Thank you sooo much for your reviews! I really wanted to thank all the people who shared their personal story with me. You guys are truly inspirational and I appreciate your reviews and concerns. I seriously almost cried when I read all of them. I'm still at my grandparents' house, but my house is suppose to be finished in a week. Without further ado, here's the new chappie!

Disclaimer: I don't own Maximum Ride

MPOV

Previously:

"Good morning, Max. Pack your bags. It's time to go home," he said with an evil grin that made my stomach turn.

I forced back the feeling along with all the haunting images of Jeb's 'work'. "I would say good morning too, but seeing your face isn't a great way to start the morning," I grounded out between clenched teeth. How did he find me? The only person who knows where I am is my mom.

Jeb let out a sigh and his face changed from his sickening grin to an exhausted face. The tired frown on his face made him look older than he really was. "Maximum, I don't have time for this. You're coming with me even if I have to drag you to the car by the ear," he threatened.

"Well, Jeb," I whispered so I wouldn't wake Nudge up, "that would attract some unwanted attention now wouldn't it?" Realization flashed across his face as I continued, "Plus, you're gonna need something a hell of a lot stronger than your wimpy chicken arms to drag me away."

A smirk spread across my face when Jeb looked down at his arms then folded them behind his back to hide them. He cleared his throat and decided to take a different approach, "If you don't come with me, then you're putting other people's lives at risk."

"The only life that is at risk is yours," I hissed as I took a step toward Jeb.

I carefully watched him as he slowly pulled out a chain from his pocket. The silver shimmered in the light as he held it up with two fingers in front of my face. An all too familiar sparkling trinket hung from the chain. It was a silver key coated with diamonds. My mom's necklace; the key to her heart.

"Where did you get that?" I snarled.

"Come with me," he began with a shrug, "and she'll be spared."

He doesn't have her. For all I know, he could've stolen that when he visited my mom and I in Arizona. "Bullshit," I sneered into that pathetic, low-life's face.

He took a quick and unexpected step toward me, "Don't test me, Maximum. You, of all people, should know very well of what I'm capable of."

Mixed images of Ari and my mom flashed in my head. The two people I love. One is dead because of me and one may or may not be in danger. It wasn't worth letting anyone into my life if all they do is get hurt.

I can't believe I'm saying this, but my mom's life isn't something that should be jeopardized because of my stubbornness, "I'll meet you outside," I said as my jaw clenched in anger.

"That's not how it works, Maximum," Jeb replied.

"Max," I corrected with irritation, "my name is Max."

He ignored me and pushed passed me into my room, "I'm going to watch you pack," he stated before sitting down on my bed.

I looked at Jeb then at Nudge and back at Jeb. Jeb put a finger to his mouth and made a 'shhh' before looking pointedly at Nudge.

I rolled my eyes, but started packing.

An escape plan started to formulate in my head although it is a little difficult because I haven't been to his work in Georgia. You see, Jeb's 'work' is all around the country and I had the liberty to visit only one of their many convenient locations. After Ari's death, I did my research and found all the locations of Jeb's work and the closest one here being in Georgia.

I zipped up my bag and looked over at the sleeping Nudge. A smile spread across my face. I was so lucky to have a friend who was so willing to put up with me, but maybe it was for the better that I was leaving.

I picked up a paper and pen and started to write a note. Jeb snatched my wrist in his hand and hissed, "What are you doing?"

"I'm writing a farewell note to my friend," I hissed back.

He thought that over for a second before slowly releasing me. He didn't move away, just stood there and read over my shoulder as I wrote. Talk about invasion of privacy.

I finished my letter and slid it into an envelope. Sighing to myself, I quietly set it down on my bed and walked to the door, Jeb following close behind. With one more look over my shoulder at Nudge, I closed the door and started to walk down the hallway; taking my sweet time.

I stepped outside with the sun shining and birds chirping. I suddenly had the urge to just pick up a rock and chuck it at one of those birds. What? Why should he be happy when I'm going to be stuck with the spawn of Satan? I think if the bird was in my situation, he'd understand…Just saying.

