Me: Hey Skyders!

Fang: 'Sup.

Me: Sorry about the delay in update, I had exams all of last week and haven't had any time to write. Anyone following 'My Real Life Nightmare', I'm extremely sorry but I have neglected a chapter for this week. I will have something up soon for that!

Fang: I'm sure.

Me: Oh shush... So without any more nonsense, I'll give you all the new chapter!

Disclaimer: Still own zilch. Not even the computer I'm using... It's my Daddy's.

Chapter 4

Max POV

Lights. The blinding bastards filled the ceiling, burning little marks into the backs of my eyelids. I woke up, but not where I fell asleep. I wasn't in a crate at all, anymore. I couldn't see Fang, or any of the equipment in the room before.

Apparently, I was strapped down. And they didn't want me to move, from the looks of it. I say this from the pressure sensitive locks on my arms, wrists, ankles, waist and one just below my neck, sort of over my collar bone. Every time I tried to move, they tightened. Brilliant. That'll make it so much easier to escape.

Twisting my head gently to the side, I noticed the blinding white lights weren't the only thing in the room that was going to make my skin crawl. I was at the School, so I should've expected no less. But laying in perfect order to the right of my head, were about fifteen different syringes, needles and all round pokey things. Not looking good.

Turning my head gently back to the left, I noticed another bed next to me. The figure rolled over slightly, but even without seeing his face, I knew who it was.

"What's happening, Max?" Fang asked, almost afraid. Before you start complaining about how wussy he was being, remember this. He's only fifteen, a couple months younger than me; just seen his whole family die in front of him a few days ago, all bar me. And now that we were both back at the school and strapped down to the slice 'n' dice tables, it's understandable he was so afraid.

"I don't know," I whispered. "I really don't know."

I grimaced when one of the bands on my arms began to tighten. "I didn't even move!" I screamed at nothing. It was then my question was answered by everyone's favourite scientist, please hold your applause, Jeb Batchelder!

"Hello Max," he stated, as if we'd just met up on the street.

"Jeb," I spat.

"Now, now, that's no way to treat your father," he began. I merely rolled my eyes.

"Yeah, well you can't talk. Look at the way you've treated me for the last fifteen years of my life!"

"Well, you two wouldn't be alive if it weren't for me." And he smiled. Oh it was on.

"AND THE REST OF THEM WOULDN'T BE DEAD EITHER!" I shrieked at him.

"Max, you know that I didn't want any of them to be harmed," he reasoned. But I was far beyond reasoning.

"No, Jeb," I shouted. "You know that you did! You always wanted to bring them all back here and play scientist again until one of them ended up dead. You're never satisfied until someone's dead, are you!"

"Wha... What do you mean?" he stuttered.

"Oh you know exactly what I mean," I said, hoping each word drove nails of ice into his spine. "First Ari," I paused, letting my words take effect. "Then Hans. And now my whole Flock." I could feel the hot pricks of tears in the back of my eyes at the mention of my Flock. "You're never satisfied until they're all dead. Who's next, me?" I laughed lightly on this. "Good luck."

Fortunately, my desired result was achieved, Jeb stormed out.

"You okay," Fang asked. Unable to process my words, I nodded and bit my lip.

After a moment I felt the inevitable tears roll down my cheeks. I let out a jagged breath. "God, I'm so weak," I muttered to myself. But obviously loud enough that I was heard by my remaining bird-boy.

"No," he whispered. "Max, you're so brave. You're so incredibly brave."

"Thank you, Fang," I sighed.

And with that the doors swung open, bringing in a young looking female. I would've called her a whitecoat, except her coat wasn't white... It was black. And open, with a purple singlet under it.

Her dark brown hair hung in a loose plait, and she had a fringe that sat at about eyebrow level.

"Was he in here?" she asked. Sounding so familiar, I couldn't help myself but think about who she was... Or could be, anyway. Shaking her head she continued. "Sorry about him, but I guess you're already used to Jeb, hey?"

"Yeah," I said, sounding like a question.

