Disclaimer: James Patterson owns Maximum Ride. I own this plot.

Chapter 36

Date: April 9th

Location: Max's Apartment

I took a step towards them.

And froze as I felt the cool hard barrel of a gun pressed firmly between my shoulder blades.

…..

"You aren't running this show," said a cold, familiar voice behind me. I flashed back to the feeling of hands over my mouth and nose. The burning sensation of no oxygen in my lungs. Without turning around I knew that Brian Slosky was the man with the gun. "We are."

I raised my hands up in the universal sign of 'don't shoot'.

"Congratulations," I said, "you found me. But then again, you found me months ago, didn't you Brian?" I felt the surprised jerk of the gun before it settled itself once again at my back. "You guys didn't kill me back in New York so now you're here to finish the job. Garret has you on a tight leash and everything."

"Shut up," he hissed.

I didn't. One thing I knew about situations like this is that you needed to humanize yourself. To connect with the attackers. If nothing else I needed to buy myself time to get Nudge and Ella out of here.

"I understand. I really do. He offered you guys a job and you couldn't refuse it. Not because he was willing to pay you but because he had something over each of you. You're in it for the money, right Brian? You bought a large share of Itex stock a few years ago. If Garret loses the trial then all of Itex stock crashes and you lose money. And you, Michael," I said, turning to the man who held Ella tightly against his body, "your brother is sick, right? Your family owes Itex pharmaceuticals a lot of money. Is Garret going to forgive that debt if you take care of me?" I saw the man's grip on Ella shake a little. "And you, Kevin," I said, turning to the man holding Nudge. His blue eyes met mine. "You went to school with Garret. Were you best buddies? Or did he do you a favor a few years back and now he's calling to collect?"

Kevin swallowed, his Adams apple bobbing with the movement. I knew I got it right.

"I know you were watching me at work the other day. And I know that you've all been watching me for weeks. You trashed my apartment and took my photos to Garret as proof that you'd found me. And now this," I sighed. "I don't know what Garret told you to do to hurt me but I know you weren't planning on hurting my friends. You guys work for a private contractor. You do the job assigned and nothing else. You don't kill innocent people. Nudge and Ella," I nodded to my friends, my hands still held up in surrender, "are innocent. You've been watching me for weeks. You know my schedule. It's a Tuesday. Nudge usually works Tuesdays and I have off. You were expecting to get me alone."

I looked around for confirmation. I saw it in Ridleys eyes. Just keep talking, I told myself, throw them off. Get them to let Nudge and Ella go.

"I know you don't want to hurt them. I'll cooperate with you guys if you just let them go."

"No," Slosky said firmly, the gun pushing harder into my back. I winced. "They can't leave. Not after this."

"They're innocent," I repeated. "They have nothing to do with Garret and everything to do with me cooperating. Let them go, and I'll comply. Garret won't have to know you let them go and I'll be dead. They won't be able to prove the murder charge without my testimony and Garret will be a free man. Your debts will be paid. Now, please, let them go."

"Brian—" Ridley started to say.

"Don't!" Slosky snapped. "Don't listen to her. She's a smooth talker but we have our orders."

"The orders didn't say anything about these two," he objected.

"Collateral damage."

"Innocent teenage girls," I interjected. "Ella's parents are well known around here. It's a small town, everyone knows everyone. Her moms the town vet and her dads an accountant. They donate a lot of money and have gained a lot of respect. Besides, Ella's the new student body president of her class. She'll be well missed if you hurt her. And Nudge, she's only been here a little while but everyone loves her. If she disappeared people would notice. We're not in New York, guys, this is Navajo Arizona. Population eight thousand. You hurt these two girls and I swear the police will be out looking for you before their bodies are cold. Me, however? They'll know what I'm wrapped up in, my death would be less of a mystery. You're more likely to get away with it if you let them go."

I was running out of ideas. I had no more points to make. If they didn't let Ella and Nudge go after this then I'd have to come up with a new plan that didn't involve talking.

"I have a sister their age…" Ridley said softly. "And the girls right. One death is less noticeable then three."

I felt the pressure of the gun lessen up against my back as Slosky contemplated.

