HOLY FUDGE! 37 REVIEWS? YOU GUYS ARE AMAZING! THAT'S THE MOST I'VE EVER GOTTEN! Actually, before that the most I've ever gotten on one chapter was like 12.

Do you know how long I pranced around the house like a pony while my mom threatened to call the metal institute? A very long time!

I. Need. Help.

I know, my mom's told me already.

So, people have been telling me I need to describe the surrounding bit better, maybe a little more imagery, so I hope this chapter improve on that little issue! If not, then tell me what to fix, or add! :)

I would tell you guys I love you, but then I'd have to kill you, so all I'm gonna say is…Y'ALLS ARE MY PEEPS! Ohhh was that just a tad bit awkward? Ah well.

WOW lots of you guessed how Max escaped…but no one was really close! So...ready for the moment of truth? READ ON BEFORE YOU GET ARRESTED BY IGGY! (Fang's too busy trying to catch Max…)

MAX POV

"Oww! Get your elbow out of my face!" I whispered, slapping Nudge's elbow before it could go up my nose.

I was in an air vent at the moment, with Nudge beside me, and Angel in front to lead the way, not to mention she practically broke my jaw by her repeated kicking and "Sorry Max!"'s. I swear if I taste the bottom of her shoe one more time…

We were slowly wiggling through the vent, trying to find the cursed exit.

So how do I come to this awkward position? Well you can thank elbow-girl there next to me.

So here's the story:

After Fang left, the Officer that led the interrogation got a guard to keep watch over my cell, I still had a couple of tricks up my sleeves.

What? You thought I'd give in that easy? Not even in your dreams is that possible.

So get over it.

This is how I managed to escape. I was pretending to sleep once I went in my cell. See, the guard turned off the lights for some reason, who knows. Probably feeling 'sorry' for me. Loser.

Mistake #1.

He then sat down on a chair and lazily looked back and forth keeping 'watch', while I was 'sleeping'.

Mistake #2.

Since there was no 'threat' (little did he know I was still freaking awake, and they call themselves cops?) he dozed off after a couple of hours.

Mistake #3.

And that's when Nudge showed up.

Luck #1. (you know, it really pays of when fate decided to jump over to your side…)

She actually deactivated the alarms, and snuck past the guards at the front door. Oh right, I forgot to tell you, Nudge is a technology freak.

Don't ask me how, she can barely multiply.

It comes in handy though, like I don't know, when you're trying to escape from your jail cell. Very convenient.

She apparently couldn't open the locks for the wing I was in (right, she deactivates federal alarms but can't pick a lock?).

And this is the funny part.

Angel managed to get a key from one of the guards (I'll save you the gory details) and unlocked it, since my 'guard' was snoozing like a fat baby, he didn't notice.

I had a chain around my ankle, which Angel had to pry off with a beat stick. Yeah, it's pretty bruised around that area, that's all I'm going to say.

We managed to pry open an air vent with my handy dandy paper clip in my pocket (and I found lots and lots of lint) because we couldn't risk having an officer see us.

So they got me out, hence, I'm in an air vent with Angel's shoe in my mouth.

"Moo yo sho!"

"Sorry Max," she said sheepishly. Again! Not my type of escape route, but anything's better than that mini chamber of doom.

"Oh, here we are, we should come out the side of the building, there's a little building up ahead, we'll go behind, ok?" Angel said, wiggling forward and rolling out of the vent.

Nudge was next, then finally me.

"Took you guys long enough!" I said, and then we ran to the building.

"We did the best we could!" Angel huffed.

If your slow comprehending minds are going but how did Angel and Nudge know Max was in trouble?

Then I recommend you go to a better school, or watch more T.V. Or just go away.

Ok?

Remember the blood I left back there when the two dudes got me? I 'slipped'. What's his face? Farm? No. Fan! Oh wait, no. Oh I got it! Fang! Fang? What kind of name was that? That's like naming your kid Tooth.

Well that's our flocks' cry for help. Very efficient if I do say so myself.

"Yeah Max, we found your little 'M'. But did you really have to do it with blood? You scared us for a second," Nudge said, grimacing.

I shrugged, "I was tied up, and I didn't have anything else."

We wove through alleys. I didn't recognize this part of the city, so I let Angel lead.

"Thanks guys, that was so awesome Nudge! The way you totaled screw up those alarms? Genius!" I high fived her and she smiled.

"Where are we going to go this time? No doubt they'll be after you when they realize you're gone."

Damn logic.

"Uh, oh! You guys, you still have the money right?" Nudges eyes widened and so did Angel's.

"Oh crap! We left it in our old hiding spot!" Angel exclaimed. I groaned.

"Come on," I said grimly, "unless you're up for some cooked mouse today, I suggest we get that money."

"Um Max? Can we have rat instead? Mice are too icky," Angel said seriously. That's my girl, always looking for the bright side.

