AN: Whoo-hoo! Thank you for reviewing!! A lot more people than I anticipated got the riddle right. If I knew so many people would get it, I probably wouldn't have promised sneak peeks. But those of you who answered right and got your excerpts are probably ready to curse me to the depths of the earth, because some of them were quite evil...x). Anyway, this chapter goes out to...
Blawwmkw, Midge 1012, Kina Kalamari, Setfiregirl, darkfairy136, 2sweet2B4gtn, and Toxic Rain42. The answer, one was only one word (I got some two-worders, when there was only one space): CLAY!!! I was trying to think up something random that no one would get right and that was the randomest thing I could think of. You have to admit, it is pretty random to think of clay when you're sitting in Pre-Calculus. Don't you think??
NEWS FLASH: Any Romeo and Juliet fans out there? If so, check out my new fanfic for it. :)
Anyways, this chapter (NINE!!) is back to Max and the flock! They went missing for two chapters because they were in the process of being kidnapped by the Scary Lady. But they're here now. Enjoy!
Maximum Ride: Passing the Torch
Sequel to MR: The After Years
Summary: Much has changed in the flock after fifteen years. At their second reunion, secrets lurk at every corner and disaster strikes, upsetting the delicate balance of their new lives and thrusting their fate into unprepared wings. SEQUEL TO MR: THE AFTER YEARS!
Chapter Nine: The Captor's Shadow
Location Unknown
It was dark. That was the first thing I noticed. When I finally remembered to open my eyes, I found that it actually wasn't that dark. There was a scarce amount of light entering from a five foot long window at the opposite end of the room. Too bad the window was only about three inches tall. No escape possible through there.
The second thing I noticed was that I couldn't move. Anything. At all. Except my eyes.
"Max, Max! Are you okay? Wake up!" I heard someone say frantically. I tried to find the source of their voice.
Fang. Fang, Fang. My Fang. I think the only time I was happier to see him was all those years ago, on that forlorn beach on the east coast. Oh, and of course in Orlando some fifteen years ago.
I tried to speak to him, to tell him that I couldn't move, but my lips were too heavy, like two lead bricks and my tongue felt like it was made of iron.
I let my eyes dart around, hoping he would see that they were open. For the first time in over a week, he looked me in the eye. He exhaled a sigh of relief.
"Max, thank God you're alright."
I wanted to nod, so badly I wanted to nod, but my head wouldn't budge.
"The tranquilizer should wear off soon. The others are okay."
Where are they? I wanted to ask.
I'm right here, Max. The rest of us are behind you. I still can't speak.
Oh Angel! You're okay!
Yes. Don't worry.
I wanted to sigh in relief. Everyone was okay.
But who had captured us? Who had found us after all these years and known that we would all be in one place? Who wanted us and why?
"Max, do you have any idea who's behind this? Blink once for yes, twice for no," Fang whispered.
I blinked twice.
"Do you think the girls are okay?"
My eyes widened with fear. What if they'd been captured too?
"You're worried about them."
I blinked.
"I am, too, Max. I am, too"
"Ah! At last I can move something besides my eyes! I can't even use them!" Iggy.
"Shh!" Fang hissed.
"Sorry!"
"Iggy, do you think you know--"
"Sorry, man, but the lady didn't ring a bell. The Director's long been dead. I saw her dead body with my own two eyes. Er, at least, Angel put the picture in my head. And it wasn't too pretty."
"What about the kids? Do you think they're here?"
"If they are, then at least we'll have some help kicking ass. Gisli's showed up more than one officer at the station."
I could do nothing but listen to their exchange. Iggy wasn't worried about his kid, so why should I worry?
Because they would have no idea what was going on!
My lips began to feel a bit lighter. I tried to speak again. Still no success.
"Don't push yourself, Max," Angel advised. "Just be patient and soon enough you'll have exactly what you want."
The kids, I thought. I'm worried about the kids.
"Of course you are, Max. It's only natural, you being a mother and all."
It's not just that! They won't have any idea what the hell's going on! They don't know about any of this! We've doomed them, Angel. Completely doomed them. They'll probably go to the police or something and then they'll be told all about us. I didn't want that; I didn't want some stranger to tell them that their parents have lied to them all their lives.
"No, I don't think they'd go to the police. Besides, Total isn't here, which means he got left behind. He'll help them."
Great. A flying, talking dog gets to tell them their parent's lied to them. At least that's a step up from a stranger.
"Max, seriously. They'll be fine."
Fine. Can you get anything from whoever has caught us?
"No. I just get walls everywhere I go, except from you guys, in this room. But I don't want to keep trying. Running into walls, even mental ones, gets to be quite painful after a while."
Okay, baby. Don't push yourself.
"Don't worry about me, Max. I can't be hurt. It's yourself that you should worry about. Whoever she was, she obviously wanted you. She wouldn't hurt the rest of us."
Suddenly, I heard foreign voices from outside our prison.
"…but what do you expect us to do with them? What do you expect them to do? They couldn't possibly be worth anything now."
