Fang pov

Kick

Punch

Punch

Kick

I stopped for a while to take a deep breath. Wiping the sweat of my forehead, I looked up at the wall-clock. Nine pm. I've been training already for three hours. Now only few push-ups and I'll be done for today.

1 , 2 , 3 ... 98 , 99 , 100

Breathless I fell on the cold floor. It felt nice and comforting against my heated skin. I stayed like this for a while, before I stood up. I picked up the towel from the chair and wiped my face. Then I walked over to the sink and wet my hair with the cold water, staying like this as long as possible. It slightly calmed down my nerves, though at the thought of today's battle adrenaline rushed through my blood.

The final battle- between two most imfamous gangs of America- Red Scorpions vs Death Angels. The fight between the leaders - Jason Dreadrick, from Red Scorpions and Maximum Ride, my leader- will decide about who's the Boss. At thought of her, my lips curved into a slight smile. She's the most dangerous person I've ever met in my life, the most cruel, frighten less, coldblooded and thought human ever. But also the most beautiful girl, and my love. But for her I'm just someone who's under her.

I'm Fang. Just Fang, no real name. When I was 6 years old my parents abonded me. In orphanage I lived like in hell, so I decided to escape. It was quite stupid decidion, since being the orphan, I had nowhere to go. I was sitting on the pavement, crying my eyes out, when girl, about my age, approached me and lightly kicked my side.

" Hey there. ou wanna live? " She asked silently. Her chocolate brown eyes bore into mine with determinaton. Although she was just a kid, she sounded like an adult " Do you want to survive? " she asked again.

Being taken aback, I blinked couple of times, before nodding slowly. The girl smirked down at me, her beautiful eyes sparkling.

" Then stay strong. I'll take you with me, but never break down. Only the weak cry " she demanded, as she softly wiped my tears away. Then she stuck out her small hand. Without hesitation I happily took it. Since then I never cried. Max took care of me, showed me how to live. She treated me as her younger brother, although we were the same age. To me, she was everything. Mother, sister, best friend, first and the only love…

Sound of engine, rescued me from the musing. My head shot up, hitting the tap. Swearing silently under my breath, I wiped my hair and slipped back on my black T-shirt. I ran out of the building and a while later saw Harleys riding in my direction.

" Hey, punk! Get on your motorcycle, we gotta go! Leader is waiting on us ! " Iggy, one of my closest friends, yelled at me.

Nodding, I threw on my helmet and got on the bike.

After half an hour we were at the place. Max, who got there before us, was standing in the shadow of some tall dark building. She was wearing her favourite black leather jacket, some ripped, dark skinni jeans and was holding a baseball bat in her hand. Her long, dark hair was a total mess.

" So Max , where's Jason ? " Iggy asked, hopping off his bike. " Did he chicken out and ran away " He chuckled and lifted his hand for me to high -five it. I only rolled my eyes at his immaturity, ignoring his palm.

"I'm right here " we suddenly heard someone's croaked voice from behind us. Iggy froze and with panicked eyes looked at me. Slowly I turned around and faced the person. Holly shit! Jason smirked at my reaction, which made me recover quickly. I returned the cocky smile, before taking a step back. This 6 foot 8 albino could make a Fang-shake from me in just three seconds. Maybe four. I didn't want to find out.

" Finally here " Max remarked, passing me and Iggy "Thought you wouldn't come. " she stopped right in front of him, which made her have to slightly turn up her head to face him.

"I had to. To finally defeat you" Jason answered, crossing his pale arms across his bulky chest. Max smiled at that and placed her hand on his broad shoulder.

" Sorry to destroy your dreams but it'll never happen. " She asserted. Her voice was calm and collected, as asually no fear to be found. No waiting for Dreadrick's reply, she turned around and picked up a bag. I recognised it, as she threw it to Jason.

"Pick a weapon. " she demanded, observing him, as he searched for something that suited his likings. Dreadrick slowly took out baseball bat, then a mercury knife, tassak, bull whip, ninja sword, Chrome Manriki Chain with long ends, long leather slapper, fighting fan and daggers.

" Nice…" he cackled finally, throwing the bag somewhere behind him " but I prefer using fists "

Max shrugged, as if she didn't really care. She handed me the bat and tied her dark hair into messy ponytail. She started taking off her jacket, when without warning Jason threw himself at her. Startled, Max barely dogged is attack.

" What the hell are you doing? We didn't even start! That's cheating! " She growled, scowling at him. Smirking, Dreadrick rolled his shoulders back.

" Red Scorpiopns never play fair. "

As a response for that Max punched him, straight in the nose. With satisfaction we heard loud CRACK! Not giving him even a chance to take a breath she kicked him in stomach, jumped in the air and boxed his ears. Jason fell on the floor and gasped for the air. After a while, he rose unsteadily and spitted some blood.

" You bitch! Wanna die ?" He roared angrily. Glaring at her with pure hatred, he cleared his throat and once again spitted on the ground. Then he took out from his pocket a small, but deadly looking knife. Stumbling a bit, he walked over to Max with a crooked smile on his face. She rolled up the sleeves of her blouse and groaned silently. Although I knew she was burning with furry, her face showed nothing more than boredom. Her chocolate brown eyes were as cold as ice.

" So that's how you want to play? " she asked calmly, before lifting her leg and taking out from her shoe shooting stars. Faster than the lighting she shoot them, both of them hitting accurately his sides, nailing him to the wall. She jumped toward him, snatched the knife away and brought it to his throat. It happened so fast I hardly registered it.

Jason was frozen from shock. Having a frightened expression on his face, he didn't look so badass anymore.

