Chapter Seven

Max's POV

Max, said Jeb. Max, don't do this. I'm warning you.

I wanted to practically scream in fustration. Oh, like you 'helped' me at the house?

I heard Jeb sigh, and for an agonizing minute there was no sound in my head. Wow, I never thought I'd ever say that sentence.

Jeb spoke up. Listen, Max, the reason why I agreed to--

Kill me? I thought.

Max, he said, Listen to me. I beg you. The world is in danger yet again. Something evil is growing, something far more powerful than what you've faced before. The lack of Erasers at your prison cell should have hinted you to it.

I had noticed that, but I never thought that it was much. I mean, after all, if we were in a prison cell, what was the point of Erasers? From past experiences, having Erasers guarding a prison was equivalent to suicide. Or something near it.

Jeb went on. What you are going to be forced to fight is something much more powerful than what you--or the world--has ever faced. It will not be another Itex. There will be no more Erasers; there will be no more Flyboys. A world superorginization is going to put the rest of the world in danger. And it will be your fault if you fail. The world is in your hands again, Max. I expect you to do well.

I was stock still, the rest of the Flock staring at me on the other side of the room. "Hey," said Fang. "Are we leaving?"

I sushed him. "I'm trying to have a conversation with Jeb," I said.

Jeb continued again. I may not be able to talk to you for a long time. If that is the case, remember this: thirty-- Jeb stopped talking. He cursed. I heard another man speaking. I only got bits and pieces of the conversation, but what I did get I stored in my memory for future reference.

The man was saying, "Jeb. Your...up. But if...again."

Well. That was helpful.

Since Jeb was the one closest to the microphone or whatever he talked to me from, I could hear him better. "Relax, Cloud, the subject's being briefed."

I think I heard the man--Cloud--laugh. He sounded strong and African-American. "You can't...to us...what you've been...to."

I heard Jeb begin to talk, but he was interrupted by Cloud. "You're time's up, Jeb."

A gun went off, then a loud crashing noise. I heard Jeb breathing hard. Maximum Ride...I've always loved you...remember this: 38, 55. -77, 0. I love you...goodbye...

There was silence, then I heard nothing.

Jeb Batchelder had died.

My POV

Geez...where was Fang? Vanessa had been waiting for almost an hour now. She checked her watch. It had been an hour. Vanessa sighed. She walked towards the woods and took her jacket off. Making sure no one saw her, she released her wings.

They were amazing, velvety but light. They gleamed silver in the morning sun, and reached almost fifteen feet. Vanessa licked her lips at the thought of flying with Fang again. He was totally falling for her.

It was then that she heard the first shot and saw the bullet wizz off of a tree next to her.

Vanessa began to run.

Max's POV

We had managed to get out through the window and found ourselves in a seven-foot opening between the brick exterior of our prison cell and a ten-foot high barbed-wire fence. Not that that would stop us, but we needed to find Angel. We were single file, and we had shed our jackets so we could do an up-and-away quickly when needed. I was still bothered about the random numbers Jeb had given me before he died. I hadn't told the others, only Fang, so they wouldn't break down crying and ruin the escape mission. I was in front, with Nudge behind me and Gazzy behind her. Iggy followed and Fang was at the back. We barely were making any noise, being careful not to step on leaves. We walked in each other's footsteps, as we were taught.

We had to find Angel. If we didn't, then who knows what they would put her through. It would be simple. We could go back to the house and tell Mom about Jeb's unfortunate fate. Then everything would be alright.

Boy, was I wrong.