"Please," I whispered, staring at Nudge and Ella, my heart hammering in my throat. They were in this situation because of me. "I'm sorry," I mouthed to them.

They couldn't answer but I saw in their eyes that they didn't blame me.

I felt the gun move away from me and for a moment I sighed in relief.

Then.

"Hey! You've been using our names the whole time. Who the hell cares if they can see our faces if they know our names?" Slosky exclaimed.

Damn. Time to move.

No sooner had Slosky said that then I'd turned around and jammed the palm of my hand up and into his cloth covered nose.

He stumbled backwards, shouting curses as blood flowed from his broken nose, soaking the dark fabric of his mask. He lost his grip on the gun and it went sliding to the floor. I dove for it at the same moment he did.

"What….are….you waiting for…..help!" he shouted to the others as I wrestled with him on the ground. He was strong, stronger than me, but I was nimbler, able to move more quickly. And I was angry. So, so angry.

"Run!" I screamed to my friends as I felt the other two men grab at me from behind. "Go! Run! Now!"

"Max—" that was Nudge, now freed of her duct tape gag.

"RUN!" A moment later I heard the bang of the front door as it slammed shut behind them.

Thank god, I thought as a fist collided with my jaw.

The two men were able to haul me off of Slosky but in the process of it I managed to kick wildly at the gun and send it sailing down the hallway, away from his reach.

He growled and rose to his feet, glaring at me where I was held captive between his two partners.

"You lose," I smirked at him.

"Oh no," he said, "I'm far from losing." He pulled his fist back and snapping it forward into my stomach.

All of the air left my lungs and I doubled over as far as my captors grips would allow.

"I'm going to enjoy this," he hissed into my ear, before his fist connected again with my stomach.

I kicked out and caught him in the knee. He went stumbling away and I turned slightly, throwing all my weight into Ridley and knocking him back, loosening his grip. I yanked free of his hold and turned to smash my elbow into Huitts stomach. He released me with an 'oomph' and I turned to face Slosky once again.

He was charging at me. He'd taken off his mask, unable to breathe through the blood soaked fabric. His black hair was matted with sweat, his brown eyes flashed furiously.

"I'm going to kill you, bitch—"

Slam!

The front door few open, smashing into the wall behind it as Fang burst into the apartment. He didn't pause to assess the situation, he just launched himself at the assailant closest to him. Huitt.

They tumbled over the sofa and onto the coffee table, which splintered beneath them.

"Fang!" I cried out in horror as I watched him wrestle with the man on the ground. No, he wasn't supposed to come! Nudge and Ella were supposed to get the police. Someone whose job it was to help me, not Fang, not someone who I couldn't stand the thought of losing!

But, of course, that was a foolish hope. The girls would have run straight to Fang and he, as the self proclaimed protective boyfriend, would have come running to the rescue.

Idiot!

I was so distracted by Fangs fight that I didn't notice Slosky until he was on top of me. His fist swung wild and hit me in the head. I danced out of his way, seeing stars.

"Not even your little boyfriend will be able to save you now," he taunted as both he and Ridley started converging on me, backing me into a corner of the living room.

You can do this, Max, I told myself. You won fights like this all the time. With bigger opponents then this. Easy win.

Except I hadn't fought like that in months. I'd practiced, sure, but that doesn't keep you in the same condition as constant challenging fights. And these were trained killers. Still, I had to try.

I launched myself at an unsuspecting Ridley. He went crashing to the ground with me on top. I slammed my fist into his face and knocked his head into the floor in the same move. The carpet didn't allow for as much of a debilitating shot as I'd been hoping for but it was effective. The guy was dazed and momentarily not a threat.

Something crashed down over my back.

I rolled to the side, wincing in pain as I looked up at Slosky standing over me. He was holding the broken remains of a table lamp. He tossed it aside and launched himself at me.

And then we were tumbling across the floor in a flurry of hits, kicks and pain. So much pain. I could hear Fang fighting with Huitt in the background but I tried to block it out; Fang could handle himself.

"Should have killed you back in that hotel room," Slosky grunted as we continued our tumble across the floor. I punched him in the face. His head snapped to the side and that gave me a moment to disentangle myself from him and stand up before he was back in action. He got to his feet and faced me once again. He looked awful. His nose was still bleeding sluggishly, his lip was split, his eyes were puffy, and I'm positive he had several cracked ribs. I'm sure I looked just as pretty as he did.

