(A/N) Yay, I updated! I hope everyone is having a great Christmas break right now! I know I'm enjoying it! And speaking of enjoying, here's a new chapter!

Fang: Mikaykay doesn't own Maximum Ride.

Me: If only…

Fang: Give it up, it's never going to happen.

Me: Why I oughta—

Fang: Here's the chapter!

Me: Fang! Stop running away from me!

Previously…

"Wait!" I shouted. All the guards turned to look at me. I swallowed the large cotton lump in my throat before replying bravely.

"My sister wasn't part of this. It was my idea. I'll take her punishment."

The guards stared at me in amusement, not expecting me to be so serious. "Young lady, that's forty lashes—" "Yes, I can count," I interrupted. The head guard shook his head in disbelief. "I'll take her punishment," I repeated, and stopped twisting around in the arms of my captor. "Very well," the head guard said curtly, and nodded his head. I was half carried, half dragged to the whipping post, where my arms were tied securely to the top. "Max!" Angel cried, tears making tracks down her dirty face. "Hang in there, Ang. It'll be over in no time," I soothed. But I didn't even sound comforting to myself.

"One!" I heard the man with the whip say before I heard the whistle of the angry leather come down on my back. A lightning bolt flashed in front of my eyes, and my toes curled in my worn sneakers. Much to my dismay, my body was shaking, and I opened one of my tightly closed eyes to look at my sister. She was standing straight, with her hands to her sides, but her whole body was racking with sobs. I was so absorbed on my sister, that I didn't feel the second lash.

Once I tore my gaze away from Angel, I stared intently at the wood pole in front of me, trying to ignore the whispers and gossip of the rich townspeople. "Three!" Again, the whip heated my body with excruciating pain, and I couldn't help but slightly whimper. I dug my fingers in the palm of my other hand hard, an old habit I had. Pain is just a message, I recited to myself.

I was starting to lose consciousness by the time he reached twenty five, and my body sagged against the pole. I was starting to think this would be the end of my life until I heard somebody tell the whipping-happy man to stop. There was a little bit of arguing, and suddenly I felt my wrists become loose and untied.

"Max?" It was Angel's voice, and it trembled with sadness, but a sliver of hope that I might still be alive. "Angel," I whispered, opening my eyes blearily to look into her bright blue eyes, still glimmering with tears. "Max? Young lady?" The whipping man said my name hesitantly, as if trying it out on his tongue for the first time. Using most of my energy, I rolled my head the slightest bit, but the muscles tightened up in my back, sending shock waves of pain down my spine.

Crying out softly in pain, I fell from my knees to the ground, landing on my side, but still managing to put the slightest pressure on the whip marks. A small hand gently gripped my calloused one, and I looked up at my sister. "It'll be alright, Max." Although she was a small seven year old, signs of maturity were shown clearly in her shining eyes. She carried herself like an adult, something any child shouldn't have to do.

I was sweating like crazy, feeling dizzy and all I wanted to do was go to sleep. But instead, I stared into Angel's blue eyes, trying to figure out a way to get out of here. "Nicholas! Get over here right now!" I heard a gruff voice say sternly. Who's Nicholas? I wondered. Someone took my other hand, and Angel's eyes darted fearfully from my face to the stranger's, in terror, but sheer relief.

I couldn't help but notice that the stranger's hand was soft, yet rough with some calluses. That was very strange. "Let me help you," the stranger said softly. A man. My eyes flickered to him, and we stared at each other for a minute. His eyes were deep glittering pools of dark brown, almost black. "I'm fine," I said carefully, each word causing me to lose energy. The eyes of the man softened.

"You aren't okay," the man observed with a stern look. He picked me up in his arms, careful not to put much pressure on my back, although I cried out a few times. Angel walked with us, a calm and solemn expression on her angelic face. I could feel sleep threatening to take over my body, and before I fell asleep I realized something.

Didn't Lord Gunther-Hagen have a nephew named Nicholas?

There you have it! I'll update when I can! Please R&R! I'm not one to beg, but well…it is Christmas Eve! (bats eyes)

Fang: Just review so I can leave!

Merry Christmas, y'all!(:

-switchfootlove13