" Do you give up? " she hissed to his ear, in deep and threatening voice. WIth the corner of my eye I registered a laughing Iggy. He probably embarrassed Dreadrick.

"Red Scorpions never surrender " He hissed, narrowing his eyebrows . As a reply Max punched him directly in the stomach. He bent in half and cursed, but stubbornly shook his head. She grabbed his neck and tightened her hands around it. Jason's expression turned into terrified, but I knew Max wouldn't kill him. She's not a murder.

Suddenly all the hell broke loose. Red Scorpions took out bazookas and pointed them at us.

"Tell your fucking leader to let Dreadrick out. " one of them shouted. I looked at him, slightly raising my eyebrow. He tried to sound brave, but I knew he would break down anytime soon.

"Dude, throw weapons away. It's not your fight" Iggy responded, frightenlessly stepping in the front .

"Move back or I'll shoot " The flurry scorpio yelled. Iggy put his hands into the pockets and shrugged.

"So shoot. But then Maximum will make a skewer out of you. "

The scorpio hesitated, when Max with one strong kick broke both of Jason's legs, making him yelp fro pain, before falling to the ground. Then she attacked one of Reds' and she took his bazooka. Without warning she started to shoot. She fired accurately the weapons out of Red scorpions hands. That left them defenseless, with no other option, than to accept Max as the Boss.

" Now PARTY!" Iggy shouted, making some weird moves, which I guess he called dancing. Max smiled at him and ran her hand through her long, tangled hair.

"Fine. So where? In our favorite bar?" As a response she got loud cheers from Death Angels. We got on bikes and speed through the night.

...

Max was in the front like always, so I caught up with her. She had this beautiful smile on her face, the one she allowed herself on only for while. Her usually tightened muscled were relaxed, her cold eyes were more open and warm.

"Wanna race? " I asked out of nowhere. Max glanced at me for a second.

" Nah, don't feel like doing it " She responded and I pouted at her.

"Come on. Are you afraid of losing ? " I teased, wanting to have a little fun with her. Max's eyebrow raised and I smirked. Both of us knew that she wasn't afraid and both of us knew who was the invincible champion .

" I said 'No' Find someone else." she insinuated, but I overtook her. I knew that annoyed her. Wanting to see her expression, I turned my head around and smirked at her.

" Idiot, look where you riding! " Then everything happened so fast. She overtook me and pushed me to the side. Then I only saw a coming truck, blinding lights and ... blood.

Max pov

Fu** ! Everything hurt me like hell. I opened my eyes ready to kill Fang for making me suffer, when I realized something weird . I was floating about 20 meters above the ground. What the hell?! Down there everything was a complete mess . My gang stopped to look at some accident.A truck bumped into someone . I focused so I could see the body and horrified realized it was ... me ?

" Yep " I heard from behind me. I turned around and saw an old man with a long white beard and funny hat. He was wearing a white, long dress.

"It's not a dress. It's a tunic " he muttered and I frowned at it. Did I say it out loud? The man watched me for a while, before taking out of his pocket a small book, which immediately expanded. Fascinated, I watched him, as he opened it.

" Maximum Ride... drug dealer, thief, gang leader, had billion of fights ... " he read out loud, shaking his head with dissapprovement. "the list is going on and on..." he muttered, this time more to himself. Sighing, he closed the book and looked at me with crooked smile.

" Hell " he stated, pointing to the stairs I never saw before. They led downstairs to a place full of ice and fire. Ha, ha! Did he really take me for some idiot? Why would I want to go there? Ignoring his attempts to push me toward the stairs, I stood firmly in place and one more time looked around me.

"What ... What's going on? Where am I? " I asked finally, being completely lost. It must have come out as a yell, because the man grimaced and covered his ears.

" Please be quiet. You are dead. " he acknowledged, as if it was something obvious. My mouth dropped open as I stared at him with my eyes open wide.

"Dead? It's impossible! I'm Maximum Ride! I can't simply die!" I shouted, disbeliefing his words. It all seemed to me, to be a bad dream or horror movie. Well, horror movie with a low budget and shit director. I pinched myself, but when it didn't work, I went back to the old duffer and lifted him.

"Do something! I must go down to my gang! " I insisted, but he just shrugged his shoulders.

Not caring about him, I threw him away and tried coming back on earth, on my own. I was waving my hands and kicking my legs, but failed.

"DAMN!" I shouted and punched the air. I covered my face in my hands, sighing heavily.

" You can't do anything. Now you belong to this world." I heard the grandpa's irritated voice from above me. I bit my lower lip and raised my head just in time to see some wierd blue light shooting at me. I frowned, realising it was the duffer making it. To his irritation, none of his lasers actually touched me, as if I was covered my some kind of shield.

"W-what ..." he stuttered surprised " Why didn't it work. You should be already in hell unless you're ..." His eyes widened from realization and dropped to his knees.

"Please, forgive me my mistake, Lady " he cried, hugging my leg. Surprised with his sudden change of attitude I kicked him away.

" To be so rude to High Spirit ... " He sobbed, not lifting his eyes to meet mine.

Soul Collector pov

I couldn't believe that Maximum Ride was a High Spirit. A fallen one, yes, but she still had the power over me. I couldn't send her to hell, but being who she was, she didn't deserve to go to heaven.

" Old man, can you be so kind and bring me back to life. Then I'll forgive you forgetting that I'm the Boss" Max said, patting me on my back. I faced her and shook my head

" No Miss, I can't do ..." Suddenly an idea appeared in my head. What if ... What if I will bring her back to life, but not as herself. I could transform her soul into someone's else body. And I already knew who's.

From now she'll be Maxine Martinez.