Jeb grabbed my bags from my hands and started toward the parked car. A victorious grin spread across his face, "Hurry up Maximum. We have a long drive ahead of us," he said oh so chipper.

"It's Max," I corrected again which he in turn ignored…again.

I took a quick glance around the deserted camp. No one would be out for another ten minutes. Maybe I can stall until someone comes out because I'm sure no one knows of Jeb's presence.

"I'm waiting," Jeb sang irritatingly, standing by the driver side of the car.

I let out an annoyed sigh and climbed into the passenger seat, "Jeb, you ever wander what you'd be like if you had enough oxygen when you were born?" I asked curiously.

Jeb pulled the car out and started driving down the road. He tried to ignore my comment, but who can ignore me? Not many.

So I did what any reasonable person would do…I used my gift of charm and talked his ear off. "You know, I'm a firm believer that everyone has the right to be ugly, but you abuse that privilege."

Jeb, once again, didn't respond. Instead, he kept his eyes straight and his firm grip on the wheel.

"Any similarity between you and a human is purely coincidental. A llama, though, is a different story. Has anyone ever told you that you could double as a llama and no one would ever know the difference?" I asked Jeb, turning toward him.

No response. Big surprise.

I kept talking and insulting Jeb nonstop for twenty minutes. I was starting to feel like Nudge right about…NOW.

"You have the perfect weapon against muggers, you know?" I asked Jeb. He didn't respond so I carried on, "Your face," I finished with a shrug.

I was about to carry on when Jeb decided to use his voice, "A thought crossed my mind…" Jeb started before I cut him off.

"That must have been a short and lonely journey,"

Jeb snapped his head toward me to glare. I countered with my own glare and was rewarded when he winced and focused back on the road, "Like I was saying, I was thinking," he began, but I cut him off again.

"I hope you were wearing your helmet because thinking without protection could further damage your peanut of a brain," I said with fake concern.

"You will not talk to me like that. I am your father and I demand more respect from you," Jeb shouted, anger shown clearly in his tense posture.

"Not by choice," I grumbled.

Jeb chose to ignore this and continued, "Maximum, you have so much potential and I want to unleash it for all the world to see. At birth, I knew you were destined for greatness."

"What? Was I able to fart on command because that would be a kid with a bright future," I interrupted…again.

"No. You had a spark that set you apart from children and adults alike," Jeb said sternly. "Right then, I knew it was my duty to reveal your potential. When you left, I searched for a new canvas, but none as promising as yours arose."

"Well," I said clasping my hands together, "I'd like to you see your point of view, but I don't think I can stick my head that far up my ass."

"You don't see what I see," Jeb said calmly.

Isn't that what I said? The man is too slow for his own good. I don't know how much longer I can take! Jeb is spitting out nonsense and I can't find it in me to listen. He drones on and on about the 'potential I had' and 'the greater good'.

It's for mom. It's for mom. I chanted in my head over and over. My mom was a busy woman. She was hardly home because she worked all the time, but I didn't mind because she always found time for me.

The only day off she got was Sunday where she did her routine. Wake up at six, make coffee, watch the sun come up, read her book, then she would make herself lunch before spending the rest of the day with me. Now, since I was at camp, she would volunteer at an animal shelter instead. Jeb had to know her routine to kidnap her otherwise, there would be witnesses everywhere she went…

"How'd you do it?" I interrupted Jeb in a calm voice.

He wiped his dreamy expression off his face and looked at me in confusion. "How'd I do what?" he asked.

"How'd you kidnap mom?"

"She was at the house Saturday afternoon when the boys picked her up," he answered.

Stupid, stupid Max! He doesn't have mom!

I nodded my head coolly and looked to my right to see the door was locked. It wasn't the kind of lock where you can pull it up to unlock it. Nooo, this lock went into the door so there was no humanly way possible to unlock it manually.

Think, think, think. I urged myself. "Bathroom break?" I asked Jeb.

A look of panic flashed through his face. "Uh, sure," he stuttered, "but any funny business and your mom will suffer the consequences."

