Hi! Thank you so much for reading. Do review if you can. It is so nice to read responses. I'm so glad you guys like the story so far! I hope you continue to as it goes on.

Sentence of the Day: Insight into the real Max. (Just a heads up)

Enjoy!

Chapter 4: The Pretense

Our old cages were literally that. Cages. Just stacked on top of one another in a large empty room.

It was uncomfortable. But at least I could see through the bars and hold the hands of anyone feeling scared. It was my job. I'm the oldest.

Everything was so neat I felt sick.

Each cage had walls in between them, top and bottom.

The only bars were on the side facing out. And then it looked out into the corridor separating the two sides of cages.

It was so claustrophobic.

Then they had separated all the people that used to be in our room.

Granted that we were in different piles, and I didn't really know anyone else well, but just the feeling of others just made one feel…not so alone.

We became Section A. The only kids with wings.

It was so efficient. Their new system.

I hated it.

Nudge tapped the wall between us. Two feeble taps.

"Max." Her voice was so soft I could hardly hear her. "I'm scared."

This usually would have been the time I stuck my hands out through the bars and took hers. I would have squeezed her fingers to let her know I knew. I would have smiled as comfortingly as I could possibly manage. I would have told her that I was there, and that it would be okay. Everything would be okay because we were together.

I couldn't do that this time. I couldn't hold her. I couldn't see her. I wanted to slam my fists against the walls. I wanted to break them down so I could hug her close to me. I wanted to tell her it was going to be okay.

But everything wasn't going to be okay.

Everything was changing.

I hated this. I hated it what they were doing to us. But I knew escape was impossible. That's why I never tried. They would find us. I knew that.

We thought it was bad before. Now it was worse. And I didn't even know where Fang and Iggy were.

"Max?" Her voice cracked. "A-are you there?"

I knew what I had to do. I did it everyday.

I would pretend.

I would pretend I wasn't scared.

I would pretend that the pain I was feeling didn't hurt me.

I would pretend that I was strong when on the inside I wanted to curl up and cry.

I would pretend that I didn't care when the White Coats hit me, or the Erasers beat me.

I would pretend to be the invincible Max. The one who always knew what to say.

I would be the invincible Max.

"Huh? Oh sorry, I think I dozed off for a sec." My voice was calm. Steady.

God, I hate myself. Dozed off? Really?

"The cages here are much bigger don't cha think? So much more comfortable than those other ones we had." In control. I'm in control.

Dumb move, Max. Don't talk about the cages. Quick! Change the subject!

"Y-yeah, I-I guess." She sounded confused. Confused was good. At least she didn't want to cry.

"Only problem is, if you start talking in your sleep I can't reach over and shut you up." I laughed.

Please find that funny.

There was silence on the other side.

I cringed. Silence could be so painful sometimes.

"I talk in my sleep?" Nudge sounded more like herself now.

I breathed a soft sigh of relief. "Yeah. Something about donuts and coffee."

A giggle. "Oh!" I could imagine her smile. "I remember that! I think it was because I saw that the other day when they had first tried the coffee experiment or something on us. The white coats had been…"

I closed my eyes and tried to calm my racing heart. I managed to make her forget for a while. But for how long?

I remember when I first started pretending.

It was for Fang.

I think we were four or five years old. He was so scared of needles. I remember I was scared too, but seeing his face right before they stuck those horrible things in us made me forget my fear. It made me angry instead.

I started pretending it was nothing. I started teasing him for being afraid. I made a bet with him to see who would cry first. Now it's become a ritual for us.

I've been pretending ever since.

I'm still scared. Of so many things.

But I can't be. For them.

Cuz' if I don't, then who will?

They are my responsibility. My family.

I'm the oldest.

I can't ever show any weaknesses.

I have to be brave. For them.

Then sooner or later, I won't have to pretend.

I'd get so used to it I won't have to lie.

It would become a reality.

I would become invincible.

But until that time comes. I'll just keep on pretending.

This was not initially the chapter I planned on posting, but after I wrote it i felt, that it was really necessary.

It's not exactly the direction i had planned the story to go originally (i wanted it more light hearted and funny). And don't worry it won't be like this all the time. But I felt that this really explained a lot about Max's character and why she is always so brave and strong.

For those of you wondering about Fang and Iggy, have no fear. They should be in the next chapter.

Should be...

Disclaimer: I don't own Maximum Ride.