Relapse- Chapter 9
The flight back to my flock seemed like the longest I've ever experienced. Thoughts were running through my head and most of them were eating away at me, bit by bit.
My clone was impersonating me, breaking Fang's heart… making him think I've developed feelings for Ari. She was supposed to be dead. I had killed her in that room as my flock and numerous whitecoats looked on.
When I got my hands on her she'd be dead again, because no one tries to take my place. That was my flock and Fang was my boyfriend! Yes, I finally used the term 'boyfriend' referring to Fang, because in all honesty that's what he is.
God I missed him and the others. I needed to see their faces and hear their voices. I needed Fang to tell me everything was going to be okay, just like all the other times I needed him to be there. He never let me down, he only convinced me more each day that if all else fails in my screwed up life that I could still trust in him to be there for me.
I looked below me for Dr. Martinez's house, I'd be approaching it any moment.
And there it was standing out among all other houses and the surrounding nature like a breath of air to aching lungs.
I began my descent aiming for the backyard (the ethical thing to do) so I wouldn't be spotted by anyone happening to be watching the clouds or searching for airplanes.
I became aware of Angel and Gazzy in the backyard not paying attention to me as my feet hit the ground, but seconds later their heads whipped my way and they seemed confused.
"Max?" Angel questioned wrinkling her forehead. "I thought you were inside."
"Angel, I need you to go get Fang." I said ignoring her suspicion.
She looked over at Gazzer and he gave her a nod of approval, that's my little trooper.
"Max, is that really you?" He asked after Angel went inside.
"Yes." I said trying to get him to see I was the original. "The Max inside is impersonating me."
He looked back at the house then at me.
"Gazzer, go get Max." Fang called out hurrying over to the two of us.
That hurt. He obviously thought I was the imposter, the one that broke his heart. As I looked him over I could see the tightness of his muscles and the tiredness in his eyes. I was going to kill that wannabe for doing this to Fang and the flock.
"She's not the real Max." I growled in frustration. What can I say I'm insulted he couldn't see the difference between us when he claimed he saw it the first time this happened.
"We'll just see now won't we?" He asked smugly.
It took everything in me not to punch him in the arm right now. He was gonna get it later.
"Guess we will." I said surely back.
"What are you doing here?" The other Max yelled running out of the house with the rest of the flock behind her.
I couldn't keep myself from tearing her limbs off, I attacked.
I lunged at her knocking her to the ground with enough force to knock the breath from her lungs. I threw a punch at her identical face, then another.
Strong arms pulled me from her as I fought against them so I could break Max II's neck.
"Fang let me go." I yelled struggling to break free.
"Max, are you okay?" Angel asked walking over to my clone.
Why couldn't they see I'm the real Max, the original?
"Why didn't you fight back?" Nudge asked her wide eyed.
"Shocked I guess…" She explained looking me over. "I thought I killed her."
"Excuse me? Who killed who?" I asked sarcastically. "I killed you in front of the flock and the whitecoats."
"You wish." She spat.
I tried to lunge at her, but Fang held me back. Then he did something I never thought he would. He threw me to the ground… and it actually hurt a lot considering I smacked my head against the cement of the sidewalk.
I crumpled into a ball holding my head. I think more than anything my feelings were hurt more than my body. Sure, my head throbbed with sharp pains, but my heart hurt so much more. Fang was slowly betraying me along with the rest of the flock.
I rolled onto my back and opened my eyes. Fang was over by the other Max, helping her up. Angel was staring at me intently probably trying to read my thoughts.
"Sweetie, I'm the real Max." I said aloud. "My thoughts will confirm that."
"Angel?" Fang questioned seeming confused.
"I can't tell the difference." She said sounding upset while she shook her head. Her blond curls bouncing sadly along with the motion.
I sat up putting my hand to my head… I was bleeding. I winced as my hand touched the cut then looked up at Fang with a harsh glare.
"She's new and improved." I explained. "She's more like me than she's ever been."
"Sounds like you know and awful lot about this situation." Iggy said thinking things over. "Wouldn't that mean you're the fake."
"I'm not." I said shaking my head slightly making my head hurt. "Jeb explained everything and he showed me this fake talking to Fang."
Fang's eyes shifted over to me in thought.
"Come on Fang!" I shouted. "You know I would never like Ari, let alone break your heart for him!"
This was good I could see he was starting to think things over.
"Why don't you stop meddling in our personal life!" The other Max shouted at me. "I went through a lot with Ari and when he let me go I saw he wasn't as bad as I've always thought."
"She's lying." I said looking Fang in the eyes. "She was never with Ari. I was."
"Yeah, probably planning how to turn my flock against me!" She yelled at me.
"Lying again… I was with Ari. He pretended to let me go, but instead of letting me go he handed me over to The School. I woke up on a metal table, later they put me in a glass room with an electrical current running on the walls. Jeb came in with a needle, but before he could inject me I attacked him, stole his key, and left The School untouched."
"Awful convenient to escape so easily." My look alike commented smugly.
I couldn't stop myself… I stood and lunged at her again.
AN: Hope you liked it! Reviews are love! And yes I was going to let Max escape on her own :) I've had my chaps written for a month or two. They're posted at the official Maximum Ride site. I've got 17 for Relapse up. And 26 for The Sickness. 27 comes tonight on the board.
