Chapter 2: Maxie's Home

Thanks to all the nice people who reviewed. This chapter isn't so great, but the next one will be better. Bare with me!

Max POV:

I drove up the driveway of my house. I hated college. Not only was I dumber than a brick, it meant I was away from home for way longer than I liked. There was only one bright side to university…but enough about my personal life. I was home, where my mom and sister were inside making cookies to welcome me home. I hope.

I walked inside, and the first thing I noticed was the smell, or the absence of it. No cookie scent. The second was nobody was there to greet me. (Okay, maybe I need to work a little on my priorities.) "Mom?" I called, "I'm home!"

Dr. Martinez, my mother, the vet, came down the stairs. Her eyes and cheeks were stained red with tears. "Oh, Max, hi. I d-didn't hear you." She hiccupped. "I-it's just, your sis-sister…"

I pulled her into a hug. "Mom, what's wrong?" I asked, all business. "Where's Ella?"

Mom looked up at me. "I have no idea. She went out with some friends Friday night and hasn't been back since."

I thought about it. "Who did she go with?"

"Ryan Bernoth."

I stiffened, the last name striking a nerve. I got over it. "Where is he?"

"Still in school."

I nodded, thinking. "What have you done to try and find Ella?"

Mom thought about it. "Well, I filed a missing persons report with the police and they interrogated Ryan but he wouldn't give them any information. They said he couldn't remember anything that happened that night. They even tried using a polygraph on him, but he was telling the truth. It's very odd."

"Where did they go?"

"Ella said Ryan was taking her to dinner and a movie."

I nodded and turned to walk out the door.

"Where are you going?" Mom asked me.

I didn't even turn around. "To question Ryan Bernoth." I slammed the door, cutting off Mom's protest.

I started my car. How dare Ryan lose my little sister. And when his older brother was…never mind.

School was just getting out when I arrived. My old high school. Perfect. I put on my sunglasses and climbed out of the car. Ryan and a couple of his friends were lounging just outside the school doors. Girls were shooting him longing glances from all angles. I walked up to him. "Hey Bernoth!"

He turned to tell me off, then caught sight of who I actually was. He paled. "Max, uh, hi. How's Dyl-" I grabbed the front of his shirt and pinned him up against the wall. No point in wasting time with small talk.

"What did you do to my sister, you asshole!" I would have called him a son of a bitch, but his mom was really nice. No need to insult her.

"Nothing!" Ryan wailed trying to get out of my grasp.

I got right in his face, "You listen to me Ryan. You mess with the bull, you get the horns. Now where the Hell is my sister!" I screamed.

Students and faculty alike were gathering around to watch us, and if it had been anyone else in any other situation they probably would have called the cops. But I was Maximum "Max Ride" Martinez, well known for my violent tendencies, and this wimp I was holding by the collar had made my sister go missing somehow.

"She vanished! I haven't seen her!"

"Where did you really go Friday?" No way Ella would have gotten lost at a movie. She had a rape whistle. I twisted his shirt again.

Ryan screamed, "WE TOOK HER TO THE MANSION!"

For a moment, I was silent, taking in all the implications of that statement. "You. What?" I said very slowly. I was trying my best not to explode.

"Alex, John, and I took Ella to the Mansion on Friday. She was our lookout." He cringed as my hands tightened on his collar, "Other than that I honestly can't remember anything! I woke up in my bed."

I remembered that Mom said they had used a lie detector on Ryan, so I dropped him just a voice behind me said, "Max? What are you doing?"

I froze, and turned around to see Ryan's older brother walking towards us. Most of the students had dissipated with the teachers help, but I could still hear them talking nervously as they left.

"Dylan," I said sheepishly. "Hey babe, what goes on?" I asked my boyfriend as though I hadn't just beaten up his little brother.

Yes, I was dating Ryan Bernoth's older brother Dylan. He was the only bright side to being at college. I had never been very popular, so I was thrilled when someone with a heartbeat asked me out. Not just someone, but possibly the hottest male at my school. We had been dating for almost two years, and we couldn't have been happier. However, I wasn't big on the whole "romance" and "emotions" stuff, so as happy as Dylan made me, I didn't like to talk about it.

"I come to pick up my little bro from school and find you torturing him…why?"

I frowned. "He took my sister to the Mansion Friday night and no one has seen her since."

Dylan looked at Ryan, appalled, "Tell me she's not serious."

Ryan turned away, "Well…"

Dylan sighed. "Mom will hear about this," Then he turned to me, "What are you going to do?"

I set my mouth into a hard line. "I'm going after Ella."

"Now?"

"Yes. No point in wasting time."

"I'll come too," Dylan said.

I kissed his mouth softly. "No. You need to bring your brother home and tell my mom where I've gone," Dylan frowned, but I continued before he could object, "Besides, if anyone can come back alive it's me, right?"

Dylan sighed in defeat. "Fine. Come back soon." We kissed again and I got into my car. Ella, here I come.

Angel POV:

I sat up from the poker game I was dominating, instantly alert. I could hear the thoughts of someone coming.

"What do you think of this?" Nudge asked, twirling Ella around in a tight purple dress with matching make-up. This was about her twentieth outfit.

"I never thought I'd be tired of being dressed up like a princess and made-over," Ella whined mournfully. Max, where are you? Her thoughts asked.

Closer than you think. I thought to myself. Nudge, Ella's sister is coming. Get Ella into her own clothes. Don't tell her anything, I'll get Fang. I mean, "The Master".

Roger that! Nudge pulled Ella back upstairs as Jennifer finished complimenting the color with Ella's skin. Of course, we just called her "Prisoner" to her face.

Master? I thought tentatively. Fang's mind was a dangerous place to journey. He was easily irritated.

Yes? He replied gruffly, knowing I wouldn't bother him while he was in his room unless it was vital.

I think Ella's sister is coming. What should we do?

How far away is she?

I checked. I think she's about half an hour away.

Master nodded mentally. Hide. I want to talk to this "sister".

I relayed the message to the others and told Fang what I could find of Ella's sister Max's life story as we waited.

See, I told you. *Sigh*

Ok, if you're not one of the people just reading this because you read What Happens In Vegas and I told you to, here's the plan. I'm going to update (hopefully) every other weekend. I'll alternate updating stories each week, so if you read both of my stories, you get an update every weekend! So, if you are one of the above people, check out my other story.

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