Here's another sort of quick update. Yay!

I do not own MR.

Chapter 9

Cinnamon, Fire, and Flight


MPOV

Iggy's gone. They offered him freedom, and he took it. I knew that he would. It's the best thing for him. Nudge was heartbroken when he left, telling us that he was going of his own free will. Nothing would have stopped the Flock from trying to go after him otherwise.

Nudge was next. I shudder to remember the tests I had to do to gain her freedom. Her parents are nice and very happy to have her back. It's hard on all of us, losing another member. I'm not sure if Fang agrees with my decision to let them go or not.

I got Angel and Gazzy out next. Angel's smile was true as she left, but I could still see worry in her eyes. She's too young to understand why I'm doing this. I'm not even sure if she understands that I'm the one who's slowly but surely gaining them their freedom.

Gazzy went stoically. Losing Iggy hurt him a bit, but I think that he understands better than Angel. He'll take care of her.

I've sent them all off with fake assurances that I'll see them again. Even if I get out of here, I won't seek them out. They deserve normal lives.

Fang's still here, but not for long. I've agreed to do another test, expressly to win Fang's freedom. He doesn't know. He'd never agree to this. I'm sure that he doesn't want to leave. He thinks that he needs to protect me.

How I wish he could stay. Letting him go will be the hardest thing I've done. Fang's my right hand man, my best friend, and…more. Since we got here, I've been unable to ignore how I feel about him.

We're the only ones left. The room feels too big with just the two of us but, at the same time, so much more intimate. I still sleep in his arms every night. How will I cope with the nightmares without him?

Soldiers arrive at the door. I sigh and stand up.

"No, Max," Fang says, grabbing my arm.

"It's fine, Fang."

"They're all safe. Just let it go. We can find another way out." I wonder if he's picking up on the same sense of finality that I am.

"That's ridiculous. I'll be fine."

"Max…" I pull away and start toward the soldiers. I've learned that cooperation stops them from dragging me bodily out of the cage.

Fang jumps up and turns me around roughly.

"What are you doing?" I say, a little more loudly than necessary as I just slammed into his hard chest. His muscular arms encircle me. It feels so good to be in his arms.

"Just stay with me, Max." He pleads in my ear.

"Fang…"

"Please, Max." I shake my head and try to pull away. He holds me tighter. "No, Max, I can't lose you." I'm not even sure what he's talking about anymore. I'm the one losing him. Unless he thinks this test is going to kill me.

"You won't lose me."

"Do you mean like 'you can't lose what you don't have'?" he smirks.

"No!" I playfully hit his chest, glad for the change in mood. Then, I realize he was serious. "Fang, you won't lose me."

"Promise," he whispers.

"Promise." He looks at me intensely. I feel myself being drawn closer to him as if by some magnetic force. Then, his lips are on mine. I forget that the scientists are right there. I forget everything accept for Fang.

My fingers wind themselves in his hair, finding a soft lock and toying with it. His hands travel down my back and draw me closer.

Fang is magic, fire. Where'd he learn to kiss like this? I don't like that thought, so I concentrate on his mouth. He has a miraculous mouth. No one should have a mouth like that. It's sinful.

Am I really having these thoughts? I'm Maximum Ride. I'm supposed to be saving he world, not kissing my best friend. Then why am I kissing him back?

I force myself to pull away.

"Sorry," I say and then dart out the door while he still looks slightly dazed.

FPOV

The effects of the kiss are still lingering. Max is incredible. She tastes like cinnamon. She's Max, my Max. She's everything.

Did she just run away again? She just gave me an angel's smile and took flight. I feel like a huge weight just dropped onto my chest. All of the wind is knocked out of me. I can't keep her. Maximum Ride is like wind, light. She's impossible to capture. No matter what, I'm going to lose her.

I have to sit down. Max is out there doing some dangerous and potentially life threatening thing so that she can send me off to live with my "family". Does she even realize that she split our family up to live with strangers? Does she realize that she's all the family I need?

I don't think that she does. I may never be able to convince her, and she won't let me try. Max is running in so many directions at once that I can't even catch up.

I never intended to leave her. I never once thought about taking the offer and going. Now, all I can see is her running away again.

It's not just my pride that's hurt. It's my heart. She's breaking my heart. Maximum Ride doesn't really need me. Max can take care of herself. I should get out of here before she rips out my heart entirely.

Did I really just think that? Did I honestly just think about leaving her? Max does need me. She's too brave for her own good. I can't leave her, can I? So what if I can never be enough to hold her. I can just be her best friend like I've always been.

It will never be enough. I'll never be able to look at her and not see what I see. Max is the only one there will ever be for me. Can I wait for her? Am I willing to wait?


So, I was actually going to keep going, but I think that what comes next deserves its own chapter. Review and I'll post it sooner. Review and vote on my poll. By the way, I have another MR fiction. It's just a really short little thing, but check it out. There should be like one more chapter before we're done with this "in the cage" part.