So I'm back! Here is the sequel. (If you have not read: Maximum Ride: The End Is Here, more than likely this will not make sense. And when I say that I mean my version. This is the sequel.)

This first chapter is the prologue and it should look more familiar as you go. I had to really think about how I could make the plot work and suddenly I realized where exactly it could work. You'll see especially later on.

As always I do not own Maximum Ride only the plot of this story. This disclaimer goes for all future chapters including this one as well as any of my other stories. Thank you.

(10 Years: Wasteland, If you have this song downloaded or even if you don't listen to it as you read the lyrics and then read the prologue. I promise you it will make this better. The lyrics just don't do it justice. This was the inspiration behind the title and my idea for this story. You'll see.)

Prologue

Change my attempt good intentionsCrouched overYou were not thereLiving in fearSigns were not really that scarceObvious tearsI will not hide you through thisI want you to helpPlease seeThe bleeding heart perched on my shirtDie, withdrawHide in cold sweatQuivering lipsIgnore remorseNaming a kid, living wastelandThis time you've triedAll that you can turning you redChange my attempt good intentionsShould i, could iHere we are with your obsessionShould i, could iCrowned hopelessThe article read living wastelandThis time you've triedAll that you can turning you redbut i will notHide you through thisI want you to helpChange my attempt good intentions

Should i, could i

Here we are with your obsession

Should i, could iHeave the silver hollow sliverPiercing through another victimTurn and tremble be judgementalIgnorant to all the symbolsBlind the face with beauty pasteEventually you'll one day knowChange my attempt good intentionsLimbs tied, skin tightSelf inflicted his perditionShould i, could iChange my attempt good intentionsShould i, could iShould i, could i

I was lying somewhere. Somewhere cold and hard. Around me I could hear the sound of breathing, the tick tick and beep beep of machinery, the steady thrumming of my heart beat. Darkness covered my eyes and they felt heavy. My body was tense, I couldn't move my arms or legs. I was lost in a dream world devoid of light. That's when I noticed the smell.

Antiseptic.

My eyes snapped open and I winced at the bright lights that glared down at me. I closed my eyes then slowly opened them through slits allowing them to adjust. Once they did I reopened them and looked around. My once steady heart beat was now hammering against my chest.

I was strapped to a metal bed by Velcro straps which refused to budge as I tugged at them. Lifting my gaze I looked to my left. Gazzy was asleep on the bed next to me, his breathing even. Beside him, Nudge was beginning to wake up, she moaned slightly.

Looking to my right I saw Iggy. His eyes were open and he lay very still as he stared up at the ceiling, I could see his hands quivering. On his other side Fang was struggling against his straps, his eyes hardened and face drawn up as he gritted his teeth, his body shaking with the effort. Fang must have felt my gaze on him though because he looked up; relief softened his face, but only for a second.

"You okay?" I mouthed silently. Fang gave a short nod then glanced at the others. I shook my head and threw him a face. Fang tilted his head and glanced across the room. I looked and there lay Total, looking dead to the world besides the occasional flickering of his ear or twitching of his nose.

I felt sick to my stomach. Slowly I twisted my head and examined our surroundings. We were in a plain white room without windows though there was a door on the other side of Nudge's bed. My eyes narrowed as I realized something though. Angel wasn't here.

The smell of antiseptic clogged my nose and throat and my eyes watered. Then my body stiffened as I realized what that must mean.

I looked at Fang, and seeing the freaked look on my face his eyes narrowed as he tried to figure out what was wrong. I mouthed the answer: "The School." Fang's eyes sparked and I knew he recognized it too.

"Max?" Gazzy's voice was hoarse. I looked at him and tried to erase the horror from my face. "Hey, sweetie." I said softly. "Where are we? What's going on?"

I struggled to come up with something to say. What did I tell him? He was just eight years old. Did I tell him that we were back at the place where nightmares came true? Where we were tortured? Where our lives turned upside down?

I opened my mouth to say something, anything, but saw the recognition flash in Gazzy's eyes. "The School," he said and I forced myself to nod. Gazzy's head flopped back against the metal table and he closed his eyes.

"Hey!" Total's wobbly voice cried out in indignation. "I demand a lawyer." He sounded drunk and his sarcasm was wasted in the bleakness of our situation.

"Do we have a Plan B. C? Even Z?" Iggy's voice was lifeless as he turned his blind eyes on me. When I didn't respond immediately, he returned his gaze to the ceiling. "Yes, of course." I said, racking my brain for any idea that might work. "There's always a plan. First, we get out of these straps."

I heard movement to my left and turned to see Nudge waking up. Her big fawn eyes blinked slowly and then looked around. Her eyes were wide when they locked with mine and I knew I needn't say anything. She knew where we were. Her eyes turned lifeless much like Gazzy and Iggy's.