"You tried," I panted, "but if memory serves, as well as my still living body, you couldn't do it. But don't worry, performance issues are quiet common. I understand." He roared and lunged for me again.

"I would have killed you if your little probation officer hadn't gotten in the way. But she's not here now, is she?"

"No, and yet you felt the need to employ a gun," I pointed out, dodging his fists. "Obviously you doubted your skills as well."

"It's called insurance," he said.

"Oh yeah? And where is your insurance now?" I taunted.

"Right here." I heard the familiar click of a gun being cocked.

I froze.

Ridley stood behind Slosky, gun pointed at me over his shoulder. I hadn't even noticed him get up. I thought he was still lying dazed on the floor in the corner.

"Max," I heard Fang say from somewhere off to my left. I caught a glimpse of him out of the corner of my eye, coming towards me, Huitt laying motionless on the ground behind him.

"Not another step," Ridley said, leveling the gun with my chest, "or I shoot."

Fang froze.

"Please," he said, "think about what you're doing. Killing a seventeen year old girl—"

"To help my brother," he hissed. Slosky was backing up to be closer to his partner.

"How will this help him?" I asked softly. "Michael, how will it help your brother when you go to jail for murder? He's sick, he needs people to take care of him. He needs you. If you put that gun down and walk away now I'll put in a good word for you, it doesn't have to end badly. You haven' t done anything that can't be changed. You can go home to your brother. Just put. The. Gun. Down."

The gun was shaking in his hands. I was so close to breaking through to him. "Please," I whispered. "Your brother won't get any better knowing that you wasted your life when he's fighting so hard for his. And think of your sister. What will she say when she learns you killed someone her age?"

The gun lowered.

I drew in a breath of relief.

"NO!" Slosky shouted, ripping the gun from Ridleys slack grasp and aiming it at me. He shot wildly.

Pain flair in my shoulder. I felt myself scream as I clutched my arm closely to my side but I heard nothing; my hearing seemed to have cut out. Slosky leveled the gun again, smiling harshly as the dark barrel pointed directly at my chest.

I stared right at it as a small light sparked and he fired.

And in a flash of darkness Fang threw himself in front of me.

I watched in horror as Fang dropped to the ground at my feet in a motionless heap.

That's when I lost it.

I could suddenly hear again. The room was filled with my shriek as I launched myself at Slosky. I wasn't thinking anymore. I wasn't concerned with self preservation or protecting anyone. I wanted revenge.

"You killed him!" I shrieked as I tackled him. "You killed him, you killed him!"

I slammed my fist into his chest, his face, anywhere I could reach as I screamed in rage and pain.

He yelled for Ridley to help him but the man stood froze, staring at my dead boyfriend. I punched him again.

He was trying to raise his arm now, to point the gun at me. I grabbed his hand and fought against it, trying to redirect his aim. He was so strong. His hand started moving downwards, pointing the barrel of the gun at my head.

He pulled the trigger as I shoved his arm, ducking.

I felt a tug of pressure along the side of my face as the bullet grazed by my eye. Blood immediately welled at the site, rushing into my eyes and blinding me. I pushed his arm again, bending his elbow, forcing him to point the gun away. Somewhere else, anywhere else but at me or Fang.

I leaned all my weight into it, body straining, shoulder screaming in protest.

And the gun went off.

For a moment all was still. I assessed my body, waiting for the debilitating pain of a new bullet wound.

No new pain arose.

Below me Slosky made a choking noise and spit blood into my face.

I rolled off of him to see the gun pointed at his chest, blood blooming over his black shirt.

He looked at me, eyes wide and terrified. "I lost," he choked out, before his head fell back against the carpet and he ceased to move again.

For a moment I froze, unsure of what to do. Then I picked up the gun and leveled it at Ridley. He stared at me, eyes wide.

"Don't move," I choked out. He nodded. I slowly backed up, away from Slosky's body; away from the man I killed.

I tripped over Fang.

I crashed to the ground by his side.

