Adrenaline coursed through my body as I ran through the maze. My body ached; my knees wanted to buckle in and allow me to fall, but if I do, they'll shock me again. All I can do is push myself further and further, faster and faster. My heart feels like it's about to explode, I've been pushed so hard. I need the fresh air, and a cup(or gallon) of water would be nice.
"Subject 7, move faster!"A voice over the intercom yells, making a slight buzzing sensation go off in my ears. My ears perk up, even as the intercom goes off. I can still hear and feel the buzzing. I could almost smile, I was so relieved. I close my eyes and exhale: I can see the whole room in complete colour, even me. Thank God for developing my bat-like abilities. Or should I thank the white coats? Na, I'd rather punch them all in the face.
If I turn left twice and right three times, I'd be set free from this maze. I open my eyes, now seeing the white walls of the maze. I push my legs faster, feeling all the blood in my body rush down to them to be able to push me faster.
Left. Left. Right. Right. Right. I run further and crash into a grey wall; the official end of the maze. I double over, clutching my stomach. I would probably be throwing up right now if I had anything in my stomach. Well, besides stomach acid."Well done, little Snow. A personal record."My already upset stomach flips at his words. The sound of his voice is something that I haven't heard in a long time, and it sends shivers down my back.
I'm suddenly lurched forward as two sets of hairy hands grasp my forearms tightly. I'm thrown at the speaker's feet, his minions' arms are still attached to my arms."It's impolite to not make eye contact with your superiors,Snow."He says, but softly. I bite my lower lip as he says so. He knows what he's doing. His fingers snake under my chin, making me look into his eyes-
My eyes open, revealing the off-white ceiling that's above me. I sigh in relief. I rub my forearms, feeling slightly chilly, even with the quilt on me. I roll off my bed and onto the floor with a thump. I glance over, making sure that Max didn't wake up. She looks like she's having a bad dream as well. It's a regular thing for me and her. I have mine about being in a maze, trapped, and then facing the man that brought me hope, but died. Her, about Erasers chasing her through the forest, and flying off the cliff.
Yep. Flying. Me and my flock have wings, each slightly different from another. I personally like mine: black exterior, and then my secondary feathers were a whitish brown. They're also 13 and a half feet across. So, yeah, all of us are pretty special. But getting this way, that's the hard part. And believe me, as amazing as flying is, you don't want to go through with it.
I get up and walk over to me and Max's dresser, picking out some clean jeans and one of Fang's old t-shirts. I guess Nudge really did the laundry. I threw my dirty clothes into the hamper, then slid out the room quietly, making sure that I don't wake anybody up.
I went to my regular spot at the window, waiting for the sunrise. This house had an amazing view of it, especially since you can't get any further to check it out. The house is on slits against the canyon, and is shaped like the letter E on it's side. It feels like I'm floating when I look out the window, even without using my wings.
I stare at the sunrise for about seven minutes before I hear the door to mine and Max's room opens. I close my eyes and exhale; she's walking from our room to the kitchen. She's rummaging through the kitchen, looking for food. Another vibration goes off, making my ears buzz again. Gazzy walks into the room, saying something to Max.
I get up, stretching fully and yawning. I need to get better sleep. I slide through the hallway and make my way to the kitchen."I'll pour juice,"Gazzy offered. He then smiles up at me."Mornin', Snow,"I smile and ruffle his hair. He and his sister,Angel, are such sweet kids. They're the only blood-siblings here, but we're all family."Good morning my little gangster."I say, smiling back down at him.
I decide that I'll just wait to help cook when Iggy wakes up. Max can't cook worth nothing. I'd rather eat sticks than her food. I plop onto the couch, shutting my eyes again."Lazy bum,"I hear Max grumble playfully. If Gazzy wasn't in the kitchen, I'd give her the bird. Ha ha. The bird. I'm part bird. Ironic.
"Ouch! Iggy!"I yell as Iggy falls on top of me. He groans and doesn't move."Iggy. Move."I say, trying to squirm from under him."Hey, Ig, rise and shine,"Max says from the kitchen."Move or I'll rig your room again!" I yell."Bite me,"he mumbled sleepily. "Fine, miss breakfast."Max said, all leader like. I roll my eyes and bite Iggy on his neck.
"I was joking!"He yells, standing up. I giggle and get off the couch."Well, I can never tell when you're serious, Ig."I joke. He rolls his eyes."Will you quit that?" Max yelled, almost jumping out of her skin. Fang had that effect on her. He could sneak up on her like a shadow, and then spring back to life and scare the living shit out of her."Quit what?"He challenges. "Breathing?"
"You know what."Max replied. I saunter into the kitchen, getting out the frying pan."Me and the Ig-mister will make the eggs,"I say. Fang nods, as does Max and Gazzy."When did I offer to make the eggs?" Iggy asked."Unless you want Max to burn the house down,"I mutter, but Max still hears and glares.
