Mmkay, first, a quick author's note. I got the first Maximum Ride book from the library yesterday, and I finished it in the same day! It was sooooo good! :) Now, to business!

DISCLAIMER: See previous chapters, please.

DEDICATION: To Caris L. Clearwater, as always.

WARNING: Mmhm. I don't think it's as death-y in this chapter, and it's rather short. Sorry 'bout that.


Chapter Nine: Pain

"Pain, without love,

pain, can't get enough...

Pain, I like it rough,

'cause I'd rather feel pain then nothing at all..."

-Three Days Grace, "Pain"

Drake led them up the hill to Coates Academy, them being himself, Nala, Orc (Howard had been forced to stay behind), Lana, Astrid (who had insisted upon coming, leaving Little Pete in the care of Mary Terrafino), and Edilio with a half-dozen of his soldiers, without guns, purely for show. Drake's eyes gleamed as the pile of rubble that had once passed for a boarding school came into view.

This was going to be fun.

o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.

NALA'S POV:

The fight at Coates- could it even be called a fight?- went extremely well. As soon as we had charged through the gates, about fourteen extremely malnourished kids were upon us. Their leader, my former servant, Caine, was the only one that attempted to deter us, with a few pitiful blasts of his telekinetic power, and then I motioned for Drake.

He whipped Caine once, with the kind of macabre glee that I know he revels in, and Caine fell to his knees. Drake raised his whip-arm again, hatred apparent in his face, but I stopped him. Caine, after all, was once my most loyal servant. Maybe, with some good food and the right motivation, he could be so again.

All in all, there were only a few casualties, all on Caine's side, but nothing I particularly cared about. After we detained all of the Coates kids, we marched them back to Perdido Beach.

o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.

"Everyone in the church!" one of the many Nalas screamed, and the three hundred-plus kids were herded into the huge building. The real Nala stood in the entrance, smirking.

"Here's how things are gonna go down." She began pacing. "I want one of you- only one. His name is Little Pete Ellison." A strangled cry came from near the back of the crowd, as Astrid shielded her little brother from view. "I'm giving you until the end of the day to give him to me. And although I could take him by force, I think I'll play a little game with you.

"Every day you don't give me Little Pete, one of you is going to die."

A bark of laughter came from beside Nala as she turned to walk away; Drake. He made to follow her, but she held out her hand.

"Where do you think you're going?"

"With you?" Drake's statement came out sounding like a question. Nala chuckled.

"Get in there with the damned, human. I have no more need of you." A flurry of emotions passed over his usually stoic face, hurt, disbelief, anger, finally settling on indignant rage. His whip-arm raised, and he charged, mouth open in a silent roar. Nala flicked her fingers his way, rolling her eyes as her former servant was sent flying over the heads of the mixed kids from Coates and Perdido Beach. He slammed into the opposite wall and slid to the floor, not moving again.

"You have until dusk," Nala repeated, and left, the heavy church doors crashed shut behind her.


Don't worry, Drake's not dead :)

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