me, and I could practically feel the suspicion that burned in his gaze. I knew that he was worried about me – days without a good night's sleep could get me riled up, snappish and moody. Today, however, I wasn't worried about sleep – I was more concerned with the whole 'saving the world' thing (and kids my age are usually worried about algebra tests).

"Max?"

I glanced downward and looked at Angel, my baby, who was flying a little ahead of me, though still below me. Her beautiful white wings were sagging, and her blue eyes looked worn and tired. "Yeah, Angel?" I asked in a gentle voice.

She took in a deep breath, and I knew what she was going to say. "I'm kinda hungry. Is there a place where we can eat or something?"

"Yeah," Nudge, who was over by Iggy, gave her wings an extra beat and was level with me, looking at me hopefully. "Maybe, like, McDonald's, and we can get some of those Flurry things, or Taco Bell, or that one place that houses pancakes…"

"IHOP," Iggy said dully. His blue, sightless eyes were aimed directly forward, even though his voice was directed toward our conversation.

"Sure. I think we could all use a good rest and some food," I replied, giving a shrug. Rolling my shoulders, I angled my wings downward and began a steady glide, decreasing my altitude swiftly but smoothly. The rest of my flock followed my lead, and we soon landed in the alley of what seemed to be a small but cute little town. It was hard to tell, what with the moon being completely obscured by clouds. Everything was utterly still as we walked out of the alley and onto a sidewalk.

Glancing across the street, I instantly eyed a pizza parlor, one I wasn't familiar with. You know – Domino's, Pizza Hut, Chuck E. Cheese's – it wasn't any of those. Maybe we'd missed the new trends in food during our "trip" in Germany. "How does pizza sound?"

"Great!" the flock cheered, suddenly enthusiastic. Truth be told, anything would have been great to them. Pizza was just something that we hadn't had in a looooong time.

We all headed inside the dingy little parlor, where a young man came up to us, a light smile on his face. "Hello, and welcome to The Pizza Palace (what a dorky name, If I say so myself). How many are in your party?"

"Six," I replied. Plus a talking dog. Hopefully, Total would be smart enough to keep his mouth shut and not say anything to get us kicked out, because, frankly, if he did, I'd boot him across the street, but hopefully not into any unsuspecting bystander (that's the caring Max you heard right there).

He nodded, and gestured for us to follow. "Right this way, please."

He led us through a sea of tables, chairs, and dimly lit pathways that made the whole restaurant seem like a maze. He seated us at a large booth in the back, next to the restrooms. "My name is David, and I'll be your server tonight. Can I get you any appetizers? Or will you start with an entrée?" I hoped I was imagining the hunger in his eyes.

"We'll just take six large pizzas," I said, and fished out several twenties that Mom had given us after we'd left Arizona. "Toppings, guys?"

"I want pepperoni," Gazzy declared. "And, um, I guess a Coke." He looked at me, and I nodded.

"Pepperoni, with mushrooms," Nudge said. "An' a Sprite. And some of those breadstick things." Angel looked at me, indicating that she wanted the same thing. I knew that whatever she got she would share with Total.

"I'll have that Hawaiian kind," Iggy stated, "and a Dr. Pepper."

"Same here," Fang said quietly.

"I guess I'll just have a supreme," I said, clearing my throat. "With Diet Coke."

David paused to write everything down, and then looked back up. "Will that be all for you, ma'am?" He headed away without waiting for an answer. I frowned at him, wondering why he hadn't questioned our order. Usually, one was quick to point out that it was a lot of food for just us, but he hadn't said a word. I shook it off and put it out of my mind.

As we waited for our food, Nudge and Gazzy began a round of hangman, but since neither of them could spell their way out of a paper bag they began fighting. Nudge was trying to convince Gazzy that currant was indeed a word, while Iggy, who had joined in the fight, was insisting that it wasn't. I sighed. From the way they were behaving now, you'd think that they'd been brought up by a pack of hyenas.

