(MAX POV)

I woke up, and I was alone. I quickly stood up and stumbled as my vision swam. As soon as I could see, I scanned the room. It was the same room as I was in previously, but I was the only one here. There was no trace of anyone.

I ran to the door and pounded on it. I couldn't let the flock get hurt. They were my family and I was their protector. With the power of adrenaline coursing through me, I snapped my leg out and kicked the door down. I rushed into the hallway, half expecting alarms to go off.

The hallway was deserted too. Which way should I go? Left or right? Who knows how much time I had left? I had to choose quickly, and I had to choose correctly.

Left.

I didn't question the Voice. I just ran at full pelt. I did not pass any doors or turns. Which was odd. It was just a long, endless hallway. I never knew this place was so big. Finally, I reached a door. Just a simple door. I stopped and stared at it. I had been expecting noise, but everything was dead silent.

Go in. The flock needs you.

I didn't need to be told twice. I grabbed the handle and threw the door open. The door wasn't even locked. I ran in and gasped. There was Angel on the floor. My baby Angel, and she was not breathing.

I collapsed next to her and tears fell from my eyes. I put my fingers on her neck, searching for a pulse. There was one, but it was slow and sluggish.

"She's not dead," Dr. Tyler said. I spun around, and there he was. The door I came through was now closed.

"She will be soon," he continued.

"What did you do?" My voice was thick with tears, but I did not care.

"Me? I did nothing. It was Fang. He's been going crazy, lately. I can't get him to take his shot, and it's all because of you. I forced him to immobilize the flock, so they would not fight back. I can still control him, but he will not take the final shot. And it's all because of you. If I have you killed, then everything will go back to normal."

"Normal? How can you be so evil?"

He looked appalled, "How can I be evil? I am not evil? I am doing this for the good of humanity! Sacrifices are necessary. You are nothing?"

I glared at him, but I didn't continue. That argument could go on forever. "Where is everyone?"

"I'm glad you asked."

He reached over and turned on the lights. I felt a prickling feeling on the back of my neck, and I turned around. The rest of the flock was there and each one was hooked to their own table.

Iggy was the closest to me, and he had wires imbedded in his arm. His face was contorted in pain. The rest of them appeared to be asleep.

"Iggy! What did you do to him?"

Dr. Tyler laughed, "I did nothing. Fang is absorbing your powers. This is just speeding up the process."

I growled, "Where is he?"

"Look behind you."

I whirled around, and there he was. He was right behind me. His arms were dangling by his side. His eyes were completely red, and his face held no emotion. It amazed me how he got there without me noticing.

"Fang?"

He didn't respond, and I took that time to scan the room. There were computers and chemicals everywhere. There were other things that I did not recognize. It looked liked one of those evil laboratories from the movies.

Worse, it looked like the school.

"Why are you doing this?"

"He will become the ultimate weapon. We will mobilize him and save the world."

"Save the world? That's what you want. There are better ways to do that?"

"Like you?"

"No! Just be you. Everyone can make a difference. It just has to be right."

"This is right."

"It's not. This will only lead to death and destruction! That can't be saving the world!"

"What do you know? You're just a kid."

"But I'm a kid who knows the difference between right and wrong." I was standing now. In between Fang and Dr. Tyler.

I continued, "Stop this."

"Fang… kill her."

I gasped and whirled around. Fang was still standing there, staring at me. He did not blink.

Fang? Can you hear me? I screamed the thoughts in my head, desperate to get through to him.

He gave no sign. He lunged forward and aimed to punch me. I ducked underneath his arm and threw a punch of my own. He easily dodged it. He spun and his leg lashed out to meet my head. I backed up quickly to avoid it.

What should I do? The flock was dying and I had no idea on how to stop it. Fang rushed at me again and I ran around him and over to Iggy. I managed to get a few of the wires out, but Fang grabbed my arm and threw me towards the wall.

My back slammed against it, and I clenched my teeth to keep from crying out. I landed on my side and I coughed. I could taste blood.

I quickly stood up and leaned against the wall for support. I glared at Fang, but after a moment my gaze softened. Fang walked towards me and I just could not move. I didn't want to fight. I couldn't fight him. He grabbed me by the throat and lifted me up so that my feet dangled. My hands grabbed his as I tried to breathe in.

Don't do this. This isn't you.

He didn't appear to have heard me. My lungs were starting to burn and my vision swam with black dots.

You don't want to do this.

My grip on his hand loosened and I could feel myself falling. I was falling down, down, down. Nothing to hold on to. Nothing to hear my screams.

From my last hold on reality, I could hear Dr. Tyler shout, "Wait! Don't kill her. We need her."

Fang dropped me and stood back. I landed on my side again and wheezed in as many raspy breaths as I could.

I watched as Dr. Tyler walked over to Iggy and pulled the wires out of his arm He cried out, but he did not wake up.

"Bring her here."

Fang grabbed my arm and literally dragged me. I winced as it burned my skin.

"Put her on the table."

Fang picked me up and placed me on a table. Just like the ones the rest of the flock were on.

He strapped my wrists and ankles down, and then Dr. Tyler took the wires and inserted them into my arm. They stung.

I finally found my voice, "What… is this?"

My voice was hoarse, and it stung my throat to talk.

"I'm going to drain your powers and put them into Fang."

"I… don't have any… powers."

"Oh, but you do. You just don't know it yet. You are the strongest of the flock. You can change the world." He took the moment to laugh before he continued on, "This process drains you of everything. So… you're going to die."

My eyes widened, but before I could say anything, he was talking again.

"Fang. Release the mind mind-block on the flock. I want them to watch this."

Fang closed his eyes and simultaneously the flock gasped. Even Angel, and I was glad to see her breathing again.

"What's going on?" Iggy shouted.

"I just wanted to let you watch your leader die."

"Max? Max can't die! Don't kill her please! She doesn't deserve it! And-,"

"Nudge, shut up!" Iggy shouted.

"Now, Fang. Sit here." Dr. Tyler gestured to the last available table. Fang obeyed and wires were inserted into his arm. He didn't even wince.

Dr. Tyler went over to the console where the wire connected to and put his finger on a small, blinking switch.

"Three… Two… One." He pressed the button.

Half a second later, I started to scream.