Love or hate, whatever comes first.


It was the day after we gave Nudge her couch. I was a bit overwhelmed and scared when she hugged me. I hope she didn't feel the minuscule yet noticeable bumps on my chest.

We were at Fang's house around seven o'clock. About an hour earlier before she actually had to work.

Angel and Vix were playing with dolls while Gazzy and Vulpe separated themselves by playing some violent video game.

As for me, I was sitting on the couch reading the newspaper in front of the T.V. I took a gracious bite out of the omelette that Iggy had made me. I envied him for his talent to make toast taste good.

Fang was next to me, his eyes glued to the television and his posture hunched over.

My eyes skimmed over an article about an old burnt down house hidden.

The Johnson family has abandoned their house after half of it was burnt down a month ago. Efforts to rebuild the house were futile and they have moved into an apartment on Silver Oak Avenue. The water and electricity have been cut off and-

That's all I needed to read. I smirked to myself, a plan already formulating.

Fang snorted next to me.

My eyes snapped up, "What?" I asked defensively

"What could possibly so funny in the newspaper that you have to smile at it?" Fang tried to glance at the article I was reading.

I quickly flipped to a different page. If he caught me smiling at an article about a burnt down house, no doubt he'd probably view me as sadistic person, "I was reading the jokes."

"Our newspapers don't even have jokes. The most entertaining thing in there is the crossword puzzle."

I didn't have time to reply. My head jerked upward when a blonde news reporter appeared on the screen.

"The search for the Batchelder siblings is still on. Their father, Jeb Batchelder, has offered a reward of $2,000 for anyone who could find them."

I tensed. That $2,000 probably came from my bank account.

"The three children, Maximum Batchelder, Ariel Batchelder, and Zach Batchelder went missing June 16th."

Automatically, Jeb's round face was on the T.V. I almost looked away in disgust, but I couldn't move.

His brown hair was laced with grey highlights and his dull blue eyes were glazed over, "I just want my children back. My oldest, Maximum, is stubborn. I fear she took her siblings and ran off. I have lost both my wives and my children are the only reminder I have left of them."

Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. . Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies.

I ripped my entranced gaze from the screen to look down. Fang was leaning forward in interest, his elbows resting on their knees.

It flashed on the screen. My face. Maximum Myst Batchelder. Not Max Ride. It was my yearbook picture from my Junior year. Long, wavy blonde streaked hair hung loosely around my t-shirt. My chocolate brown eyes gazed blankly at the photographer. My lips were tugged down into a frown, and my fingers were clenched at my side.

"Wow, she looks pissed," Fang commented.

I squinted closely. You could faintly see the outline of a bruise on my cheek that I had poorly attempted to cover with makeup. I couldn't remember that day. Around that time, my days seemed to merge together into a black and blue whirl.

"This is the picture of the eldest, Maximum. Here are a picture of the younger two," the news reporter commentated.

My heart stopped. There was no doubt in my mind that Fang would recognize Angel and Gazzy, especially if their picture were shown side by side. It wouldn't take him long before he figured out that Max Ride was actually Maximum Batchelder. The remote was too far out of my reach and I was running out of ideas. Maybe I should tackle him? Don't guys do that all the time?

"Max! Fang! The news is so boring! I wanna watch something else," Angel had swiftly snatched the remote from table beside Fang and jabbed buttons fiercely.

I caught a flash of Gazzy and Angel's blonde hair before the channel changed to some movie in the middle of a sex scene.

Irritation was radiating off Fang like heat from a lamp, "I was watching that."

Angel made fake gagging noises at the vivid noises and motions on the screen, "Eww," she scampered off towards the backyard without another comment.

Fang grabbed the remote and switched it back to the news channel, "Poor kids."

"Huh?" I was still stunned. We were this close to being caught. Luckily, Angel noticed and had thought quickly, but her channel choice wasn't the best.

"The Batchelder children that ran away," Fang explained, his eyes never leaving the T.V.

I nodded in agreement, "I wonder how they're doing. It's a cruel world out there."


"Max!" Gazzy protested as I pulled my siblings with determination through a path in a nearby forest.

Usually we stay at Fang's house for a few hours after I'm done with work. Most of the time, we stay for dinner. Iggy's spaghetti is something I'd probably die for.

Angel has regained stamina and strength through Iggy's food. She was steadily gaining more weight, but she was still abnormally skinny.

During the summer, the sun sets around nine o'clock in Lakewood. I had to make some excuse about our mother wanting us home early to help her with something. I didn't want to stay too late at Fang's and then have to trek through the dark forest.

I grinned as I made it to our destination, "Look."

Gazzy frowned, "That's the ugliest house I've ever seen."

I cautiously walked closer. The house as secluded in a forest, but there were a few houses within eye sight, "This house was abandoned. A fire took over the left side of the house. If it looks safe enough, we'll stay here for a while."

Angel's eyes lit up, "No more dirty park benches?"

I nudged the front door with my foot. It didn't open. I attempted to turn the knob, but it was locked.

Angel stepped back and examined the house, "Have you tried any of the windows?"

"Huh?"

"Nobody would think of locking their windows when they're in a rush," Gazzy exclaimed, running towards a window, "Here, Max! Help me up!"

I prepared a lengthy speech of why he should not do that, but one look at his determined eyes, told me I shouldn't bother. I hoisted him up and watched as he tried to lift the window up.

He huffed and the window let at a high pitched squeak as it traveled upwards.

"Go Gazzy!" Angel cheered.

"Go unlock the front door if you can find it. If you see anything suspicious come back instantly," I ordered, watching as he nodded and disappeared from our sight.

Moments later I heard a click from the front door and Gazzy appears with a cheeky grin on his face, "The house looks nice."

After thirty minutes of exploring, I could tell that the owners left in a rush. There were clothes left randomly around the closets and most of the furniture remained.

Only the left side of the house was left in ashes and soot while the right side seemed untouched.

That left us with the kitchen, two bathrooms, a bedroom, and a living room.

The stairs were on the left side of the house and from what I could see, they looked ready to collapse with the pressure of a mouse.

The house was modern and neat. I knew that we wouldn't receive air conditioning from the brutal heat. According to the newspaper, the electricity and the water had been put off.

Angel was napping on the couch, which was large enough to fit all three of us. I sat next to her and laid back in the soft brown cushion.

"What do you think, Gazzy?" I mumbled to my brother who was making faces at his reflection in a mirror.

"I think it's cool!" his eyes sparkled when he turned to me, "It's shelter and we won't have to sleep in weird places anymore!"

"We'll stay here until I save enough money to get us an apartment," I promised, laying down in the green recliner. I closed my heavy eyelids, trying to massage the soreness away.

"Max! Don't fall asleep yet! You haven't seen the guest bedroom!" Gazzy protested, tugging at my arm.

I groaned, but stood up and stumbled with him to the guest bedroom.

I hesitantly opened the door, revealing a plain bedroom.

There was a queen sized bed in the center devoid of any pillows. In the corner there was a dresser with men's clothing and a mirror resting against the wall.

Gazzy collapsed on the bed, "It's like a cloud."

I snorted I laid next to him, "Get some sleep. Tomorrow we'll head to Fang's house earlier."

Gazzy turned to me with clear blue eyes, "Take your own advice, Max. Get some sleep."

I turned my head so I didn't have to look at him. He's noticed.


Funny story: I broke my fake tooth while eating a salad the other day. Now I'm left with the sad excuse of a real tooth.