Hey everyone! I'm back from the depths of schoolwork! I hope to finish The Fallen Angels before my senior year of high school, so be prepared for updates : ). I don't own Maximum Ride, I own my characters. No stealing.
Chapter 29: Piece by Piece
Shadow's POV
Time: 18:14
I opened my eyes and a bright white light seared my vision. I closed my eyes quickly and moaned.
Where was I?
"She's awake?" I heard someone whispered. I lifted my arm over my eyes and look to the side. Hunter was sitting on a chair and I could feel my other hand being covered by his.
"Hunt-?" Before I could finish, images assaulted me. Hunter smiling, frowning, crying, hugging me, his arm over my shoulder, k-
"Shadow?" Everything came back into focus and all I could see was Hunter. His warm hands were caressing my face and for that moment, I felt complete.
"Itex's plan is to distract you from your mission to destroy them. They're playing on the fact that you have no memories. They have moved the chip to each of your brains and are putting in 'memories'. These are fake images. Do not believe them."
I moved away from Hunter when Marcus' words rang in my head. It was just Itex, it was just Itex, it was just Itex.
But it felt so real…
"Shadow? Are you feeling okay?" Iggy said. I shook my head and looked at him. "Yeah, sorry Ig. Just woke up." I looked at him and felt a bit nauseous. His face was paler than usual, but his hands were stained red with blood. I looked at Hunter who also looked a bit sick. "What's going on?"
Iggy sighed and ran his hand through his strawberry blond hair. "Shadow, you have a bullet in your leg."
"And?"
"We can't get it out. You don't have enough blood for us to go through that, and I'm not a good surgeon." I felt vomit coming up and swallowed it down.
"That's fine, people go their whole lives like that," I said, keeping my face impassive.
"Yes, but this bullet is different, a lot different from normal ones," Iggy said. "We're not sure what it'll do to you."
"Eh, figures," I said, brushing it off. Things I learned from life: Do not worry until you have to, it's a waste of energy. I saw Iggy and Hunter exchange a look and I rolled my eyes. Boys.
"So, I'm going to check on the tests that Lies is doing upstairs. I'll see you in a few," Iggy said, walking out and shutting the door behind him.
I sighed and stared past Hunter. The only thing I hoped from all of this is that my leg would heal fast.
"You okay?" Hunter asked, sitting next to me. I nodded.
"Yes, I'm fine, just fine," I sighed. Hunter moved closer to me and put his arm around me.
"I'm sorry that you have to go through this," Hunter said.
"No, it's fine," I said again.
"Repeating it isn't going to make this better. I shouldn't have sent you in there, Lies is better at-"
I held up a hand. "No, I'm an agent. Lies shouldn't have to cover me." I lowered my head. Hunter frowned and I felt stupid and awkward. "I'm sorry that I'm blubbering."
Hunter's eyes widened and I felt his warm hand pick up my head so my eyes met his. One of his fingers brushed the hair out of my face. "Shadow," he started. "It's fine, for goodness sake, you were just shot in the leg. The bullet is huge and is stuck in your leg. You won't be able to walk the same for a while. It's okay if you're…blubbery?"
I couldn't help but smile a little. "Thanks Hunter."
His golden eyes seemed to dance in the light. "Don't mention it."
I didn't have the heart to move his hand away. Not when it was so warm. Not when it was so familiar...
The background seemed to change to a beautiful forest. There was a waterfall, the sky was clear and fish were swimming by in the rivers. I was sitting on a rock with Hunter.
"Shadow?" his words seemed to echo. I looked straight at him. "Are you okay?"
"Best that I've felt in a while," I said.
"I know. It feels oddly familiar. Too bad Itex just puts it in our heads," Hunter said, a sad smile on his face.
That's when everything crashed into normalcy. The room was back to grey concrete, the mossy rock was a hard mattress, and the beauty was gone. I pushed Hunter's hand away and flopped onto my pillow. Fuck Itex...
"Shado-"
"Go away. I'm dizzy," I said gruffly.
Hunter bit his lip and stood up to leave, but then Marcus walked in and looked straight at me.
"I am so sorry Shadow," he said, genuine concern on his face.
"It's just a leg," I said, brushing it off.
"No...It's more than that Shadow."
"What is it Marcus? What's wrong?" Hunter questioned.
