C h a p t e r T h i r t y - F o u r

Turns out breaking in was even easier than breaking out.

Everyone was simply delighted to see us again, and greeted us by grabbing our ankles and wrists and dragging us off to see the Boss Man. Fang put up somewhat of a struggle, but I just went along with it; the sooner I see the head of this operation the sooner I'll have my proof.

At last we were carried (I must add this little part here: Fang had five people dragging him; one for each arm, one for each leg, and one for both wings. I, however, had only one person carrying me, honeymoon style, with rope tied loosely around my wrists and ankles. Ha.) into the Boss Man's exquisite office.

Red velvet seemed to be of top priority in his little space, as there were red velvet drapes lining the wall to ceiling windows behind his desk, with gold trimmings and decorations. His desk was a large and very fancy one made of some sort of wood (he suggested cherry wood, but I thought cherries were fruit) with a huge red velvet swivel chair sitting behind it. Whew. I mean, this guy was living large.

"Wow," I said as we walked into the office, drinking in my surroundings. "All I had in the room you guys put me in earlier was some rats."

"Ah, Maximum Ride," the Boss Man sighed once he laid his beady little eyes on me. "I must say that I am quite surprised to see you back at our facilities. I am told that you came here of your own accord?"

"You're told correctly, sir," I replied with a mocking salute. It didn't really work out well because my wrists were tied together in front of me, so it kind of lost the effect.

"What brings you here? Certainly not our hospitality."

"I just missed you so much, you see, sir," I said, again with a sarcastic tone. He gave me a glare to assure me that he was not amused.

I felt another set of eyes on me, and an unpleasant chill snaked down my spine. I looked over my captive's shoulder to see Fang's cold stare dead set on my eyes. I gave a subtle-and inaudible-gulp and continued with what I had to say.

"We're really here," I continued, waving off the guy who was holding me. After getting a nod from Boss Man, he placed me in a chair across from the Man himself at his desk. "because I want answers."

Boss Man gave me a look that tried to hide his uncertainty. It was an epic fail. "Naturally."

"I was accused of being a traitor to my flock," I said. Boss Man snapped his fingers twice and the men holding Fang plopped him down in the chair next to me before exiting the room.

"You are, as you call it, a traitor," he retorted, still unsure of where this was going. Honestly, I was shocked to see this going so smoothly. I must be having a pretty darn good day.

"Why?"

"Simple. You have been giving us unlimited amounts of information; without your knowledge of course. Perhaps I shouldn't tell you this, but now that you're here and about to die (this time in a way that will make this all quite final) I suppose you should want to know.

"You see, Maximum, I have implanted a chip in your being. Now this chip has been placed in a part of your body that allows us to see when you move a certain, er, hinge and we can hear all that you say as well as the rest of your-what do you call it? Flock?-flock says. It's really quite useful."

Me, being the intelligent being I am, gave the ingenious reply after discovering such startling news of "Huh?"

"But no matter. Ms. Ride, we are finished here."

Boss Man snapped his fingers once this time, and the men returned, baring guns.

"We are done here. Hope you have enjoyed your life. I know we have."

He gave a sinister laugh and spun around in his swivel chair while the men aimed their guns at Fang and I.

"Any last words, Max?"

I looked over at a sheepish looking Fang and nodded.

"Told you so."