I rolled my eyes at this, but didn't reply.

Five minutes later, we pulled up to an abandon gas station. The windows had so much dirt on them that you couldn't even look through them. On the count of three, everybody say SKETCHY! One, two, three! Nobody? Yeah, another time.

Jeb parked the car in the abandoned lot and unlocked the car. "You have five minutes," he warned.

"Time me," I said sarcastically as I took off toward the bathrooms on the side of the building. I placed my hand on the knob and turned my head to the left to see Jeb sitting in the car staring at me.

I flung open the door and stepped inside the nasty bathroom. The light was flickering, the faucet was dripping, the ground was covered in dirt, and someone left a present in the toilet…unwrapped, if you catch my drift.

I crinkled my nose before rushing over to my escape. The window. It was just big enough to squeeze through. After many attempts, I finally twisted the lock and slid the window open. Smirking to myself, I hoisted myself up by the ledge and slipped through the window.

Now, I hadn't thought too far ahead and I was just realizing that now. I was in the middle of nowhere and I had no money or phone. Not to mention, if I ran, Jeb would see me and he has a car that he can chase me down with. All I have to say is"Way to go, genius!"

Groaning to myself, I turned around to scout out the area when two sets of hands grabbed my arms. I looked right and left at the owners of the hands and froze. Erasers.

I remembered them all too well. They were the enforcers, but answered to the scientists at Jeb's work. They hadn't changed much, but they didn't look as intimidating as they did when I was younger.

I was struggling against their grips when I head Jeb walk up, "You didn't think I'd come without backup, did you?" he questioned with a grin on his face, no doubt enjoying the view.

"You don't have my mom," I snarled as I thrashed against the erasers' hold again.

Jeb's grin grew more prominent, "No, but it was the only way you would come with me willingly. After what happened with Ari, I knew you wouldn't refuse,"

"You'll pay for this," I glared at him with such intensity that he flinched before composing himself.

"Highly unlikely," he smiled widely. He reached inside his pocket and pulled out a tiny syringe.

I watched him with steady eyes as he uncapped it and flicked it a few times before a few drops shot out. With his smile still in place, he started walking toward me. The erasers' grip tightened as Jeb positioned the needle at my neck.

My muscles tensed as the needle plunged into my neck. The cool liquid rushed through my body as my muscles started to loosen.

My legs started to shake involuntarily and my vision started to blur. The erasers released me and I couldn't help but stumble a little to stay up right.

I was vaguely aware of Jeb coming up to me, "You will do great things, Maximum. I can tell," he whispered into my ear.

Fueled by anger, I mustered up all the strength I had left and punched blindly in the direction of his voice. I was rewarded when my fist connected with something hard, followed by a surprised cry of pain.

"Get her into the car!" Jeb yelled.

I felt the same hands grab me and drag me away before I lost consciousness.

FPOV

Have you ever had a dream so great that you didn't want to wake up from, but when you did wake up, you tried going back to sleep in hope to pick up where you left off from? I'm obviously not talking from too much experience, but right now, that's exactly how I felt.

In my dream, I was out of my uniform and just walking around in a small town. The sun was shining and people were bustling to and fro, but I was just strolling leisurely down the sidewalk. Suddenly, something warm slipped into my hand and sent pleasant sensation flow from the unknown source.

"Back so soon?" I asked, a smile actually creeping onto my face.

From beside me I heard a sweet, short laugh, "I never left."

I shook my head lightly and chuckled, "Max," I breathed as I slowly turned my head to see…Lissa.

I jolted upright in my bed; a light sheen of sweat covered my forehead. My breathing was ragged as I sat up in bed. Just a dream.

Just then, a frantic knock reverberated though my room, "Nick! Are you in there?" Lissa's voice sounded from the other side. So that's why she was in my dream…

I let out a sigh and slowly wiped my hand down my face before getting up. I opened the door to reveal, as Max put it, the Flaming Chicken Butt herself.

"I thought you left too," she said as she let out a visible sigh of relief when she saw me.