Yeah, I know, let the blind guy make the eggs. But he's surprisingly good at it, and I only help by sometimes handing him the correct things"Fang? You set the table. I'll go get Nudge and Angel."Max says, walking out."Okay, everybody, we gotta hide the pot before she comes back!"I whisper, making the corner of Fang's mouth turn up and Iggy snort in laughter. Gazzy doesn't get it.
"I thought we hid it behind the tv,"Iggy replies, going along with the joke."We gotta change it every once and a while, Iggy! I vote up Fang's ass."
Fang gives me his signature death glare.
"I want to go pick strawberries today," Angel said firmly, then put a forkful of scrambled eggs into her mouth."They're ripe now."I shrugged, not really caring either way."Okay, Angel, I'll go with you."The Gasman said, then he let rip one of his 'unfortunate accidents' and giggled.
Kids and their lack of manners these days..."Oh, jeez, Gazzy," Max said."Gas... mask!" Iggy choked out, grasping his neck and pretending to asphyxiate."I just lost my appetite," I said, then cupped my hands around my nose. There's the reason we call him The Gasman.
"I'm done,"said Fang, grabbing his plate and went to the sink."Sorry," Gazzy said, and then ate more food. I gave him a look of total disgust then get up and drop my plate into the sink. So much for Iggy's eggs."Yeah, Angel," I think fresh air would do us all good. I'll go too,"Nudge declared."We'll all go," Max agreed.
-
I loved being outside. The sky was clear and cloudless, and the soft breeze signaled the first real weather of May. We all carried baskets and buckets as Angel led us into a huge patch of strawberries. I sighed blissfully; I was meant to be outside, up in the sky. Angel seemed to be happy as well. She looked up at Max and smiled."If you make a cake, I can make strawberry short cakes,"
"Yeah, that'll be the day, when Max makes a cake."Iggy said. I turned, laughing, but Iggy shook his head."Oh, thank you!" Max exclaimed."Okay, I'm not a fabulous cook. But I can still kick your butt, and don't you forget it!"Iggy began to laugh as he held his hands up in denial. I chuckled, Nudge tried not to laugh, and even Fang was grinning wildly. That left Gazzy.
When he was three, we all discovered that he could mimic any sound or voice perfectly. Me and Max lost count of how many times he mimicked Fang or Iggy, but he sure enjoyed that gift."Nice, Gas," I said sarcastically. Before he could reply, Angel screamed so loudly that I thought my eardrums would burst. I instantly dropped my basket and looked over at her.
She and Max were staring up at the sky.
I would scream, too. Erasers, men of wolfish muzzles, huge canines and red eyes began to drop out of the sky. As soon as one landed, I launched myself at it. I brought my elbow up, connecting with his face. Three large teeh blew out of his mouth. I stepped baxk with my left foot, then roundhouse kicked his face with my right foot. He doubled over and went unconcious.
Thank Jeb for the training! I glanced around; Max was being pounded on by an Eraser, Fang was holding his own, and Iggy had a black eye. Where were the others? I quickly spotted the Gasman out cold on the ground. Max leaped towards him, but two Erasers pinned her arms behind her back.
Before I could help her, Angel and Nudge cried out. I ran to the closest, which was Angel, but an Eraser grabbed my neck and slammed me on the ground. My neck began to bleed from where his nails impaled me, and the wind escaped from my lungs, making me gasp for more. He chuckled darkly then kicked me in my ribs. I turned abruptly, grasping my stomach with my hands.
"Max! Snow!"Angel yelled. I could see her. She was crying and screaming. I needed to get up. As the Eraser above me brought his foot up, I grabbed it, making him drop it on the ground instead of my face. My eyes grew wide; that would have hurt like hell! I then brought my knees to my chest and rolled back, then propelled my feet higher up, hitting him in the balls. I can play dirty, too.
He fell, his hands holding onto his balls like dear life. I got up and ran towards Angel."Not so fast," he said gruffly. He swipped at my knees woth his claws, tripping me. I fell forward, my face hitting the ground. "Let's see those ledgendary wings,"he said hungrily. He got up and pressed his foot against the small of my back. I felt his hands trail along my side, his long talons ripping at my shirt as he went. I closed my eyes, waiting for the pain that was about to come to me.
But it didn't. The large Eraser fell down, making dirt fly everywhere. I rolled over and saw Fang standing there, holding out a hand. I grabbed it and he pulled me up. His face was dark and grim and covered in bruises and blood. He looked like he was attacked by a wolverine. The Erasers were all gone, besides the dead one on the ground with a stick in its back. Everybody else was knocked out.
"Thanks for the help. I was about to become wingless," I said. Fang nodded, looking around with a worried expression on his face. I look around again. Something was amiss..."Hey, where's Angel?"I ask. I begin to look around frantically. "She's- gone."He said. I clenched my jaw. Angel cannot be gone.
I glare darkly at Fang."Well if you won't go look for her, I will,"I say. I unfurl my wings, ready for a lift off, but Fang catches my wrist."Wait for Max."
