Max's POV

I woke up, not yet ready to face another day. Sunlight found its way onto my bedroom floor, filling my room with light. Yes, my bedroom.

About a month ago, the Flock and I agreed it was time to take a little break from our mission. After about two days of searching we found a little island. To our surprise, there was an old abandoned beach house at the shore. After a little home improvement, we actually had a place we could call home. Ever since we moved, we haven't seen any Flyboys or M-Geeks.

I laid in my bed staring at the ceiling, refusing to get up. After about five minutes I heard a barely audible knock at the door. "Come in!" I yelled. The door creaked open several inches. A head of golden curls popped in. Angel.

"Max, can we go to the beach?" she said, as sweet as ever.

"Why not? Go wake up the Flock and tell them to get dressed." I replied, now sitting up.

"Thanks Max!" she said, before leaving to wake up the others.

I reluctantly got up, to grab my bathing suit and change. After getting ready, I went to the kitchen to pour myself some cereal and juice. When everyone was up and ready, we had a small breakfast, packed lunch, and made our way to the shore.

As soon as we got out of the house, Angel and Gazzy ran straight for the water, while Iggy and Nudge went shell hunting. Ever since we settled down, Iggy and Nudge have been hanging out together, which seemed to tune down the Nudge Channel

Oh, you're asking about me? Well at that moment I was laying in the sand next to Fang. My right-hand man, my best friend, and now, my boyfriend. Ever since we rescued my mom, we've been together. For once, everything was perfect.

I sighed in contentment.

Kristina's POV

I got up, and walked over to tend the fire. Ashley was still sleeping.

I stared into the fire and I saw a flash back.

**Flash Back**

I was sitting in my cage, curled up in the corner. An eraser approached me.

"People are waiting for you in the lab." I recognized this voice as Ari, Jeb's son.

They took me to the lab, and stabbed me with several different colored needles. When I woke up, I was already in my cage, my stomach feeling queasy. I threw up everything they fed me. They only gave me bread and water.

I was used to this because it became a routine. Everyday. Wake up, Eat, Needles, Barf, repeat. I was nine years old.

**Flash Back Ends**

I shivered at how painful my life was for the first 14 years. It all changed a few months ago, when the famous Maximum Ride and her Flock released a bunch of experiments from the school, including me, Ashley, who is my sister, my talking dog, Coco, and my right-hand man, Daniel.

"Kris?" said Ashley from behind me.

"Yea, Ash?" I replied.

"Are Coco and Daniel awake? I didn't see them when I woke up." I squinted at the sun.

"Either their flying or their hunting. If they were kidnapped I would've known." I replied. Ash nodded. We got up and ate a few berries we harvested the other day. Then after making sure that there was no one around, we bathed in the stream. When we got back to camp, Daniel and Coco were already sitting there roasting some sort of meat on sticks.

"Morning Kris, Morning Ash," Daniel said, "here, eat." He passed us sticks with their hunted meat on them. "You need to eat so you can be strong enough to fight and fly." We roasted and ate. And at about noon, we decided to find another camp site. After we made sure there was no sign of us being there, we took off.

Max POV

After about an hour at the beach, Fang and I fell asleep. Apparently, the Flock thought it was funny to burry me and fang with wet sand. When we got up, there were 4 bird-kid faces and one talking dog staring at us. We were stuck like that. The wet sand hardened like concrete. After 15 minutes of begging, the Flock grabbed buckets of water and splashed them onto the hard sand. We were out, but soaking.

We were laughing and chasing each other around.

At around noon, we ate our packed lunches and waited a bit before playing again. That's when it all came back.

"Ah!" I screamed. My head felt like it was going to explode. Brain attack. I haven't had one in over a month and now they were back.

Max, your vacation is over. You must continue with your mission. Itex is rebuilding and they are working on more experiments. You should go back to New York. I'll tell you the rest of directions when you get there.

"I can't believe it… The voice…. Its….its back," I said, barely whispering, "and it's saying vacation is over. And that Itex is rebuilding itself. Their making new experiments,"

"It wants us to go to New York…."

The only thing the Flock could do is stare. Stare at their leader. Me.

"Pack your bags," I squinted at the sun, "we're going back to New York….."