Confusion washed over me. Lissa took my silence as the moment to explain, "Max left," she said with a shrug. I could see the smile she was holding back. Her and Max hated each other if I had to point out the obvious.

I pushed passed her toward Max's dorm room and ran into Nudge in the hallway, "Where is she?" I asked as calmly as I could. Max wouldn't leave without saying anything, would she? I thought we were friends, at least.

"I don't know. I woke up and her bed was empty and she's never up before me. I went to the mesh hall, but she wasn't there either. So I came back to our room and almost peed my pants when I saw all her stuff was gone. I checked under the bed because I thought it could be a practical joke and Max looks like one of those people who really know how to play hide-and-go-seek, but she wasn't there. Then I found this note," she finished as she pushed an envelope into my chest.

Without hesitation, I ripped open the envelope addressed to me and read the letter as fast as I could.

Dear Gumball,

What kind of cadet would I be if I didn't tell my Private where I had gone to? Although you probably guessed that I wouldn't stay in this awful camp for too long. Don't get me wrong, the people are great, but the camp is not my cup of tea.

Of course, I hate tea so I guess that analogy doesn't apply. Anyways, please tell Nudge, Angel, Iggy, and Gazzy that I'm sorry and I'll miss them. They will probably be mad at me so stay back a few feet if you see Gazzy turn a shade of green.

Regardless of their reaction, I want them to know that I feel bad for leaving them. I'm going back to Arizona so don't try to contact me.

Kicking your butt in boxing will definitely be the thing that I will miss the most. Also that time everyone got pizza and blowing up that stupid wall. Who knows, maybe someday another person like me will come along and kick your butt for me, but until then, take care, Applesauce.

-Max

I read over the letter again and ignored the stares from Nudge and Lissa. I read it for the fifth time before something inside me exploded.

Suddenly, I was running toward the front of the camp with the letter in my hand. I don't know what I was doing. It's not like she would still be there.

Just as suddenly as I took off, I was there; standing in an empty lot and looking at absolutely nothing. My hand that wasn't holding Max's letter flashed up to my hair to tug on it in frustration.

Did she leave because of me? Did I go too far last night when I brought her back to my room to sleep? Was it as hard for her to leave as it is for me to know that she's gone?

All these thoughts circled in my head. It was getting to be too much when one questioned stopped all the rest. Was it for the best?

Max and I haven't even kissed and I already have this horrible feeling of her absence. What if the general was right? Maybe love is just a fantasy that isn't worth the trouble?

I stood there for a minute, just staring at nothing. Lissa came to stand beside me, much like she had in my dream except we weren't holding hands.

"It's for the best," Lissa said after a moment of silence.

"How is it for the best?" I calmly asked, but my jaw clenched involuntarily. Although I was thinking the same thing, hearing it in words was difficult.

"She's done nothing, but cause trouble for the camp. After that little stunt, it was just a matter of time before she got kicked out," Lissa said in disgust.

I shook my head and withdrew my hand from my hair to look down at her, "Your wrong," I said so quietly that even a high-tech sound chip would have trouble hearing me.

"You can't actually tell me you like her," Lissa turned to me, her voice growing louder in shock.

I didn't have an answer for that because I honestly don't know. Instead, I turned to look at the empty lot one more time and stayed silent.

"People like her should stay away. They don't belong anywhere. Not here and certainly not with you," Lissa said, trying to sway my reasoning. "You're a private and your dad is a general. Cadet Ride is nothing more than the dirt on the bottom of our boots."

My fists clenched at her words. I watched out the corner of my eye as Lissa flinched and walked away; leaving me with my thoughts.

Max was anything, but dirt. Yes she was sarcastic and had difficulties with respect, rules, and orders, but she was, for lack of a better phrase, pretty fucking amazing.

I stared down at the note one more time before stuffing it into my pocket. Stuffing my hands into my pockets, I set off for the general for further instructions. I didn't want to do anything today, but I refuse to wallow in self pity because Max decided to leave me… I mean, the camp. She decided to leave the camp.

Ta Da! I hoped you liked it! Criticism is welcomed and REVIEWS are appreciated.

Peace Out!