(Some time later)

My ankles and wrists were burning as I continued to struggle in vain to free myself from the straps. I'd just started struggling again when the door beyond Nudge opened up. I froze as a little gray haired woman in a white coat walked in, carrying a tray. She looked like somebody's evil grandmother.

A new scent filled the air and I winced at the flood of deliciousness. I could practically taste the chocolate chip cookies on my tongue. Still I had to put on an act and pretended to look unconcerned with the still steaming tray of melting, flowing chocolate….

Get it together Max.

"This is a first," I said coolly. "Torture by chocolate-chip cookie. Was this all your idea?" The woman looked annoyed but tried to hide it unsuccessfully.

"We thought you might be hungry." she told me. "These are hot out of the oven." She even waved the tray a bit sending the smell out over us. My mouth was watering but I shook my head. "Uh-huh, because all you mad, evil scientists sit around whipping up batches of Pillsbury's finest during your coffee breaks. I mean, this is pathetic."

The woman looked surprised at my outburst. My eyes narrowed in anger.

"I mean, points for the jail cell." I nodded with my head to the windowless white walls. "Kudos for the Velcro straps. Those were good starts. But you're sort of falling down with the chocolate-chip cookies. Like, did you skip school the day they taught hostage treatment?"

The woman's cheeks burned red and she turned away. "Keep your lousy cookies," I snarled. "Whatever you sick freaks have planned for us, get on with it. 'Cause otherwise you're just waisting your time."

The woman glared at me and moved to the door. A plan struck in my head and I struggled against my straps. If I could just get free I'd over take her to the door and we'd escape. But as I struggled to get free quickly Total raised his head. "Not so fast," he croaked. "I'll take a cookie. I'm not proud."

Fang and I looked at each other. We both rolled our eyes.

The woman looked shocked to hear Total speak. She hesitated for a moment then ran to the door and slammed it shut.

I had a bad feeling about this.

(Later Again)

"Okay, the second they undo us, make sure all heck breaks loose." I said once everyone was awake again. The lights had gone out for some time so I assumed since they were back on it was morning. What? White coats have to sleep too.

The Flock nodded but they looked hopeless. My heart ached for them.

"Look, we've had our backs against the wall before." I reminded them. "These guys always screw up, always make a mistake. We've gotten the best of them every time, and it'll be the same here."

I got nothing from them.

"Come on, guys, buck up," I said calmly. "Let's see some insane rage put apples in those cheeks."

I got a small smile from Nudge which quickly disappeared. The others were lost to their own world. All but Fang who sent me an understanding look. I wanted to scream.

Just then the door opened up and I met everyone's eyes, this was it!

Jeb walked in followed by Anne Walker and a very familiar, blue eyed, curly blonde haired girl.

"Angel!" Gazzy cried out, his voice breaking as he realized Angel was standing with our enemies. "Angel, how could you?"

"Hello, Max," Anne Walker said, her gaze hard as she glared at me. I sighed and looked at the ceiling. I had to keep my composure.

Jeb stood next to my bed close enough that I could smell his after shave. Childhood memories flowed through my mind. Happy ones, the happiest I'd ever had. And this man, who had given them to me, now stood above me in my darkest hour.

"Hello, Max," he said quietly, looking for a reaction on my face. "How do you feel?" I refused to look at him when I said as happily as I could manage under the circumstances, "Why, I feel fine, Jeb. How about you?"

"Any nausea? Headache?"

"Yep. And it's standing here talking to me."

Jeb's fingers brushed across my bed and I tried not to wince. "Does it feel like you've been through a lot?" he asked. I stared at him. "Yeah. Kind of. And sadly, I'm still going through it."

Jeb nodded at Anne then I realized something was going on.

"Max, I've got something to tell you that I know is going to be hard to believe."

"You're not evil? You're not the worst lying, cheating, betraying jerk I've ever met?"

Jeb smiled sadly. "The truth is, Max, that nothing is as it seems."

"Uh-huh," I said. "Is that what the aliens told you when you quit wearing your foil hat?"

Anne took a step forward but Jeb motioned her back. My eyes narrowed as I glared at her then looked back at Jeb. Anne was the one to speak though.

"The truth is, Max, that you're at the School."

"No duh. And uh, wait- let me guess- I'm some kind of bird-kid hybrid. And you captured me. And, and, I'm strapped to a hospital bed. I bet I even have wings. Am I right?"

"No. You don't understand." she continued. "You're at the School, Max, because you never left it. Everything that you think you've experienced for the past five months has all been a dream."

Okay so if you don't remember that was from Saving the World and Other Extreme Sports. You may be a bit confused now but if you look at the summary it'll make sense. As always please review I will be doing shout outs again. :)

Sincerely,

Avenging Angels