Max POV

It had been a week. A week since Fang had left me and the flock. I'd been just sitting on my bed in our latest safe house sobbing my eyes out. Heartbroken and lost, I finally gathered the courage to leave the room to face the others and life once again.

I'm over that loser, that traitor. How dare Fang abandon the flock, how dare Fang abandon me? I asked myself as I walked down the hall.

"It'll be okay Max, I promise." whispered Nudge, patting me on the shoulder.

Then my mom walked towards me and she didn't need to say a thing as she wrapped me in a warm embrace. I was so lucky to have the greatest mom in the world. Of course, we hadn't even known each other even existed until a couple months ago, but she had welcomed me wings and all. I was so sorry of the danger I put her in just by being near. She had been kidnapped recently and still didn't give up on me. I wanted to stay there and cry in her arms forever, but I knew it was time to suck it up for the sake of my flock.

"I-I know it will be alright," I said, my voice trembling, threatening to crack at any second. "I was fine before and I'll be fine now. I don't need Fang." But I knew what I said wasn't true. Even before Fang and I were "together" he had been my best friend and my right-hand man since we were in cadges. He was the one person I relied on and really trusted. Fang was the one person I truly, completely, intensely loved.

Ugh! I really needed to sit down. I plopped down on the couch next to Angel. I just wasn't sure about her any more, but she was still family. I had to trust that she had been tricked. After all, she still was just a little girl wasn't she? Okay, so maybe not just a little girl but the judgment quality and not really knowing better were still there. Her campaign to take over the flock made me nervous and this whole emotional mess wasn't going to help me much. I used to have to show the flock that I was tough and they would obey every command I gave. They weren't like that anymore though. They had grown up and I couldn't force them to do things any more. They had to want to do things. The fact that they had stayed through all this relieved me. They really were loyal and must feel terrible about kicking me out earlier.

I used to have Fang to help me out with all of this, to back me up when things got tough. I remembered when fang and I had kissed. How I felt safe in his arms and how I could only relax around him. How I hoped Angel wasn't reading my mind right now.

"I was." She said. "Sorry".

"Ugh!" I groaned. I turned to the things going on around me. Mom was in the kitchen with Nudge. Gazzy and Iggy were murmuring in the corner, hopefully not plotting to blow up the house, which they were fully capable of by the way. Then I suddenly noticed that Dylan was looking at me.

Dylan, the newest member of the flock. As far as we knew he was the only other successful recombinant DNA experiment and was made in a lab. He was supposedly only eight months old but in a teenage supermodels' body. He was created to be my perfect other half, but that position was already taken, by Fang.

We even had the matching necklaces, ha, that does sound like it's from a teen magazine, but seriously, Angel had made them for our birthday. We each had a different half of a snake jaw. I had the bottom and he had the top, with the fangs of course! I'd even kept the stupid ring he'd given me. Yes, I Maximum Ride, the least girlie girl ever, wore jewelry.

I looked at Dylan's perfect hair and his sparkling eyes. He smiled that dazzling white smile of his at me. Was he why Fang left? Was he one of Dr. Gods' mindless creations?

Maybe not. After all, hadn't he sided with us when it had really counted? It could all have been an act, but that wasn't likely. I really am trying to be less paranoid these days. It was possible that Dylan was as innocent as us. Although, I don't know how innocent that is, or if we even are innocent per se. My point is that he could have had as little choice in life as me. The least I could do was to give him a chance. I hate to admit it, but I have been wrong before.

Maybe Dylan was my perfect other half. Ya, I could just forget about Fang and fall into his eyes. I could sure get used to that.

Snap out of it Max!

I jolted back, blinking. No, it wasn't the voice; the voice wanted me to be with Dylan. It wasn't Angel either. It must have been me. What? You mean you don't have to make that distinction when thoughts pop into your head? How funny!

"Dinner's ready!" shouted my mom from the other room. Nudge dropped all the pots and pans she had been making fly around the room, experimenting with her new power. The flock jumped up and whooped.

I hoped they wouldn't get too used to this warm, delicious prepared food and would be able to eat smoked desert rat again. Everyone got up and ran to the kitchen except Dylan.

I stood and wiped my eyes.

"Aren't ya comin'?" I asked hoarsely.

"Nah," sighed Dylan, "I think I'll get some fresh air instead." And he got up and walked to the balcony.

This was totally suspicious since we bird-kids love to eat. We're always hungry because of how many calories we burn flying. I decided to follow him, secretly.