Marcus looked at the floor, his face pale. "It was false information. The antidote to your expiration dates is water. There WAS no expiration date. It was all a set up."
I laid myself down slowly as everything hit me at once- anger, betrayal, bewilderment, shock and just dizziness from loss of blood.
"Figures," I spat out bitterly.
Max's POV
Time: 18:30
"C'mon guys, let's go!" I called to the group. Fang, Nudge, Angel and Total were coming with me to 20 Eastern Way, the lovely place that would get the Fallen to finally believe us because they were stubborn and bullheaded. Ugh.
I agree Max, Angel said in my head. But at least we'll be a Flock again?
I felt kind of complete in that gross Hallmark-y way when she said that. I smiled in her direction. Yes Ang, we'll be a Flock again.
I looked at Cass, Ella and Chris who were staying behind so that they can research the antidote to make sure it wasn't poison. Plus, we couldn't exactly lug around three humans with us.
"I still think it's a bad idea," Ella said as she walked up to us. She had been acting weird for the last few days, but it could really be anything. For some reason, I was always felt not as close to Ella compared to the others. Weird, I know. Paranoid Max is paranoid.
"You worry too much," I reassured her. "C'mon, I'm a super spy. What's the worst that can happen?"
"Ohhhh…I don't know…maybe you…y'know, die?" Ella said, rolling her eyes and crossing her arms. Oh, hello Ms. Attitude!
"Please Ella, don't be ridiculous. Just be glad you have the TV for yourself this weekend," I said, pushing off towards our past…and our future.
Outside POV
Time: 18:47
"You haf failed me Omega!" Dr. ter Borcht screamed. The doctor could not believe how bone headed the "perfect" Omega could be. "Vhy would you shoot DAT mutant! She is absolutely useless! Useless to de plan and useless in de long run! Ve needed MAXIMUM VRIDE! Did you forget vat she looked like?"
"No," Omega said. "Shooting experiment K1483710Z also known as Shadow was what needed to be done. She came in and the door locked. It was impossible at that point to shoot experiment M10116g25 also known as Max. She would've gotten away." The doctor breathed, trying to calm down his heart rate. Even under control, this experiment was a disobedient wretch! He should not have put him under free will just yet.
"I should keel you," the doctor hissed, glaring at Omega.
"On the contrary," Omega said robotically. "Infecting experiment K1483710Z is absolutely perfect, presented of the circumstances. She will spread the virus to all the members of the Fallen. Do you think Maximum Ride can overpower all of the Fallen without an antidote?"
The doctor narrowed his eyes. "For your sake, let us hope not."
Time: 20:15
Shadow slowly sat down at the kitchen, wincing. Her leg was still hurting even though she took painkillers. She knew it would be a long while before she was able to walk normal again, even with super fast healing. It made her feel bad, like a liability, even though no one in the Fallen was calling her such…yet.
"Shadow," Iggy said, while mixing dinner. "Can you taste the stew? I'm not sure if it's ready." Iggy walked over and held the big ladle to Shadow's mouth. They were both unaware of the mini machines that were crawling throughout Shadow's body. More specifically, her mouth. Iggy brought the spoon closer and put it near Shadow's mouth. Shadow took a small sip of Iggy's stew and the machines that were in her mouth latched onto the ladle.
"Oh, it's definitely ready Iggy," Shadow said, half-smiling. Iggy smiled also and coughed. When he was treating Shadow's leg, he did not know of the machines crawling out of the bullet, onto his skin and into his body. The machines landed on the bowls of food, waiting for the rest of the unsuspecting super spies.
"Yay! Stew!" Ari said as he ran in and jumped into his seat. Iggy put a bowl in front of him and he eagerly ate the mixture of meat and machines.
The Gasman sat down and wrinkled his nose. "I wish we had a dog during times like these." Shadow helped Iggy serve bowls of stew in front of everyone's seat.
"It's not too bad," Lies said, eating some. "Beside, you can't grow big and strong on a diet of cookies, chips and soda."
"I guess," the Gasman sighed. Hunter and Ghost walked in and sat down.
"Hey Shadow. I'm sorry you were shot over water," Ghost said, sitting down next to her.
Shadow shrugged. "I've been shot over stupider things."
"How are you feeling?" Hunter asked taking a sip of the machine mixture.