That kinda hurt. Yeah, I was a lot older than I used to be, but I was in no way out of practice. Okay, but no more than a little.
"Don't worry. I plan to drain them of all the worth they have left," came another voice. This one I recognized as the one that had addressed me earlier.
I heard a door open, but I couldn't turn to see it. I noticed that Fang pretended to still be immobilized, turning stalk still and silent as the grave. I assumed that Iggy and Angel did the same.
"How are you, Maximum? Not so 'Maximum' anymore, now are you? Soon enough, I'll be on top and you will be dead to the world."
I still couldn't move or speak, though every muscle in my body wanted to cuss this woman out while I brought her within an inch of death. How dare she endanger my flock and jeopardize my kids! I was a pissed off mother, and that was just an understatement.
"Aw, you still can't move? Oh, poor Maximum. And you're in for much worse."
I was boiling with anger and hatred towards this woman whose identity was still unknown to me.
The woman bent down to look me in the eye. I still could not recognize her, and the scars that covered her face were no help. Her braid thwacked me in the face.
"Who's gonna save the hero now? You've made so many mistakes, Max. Too many. But soon you'll make no more. Unless you find a way to become undead."
Apparently that was it for Fang. He swung his legs around and knocked the woman over. She landed with an oof and I could see Fang scowling at her, his face twisted in disgust. I guess we were on decent terms for the moment.
"No one threatens my wife," he spat.
The woman laughed. Yes, laughed.
"Ah, Fang. You never cease to amuse me." She stood up and brushed herself off. Then she snapped her fingers. Out of nowhere, two mansion-sized buffoons entered my line of sight. I didn't see what they did; all I saw was Fang fall to the ground, looking much bloodier than before.
Now, I really wanted to throttle someone.
"Fang, Fang, Fang. Didn't your mother ever teach you that it was impolite to hit a girl? Ah, but you never did know your mother." The woman leaned over him, cupping his bloody chin in her cruel hands. Her face was too close to his for me to be comfortable.
"I can also see that you don't remember me, or that you're trying to block your memory. Well, sweetie, it might comfort you to know that I wasn't threatening your dear wife. I was only telling her the truth."
And with that, the woman released Fang. She snapped again and her two minions followed her as she left the room.
The second she was gone, I let panic flood my eyes. Was Fang alright? He certainly didn't look it. His cheek was swelling up, as well as his eye and the left side of his face was dripping with blood.
"Are you okay?" Angel asked for me.
"What happened?" Iggy asked. Behind me, Angel quickly filled him in.
"Nudge is waking up," Angel announced. "Nudge, don't panic. You'll be able to move again soon enough. And now, Fang, you really look like you could use some help."
"It's just a scratch," he replied. He already pulled up part of his shirt and was using it to cover the wound and stop the bleeding. On the side of his stomach, I could still see the scar he had, just a little pinker than the rest of his skin. I hoped he wouldn't have any new scars by the time we got out of here.
Because we were gonna get out of here.
Somehow.
AN: YAY! Fang spoke to Max! And he stood up for her!! Have they finally gotten over themselves, now that they've been kidnapped?? Eh, not yet. They're just gonna go right back to ignoring each other, because I'm a cruel author like that. Next chapter there's gonna be a guest star!!! (*applause*) Dr. Valencia Martinez will appear next chapter, and in a few chapters yet to come. :) Don't you just love her? Well, when I'm done, you might not love her so much. Good thing she makes such delicious cookies, because every character needs a redeeming quality! (Except maybe Mab...I'm not too sure if she has one of those... Gisli, on the other hand, has plenty *swoon*.)
Let it be acknowledged that...I GIVE UP! You all know by now who the SCARY LADY is, right? If you wanna say so, go ahead. I pretty much gave it away last chapter anyway. Oh, well. So much for suspense...
ARE YOU BORED?? If so, I have a recommendation: Angelic Tyranny by Kina Kalamari was really good. It's an MR fanfic that I (sorta) stumbled across and greatly enjoyed. Go check it out!
Here's another riddle to wake you up. (Don't you just LOVE these??) School's back in session and you gotta exercise that brain of yours! This one's a lot harder, I think. Also written in my Pre-Cal class. x)
I can overpower Power
And murder Death
I can drown Water
And burn Fire
I can make Tears cry
And Honesty lie
I can be the shadow of Doubt
And the ray of Hope
I can make Love despise
And Hatred compromise
I can make Silence speak
And Cacophony deaf
Courage cowers in my eyes
And Cowardice fights
I can make Lies tell the truth
And Humble turn to greed
Tell me what I am
You may never get it right
But keep trying anyway
I am the __________.
Think you can get it? No specifics to this one; it's completely free-verse. BUT, here's a hint: there's only one space. Send me your answers in a review. You might just find excerpts from the story in your inbox. :D NOTE: IF YOU ARE LEAVING AN ANONYMOUS REVIEW AND WOULD LIKE YOUR REWARD, LEAVE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS!! If you don't and you get the riddle right, I won't be able to send you the excerpts.
REVIEWS are like MONEY. They're worth a lot these days. :)
