AN: For some bizarre reason, I don't think you guys are gonna get that riddle anytime soon. I got some really good guesses, and the closest ones were: the nonexistant and nothing. Therefore, since no one actually got it right, this chapter will go out to the two who submitted these guesses: Kina Kalamari and Aleria14. Yay! Bravo to you two!
Now, the actual answer was different. The last lines of the riddles go: Tell me what I am/You may never get it right/But keep trying anyway/I am...*drumroll* IMPOSSIBLE!!!! Yes, the answer is impossible. :)
Moving on. This is the chapter where the suspense ends for the flock. It might not be very long, but the next chapter, where the suspense ends for the kids, is a mile long. For those of you who received excerpts of the story, some of those quotes are in this chapter. Most are not.
PLUS! Things'll get even more interesting in Chapter Thirteen, where I will do something that I have done with at least one fic that I've written in all the other categories, but not yet in the MR category. I am going to **** a *********. Yes, in fact I will end up ****ing more than one *********, as hinted in the excerpts. Of course, most of the stuff in the excerpts was meant to throw you guys off and torment you. There were even a few Red Herrings swimming in them. XD But now, I'm getting ahead of myself. Enjoy the chapter!!!
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 Eleven: This is What Revenge Looks Like
Location Still Unknown
Fang's face hadn't stopped bleeding, but he still insisted it was "just a scratch." I felt like reminding him that one of the last times he said that, he nearly died.
It wasn't much longer till my tongue lost its lead-like qualities, and my lips no longer felt like bricks. I could speak.
But I still could scarcely move.
"I hope the kids are okay," Nudge whispered. She hadn't spoken more than two sentences at once after she found her voice again.
"I do, too. I don't know what I'd do without the girls."
"Losing Gisli would be like losing Iggy. I would die if it happened."
"They're so much alike aren't they?"
"Yes."
Fang was also as quiet as ever, Iggy sitting beside him, having sacrificed part of his shirt to Fang's wound. Angel sat alone, in the far corner, twisting her engagement ring this way and that. I knew she was thinking about AJ.
Ella was still fully unconscious; Gazzy was absorbing our prison with sad eyes, unable to move anything else yet.
"What does she expect us to do? Sit and mope? Or plan our escape?"
"I don't know. But I wouldn't want to disappoint her."
"I want to plan something, but she must be listening in, or watching us, or something. It wouldn't make sense otherwise."
"I agree," Nudge mumbled.
I spoke a bit louder. "What do you guys think?"
Iggy rubbed his forehead. "I think we're getting too old for this."
"Fang?"
He didn't even look at me or acknowledge that I'd spoken. I guess it was back to the silent treatment.
"What about you Angel?"
She looked up at me, away from her hand and the ring that it wore. She looked glum, like she was greatly regretting some misdeed.
"I think we need to get out of here at any cost. And we should get a move on it."
"Any suggestions for getting out then?"
"Wait till we're all conscious and sane. She'll come in. We'll attack her. Then we'll cross our fingers and run like hell."
"You haven't really thought that through, have you Angel?"
"Not yet. I'm still working out the details."
I was about to ask her more but our captor walked in once again. She seemed to enjoy patronizing us. My face turned to stone at her entrance, as did everyone else's. Iggy looked in her direction, letting his eyes follow the sound of her steps. Nudge didn't look so broken anymore. Fang was himself, a rock solid reserve of emotion that wasn't leaking through anytime soon. Angel lost her morose attitude and glared straight at our captor. I knew that if Gazzy could move, a blue streak would be exiting his mouth, aimed right at her. Ella was probably the only one who would show fear.
"Glad to see you awake, Maximum, awake and functioning."
"Who are you?" I asked, my voice ice cold.
She grimaced. "On the contrary, I'm slightly saddened that you don't remember me. But, then again, it only adds to my motives."
I couldn't help but stare at the many intricate scars the woman had on her skin, her face, her hands. Something terrible must have happened for the damage to be so extensive.
