Disclaimer:
All characters in this story belong to James Patterson. But the plot in this story is all mine!
Wow. I hate to give that lame excuse for being busy—which I have been!—but it's mostly 'cause of a disease called writer's block that I haven't updated.
How could I have let this happen? How?
I folded my arms tight across my chest, trying to take steady gulps of air so as to go into hyperventilation. My eyes zipped warily across the room, taking in every detail, right down to the floral wallpaper and the commercial tile floor. I memorized the exits and the faces that peered at me curiously. I wonder what her problem is, they seemed to say. Looks like a schizophrenic.
"Max, they need your signature," a low, deep voice murmured and placed a clipboard on my lap. I hurriedly scribbled a barely legible "Max" and shoved the clipboard back at Fang.
The big double doors at the end of the room swung open and a gust of air-conditioned air burst into the room, bringing with it a terrifyingly familiar scent of antiseptic.
The emergency room scared the crap out of me.
The other bird kids were seated around me, watching me with cautious eyes. I still hadn't come to my "normal" self, and Fang said he was afraid it might me long term brain damage or something. Sounded bad. I would hate to be stuck like this forever—being freaked out and constantly on edge 24/7.
"It'll all be fine," Fang reached for my hand but I flinched. He pulled back his hand, seeming nonchalant but I knew he felt hurt.
"Maximum Ride?" A high, lilting Scottish accent called. I raised my hand feebly, and a tall, slender woman with bright red hair came over to me.
She gave me a quick once over with raised eyebrows, then consulted the clipboard we had turned in. "Amnesia for the last twenty-seven hours?" I nodded. "Oh my goodness, what can you remember?"
"Uh...Normal stuff. Like talking and walking and stuff."
"Hmm…" She wrote it down. "Memory loss, I see. Okay well let's get you in right away. This doesn't sound too good."
The whole flock stood to come with me.
"Sorry, but you can only bring one friend with you," she said apologetically.
Fang looked to me, then the flock. "Stay, guys. I'll go."
The lady led us to the double doors at the end of the room. I glanced back at the bird kids, their faces full of worry, and felt my stomach plummet guiltily. I hoped I would give them back their Max they all loved.