I crouched behind the window, peering through the curtain. I was sure that Dylan couldn't see me. Thankfully he didn't take off flying or it would have been nearly impossible to follow him without being seen. He took out a…a walkie talkie?

"All ready over here." He whispered into it. I listened closely. It's times like this when having Hawk like hearing can really come in handy.

"I kept my part of the deal. How do I know you'll keep yours?" He asked.

"You can't get your reward unless I have Max. It's true you've supplied us with information, but your job isn't done until we have them all safe in custody."

Then a sudden realization hit me. It was Dr. Gunther Hagen, one of my many major enemies. And Dylan, a spy!

People aren't always what they seem.

Gosh voice! I mentally screamed, Really! You almost blew my cover!

"You've got it Doctor." Said Dylan

"Good. We'll be there in under ten minutes." Said Dr. God and it clicked off.

I was stunned. Dylan had betrayed us. I walked silently until I was right behind him.

"Why?" I asked loudly into Dylan's ear as he jumped in surprise, "Why would you sell us out like that? They trusted you! I trusted you! Why would you give us up to Dr. Devil!" I spat, my steely eyes staring into his turquoise blue ones.

"You may think he's evil Max," said Dylan calmly, "But he is a genius. We are a perfect match can't you see that?" getting louder now, "Can't you see that I'm better for you than fang? Dr. Gunther Hagen can make you realize that! He can make you see our full potential as a team! I'm advanced and more prepared for the next era, now it's your turn. Come on Max, please. You don't have to fight; you can just come and have whatever you want."

"So you think I'm that Stupid! Do you have any idea how many times I've gotten an offer like that? No! The answers always no! Dr. Devil is evil! He's an insane psychopath! You haven't seen his mistakes! To him you and I are just experiments! I don't care what you say or what excuses you have! You betrayed us! Although It's pretty much a given, I hate you!" I screamed.

"Wha-What's going on?" my mom gasped as she and the others ran up to the door.

"He's a traitor!" I yelled, feeling the rage build inside me. This proved that I should be paranoid. He was the closest we had ever allowed anyone to being a member of the flock and now we really knew that no one could be trusted. Even I could barley comprehend what was happening. "He sold us out! We only have about five minutes until Dr. Devil and his goons arrive to try to take us away, back to a lab, back to cages! Angel, didn't you pick up anything!"

She shook her head in wide-eyed shock, but the truth was she had. She had picked up his stray thoughts about what things were important to report and a special chemical that when fed to Max would make her love him. Crazy thoughts like that she pushed out of her head and created stupid excuses for. She wanted to trust Dylan.

"You don't understand, Max!" Dylan pleaded. "I love you! I don't want to hurt you but help you! You just don't understand!"

"You already said that you moron! And how could I possibly not understand you setting us up for capture and reporting to the enemy because you actually believe that you'll get whatever twisted reward they've promised you? Well do you know what I think of you!..."

"…What?"

"Oh, ya. I'm flicking him off, Iggy!"

"Thanks, you can get on with the demonic tirade now."

"Oh, come on Max, I'm losing my patients." said Dylan snidely

"Ya? What a pity. Would you fancy losing your life? I'd be happy to aid you if you'd like. Yes?" I inquired sweetly and then turned on him again. "I wish you were never created, you deranged lunatic! Why don't you and Dr. Devil just disappear off the face of the earth! Oh let's get out of here! U and A now!" I hollered.

"Sorry Max, too late for that!" It was Dr. Devil parachuting down on us. I saw M-Geeks everywhere, filling the sky. We were surrounded.

They started swarming down. We started fighting like mad but I knew we didn't stand a chance against this many, cornered as we were. I saw Iggy and the Gasman throwing things into the air. I ducked as they exploded into brilliant flashes of light and scattering 'bot parts everywhere.

"There's too many of them and we're running out of grenades!" shouted Gazzy.

Well, desperate times call for desperate measures. I knew it had little chance of working but what other choice did I have?

"Angel!" I screamed, "Send an S.O.S. to Fang! I think he's our only chance!" I saw her nod in understandment and I went back to the battle. Then, I didn't know if it was because she wanted me to or if the thought was just so strong, but I heard her thought loud and clear coursing through my mind.

Fang! S.O.S.! We're under attack! Max needs you! Dylan's a traitor and if you don't come soon, Max will fall for him and forget about you! Save us, Fang! Save Max!

Then I got rammed in the ribs. I saw the others go down and a black hood slipped over my head.

"Good night, Max!" said Dr. Devil and everything went black.