Fang leaned in next to me. "I don't like this," he said, so low that only my ears heard. "This was a bad idea. Something's wrong."

Automatically, I did an instant 360 sweep, examining the area around me. It didn't take long for it to register that the restaurant was completely deserted. I hadn't noticed it coming in, because I had been so gosh-darned hungry, but now I realized how eerily quiet it was, despite Nudge and the Gasman's shouts. It was definitely fishy, and I felt my alarm radar begin to go off. I narrowed my eyes.

David came back, followed by four other guys. I instantly tensed, preparing to fight, feeling my wings tighten against my back. The guys all fanned out around our table, their creepily hungry eyes on all six (seven if you count Total) of us.

"We're awfully sorry," one of the guys said, though his eyes were saying that he was not in the least bit sorry. "But we seem to have run out of dough for your pizza. But you're welcome to stay for the show."

I could see Gazzy and Nudge deflate slightly. I sent them a look that read 'Trap'. Their eyes widened as they understood. "Okay, then," I said, jumping to my feet, acting cheerful. "We'll just be on our way, then. Oh, and I don't know if you noticed, but…" I pointed at the other guys, and at David. "That creepy, sinister 'You're welcome to stay for the show' part? It was totally unnecessary." With that, I whirled around and delivered a backhand punch to the guy's the face.

He drew back, startled, and then I performed a roundhouse kick that I could have sworn knocked his jaw out of place from the way it cracked when I made connection with it. That set off his buds, which launched themselves at my flock, David included.

Who the heck are these guys? I thought wildly as I punched the guy again. People from the School? Some kind of new scientists? Or maybe like Omega, the superman? It didn't make sense. How would they have known who we were, and why would they have let us in? I mentally kicked myself for not realizing how deserted the building looked in the first place.

Out of the corner of my eye I saw Fang snap his fist at David, who managed to dodge away, and kick him in the gut. This made me worry slightly – what was fast (or strong) enough to be able to dodge our attacks? – but I was suddenly preoccupied when the guy I was fighting became like nothing I'd ever seen before. He changed… or at least his face changed.

It wasn't anything like a change from being angry to murderously angry, but it was more like a complete facial alteration. His forehead swelled (ew) and his eyes became a stunning golden yellow. His teeth, which had been slightly yellowed and gross already, lengthened, transforming into… fangs? Okay, this was too weird. But I had no time to think, because in that instant he kicked my hip, sending me crumpling to the floor in a non-attractive way.

I let out a startled grunt, and struggled into a sitting position. I heard Nudge cry out, and I saw that one guy was twisting her arm, almost like he was trying to break it. I let out a murderous roar, and launched to my feet. These guys were endangering my flock, and they weren't going to get away with it. I snarled, feeling like a Rottweiler, and launched myself at him. Caught offguard, he staggered, letting go of Nudge's arm.

I backed up, getting ready to punch his lights out, but then I had an idea. I turned to one of the polished tables, and grabbed hold of it, picking it up. Gathering my strength, I flung the table at top speed (probably one of the coolest things I've ever done), successfully hitting him in the kneecaps. There was a sickening crunch as his legs folded backward underneath him. Ooh. That had to hurt.

"Slayer," he spat, hatred burning in his yellow eyes. I raised an eyebrow.

"Sorry, pal. I'm not familiar with that term. Care to elaborate before I kick your sorry butt into next week?"

He smirked at me, despite his obvious injuries. "You fool. Nothing can hurt me."

"Except this!" I launched a scissors kick to his neck, causing him to fall back, coughing. I was just nearing him; ready to finish him off, when something sharp pierced my neck. I didn't know what they had done, but whatever it was, it was working – I was growing weaker. Feeling dizzy, I felt myself fall to the ground, and then saw through my fading vision that Angel, Nudge, Gazzy, Iggy and Total were all being dragged away, out the back door. I struggled to sit up, but found that I couldn't.

"Max!"

I blacked out.