A/N: I'd like to thank tallmiss for an amazingly nice review. Whoever posted that other review, I'm not sure if you like it, hate it, or reviewed the wrong story. Thank you for the err… criticism? Anyway, enjoy!
Disclaimer: I don't own Maximum Ride, Coke or Indian food.
Chapter 2
Max dropped the rat she was eating in shock.
The Voice hadn't spoken to her in months and whenever it did speak it said something irrelevant like, "I think there is a sale in that store for new clothes," or something like that.
Max was so surprised that she inquired, "Where are they?" aloud.
Max waited for its response before asking again, this time in her head, "Where are they? If you don't tell me I swear I'll-" She stopped because she didn't know what she could possibly do to harm the voice in her head, but she'd figure out a way.
The Voice remained silent, obviously content with making her angry.
Max felt a quick burst of something she hadn't felt since the flock had been taken.
Hope.
She quickly tried to squash it before she got disappointed, but she was unsuccessful.
"Pull yourself together, Max. They've been gone for a year. There's no chance that they're…" she trailed off, unable to admit to herself the possibility of them being dead.
Max picked her rat off of the floor and threw it off the cliff, having lost her appetite.
She laid down and tried to fall asleep. But, as usual, every time she shut her eyes she was haunted with the images of her flock.
She sat up quickly and ran off the cliff.
She let herself free-fall before whipping out her wings and flying into the closest town.
I need to get out of my head for a while, she thought briefly.
When the town was about a mile away, she landed and walked the rest of the way.
No need to freak out the natives.
She was immediately attacked by the smell of spices.
The town was old and its only restaurant was an Indian restaurant.
Max had never gone in because the smell was so repugnant, but she was hot and thirsty and the restaurant was air conditioned.
Max grabbed a seat at the bar and pulled out the credit card her mom had given her before she left.
She'd hardly ever used it and she allowed herself a second to recall their last encounter.
It was a sweltering night, but rainclouds threatened a chance of a storm.
Max stood facing two women.
One was no older than 16 and the other looked like her mother. She was.
"Max," the younger one whimpered, "I'll miss you."
"I'll miss you two Ella, but I need to save the flock. They've always been my family," Max replied.
Ella started to cry lightly and Max restrained herself from giving her a hug.
It'd be easier this way, she'd told herself.
The older one was fighting to hold back tears. She said, "You can always come back. Take this," she handed her a credit card, "It will let me know where you are. I'll take care of the bill and let me know when you've found them."
Max nodded and gulped.
"Good luck sweetie," she said again.
She came in for a hug, which Max skillfully dodged.
She feared that she would never leave if their goodbyes lasted much longer.
Her mom looked heartbroken, but she quickly shook it off and waved.
She was losing the fight against her tears.
"Good bye, and thank you," Max said before taking off, tears blinding her way.
Max shook off the memory and sat at the bar.
She ordered a Coke and handed the man her card.
The bartender looked at her dubiously, but went to fetch her Coke anyway.
Max looked to the tv and saw that there was news broadcast on.
The news anchors were hashing out a story about the President or something like that.
Max ignored it until she heard one of the anchors say, "This just in, a weapons facility just East of Arizona has exploded today. The cause is unknown and there were no survivors."
Max stared at the screen intently and yelled at the bartender, "Turn it up!"
He complied and Max listened intently.
"Apparently," the anchor continued, "The scientist in charge was working on a DNA experiment of some sort. He called it a 'human weapon'. Now, Dr. Wilson is currently dead, but officials are searching the wreckage for any survivors they might've missed."
Max sank down in her chair and had the words, 'no survivors,' echo in her head.
Even though the news anchors claimed that everyone was dead, Max decided to check it out anyway.
Besides, the news anchors wouldn't have known that flock was there, and they could've flown away safely.
Max refused to get her hopes up, but she couldn't help her relief at finally having a starting point.
Max paid her bill and left.
She quickly bought a map and took off.
A/N: It's longer than my last story and I really hope you liked it. You should click that little review button and leave me a present.