Hey everyone! Here's chapter 3 :)
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Maximum Ride, James Patterson does. This story was inspired by The Winter Soldier movie.
Max POV
I tentatively opened the door to find even more kids clustered in the tiny room. After a moment, I realized they were the same bird kids who had saved me from the School.
"I'm Iggy," one of them said, "we have a lot for you to catch up on," he smirked.
A girl about 15 years old looked at me sadly with deep brown eyes, "Do you really not remember us, Max? It's me, Nudge!"
I looked down at my feet, color burning my cheeks. I felt the hopeful gazes of all the kids burning into my skin. None of these people sparked a single thing inside me. Except for-
"Max, I'm going to start from the beginning. You might want to sit down," Fang said.
"You weren't the only one. At the School, I mean. All of us were created and experimented on there. But about nine years ago, in 2007, the U.S. Recruiter Program-REPRO for short-broke us out of that hell hole. Except.. For you Max-" Fang looked to the side and looked down.
"You were all there with me? How do I not remember this?" I said, incredulous.
"We weren't just with you," Iggy growled, "We were family. They must've given you some sort of memory-wiping serum to make you forget the incident."
Fang stared at me and continued, "Anyways, they couldn't get you out in time. You were the Whitecoats most prized possession. They weren't going to let you get snatched away easily. They locked you away deep inside the complex just as REPRO forces showed up. As the Whitecoats focused on you, that's how we were able to be taken away by REPRO. I-I didn't want to leave you there alone, Max. I can't even imagine what they did to you… And you were alone, and-"
"If it was true that you guys were like family to me, I would've wanted you all to leave me and save yourselves," I said, looking up into Fang's glittering eyes.
"The point is, Max, you're safe now," Iggy continued, "Ever since we'd escaped the School, we've been working under REPRO, saving the world, doing our fair share of ass-kicking," Iggy winked.
"We weren't made to be picked and plucked at," Fang said, "We are capable of so much more, and we can do that here."
I sank down into the softness of the bed. My fingers hovered over the incredibly silky sheets, a sharp contrast from the unforgiving coldness of the metal beds at the School. I realized that I didn't have to wake up each morning, dreading the torture the day would bring. The weight of all the broken bones, ruptured organs, and all the pain seemed to slightly lift off my body. By some stroke of a miracle, I had been given a new chance. The chance I deserved.
Max POV
I sat, alert, on a black leather sofa in a spacious office, picking at a loose thread on my hospital gown. My gaze traveled to the large windows that ran from the floor to the ceiling, overlooking a lush yard and reflecting pool. I stood and wandered over to the window. I closed my eyes and imagined flying through the open air and above the reflecting pool; I mentally added it to my list of firsts.
Someone knocked the door gently and came in. It was a middle-aged lady with tan skin and deep, chocolate hair.
"Hello, Max, I'm Dr. Valencia Martinez, vice president of REPRO," she said warmly, settling down on the sofa next to me.
I did my best to try and smile at her, but it came out as more of a grimace as my right cheek ached from bruises.
"I'm so glad we were finally able to rescue you from those bastard Whitecoats," she said with a relieved smile, "We tried to locate the Whitecoat complex after our partially failed mission in 2007, but they relocated so quickly and discreetly it was near impossible to find them again. Just lately, our drones happened to detect strange activities from near the mountainside, and further investigation implied that we had found the School."
"So, you rescued me. Now what?" I said, "Sorry, I didn't mean for it to come out so bluntly," I winced.
Dr. Martinez grinned, "It's alright. I understand. Now that you're here, you have two choices. One. Choose to leave here, and we'll get you money and help needed to start a normal life in the world."
A normal life. I almost snickered at the thought.
As if reading my mind, Dr. Martinez smirked, "Or, you could stay here with the rest of the Flock, and use your abilities to make the world a better place. You don't owe the world anything, Maximum. But it's up to you if you want to make the most out of the abilities you've been given."
I confidently stared at Dr. Martinez, "I want to stay here."
There was no question about it. After all I had been through, it was unthinkable to believe that I could just settle down into a monotonous life. Hiding my wings, hiding the nightmares of the past. Maybe, one day, I could help bring down the School once and for all.
"Now, we're not going to be sending you on missions anytime soon," Dr. Martinez continued, "You need to recover and eat. You also need training. But, there are also other ways to help around here other than going out on missions. As of now, the tech wing is in dire need of someone to help them design new suits for the Flock. We'll put you there for now, see how you like it."
I nodded, absorbing the information, "When will I be able to start training?"
"You'll be able to do some light training relatively soon, as you body heals pretty quickly," Dr. Martinez pursed her lips, "I think I'll have Fang help you with that. It'll be good for you both."
"Us both?" I looked at her quizzically.
Dr. Martinez looked sadly at me, "Just a few months ago, we thought Fang was dead."
I looked at her in horror, "Why? Did he disappear?"
"In 2011, we sent him on a mission, in which we presumed him dead after it looked like it was a failure," she looked at the ground in pain, "but by some miracle, he came back. Just a few months before we rescued you. But he… was different."
"Different… how?" I asked carefully.
"I think you should hear it from Fang yourself," she said gently, "You know, you two were extremely close at the School. I hate to think that you've forgotten him completely. Being together will help you both."
I didn't know what to say to that, so I just nodded.
"And Max, one more thing. Since you've been at the School for so long, I thought that you might.. Might want someone to look after you. Or just be there for you. If you want, I could be that person. I could be your-your mother. I mean-"
"Mother," I said softly, rolling the syllables off my tongue. I remember program I watched on the TV through the bars of my cell, watching the loving caress of the mother, and the bond between her and her daughter, unparalleled by even the romantic relationships within the show. And now, I was being offered that.
I looked at Dr. Martinez, her eyes expectant, yet guarded.
"I'll- think about it." Ah, curse my eloquence.
Dr. Martinez smiled slightly, "Of course, Max. You have all the time in the world."
All the time in the world, between my hands for the first time.
Thanks for reading! I know this was kind of an info-dump chapter, but I had to get it in there.
Please R&R! I promise some fluffy stuff in the next few chapters... :)
-Jessica