Maximum Ride

Max POV:

I awoke to rain pounding on the roof. I looked around the room, panicked for a moment because I didn't know where I was, and then the memory of last night came hurtling into my head like a sack of potatoes; us getting off the plane from Hawaii, me practically kissing the ground, saying goodbye to my Mom and sister, finding a nice hotel to stay in while we waited for the rain to lighten up so we could fly some where else.

Yes, I said fly for those of you who started reading in the middle of what is obviously a series. Well to give you the short version, my flock; Fang, Iggy, Nudge, Gazzy, and Angel, and I and me are all mutant bird kid experiments. We were designed to save the world by this evil place called the school, they said we were failures so the decided to terminate us, but luckily we escaped because, truthfully, I think God thought the world would be too boring without us. Thanks big guy. I mentally sent to Him.

I felt someone turn over beside me, I looked over and my heart sped up a little faster. Fang. My Fang. He was so cute when he was sleeping. He always looked so innocent when he was sleeping. Opposed to when he was awake. When he was awake he was one hundred percent, hardcore, emotionless badass he's always been.

I continued to look at him and he opened his eyes, destroying the cute innocence that was sleeping Fang. I sighed and looked into his eyes.

" G'morning." I whispered. I was whispering because the rest of the flock was still sleeping and we only had enough money for one room.

"Morning." He whispered as he pulled me into his arms and placed a light kiss on my lips. I knew it wasn't much but it still got my heart hammering. Fang smirked at me when he heard my heart speed up.

I gave him a glare that would have made anyone else stop dead in their tracks, but him being Fang, he just smiled at my death glare—wait. Did he just smile? The oh so emotionless Fang smiled? I was so shocked I was sure my mouth was hanging open.

Fang noticed my surprised expression and smiled some more .I still couldn't believe what I was seeing. Had a clone replaced him? I thought as I continued to watch him. If you knew us you'd know that's a very real possibility.

Don't worry Max; Angel said in my head, you just make him happy. Angel then giggled in my head. When I say Angel is in my head, I mean she's talking telepathically, she can read and control minds along with a bunch of other powers I don't want to get into.

Angel, I said in my head, it's not nice to eavesdrop on people's thoughts. Stay out. I said all this as nicely as possible.

I felt her leave with an agitated "Humph".

Okay, I thought to myself I hoped, what to do now? Well I know Fangs really Fang and not some evil clone, so that's a good start to the day.

I heard Iggy get up with a groan and begin to fiddle around in the small kitchen and mumble something about how the kitchen was not equipped for blind chefs.

Yes, Iggy is blind. While we were in the school, the mad white coats tried to enhance his night vision. It didn't work so now he's blind but he's not completely in the dark like he used to be. Over the lat few months he developed the ability to feel colors by touch and see things when everything is absolutely surrounded by white.

I walked into the kitchen and sat at the small, cracked table. I looked around the shabby kitchenette and observed the walls had faded to gray from a pale blue. The walls were littered with cracks .Ugh, I thought, we are so leaving this place by noon.

Just then, Iggy started handing out flapjacks. He handed me a heaping pile and I handed everyone about five flapjacks. They dug in and I returned to my seat next to Fang and dug in myself.

After we finished eating we packed up and headed out. The rain had stopped so we could fly, but the air had a cool, misty feeling to it that tickled my skin and sent chills down my spine. I shivered involuntarily.

Fang flew up beside me and took my hand. I looked at our intertwined hands and smiled at Fang. He smiled back; wow he was just so smiley today. I was in a blissful state, nothing was wrong and we were all safe. Fang then kissed me passionately as the cherry on top. I heard snickers and giggles and ewww's from the rest of the flock, but I ignored them and so did Fang. Everything was perfect—so of coarse it had to be ruined.

Nudge began to scream and Fang and I broke apart. Erasers were swarming us. I immediately jumped into action, I kicked two erasers faces in and they went spiraling toward the ground.

I quickly glanced over my shoulder at Angel and Nudge behind me, they were tag teaming Erasers and holding their own. I watched for a moment and Angel dropkicked an Eraser square in the jaw. That's my girl, I thought.

I heard explosions behind me and I knew Gazzy and Iggy were using their supplies. Better now than later, I thought.

I jumped back into the fight and took my place at Fang's side. Fang was taking down Erasers by the dozen .I started throwing punches and kicks so fast my limbs blurred. I was using my super speed to my advantage in a new way.

Soon—too soon—the fight was over. I sighed. No more adrenalin rush for Max, I thought sadly.

Angel giggled out loud for once. I shot her the you-say-anything-you-dead glance. She giggled again and then sobered herself and put on a strait face.

"Report." I said in my leader-like voice.

"Fine." Angel chimed.

"A' okay." Gazzy said saluting me.

"Good." Iggy said brushing himself off.

"I'm totally good. I mean I have a few scratches and bruises and cuts and other injuries but nothing major. Do you think I could have actually gotten hurt, do you Max? OMG what if one of us got hurt like the time Fang did when he picked a fight with Ari way back when! That was when you first kissed him! That was soooooo cute! You guy ar-mmhm." Iggy put his hand over her mouth.

"Thanks Iggy." I said, I looked over at Fang. "You okay?" I asked worried, he hadn't said a thing.

"Fine," he grunted in his Fang-like way. I looked him over to make sure he wasn't just being 'manly' .He looked okay.

"Lets split." I said and we took off into the 5:00 sun. Corny I know, but it's not like anyone's reading this . . .

After we got ourselves all patched up my 'voice' made its first appearance in weeks. For those of you who still haven't read the first five books I have a voice in my head that's not mine or Angels' .My voice is sometimes my 'dad' Jeb, and other time its this annoying unidentifiable thing. So anyway today it started talking to me again.

Max, said the voice in its creepy monotone, you have to take the flock to Arizona, to your mother's house Max. All will be explained once you go there.

Why can't you just tell me now? I thought to it, annoyed.

All will be explained . . . It said in its Yoda-like tone before it faded out again.

I sighed, exasperated. Everyone looked over to me to explain. I sighed again and began to speak. "The Voice says we have to go to my Moms and she'll explain everything." I said in an annoyed tone.

Everyone nodded excitedly (except Fang, of coarse.) and we turned toward Arizona.

Looks like we're on the road again, I thought before I followed them.