I rolled my eyes, "Sure."

"I call the tail!" Nudge said. Ok, we're kidding, God you guys can be slow. We'll find something else to eat.

Truth be told, Rat is actually better than mouse, try it!

Angel led us back to our previous hiding spot. I found our stuff, neatly stored in a box. There was a hobo sitting across from it, and when he saw us, he got up and started rubbing Nudge's arm.

That's what we like to call northern hospitality.

"Eww!" she slapped him and moved away. He grumbled then threw a rock at me. Oh wait, no that was a sock.

I'm so out of here.

I grabbed my backpack with the money and put my hand up to wait for a cab.

Years of hitchhiking folks, years of hitchhiking…

"Manhattan," I commanded, we slipped into the cab. Behind the wheel was a guy, maybe 18,19ish.

"And why might you fine young ladies be going to Manhattan from New York City?" he smiled dazzlingly at us. Fine young ladies? When was the last time we had a bath? Like 2 months ago? And our clothes were so screwed up it looked like we had dead animals on our bodies.

Awkward.

"Visiting our mom, we haven't seen her in a while," Nudge lied smoothly. He shrugged and started driving. The buildings went past us in a blur. There's no doubt they've found out I'm missing by now, so right now, I just hope we can get away.

A little while later, we arrived and I climbed out. I fished a wad of money from my pack and handed it to him. He stared at me with wide-eyes.

"Keep the change." What can I say, I was felling extremely generous at the moment.

I rushed Nudge and Angel from the taxi.

"Max, where are we going?" Nudge asked. I saw the Empire State Building looming over us.

"First, a place to stay," I headed into a hotel. Angel and Nudge followed hesitantly.

The Hotel's name was Sharon's. I walked over to the registration desk, and there sat a guy around 20, with ruffled brown hair and dark green eyes.

"How may I help you?" he asked. His eyes were twinkling.

"I need a room, 3 beds. We're going to visit our grandmother," I said. I didn't like the way he was looking at me, like I was prey.

Why do I always end up meeting guys like this?

And the worst part was, I couldn't do anything about it without drawing curious eyes.

"That's fine, I just need you to fill out these papers real quick, and I'll need to see your credit card."

I filled out the papers; my 'name' was Sarah Jackson, with my two sisters Ally and Kelly. I was supposedly '19'.

I gave him my papers, and he looked up at me once more, his eyes calculating. I was tempted to hit him but if I did, it would bring attention to us.

I handed him the money by cash, and he looked at me quizzically. I raised my eyebrows, daring him to say anymore. He just shrugged and gave us the keys. Before I could walk away he grabbed my arm.

"Hey, I'm Mark, just so…you know. Anyway, I was wondering how long you'll be staying…"

I turned irritatingly at him, "Touch me and/or talk to me one more time, and that's the last thing you'll ever do."

I spun on my heels and got on the elevator with Angel and Nudge. They had big smiles on their faces, excited about staying in a hotel.

"Oh! Do they really have those tiny shampoo bottles? That would be so cute! And-," I kicked Nudge in the shin. She glared at me and went on rambling with Angel.

Ok, say the truth and it shall set you free.

I've never been to a hotel.

Yup.

And if you have something to say to me, I suggest you go to the other side of the planet so I don't come after you.

You don't believe me? Go ahead and give it a try.

We got to the 12th floor, where our room was located. We didn't have any luggage so it was an easy move.

"Max can we get new clothes? I think mine are starting to rot," Nudge said sadly, once we entered the room.

It was awesome! It didn't smell like crap like every other place we've lived! It had three small rooms, and everything was white. The living room was a light brown, and the kitchen was made from wood.

"It's like one of those things that advertise 'Perfect Lives', "I thought.

"Yeah Max, any longer now and my shirt is going to grow some legs and walk off of me," Angel pouted.

I laughed, catching them off guard. I was just happy to be back with them, and for once, we weren't sleeping in the dumpster!

"Sure, we don't want rabid clothes going around biting people and giving them rabies now do we?" I turned mockingly towards them. I was in a good mood, and it felt nice.

I'd almost forgotten what it was like to be happy.

We finished checking out or rooms, and we 'ooo-ed and 'awww-ed' in the bathroom (not like that sickos!) cherishing the toilet paper.

Really, just please, don't ask.

We raced each other out of the hotel.

Nudge, Angel and I strolled around from store to store, mall to mall. We bought a couple of hotdogs off the streets, and they were the best weenies ever! We had each gotten a couple of outfits, and we bought food to put in our room.

It was one of the happiest days of my life. Nudge couldn't stop talking about all the 'cute clothes' there are, and Angel was admiring her new converse. I watched them, happy that they're happy.

Having an easy life can turn you into such a sap.

Now I know why I can pound most people like potatoes.

