Finally! Phew, bad case of writers block, sorry. THANK YOU to anyone who had anything to do with this- reviewing and stuff like that. I'm glad you liked it.
Epilogue:
Jeb paced the interior of his office. The oak wood floorboards creaked under his step, his glasses slid down the bridge of his nose. With a sigh, he pushed them back up and paused with on foot hovering in the air, casting his blue eyes around the room. The metal desk, shining in the sunlight coming through the window, the bare walls and too full bookcase. Framed awards were the only color in his den, the only sign of life and it would stay that way.
He'd expected them to succeed. Had been planning on it in fact, but there were other losses to take into account. Losses no one had thought to consider. Jeb's fingers curled into fists as he tried to push away emotions he'd only felt when it was too late. Ari had been his son, but not until he was already dead.
There was one image that replayed itself in his mind, like a broken record nobody could stop, flashing every time he blinked. The look in Max's eyes- before she'd punched him- had told him everything he needed to know. So much rage and sadness- guilt, fury, and strength. She'd said everything without saying a word. That the experiment was successful- they were successful.
If a bunch of children were capable of understanding the meaning of family and loss better than Jeb ever could, what did that say about him? About the whitecoats and Itex's agents? For children barely past adolescence as a whole, they could teach them all a thing or two.
Which meant that they were successful. The Flock was the future, as intended and as would have been the case, if they hadn't interfered with the plans. Their ability to defeat an entire island of Erasers, venture into Itex's headquarters and leave alive was just more proof of their immediate success as a unit.
Not a unit, a family. Jeb realized with a shock.
Maybe it was a sign to pack away their ambitions- the whitecoats that is- and leave the world as it should be. Maybe it was just a way of forcing them into more creative and indestructible means to better ensure that future plans went smoothly. Either way, Jeb knew what the outcome of it would be and his shoulders sagged as he accepted it.
They should have given it up, but ambition had corrupted them all. And nothing would stand in their way.
Max:
After being raised in cages, tested, experimented on, escaping, surviving, and the works of bird kid life, it only made sense that we deserved a little fun now and then. Especially now after our latest endeavor.
Disney World, in all its glory, had been great- for the first ten minutes- before the paranoia set so deep in my bones started to kick in like aspirin and those happy little Eskimos singing It's a Small World really started to get on my nerves. Not to mention all those creepy mascots. But that didn't mean we couldn't take advantage of the parks nightlife.
"You know, these Robertsons had it made" The Gasman said, sitting cross legged in that fake tree house that could actually have housed twelve people. For the night though, it was just us seven. The Flock plus Cam.
"It's the Robinsons, nimrod" Ig threw a cotton candy stick at him and rolled his sightless eyes.
I had to agree with the Gasman though. For people stranded on an island, they sure had style. They even had ink, though I'm not totally sure who they could be writing to on a deserted island. Maybe they wrote to themselves and got all happy when they received their own letters. It's the small pleasures in life right?
In two weeks there hadn't been a single attack, not even a sighting. The morning after we'd flown away from Genesis- and destroyed the vial- we'd flown as far and as fast as possible, putting as much distance between us and them as we could. And yet, 14 days later, they still hadn't shown up. Weird, huh? Not that I'm complaining.
For the first time in a long time, I didn't feel like I had the weight of the universe resting on my winged shoulders. I couldn't feel the hot breath of erasers breathing down my back, metaphorically speaking. It was like standing on a cliff, arms spread wide, with my eyes closed, just waiting for someone to push me over and never having it come. Relief doesn't begin to cover it.
"Max?" I blinked and automatically my eyes connected with Fang's. He leaned back in a hammock, foot swinging over the edge, his arms pinned behind his head in the complete picture of relaxation. Never thought you'd see those two words used in the same description, right? Fang and relaxation. Like train wreck and good.
"Mhmm?" He raised an eyebrow and I nodded, brushing off my jeans as I stood and headed for the door. The sign next to it said no loitering or littering. The Flock lounged around like they owned the place, candy wrappers and soda cans littering the floor. Oops. I hoped they had a maid service.
Being the leader means a few things- protecting the Flock, caring for the Flock, loving them, and most importantly making sure the kids were happy. It's a tough job, but someone has to do it… maybe I should write a book. I'll call it "Maximum Ride's maximum ways to lead". Oh, yeah, catchy. And judging by the looks on my Flock's faces I'd say I do a pretty good job. Add the saving the world to that and I'm top notch.
"What's up?" I asked my second in command once we were out of earshot. Not only did I not want to the kids to hear us, but things could get awkward. Wink, wink.
Fang turned to face me, his face close to mine, and he snapped his wings open. My breath caught in my throat at how amazing they are, dark and sleek. Perfect, like Fang himself. I'm almost positive that the speeding of my heart will never stop- not as long as Fang's around to cause it.
"Come fly with me?" He asked.
"Have you been listening to Frank Sinatra again?" Fang just rolled his eyes and took off, no running start, no nothing. Just a few powerful down strokes and tada! Airborne. His wings blended into the night sky, carrying him further and further up- and away from me. Which I, of course, could not let happen.