"I don't give a damn if you're saddened, just answer my question: who the hell are you and what right do you have to mess with my family?" I pulled my eyes away from her scars and looked her straight in the eye. I saw a small dash of fear hidden in them.
"I assure you, Max, I have every right. You took everything from me. My friends, my family, my career, my reputation. And I won't stop till I know you're writhing in pain like I was all those years ago."
I watched as she walked across the room, straight towards Ella, who still lay motionless. The woman's one long braid swung behind her. It was mostly blond, but I could see a few strands of solid gray.
"Just who is this girl? Pity she's of no value," the woman assessed.
I saw Gazzy's eyes widen with fear for Ella. I tried to hide my own.
"She's no one you will harm. I suggest you step away from her before I make you," I said menacingly, standing up.
"Ah, ah, ah, Max. Remember my little friends outside? Do you want to look like your lover?" She bent down and continued to evaluate Ella.
"GET THE HELL AWAY FROM MY SISTER!" I shouted, running at her. The woman was definitely scared, at least for a moment. I heard a sickening crunch as my fist collided with her rib cage. She was weaker than I thought.
I was going in for another swing when I found myself held back. Those bozos were back.
"Do not harm the specimen! If you do, it will all be for nothing!" the woman protested.
The men released me reluctantly.
"Just exactly who are you?" I spat.
"Right now, I'm your worst nightmare. You sure stirred me up, toots, but now, I'm turning the tables. You will suffer and mourn till your life slips away and becomes meaningless. You will know all the greatest pains that ever existed. And then you will die, slowly and painfully, all at my fingertips."
From the corner of my eye, I saw Fang brace himself to attack. I gave him a warning look. Apparently this was my battle, and I would fight it to the end.
"It's me you want, not them. So let my family leave, and then I'm all yours," I negotiated.
"Oh, you superheroes, always pulling the same lines out of your butts. 'Take me, not them'," she mocked. "But don't you see Maximum? Without them, this game's no fun. Without them, I have no point in being here."
I glared daggers at her, secretly wishing one would chop off her pretty head. At least then I'd be pleased.
"What is this game of yours anyway?"
"Your life. Your pain. Your death. That's the game I'm playing at right now. And I will win, now that you're the weaker contender."
"Will you stop talking in riddles?! I don't intend to let you win your demented little game. Me? The weaker contender? Over my dead body! And will you just give me a damn straight answer? Who. Are. You?"
The woman began to laugh as she and her buffoons headed toward the closed prison's entrance. With one foot out the door, her laugh became a cackle, a sickly sound that would make any sensible creature retreat. And how I wanted to do that.
She looked me pointedly in the eye. "Why, I'm just me. I'm Brigid Dwyer."
AN: Big shocker there. :O Who had that figured out already? Anyone? I know most of you did. And BD's got plenty more in store for the flock, and for Max...Bwahahaha...I feel like such an evil author...
New riddle. I seriously hope this one isn't so hard. Written, once again, in PreCal. I do need something to keep me awake in there, and I ran out of Sour Patch, so...
I am the greatest gift
Yet I am foolishly spent
I'm hard to live with
But impossible to live without
I try to be kind
To all that I meet
I am not very strong
In fact, I'm quite weak
Many creatures love me dearly
While others hate me greatly
I really mean no harm
It is not my fault
I am not the Fates
So I do not decide
I am not Almighty God
I am just merely _______.
Who thinks they know the answer? Who knows they know the answer? Who is confident enough in their guess to submit it in a review, risking absolutely nothing? No real rhyme scheme. Five words per line, sixteen lines. One line, one word answer. THOSE WHO GET IT RIGHT JUST MIGHT FIND A CONVERSATION BETWEEN SOME OF THE CHARACTERS IN THEIR INBOX!! And they'll also see their name(s) at the top of Chapter Twelve. :D Now who's down??
REVIEWS are like RAIN to DYING PLANTS. In fact, I have a pot of dying pansies in my backyard that definitely need some cold. So, REVIEWS are also like COLD to DYING PANSIES. Great, healthy, rejuvenating, reviving even. Anyone wanna help save my poor pitiful pansies??