3

The hallway was buzzing with men in uniform. Got to love them. I sat on my knees with Daniel's head in my lap. I still didn't trust him, but I felt like it was my fault he was like this. That deep down this whole thing started because of me. I cleared my throat.

"Well look at these hot men in uniform. What brings you to my side of the Institution?" You know me sarcasm all the way. The men just stood there. There was nothing in there eyes, and I knew why. "Robots."

"Wow. You are good." I looked around, and there he was. Porter was leaning on the wall hands on his head checking out the scene before him. Porter had light violet eyes. He was light skinned, and had beautiful jet black hair. Something about him brought out beauty. The smile, the skin tone was like my pale skin after a tan. And then of course the hair was amazing. It was cut to the length of his chin and, but of course his gaze was in me. It was just one of those intuition things. "But you were a little off. Expectable since you didn't realize my presence." I was true. I hadn't. I shivered. That scared me.

"You froze them." I said keeping an eye on him. If he could have gotten out why did he need us. He pushed himself off the wall and walked towards us. I didn't make a move as he sat next to me examining Daniel.

"Yep. Cute isn't he." I didn't answer. I just looked at him. He shrugged and looked at me. His violet eyes were sincere and beautiful. "Well then. I heard what you said, but the Generals here. We are going to get Ari."

"Hell no." I side tightening my grip on Daniels hand. He caught that motion and grinned. Well then get ready because the Generals in this very hallway and," He looked into my eyes and back at the way Daniel and I had came, "He doesn't like escapes." I looked that way too. There was a flash of light and I blanked out.

…......

We were in a courtyard when I had awoken. Porter and Daniel held both sides. I looked in other directions, but there was nothing except trees and flowers. The sky was a light blue and covered in white clouds. Daniel! I thought. He woke and I grinned. It had worked. Got to love that telepathy.

"I have to learn that blocking technique your so fond of." He mumbled. Shaking his head. He was referring to the fact that I put up barriers when unwanted visitors try to take a peek. He didn't have any bruises. He actually looked the same. I turned to Porter and he was staring at something next him.

"What are you looking at?" I said trying to see even though being chained to a brick wall 10 feet from the ground didn't help.

"Ari." As he said the words an image in my mind popped out. I put up barriers, but nothing happened,

"I'm not reading your mind." Daniel said. "I'm showing you Porters." I breathed and relaxed even though it was hard to do. My mind aloud the vision to pop up and there Ari was, but he looked different. Almost human. The scars, the almost plastic face, and the age thing was gone. Ari really looked like an actual 16 year old. Even though he would have equivocated to 7 or 8. The image faded and turned to me. My blond hair now shined jet black in the sunlight. It was straight compared to the usual wave and it came to the length of my shoulder blades. My light green eyes showed wonder at what I was looking at. I was a different Max like Ari was a different Ari. Why? The whole image blurred and I was staring at Porter. The sunlight blinded me like I had just woke up from sleep.

"They didn't want you and Ari to go out in the world looking like you've been away from civilization for years," I wanted to say something there but he stopped me. One hand in the air and a couple of birds chippering to the point of a headache could have done that to any mutant kid. "Yes I'm aware that you have, but that's not the point. There preparing you in a way. There trying to get you to do an experiment for them." I chuckled.

"I'm not into those these days." Daniel laughed with me. Porter grinned, but other than that seemed serious. Daniel and I stopped immediately.

"They want us for something. When we escaped they realized they wouldn't be able to get our powers-"

"All I have are bird wings!" I cut him off and this time my serious face was as strong as his. Daniel whistled next me , but I kept on going. Of course his everlasting gaze didn't quit either.

"Is it that hard to believe the School didn't leave you, and some of the others, empty handed?" He was referring to the flock and I. I glanced at Daniel his face on the ground, but clearly in the conversation. I wish I could have seen if Ari was up.

"So what did they give me?"

"It's hidden. Even from Daniel." I didn't even look at Daniel knowing full well his head was facing the ground.

"That whole experiment thing. What is that?" He smiled. For that first time he broke the endless stare.

"I Don't know everything," He said pointing at himself. "I'm not psychic." He pretended to push a rock with his mind. Hands waving and eyes squinting. Daniel whooped in laughter and I grinned. I was used to the whole guy thing. You know how they take a serious moment and turn it into a joke to smoothen the mood.

"Shut up!" Ari yelled and it startled us. He was so calm before. I heard a noise. It was the ticking again. So someone was entering the courtyard. Like clock work we all stared at the door. We shifted are bodies for a better tough guy position. Porter was glancing around at the chains and bars holding us. Huh. Smart kid. I kept my full concentration on the door. A man walked in from the east door. The sun was setting so it was easier to tell. It basically went we were on the west and the wind was blowing north. All we had to do was break out of these bars and fly-.

"No, Max" Something cut off my train of thought. Great the voice again. It ringed in my head like a bell. "They can't fly."

"Oh shit." I mumbled and looked around. I had gotten attached. There was no way I was leaving without them. Damn. Saving the world was already hard.