Chapter Three:

Record Deal or Trap? The Flock (minus Max who is sadly dead) Gets Kidnapped!

Last week while the flock was on their monthly reunion, they decided to record themselves singing together. Later that night, it was posted on Youtube and went viral. The music producer, Danny David, saw the video and immediately asked to see them for a record deal. But, was it really a record deal? Or was it a trap set by people who want to use the flock?

Their last known sighting was three days ago, outside the recording studio. They never felt. Police have searched the building and questioned Danny David himself but they have turned up empty. Danny claims that he never even met up with the flock yet. The police are doing everything they can to find the flock and return them safely to their homes.

Idiots. Stupid, stupid idiots. Record deal. Pfffft. There is no way they are that talented. No way in hell. I sigh, and close my laptop. It's around two in the morning and I have been on this small death trap for the past two hours. Only a million more until I get to Germany. Closing my eyes, and three… two… one. Ah, blissful sleep.

Present… October 23th… 7:00 p.m… One year after Max was abandoned… Max's Hotel Room… Berlin, Germany… Max POV…

Stupid paranoia. Stupid, stupid, stupid paranoia. Stupid past. Stupid mind. Stupid Germany. Stupid Jeb for making me come here. Ever since I landed here in Germany, there has been this sickly pit in my stomach and my conscience has been screaming Past! Bad memories! Coming for you! Beware, Max! As usual, my paranoia has caused me into a state of tense and jumpiness. Let me tell you, it isn't fun. Not. One. Bit. I am seriously regretting coming here. Stupid Max for obeying stupid orders. I just realized how much I have used the word stupid in this paragraph. Oh well.

I decided that sitting on my bed, twitching at every single sound, and being extremely tired is not healthy. Sleep calls! Sadly, my mind decided to take a turn down memory lane and into the depths of the last time I was here, in Germany. Let's just say the night involved a lot of yelling, screaming, and calls from multiple scared neighbors. Oopsies.

Present… October 24th… Noon… One year after Max was abandoned… Max's Hotel Room… Berlin, Germany… Max POV…

After several calls from the hotel management and convincing them that I didn't kill someone, or abuse someone, or just scream bloody murder for the enjoyment of others. I am pretty sure they didn't believe me but whatever. I'll be moving hotels shortly anyway.

Jeb had sent a PDF filled with information on my new identity, my job, my fake boss, the scientists working at this branch of Itex and a few other things. Luckily, I will have a high enough job that I can access all of the experiments, but unfortunately, I will have to perform some tests in order to keep my job. Well, I sure will be scarred for the rest of my life. That not I am not already scarred. Reluctantly opening the file, I begin to read:

Mission Germany

Agent: Maximum Ride

Assignment: Uncover scientist

Job: Bring in intel and free experiments

Assignment Information:

Uncover identity: Kennedy Rickety

Rank: Head Scientist of Poison Testing

Job: Injecting different poisons into experiments.

Experiments working with: Subject 11, 22, 33, 44, 55, 66, 77, 88, 99, 111, 122, 133

Description: 5'5, blonde hair, green eyes, fair skin. Black pants, navy blue heels, white pale blue shirt, white lab coat.

I shuddered at the thought of being forced to perform experiments and wearing a dreaded lab coat. Why are Anne and Jeb forcing me to do this when I can't stand to see people experimented on? Is that why Jeb seemed so uncomfortable when we were in the meeting about this new assignment?

Boss: Avery Sims

Other scientists: Amy Cole, Jacky Bob, David Star, Gavin Gravy.

At the bottom of the page, I saw a note from Jeb.

Don't forget to change your appearance and keep it like that. Yes, I know this assignment is not ideal but you didn't ask any questions during the meeting. I am sorry that you are forced to perform experiments. It is all part of the mission. Just stick to the plan. Your uniform will arrive in a brown box tomorrow morning. The building should be easy to find. There will be a device with the clothes that you will be able to communicate with me while on your assignment. Don't worry, it can't be detected. You start tomorrow at 1:00. Good luck.

What have I gotten myself into?

Present… October 25th… Noon… One year after Max was abandoned… Max's Hotel Room… Berlin, Germany… Max POV…

Looking at myself in the full-length mirror in the room, I could help the face of disgust that formed on my face. My navy blue heels were a little tight and too tall for my liking, the black dress pants were itchy, the pale blue shirt was a little tight and my wings didn't fit well under the horrifying white lab coat. I could honestly say that I never expected to see myself in a lab coat that reminds me so much of what I went through as a child. Changing my appearance to fit Kennedy Rickety, I was awed by how this unknown person was me. Oh, did I forget to mention that I now can change my appearance? Oops. I don't really like changing my appearance so I only do it on assignments. Just because this face is plagued with a terrible past doesn't mean I want to lie to myself that I am someone different. Even though technically I am different now.

With the device secured in my ear, I grabbed my phone, my bag, and headed out to the car that was waiting for me. It is a 40 minute drive to the Itex building. Oh dear god.

How's this? It might be a bit rushed or not as good but I was writing it during school. So yeah. Whatever. At least it is up. It will be a few more chapters until the flashbacks to the beginning start so sorry.

-Kath