"Are you," Fang began, before second guessing himself.

"Zila?" she asked, looking over at him, before fiddling with some machines at each of our beds. He nodded briefly back to her. "Yeah, that's me. And as you can see from the coat," she gestured at the black material hanging off her shoulders, "I'm not quite you're average whitecoat."

"But you're still here," I asked, not totally sure if she was still going to do the normal whitecoat thing to us.

"Unfortunately," Zila said. From how conclusive she sounded, I didn't argue it. I'd leave that for another time, if I survived to see her again.

"Well, just wondering how long the execution will take?" I asked, laughing a little. This had to be it, she was gonna hack into us again and there would go the only whitecoat (blackcoat) I thought I'd be able to trust...

"I'm not doing anything to you guys," she said checking flashing stuff at Fang's head. "Not in terms of ripping you open, anyways..."

"Okay," I nodded carefully, trying not to set off the neck brace thing. "So what then?"

"I'm just testing your vitals before moving you into the dorms," she said, writing down something.

"Dorms?" Fang whispered, barely audible to me, let alone Zila. I shrugged, only relaxing my shoulders to find myself suffocating.

"Gah!" I choked as the band kept tightening. Zila whipped around to see why I'd made such a strange sound.

"Ah!" she squeaked, fumbling over some switches to stop the band. "Sorry, Max..."

"All good," I mumbled, turning my head gently. "So, mind telling us about these 'dorms'?"
"Basically they renamed the room with all the crates in it..." Zila muttered, walking over to Fang and unfastening some of the locks.

"I see," I said as she undid my locks. "So there's some new kids on the block, am I right?"

"Yeah, we have a lot more experiments happening now so there are a few new kids around." I sat up on my table, casually cracking my knuckles and neck. "You've met Evangeline?"

"Evangeline's an experiment?" Fang asked thinking the same thing as me.

"She thinks of herself as higher to the rest of the kids..." Zila scowled, clearly not approving of her. "Well there are a couple new ones and some of the older kids you mightn't remember... It's been ages since you were here..."

"Yeah, we were enjoying it too," I laughed, glancing over to Fang, who gave a small smile and raised his eyebrows quickly.

"I'm sure you were," she sighed, tapping in the last few stats. "Unfortunately the new experiments aren't so well behaving and Porsoft got annoyed…"

"Your boss?" I said, stretching my arms across my chest.

"Mmm hmm," she walked over towards the door. "Now, if you guys are ready, you're outta here."

"Don't tease us," I said, taking 'outta here' as something totally different.

"I wish," Fang said, as he walked over to me and slipped his hand in mine. He gave it a reassuring squeeze, and flashed his irresistible smile.

Zila tapped in a key by the door and led us out. We passed several Erasers on our way to the elevator, and it took all I had not to jump and kill every single one of them.

We all got in the elevator and took to the fourth floor. I stumbled out, my balance screwed from the gravity defying box of doom.

"Okay," Zila mumbled, pulling out her key card. "Welcome to the dorms." She clicked open the doors to reveal a relatively relaxed room. I saw about ten kids walking around.

There were three girls sitting in one of the small rooms, two sitting on the small bed, and one on the floor in front.

Some guys were standing around together and actually laughing. I couldn't imagine what about.

This was nothing like the school I'd left. I wasn't even sure it was the same building. We'd been kept in small cages, all stuffed in a cold, dark room. This was almost a happy place to be.

I instantly knew something was wrong. But what, that was the real question.

Me: So that's that!

Fang: Well that seemed pleasant.

Me: And since Dad is yelling at me to hurry up, this will be quick.

PLQ WINNER: Sunsets! And thank you for introducing me to Breaking Benjamin! I'm liking their stuff now heaps!

PLQ: Anyone watch MotoGP? If so, who do you go for/want to win Phillip Island?

MY PLA: Valentino Rossi!

Me: So have a great week guys, and I'll be back as soon as I can!

Fang: Stay sane guys!

Me: Or at least how "sane" you are normally, Skyders!

Love, Kate & Fang!

RR&A!