We didn't start to head back to our room until around 1am. We were eating cotton candy, and Nudge skipped ahead.

"Max, wasn't this awesome! We should definitely do this again soon! Like, tomorrow! I saw these shoes that I really wanted…"

She stopped in mid sentence. Without me telling her too. That's a nice change.

She was staring off into the night, squinting her eyes, as if looking for something. I grabbed Angel's arm and we rushed up to Nudge.

"What's wrong?" I whispered. Suddenly, I realized we were alone on the small street. We had turned down an alley without my noticing.

Tall walls of buildings surrounded us. I could see the car lights flashing of passing vehicles just 300 yards away. If need be, we could make a run for it.

"The hotel is just two blocks away, let's run," Angel tugged on our arms, and we turned to go.

"I could have sworn-" Nudge started.

"You could have swore correctly," a man said, popping his head out from a window.

I dropped the bag of clothes I was holding, and so did my friends.

Well that was totally unexpected.

All the windows of the facing walls opened, but instead of people, guns came out. And guess who they were pointing at?

Les trios filles!

The man jumped from the window, and I recognized him. He caught me when I tried to escape last time. Behind him, was a smirking Fang and the blind dude.

I searched for a way out, "You can't run Maximum, if you move, we kill you. If you talk, we kill you, if you resist, we kill you."

I knew there was no way out of it this time; they caught us, once and for all.

Someone climbed down the side of a building on a ladder, he came up to us and flashed us his badge.

"I'm from the government, I'm here to help," he said. Oh no, not Ronald Reagan's scariest words!

More men popped from behind corners and windows. Before they could reach us, I tilted my head and twitched my nose. Angel and Nudge just barely nodded. That was our signal for hold on, don't do anything.

For precaution, they used four men on each of us, and I was proud. Look at the reputation I've built.

They snapped hand-cuffs and ankle-cuffs onto us. Not to mention they still had about 20 guns pointed at our brains.

How lovely.

"What, you're not going to try to run? You're not going to fight back?" Fang said, waving his arms about. I snickered inwardly, that guy is such an idiot.

"Officer Hall! Officer Hall! Come over here!" an official called, he had a small laptop type thing in his hand, and was staring intently at the screen.

The man who walked out the window, Officer Hall, went to him. The police at my arms dragged me over to a car, along with Nudge and Angel.

"Put them in separate cars," one said, and they went to do so.

"Ow! Hello, can't you be a bit more careful!" Nudge whined. I knew it didn't hurt her; she was putting up an act, just like I had taught her.

I looked to see Angel looking all innocent and sad; her eyes were blurred from fake tears. The police at her arms looked guilty, as if they were arresting a little puppy.

I'm so proud of my little girls.

Officer Hall was still talking when Fang came over, holding on to the tall blonde's arm.

"What it is?" he said gruffly. I swiveled my head, yup, we still had loaded guns pointing at us. How to get out of this situation…

"What? Already?" Fang gasped, and whispered it to Iggy, his face went even whiter than it usually was.

Officer Hall told the police around him and their faces set into deep snarls and frowns. They all looked at me with even more hatred than before.

What did I do?

Wait, let me rephrase that.

What did I do that they knew about?

Nudge and Angel looked at me with questioning gazes. I looked back at Fang, his face devoid of emotion.

I couldn't take it anymore, what happened?

"What?" I demanded, looking at as many officers in the eyes as I could.

"I would tell you, but you'd probably just rejoice afterwards," Officer Hall spat. What the hell was he talking about?

He must have seen my dumbfounded expresion and he finally spilled.

"You mongrel! Riley Jones, your 'best friend'," he used his hands to demonstrate quotations, "Just killed his next victim!"

His face was a deep red. I felt kind of nervous now. It wasn't my fault, I mean, was it? I didn't know he was a murderer!

"And if you have just a bit of goodness in that small black hole of yours, his victim was a seven year old girl. Her name was Kate, she was on a field trip to the zoo, when Jones shot her in the head. She lives in Arizona, actually. Her mom committed suicide a couple hours later from depression. All thanks to you Ms. Maximum, I hope you're happy."

I took an involuntary step back. He...he killed a seven year old? I must have had a horrified look on my face, because Hall said, "Huh, looks like you do have a conscience."

The guilt was literally gnawing on my insides, making me feel woozy and light headed. Did a little innocent girl just lose her life because of me?

Fang was still staring at me, and I stared right back.

"In the car, now," said one of the guards holding me. I climbed into the car, and waited for whatever it is they wanted to do with me.

I swore to myself, that when I escape again, I'm going to find this Riley Jones, and take care of him myself.

FANG POV

I got into the police car with Iggy and Officer Hall.

I took in a deep breath.

Riley Jones has just committed another murder…

Because of Max?

I watched the police cars containing the three girls drive behind us with their sirens on. Who were those other girls with Max?

