A big thankyou to everyone who reviewed and added me. Thankyou to Ella Marie Mason for betaing. Two things. 1) Pay attention to the details of this chapter. 2) READ the AN at the bottom. NOw here is Ch 26, Enjoy!
Max POV:
"Vision, I think someone's in that room." I said. I started towards the door across the hall.
At every plant I insist we do a sweep of the building. Better to be cautious then hear the screams of experiments as we flew away. We were once again at the oxymoronic German castle, and in five minutes the last pain in my butt would be blown up. We'd finally all be free.
"Max we don't have time." Vision whispered, tugging on my arm.
"It's ok Vision, I'll go with her. Meet us outside." Jinx said.
"But-"
"Go," I said already pushing on the door.
I walked in with Jinx behind me, only to find an empty room. I took a few steps farther in. Jinx walked over to the lone window.
"I could have sworn there was someone in here," I muttered.
Behind me the door slammed shut.
"Uh cue scary music?" I whispered. I frantically sent Jinx 'what the heck' vibes. He didn't pick up on them. Figures.
There was a chuckle. I spun around to face the now closed door. There was no one there. Ok, my bad, it was a disembodied chuckle.
I really started to question my sanity at that moment. I know, I've done that like twice a day for a year, but this time I really was considering an institution.
"Yeah, Casper," I called out, trying to get the attention of the 'ghost' thing, "could you open that door? That'd be great."
Of course nothing happened. Maybe ghosts don't like be called Casper. I'd always thought he gave them too good of a name.
"Max, come on we can leave through the window." Jinx calmly explained while opening said window.
I glared at the door, stupid, ghost thing. I mentally growled. Basic bird kid science: You can't fight something you can't see. I had slowly turned around when Casper graced us with his voice.
"I wouldn't do that, Max."
I froze. I knew that voice. I recognized that voice. It was a voice I had never wanted to hear again.
"Rust," I snarled. Breaking out of my shock, I whipped around.
Everything came rushing back to me. I couldn't believe how stupid I had been to forget Rust's pride and joy, his invisibility.
"Stop being a coward and show yourself."
Moments later, a grinning Rust appeared in the doorway. He was holding a gun. I no longer cared about the boy behind me. At that time my attention was focused on two things. A) Killing Rust, and B) Ripping Rust to Shreds.
"Put it down, Rust." I said, menace seeping into my tone. His grin only got wider.
"Now, why would I do that? I've been waiting for this moment ever since I left. This gun is the end of Maximum Ride."
"God, Rust what happened to you? Cause it's hard for me to believe that you were born psycho."
"What happened to me?" Rust yelled, "What happened to me?! You happened to me. Everything was fine until YOU."
"Hey, don't blame me. You walked into my life, remember? And just cause I rejected you doesn't give you a right to kill me. I thought we had already covered this last time I beat you up." My voice was rising. How freaking dare he! He can't blame me for his problems.
I was pissed at him coming back. I was pissed at him being an idiot. And I was pissed at that damn gun. There is nothing fair about a fight with a gun. Only his finger on that trigger had stopped me from kicking Rust's ass, or grabbing the gun and shooting him. Give him a taste of his own delusional medicine.
Rust took a deep breath.
"I'm not getting into this with you, Max. You'll be dead in a minute anyway."
Before I could respond, he spoke again. "And don't bother begging for mercy."
"Never." I growled, and spat in his face. His knuckles whitened on the gun.
Ha.
"Bye, Max." Rust said smirking.
The rest was a blur.
Jinx rushed in front of me. Jinx pushed me toward the window. Jinx snarled at me to go.
I didn't want to listen. I didn't want to leave him to die, but the faces of my flock flashed before me. I had to; for them.
I turned around.
Rust pulled the trigger.
I jumped out the window.
My wings spread. My wings buckled.
I screamed. Vision screamed. The Voice screamed.
Everything went black.
Until that day I never knew a single bullet could hurt more than one person. Now I know.
Iggy POV (third person):
Iggy heard footsteps coming toward him. It was Vision. He'd recognize her light footsteps anywhere.
"Where's Max and Jinx?" he asked. His ears were pricked for any noise but he heard none.
"They're coming." Vision said, but Iggy could detect the worry in her voice. He put a comforting arm around her.
Come on Max. Hurry it up, he thought. Cause against his better judgment, Iggy was worried too.
Minutes later Vision saw Max at the window and whispered her findings into Iggy's ear. He let out a sigh of relief.
Then he heard the gun shot. Then he heard Vision scream.
He heard the whooshing of air where Max was falling.
He heard his own wing beats as he caught her.
He felt the blood pouring out of her.
He felt the gust of air as someone flew off above him.
Immediately, Iggy's brain went in over drive. His one goal was to save Max. He forgot all about the black haired boy that had been with her. Not that it would have mattered. A bullet straight to the heart ended the life of the soulless kid.
Iggy sensed Vision beside him as he flew into the forest.
Iggy heard the noise from the explosion seconds later.
He heard the leaves crunch as he landed on the forest floor.
He heard Max's shallow breathing as he gently laid her down. He heard his own exclamation of 'Thank God,' as he heard those shallow breaths.
But most importantly, mere seconds later, Iggy felt the bullet that was lodged into the center of Max's wings.
Please don't kill me. I would love some reviews though.
*READ ME: This is the last chapter for Midnight Eyes. In a couple days (Sunday at the latest) I'll be posting Ch 1 for Traiterous Eyes (the Sequel) so be on the look out. Just in case, when I post it I'll post a notice on here saying I just posted (if that makes any sense).
I love you guys, and thanks for sticking with me through this story.