DISCLAIMER: I DON'T OWN MAXRIDE.

CLAIMER: I DO OWN SCARLET AND ANY UNFAMILIAR CHARACTERS.

1 – SCARLET

A sound woke me from my trance-like sleep. A noise, what was it...? There! It came again, louder, closer. Screaming? Yes, screaming, and something else... metal. Screeching machinery, extremely annoying to my sensitive ears. It was hurting me! I made the sound stop without thinking through my actions.

The screaming continued, though, and now I was curious. Suddenly I was there, watching as a girl no older than me shouted at an injured boy. She was telling him to get up, to wake up and be okay. He couldn't survive if he didn't get help, and soon, but the girl didn't pull out a cellphone to call an ambulance.

Then I saw it, at the same time the girl noticed me – wings. Just like mine, on both of them. There were others coming now, all children, all landing from the sky. They stared at me, all but one boy who must have been blind, but had his eyes turned toward me anyway. The girl was saying something, but I didn't hear her, as I was gliding towards the injured boy. He needed better help than paramedics, and I knew how to treat him.

I am a friend. I can help, you know he needs it. No hospitals, I promise.

The girl was wide eyed, but she nodded. I smiled at her, offering a hand, which she took. Then I encompassed her and the five others, including the injured one, in my field, transporting us all back to my domain. The injured one was already on a bed, and the others were looking around in shock. The girl pulled her hand from mine as if I was suddenly poisonous.

"Where are we?"

I flinched at the sound of her voice, sharp and painful compared to my telekinesis. Just barely held in check was my instinct to make the sound stop. I knew I would be re-accustomed to speaking aloud soon enough, but at the moment it simply made me want to drown out all sound, make it all disappear.

"Somewhere safe," I replied, flinching again at even my whispered words. The girl noticed this, and cast me a curious glance before turning back to the boy.

"Don't worry, Fang, you're going to be okay," she told him in a voice so quiet that I doubted she thought anyone could hear her. He remained motionless, unconscious. But now I was worried... I could smell his blood, even standing as far away as I was.

"Where was he hit?" This time I managed not to flinch at the sound, instead focusing on helping the boy, Fang. The girl hesitated, too long, so I slit his shirt open before she answered.

"Hey – what are you doing!?" she shrieked, causing me to hiss in pain, covering my ears. Too loud for so long without hearing spoken word.

"Healing him," I stated as I examined the wound. In any other circumstance, the boy would never have survived, but luckily my gifts could fix the gash, and much more. His flesh was torn open from his shoulder, across his chest and stopping just above the waistline. In seconds it was no more than a scar, pink against olive skin, and a moment more completely gone, along with numerous other bruises and scars.

He opened his eyes, seeming confused, then saw the girl and the other children. I smiled, stepping back into the shadows before he noticed me. His friends crowded around him, amazed at his rapid recovery. The girl glanced around suspiciously, probably for me, before explaining the happenings to him.

Their voices were terribly resonating, and I dropped to the floor before I could stop myself, letting out a high-pitched keen that they shouldn't have been able to hear. In fact, only one of them turned his head, the blind one. Once again I was fighting the instinct to make the sounds go away. I didn't want to hurt them.

"Is she okay?" the blind one asked, and all heads turned in my directions, now silent. Slowly, ever so slowly, I uncovered my ears, relishing in the sudden calm. I stood.

"He should be better now," I whispered, then turned to the door, ready to leave them to themselves.

"Thank you, um..." the girl struggled, uncomfortable.

"Scarlet. It's no trouble, really. I have nothing better to do."

The mistrust on their faces made me sigh as I left the room. I stopped as I heard one of them following me. It was one of the girls, a very young child.

I'm not that young, I'm six.

She could speak with her mind, as I could. For this I was grateful.

Why do our voices hurt? she asked, still not speaking aloud.

I've gone a very long time without hearing people. My ears need to adjust. It doesn't help that they're so sensitive, either.

She nodded, her expression thoughtful. There was nothing from her for a moment. Then,

Are you like us?

I blinked, nodding slowly. She meant the wings. And probably the origin as well. Then I smiled.

Who are you? Six children in the middle of nowhere, it isn't fair.

She gave me a bitter little smile, as if to say, 'Life's not fair.'

My name's Angel. The boy who was hurt is Fang, and the older girl is Max. The blind one is Iggy, then Gazzy, and the other girl is Nudge. What did you say your name was again?

Call me Scar.

AN: THE LITTLE BLUE/PURPLE BUTTON IS JUST BEGGING FOR ATTENTION!