They were both younger, that I could tell. And from what they look like, they weren't related.

They were both tall, one had dark skin, and curly, frizzy hair. The other had fair skin, with bouncy blonde curls.

But it was plainly obvious to all of us that Max cared about these two girls, a lot, but the way she kept looking at them, as if to make sure they were still alright.

But why? Who are they? All these crappy questions and no freaking answers…ugh.

No one said a thing the whole ride, and the tension was unbearable. Iggy was as dumbfounded as I was; I didn't really believe Max would do something like that on purpose, would she?

No, she wouldn't. She may be meaner then a rabid dinosaur, but she would never kill someone on purpose.

I mean, yeah she's done some really bad stuff in her life but…taking a life?

We got back into the police station, and the guards showed no mercy towards the girls. They literally dragged them out, and stuffed them in a room made fully from steel. Usually, these cells were reserved for the extreme criminals.

I guess they do kind of fit.

"Hey!" Max snapped. "Be careful with them!" she said, nodding at the girls.

See what I mean? She wasn't careful with me when I was arresting her way nicer than those dudes.

Officer Hall had men chain them to the wall, and they used more than one chain. Each girl had all their limbs tied to the wall. Max was on the middle wall, while the dark skinned girl took the right and the youngest took the left.

Officer Hall opened the cell door and shooed all but me, Iggy, and Mr. Gates away.

Max really did look bad. Her face was flushed, as if with shame, and she wouldn't look anybody in the eye as we walked in.

"I see you've finally learned the meaning of shame," Gates said calmly, pointedly addressing it to Max.

She kept her head low, unusual for such an obnoxious brat, and she didn't say anything.

"Did you do this intentionally? That makes you a murderer just like Jones! What kind of sick, horrible-," but Officer Hall was cut off, and a good thing too, I thought he was about to blow up. And guess who would have to clean the pieces? That's right, me.

"So you think I'm a murderer?" Max seethed. "What do I have to do to convince you that I'm not? Be the next victim?"

She was quivering in her spot, not from fear, but rage.

"Well that would be a start," said Iggy. Max gave him a look that said If I had a hold of a knife, I'd throw it away and kill you with a dull rock instead.

Funny, I feel the same was about Ig sometimes.

Ooook, off topic.

Officer Hall sighed. "Ok Max, either you answer, or we lock you up, and send these two girls to foster homes. They haven't done anything, we've checked records, tapes, files, everything. This is your last chance."

I saw Max bolt up in surprise when he said foster homes. The other two girls stared at him in disbelief.

"F-f-foster homes?" The blonde stuttered.

"Yeah, there are actually two women who are excited to meet you waiting outside. They say you'll love your new homes."

You could plainly tell that neither of the girls looked pleased with this.

Max coughed, "Do you mind if we, ah, you, ah, if we discussed this matter alone?"

Officer Hall threw up his hands in frustration but Gates put a hand on his shoulder.

"Of course," Gates said, and he led us out of the cell.

A couple minutes later we heard Max bang her head on the wall, since the rest of her was immobile at the moment.

"You can come in!" she yelled. We walked back in.

"What if I so happen to tell you what you want…what happens then?" We decided that Officer Hall shouldn't talk, he was getting just a bit out of control.

Gates answered, "Well Max, you'll still probably end up in jail, I'm sure you understand. And these two girls…we'll just find a new life for them."

The three girls shared a look. But Gates still had something to say.

"Unless…"

I shot a look at Iggy, but he didn't even notice (just because he was blind doesn't mean he doesn't realize you're looking at him), he was concentrating on the words that had just left Mr. Gates mouth.

"Unless…" Max said.

He looked quite uncomfortable, so Officer Hall took charge. Apparently he knew what he was going to say.

"There's no point hiding it Max, we know you'd take a bullet for these girls by the way you act near them. You'd never let them near a foster home."

She looked surprised and opened her mouth to say something but he cut her off.

"We'll let them stay with you, but only if you agree," he had a small smile on his face. Whoa, wasn't he just like raving mad 30 seconds ago?

I whispered what I saw to Iggy and he just shrugged, not knowing what was going on.

"Just remember, if you say no, you lose everything you have, which by what I know, is only these two girls."

"Ok ok I get it!" Max said, getting impatient. "What? What do I have to agree to?"

Gates stepped forward, "Max, we want you to join the FBI."

Yup, I've officially gone crazy.

OH OH OH! What do you think Max is going to say? Or do you think she's just going to escape again? What do you think will happen next?

Did you like? Opinions?

Man, poor Fang! The guy is having some serious problems!

Again, I want to thank you for the reviews, they were awesome, you have no idea how much I love them!

OH WAIT! Before you go, do you want the next chapter in FANG POV or MAX POV?

Chapter dedication to the first reviewer who guesses the closest to what is going to happen next!

YOUR HOMMIE!

~BookHunter