"I'm okay," Shadow said. She looked around the table, and felt…content. The normalcy of sitting down and eating dinner was such a contrast to the usual shooting, running, hiding and fighting. "I'm just glad to be alive."
Hunter smiled and looked at everyone in his group. He felt safe. But he also felt a little bit scared, like if this was the last time everything would be normal.
Hunter didn't know that everyone in the Fallen was infected with the virus.
Max's POV
Time: 21:27
"Well, this is cozy," I said. Fang nodded. 20 Eastern Way turned out to be this really cozy winter cabin. It didn't look like it could hold 8 bird kids, at all. So why was this address familiar to me?
"Let's go in guys," I said and the others nodded. We quietly snuck around the house and checked if anyone was in there. It was empty. I gave Fang the signal. He opened the window quietly and we were in.
It was really dark and cold. With my raptor vision, I could make out stains on the walls. Wack paint job? "Can someone turn on the lights?"
"This place smells tragic," Total commented, brushing by my leg. I heard the lights snap on and I would've screamed, if I was a screaming kind of girl.
The place looked like a horror movie. There was dried blood everywhere, on the walls, on the floor. Nudge and Angel had screamed and Angel walked over to me crying.
"This place is bad," she sobbed. "Bad things happened here." I bit my lip and turned around, seeing a TV. Fang and I exchanged a look and he walked to it, turning it on. All that came on was white noise. I shrugged and turned around, going to head upstairs but then…
"Max!" Fang called out. I looked over to see Jeb's image flash on the screen. "You hold the answers deep within your own mind."
Then white noise came back on again. I felt sick. This was just like my dream…
The screen flashed again and a lady with brown hair and brown eyes was standing at a podium. My heart felt like it was going to break, and I had no idea why. "Death in its most hideous form!" She exclaimed and the screen went to white noise again. I looked at Nudge who was for once, speechless.
"Are you sure your program didn't lead us to a trap?" I asked, trying to keep my voice as calm as possible. She nodded and I looked around.
"Fang, take Nudge and Angel out of here. Total, stay with me," I said. Fang looked hesitant, but he nodded. Angel looked too sad to protest and so did Nudge as they jumped out the window and into the night.
"Total at your service! What do you want from me chief?" Total said saluting me with his doggy paws. If I wasn't so nauseous, I would've cracked a smile.
"I need you to smell the blood for me and see if you can identify anyone," I said.
Total wrinkled his nose in disgust. "Do I look like a bloodhound to you?"
I wanted to roll my eyes. I didn't have time for this. Attempting to keep my voice sweet, I said, "No. But you look like a tough dog that can carry out his mission." Total stood up taller and trotted over to the blood and started sniffing. I rolled my eyes at the overdramatic dog and walked upstairs. The hall upstairs was clear, except for the trashed bedrooms. I froze when I read Shadow's writing on the wall:
The number one rule for being an Avian American: Never sleep, never die.
Ugh, this is too weird! My dreams are literally on the walls, and I can't put the pieces together!
Are you okay Max? Angel's little voice said in my head.
Yes, I just need to look around. I'm almost done. I felt like I had to walk into one bedroom. The lamps were broken and the desk was turned over, but the bed was mostly okay. I peeked under the covers. Nothing. I looked under the pillow and spotted two pictures.
Jackpot.
I grabbed one and scanned it, feeling a huge lump form in my throat. There was Jeb and the lady with the brown hair and the brown eyes, smiling and with their arms around each other. Jeb's hand was resting on Hunter's shoulder, and the lady's hand was on my shoulder. Sitting next to Hunter was Ella, and I could tell she'd rather be at the dentist than be there. In between Hunter and I was Ari, the youngest member of the Fallen holding a big teddy bear. I stared at myself and my big dorky smile plastered on my face and I felt like crying.
I used to have a happy life.
I turned the photo around and my heart almost stopped beating.
In my weird handwriting, it said: My biological family: The best mom ever, the coolest dad, my twin brother Hunter, my little brother Ari and my half sister, Ella.
Since when was Ella my half sister?
Since when was Jeb my father?
Since when was Ari my little brother?
And since when in hell was Hunter my TWIN brother?
I stuffed the two photos in my backpack and headed downstairs, feeling lost but trying to hide it.
The others can't know about this. Not yet.
Me: : ) Review! The dream that Max is referencing is in chapter 11 in case anyone forgot : )