"Boys" I grumbled before jogging a few steps and whoosh. My wings snapped open, glinting in whatever light was out there. It was easier to take off with my updated wings, catching up to Fang was cake and instead of gliding, I sliced through the air- like a knife through butter.
We flew through Disney World, ducking through loops in roller coasters, watching our reflections in the windows of the stores, dodging the animals on the Merry Go Round. We even passed a fake Tinker Bell, all the way on top of that castle every little girl dreams of living in. For the night, Disney World was our world, our private ghost town, and we did what we wanted with it.
Eventually, we wound up in the teacups, breathing as if deprived of oxygen. Fang spun us lazily with one hand, the other curled in mine. Hey, for kids who have lead pretty miserable lives you can't say we don't know how to fun. If you could own Disney World for a night, what would you do?
"Do you think it's over?" I asked out of the blue. It had been nagging me all night, all week actually so I just had to ask. The moon made everything glow a creepy, unreal grey, as if we really were in some ghost town and apparitions of Mickey would start parading down Main Street. I could already hear that annoying song, you know from that show? M-I-C-K-E-Y... m-o-u-s-e?
"No. I think it's just starting" said Fang, already knowing what I meant without me having to say a word. Annoying? Sometimes, but when not when it counts. Like when I really don't want to say something true out loud, fearing it would only make it truer…. If that makes any sense what so ever.
"That's what I was afraid of" Suddenly, Mickey Mouse's ghost wasn't so bad anymore. A giant rodent spirit I could handle, my entire life's struggles being only the beginning of some greater battle made my skin crawl.
Fang slipped his arm around my shoulders, pulling me close and tight as if only that would make everything go away. Actually, it sort of did, but that could only last so long. Soon, I didn't how soon, erasers would start coming again, whitecoats would be waiting- again- with needles and sicker, more twisted tests and soon, the Flock would have bigger problems than a clumsy wolf-man and a needle. That much I knew for sure.
"Max? Afraid? Did hell freeze over?" He was trying to make me laugh but it was so not working. Worry and anxiety had already set in and there was no going from that point. Take it from me. I am the master of worry and anxiety.
We were still spinning, as were my thoughts, and it was almost making me dizzy. Please, I begged, please do not let me upchuck all that cotton candy I ate today. I'll never eat soft, melt in your mouth pink fluffy stuff again. Hmm… when I put it that way...
"Everyone gets scared sometimes. You're not the only one" I felt like asking what his biggest fear was, but the decided I might feel weird if it turned out to be something embarrassing- like a fear of Care Bears. That green one can be mighty frightening. Somehow though, I doubt Fang's greatest fear is a plush toy.
I was just leaning closer, inching my way really, like in those annoying movies where the two people get that close, when a dog barked, but not just any bark. This bark had authority. We stopped spinning- which made my brain rotate once in my head- and froze. A flashlight flicked on and beamed right on us, the guard's body just a chubby shadow.
"Stay where you are!" he shouted. As if. One glance at each other and we bolted, the dog went crazy and the guard starting shouting some more- and a few words unprintable for younger audiences at that.
We're masters of escape, like the Houdinis of the art. The only problem? Fang went one way and I went the other. As soon as I'd cleared the Teacup dome, I shot into the air, glancing down just once to laugh at the floored face of the guard, his flashlight swinging in his limp hand.
I couldn't see Fang anywhere, for once cursing his dark wings, so I flew to the highest point around, our prearranged meeting place if something went wrong- the Castle- to wait for him. Tink whizzed by again and I felt the sudden urge to scribble a mustache on her perfect, plastic face but you know me- petty crime just isn't right.
The lights were off at the Robinson Treehouse, the Flock probably sound asleep. Lights from the nearest city sparkled in the distance and that freaking dog was still going at it. There wasn't a cloud in sight, the moon was full and there was hardly any wind at all, just a gentle breeze on my arms… perfect. I wonder what he's gonna tell his guard friends? I wonder how long he'll still have his job after that.
Wings fluttered, feet skidded and I barely had time to process Fang's face when he kept up the momentum of landing and jogged over to me, threw his arms around my waist and kissed me. A shadow come to life.
Remember when I said it felt like standing on the edge of a cliff with my arms spread and eyes closed, well, standing on the top of Magic Castle or whatever cute name it's called, kissing Fang felt just like that. Only better and without the waiting for someone to push me feeling.
"Whatever happens next, I've got you" He said, pulling away. "You know that, right? The Flock can handle anything they throw at us, even the world, apparently. So, you can be afraid, Max, but you don't ever have to be"
Not exactly the greatest and most eloquent words ever spoken, but just the same, I instantly felt better. I felt… ready, if that doesn't sound too weird. Ready to face what the School and Itex hurtled at us next because I knew that no matter what, I wouldn't be alone. I've never been alone and because of the Flock, I've made it this far. Fang kissed me again, lightly and my eyes fluttered closed.
So, all I have left to say is bring it on world. 'Cause we're ready for you.
Well... aviator301 says you guys would probably like a sequel. It's your call. To continue or not to continue? You tell me. Thanks again to everyone. I could say that alot more but it would just get annoying, so. Anyway, bye!!