PEOPLES!
Hi.
Just to let you know, I feel REALLY guilty about making you wait so long for the last update. Well, kinda. Mostly I'm just excited to get this finished. Oh, by the way, it amazes me how my (amazing!) (unfinished) 13-14 something chapter story is on par-traffic and review wise-with my (amazing!) (finished) 33-34 something chapter story.
But that's just me.
I think the amount of fanfics for Warriors vs. Maximum Ride MIGHT have something to do with it…
Enough with my ranting! On with the tale!
Shattering glass.
Panicked screams.
Outraged shouts.
Blaring alarms.
Bloodthirsty howls.
They blend and merge, a single entity in my ears. I fold my wings in slightly and skirt around the edges of the fast-paced fight, praying that I remember which cage was my mother's. I glance around hopelessly. No no no no no!
Yes!
An amazingly familiar face is gazing at the battle, her eyes wide with fear. Mom! I soar over to her, landing lightly on my feet before her cage.
"Trinity-?"
"Stay quiet. I'm here to get you out." I start to fiddle with the heavy padlock on her cage.
"Trinity, what's-" She falls silent, staring, dumbstruck, over my shoulder. I turn to see what she's looking at.
It's Nudge. She's wrestling with an Eraser not ten feet away, her tawny wings still outstretched. As I watch, she flips the muscular wolf-man over her shoulder, landing a heavy kick to his stomach as she does so.
"Nudge?" My mother sounds amazed. "Trinity, what's going on?"
"No time to explain." I leap backwards as the heavy lock springs open. "That's it! Mom, you're free!"
She lunges from the cage, standing and stretching for what must be the first time in months. "Trinity!" she hugs me tightly. "I'm so proud of you!"
"Max?"
We both turn.
It's Fang.
For a moment both my parents just stand there, gazing at each other. Then my father takes a hesitant step towards her, a small smile on his face, his arms slightly outstretched.
She runs into his arms.
Then they're both laughing, holding on to each other like they might never let go. "I've missed you so much!" Max breathes.
"Where have you been?" Fang replies. "We looked everywhere for you!"
Then, at the same time, "I love you."
I laugh out loud from the pure joy of the scene. This it is, finally we can be a proper family, together…
A giant pair of furry arms lock around my middle, lift me off my feet. The musky smell of wolf overwhelms me. I feel sharp teeth poking at the hollow between my neck and shoulder; feel its hot breath on my neck, the disgusting scent of wet dog mixed with human sweat. It makes me want to vomit. I twist and turn, trying to break free. I catch a glimpse of its face.
It's the Eraser from the beach, so long ago. He doesn't look quite so beautiful now. His face is twisted into the muzzle of a wolf; bristly brown-black fur covers every inch of his body. His eyes, so dark brown you can't see the pupils, are ice cold. "Prepare to die, little girl," he growls softly, poised for the kill.
I scream.
Twin shouts.
"Trinity!"
The Eraser's hold vanishes. I slump to the ground, sobbing from the shock of the near-death experience.
And within seconds a different pair of arms is around me, one I know well. I wrap my arms around their neck, shaking uncontrollably, tears still streaming down my cheeks.
Yay
"Shh…" my father murmurs soothingly, "you're alright, you're okay…Daddy's got you, Daddy's here."
Slender fingers probe my neck anxiously, searching for non-existent wounds. "Is she alright?" my mother asks, her voice high and panicky. "My baby!"
"I'm fine," I mumble into my father's shirt.
"Oh thank goodness," she breathes in relief. She pauses. "Fang…"
"Yeah?"
"I'm sorry."
"Don't be." He pulls her closer to him with his free arm. "I know you were only trying to protect our daughter."
She sighs. "I've missed you so much…I just hope you can love me again someday."
He chuckles slightly. "Who says I ever stopped?"
Yay! It's finished! Well…not completely. Why do I keep saying well a lot? Beats me. Anyway, like it or not, I am writing an epilogue. Stay tuned!