He was pale, so so pale and lifeless. How could someone so full of life and love be dead? How was it possible?

Tears welled in my eyes, mixing with blood and swelling injuries to worsen my eyesight even more. I could barely see anything now but that was okay. I didn't want to. I didn't want to see anything anymore. Not the destruction I'd caused, purposefully or not. Not my boyfriends body. Not the blood everywhere. Not anything. I couldn't take the pain. I was just closing my eyes when I saw it.

I didn't believe it at first, I thought it was my hopeful mind playing tricks on me. But then I saw it again.

The slight rise and fall of his chest.

Suddenly I couldn't breathe. I couldn't see, I couldn't do anything other than cry and shake his shoulders, begging him not to leave me. He didn't answer me.

I dropped my head to his chest and sobbed, dropping the gun in my hands so that I could put both hands over the bleeding wound in his stomach.

"Fang please," I cried, "please don't leave me, please. You promised! I love you. Please!"

No response. I ripped a large piece of fabric from my shirt and bundled it up over his wound, pressing firmly, trying to stop the bleeding.

It was soaked through in seconds.

"Sirens," I heard Ridley whisper from across the room.

"What?" I demanded, glaring at him while I maintained pressure on Fangs injury.

"I hear sirens," he said.

I listened closely and could, indeed, hear the rapid approach of sirens.

"You stay put!" I yelled at him, pulling the gun into my right hand while I kept my left occupied with Fang. He nodded and stayed where he was.

I turned back to my bleeding boyfriend.

"Hear that, Fang? They're coming to help us. They'll help you. You'll be alright. Just please, please hold on. Think about your parents and about Ella. Think about Nudge and Iggy and Angel and Gazzy and for god's sake think about me. About everything you've said to me. About everything I've said to you! Please, don't leave me. I can't lose you."

The sirens were unbearably loud now. I heard shouting on the stairwell and started screaming.

"Help! Please help us! Please he needs help!"

And then men in navy police uniforms were flooding the apartment. And among them was Jessica.

"Max!" she yelled, coming towards me immediately. She froze about a yard away. "Put the gun down, Max," she said cautiously.

I blinked, processing her words. Then I dropped the gun like it was burning me.

"Help him," I croaked. "Please."

"We will, Max. We will." She motioned for two men in EMT uniforms to come forward. They did and rushed to kneel by Fang. One of them gently knocked my hands aside and took over applying pressure to his wounds while the other started hooking him up to monitors.

"Max," Jessica was by my side now, helping me up, moving me out of the way. Ridley was being escorted out in handcuffs, Huitt was being lifted and carried to a police car in cuffs as well. Many of the cops were just standing by Slosky's body, staring down at him in disdain.

"I didn't….I didn't mean to kill him," I whispered to Jessica as she led me out of the way, my eyes locked on the body. "I was just so angry about him hurting Fang. We were fighting and the gun just went off…"

"It's okay Max," she cooed, stroking my filthy hair. "You did good, you did very good."

"Is Fang going to be okay?" I asked as I watched the EMTs load him on to a stretcher and carry him out of the apartment. I started to follow them. Jessica caught me by the shoulder and I screamed in pain.

"Max are you okay? Are you hurt too?" she asked. I realized in my dazed mind that she must have thought the blood covering me was Fangs and Slosky's. Now that she was looking she could see the torn flesh of my shoulder. "Oh god, come on. Let's get you to a hospital," she said.

"Is Fang….is Fang going to be okay?" I asked again, finding it harder and harder to speak.

"They'll do everything they can Max," she said.

"You can't….you can't let him die," I said urgently. My brain no longer felt attached to my body but it felt so imperative that I tell Jessica this before I lost all control. "I love him," I said.

And then I passed out.

And yes, of course someone was going to get shot. Come on guys. Where guns are involved someone always loses. Whether it be the intended victim, a bystander, or the guns owner themselves someone always loses. What did you think of the chapter? I had such wonderful feedback on the last chapter. Seriously guys! Over 40 reviews last chapter; more than I could have ever asked/hoped for! Don't forget to start guessing how this story is going to end or ask me to answer certain questions, I'm working on the last chapter right now! If you want something answered, ask me to answer it!

Peace!