Summary: Different stories. Different people. Same pain. Will they succumb to it? Be warned. If you want to find out, there's no going back.

A/N: This is going to seem a little confusing at first.

Disclaimer: Everything in regards to the Maximum Ride series belongs to James Patterson. I own nothing. NADA!

Forgiveness Is A Sin

Yonkers, New York

5:34 A.M

Light filtered in through the barely hanging window shades. Small dust particles hung heavy in the air. Small finches began to sing their morning song. And … someone was dying. Not now. Not yet. But someone would die. It was only a matter of time and she knew it.

Groaning silently the girl pushed her self off the wooden floor and sat up. She hadn't realized she had fallen asleep. It was stupid, foolish of her … Especially in front of an open window! Quickly she flitted over to the safety of the closet. Ah, that was better.

They had told her it would be safe here. That they wouldn't find her. But she knew it was only a matter of time. And besides she didn't trust anyone to keep her safe. Didn't trust anyone period. She knew what a risk it was, to trust. She had seen so many people. On TV - and in real life, pledging their undying devotion to such and such person. Whispering sweet lies in their ears. "'You're okay … you're safe ... I'll take care of you … I'll never leave you'"

Lies.

And she had no patience for them.

The girl clenched her fists and pressed them painfully to her head, as if she could squeeze the memories out of her mind. But nothing helped. She could still see his face, hear his voice, fading into the blackness of night.

"'Ana …'"

"Shut UP!" Her voice seemed to be amplified in the small encloser. She squeezed her eyes shut and opened them. No. It wouldn't be that easy to forget. There was only one way to go about this.

And Ana could do it. She would make sure of it.

Pittsburg, Pennsylvania

7:20 AM

"Daniel! Hey Daniel! DANIEL!" A young, light haired boy scampered over to the tall looming figure in front of him.

"What?" Daniel muttered irritably. He hated to be asked questions this early in the morning. And he hated just about everything this early in the morning. And he really hated that Kid.

The Kid paused before he asked, already sensing Daniels annoyed mood. But, in a true show of bravery, he pressed on anyway.

"Well, I just wanted to know if you would come help me-"

"No." Daniel interrupted

The Kid looked up him with big eyes. "But you didn't hear what I was about to ask you."

Daniel snorted. "Doesn't matter. From what I've heard so far you what me to put forth some amount of effort on my part to benefit you in some way -"

"B- But I just w-wanted to know if –"The Kid began to stammer. Daniel ignored this, as usual.

"And I am in no way interested in helping you in any way."

The contempt in Daniel's voice nearly brought the Kid to tears. Like Daniel cared if he flashed his baby blues at him. The Kid, knowing this, instead of sobbing he called for his one main defense (And in Daniel's opinion, the biggest pain in the ass ever to walk the Earth): "MOM!!!"

A large, rather harassed looking woman rushed into the room, tugging at the hem of her skirt that wouldn't stop curling up her legs. She had just stepped into her best church clothes. Daniel wondered how she was able to do this without any of the seams busting.

"What is it Lionel, what's wrong baby?" She asked the Kid breathlessly.

"D-Daniel, he just –"The Kid had just barely got out before Momzilla fixed her fierce glare on Daniel.

Here it comes, Daniel thought wearily

"Boy" she began (She hardly ever called Daniel by his name) "What did you do this time? You know I could send your butt straight back to that orphanage." Daniel glared right back at her.

"And what? Tarnish your perfect reputation? I don't think turning a poor, lonely orphan away would really enhance this whole Mother Theresa thing you got going on. Not that I would mind leaving this hell hole."

"What your language, boy!" Momzilla yelled. "You just leave Lionel alone – or else."

"Yeah, whatever got it." Daniel muttered quickly. He knew what "or else" meant. And he had no interest in reliving it.

"Well, as long as we understand each other." Momzilla permitted herself a long satisfied look at Daniel. He knew she loved it when she could invoke any form of fear in him. And he hated it. The obvious joy she took in making his life hell.

Momzilla walked over to the Kid, swallowing up his small hand in hear large meaty one. "Let's go, baby. We don't want to be late to church and miss Daddy's sermon, do we?"

Then she glanced over at Daniel and said in an entirely different tone of voice "You too, boy."

Oh, joy Daniel thought sarcastically to himself, church

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