Another chapter.. and I hope you like it because it's a long one! :)

If you haven't seen the riddle from last chapter, and you want to know more about where the story is headed, try to figure it out :) The riddle is at the bottom of this chapter too! Please Review!

~Shyla

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Chapter 10:

It's nearing the end of hell day. Thank the lord. I don't know if I can deal with school for as long as Mom wants me to. It was only the first day and I was dying.

'Just one more class and you'll be done for today.' I silently thought to myself.

The last class was P.E, which I was slightly excited for because all my other classes were a drag. Unfortunately, Fang and Iggy were not in my class so I was totally alone. I followed the other girls out of the girl's locker room and tried to not gag at my reflection. Believe it or not, even the gym uniforms were preppy. Long sleeved fitted sports shirts, and shorts, that might I add, were unnecessarily short.

I uncomfortably squeezed my wings as close to my body as possible. Luckily, I got a medium sized shirt instead of a tightly fitted small. Still, I'm pretty sure I'll have wings imprinted onto my sides when I'm done with class.

"Okay class, today is testing day! I'll let you all warm up for a few minutes before we start." The teacher spoke to the crowd of girls around her. "Maxine, I would like to speak with you for a moment."

I inwardly groaned and waked over to her. "Yes?"

"Since, today is testing day, would you like to sit out and observe the others or would you like to participate? If you participate, I'll take this as an evaluation of where you are as of now."

I didn't even hesitate. "I'd like to participate. What sports will they be doing?"

"I will be testing them on endurance, simple gymnastics skills, and volleyball today. But Maxine, please think about it… I don't want you getting hurt."

"I go by Max, and I'm sure I can handle it." I smirked and walked to join the others. This was going be fun.

When we were in the school, one of the main things the whitecoats tested us on was endurance. I grimaced and the memory of us on the treadmills for 6 hours at a time. It was torture.

"Alright everyone, I'll split you into groups and that is whom you are racing with. First group: Charlotte, Chloe, Darena, Maxine, and Ansley. Please line up at the track and prepare for the race."

I jogged over to the track and picked my spot. I re-tied my ponytail. I looked over and saw Ansley staring at me.

"Can I help you? Wait let me guess. I'm in your spot?"

"You should be scared right now." She tilted her chin up and literally looked like a Barbie with her makeup done perfectly, and her hair in an intricate braided type ponytail. "My parents were Olympic level runner so it runs in the family. I would say good luck but then again, I don't actually like you."

I decided not to retaliate. 'Mhm, I guess we'll see who wins then." She's going to wish she never said that when I win this stupid race.

"Okay everyone ready?" The coach yelled with a timer in hand. "READY? 3… 2…1, GO!"

Ansley and I took off. My tactic in any race is to go slow at the beginning and gain speed as I go along but this girl needed a lesson that she's not the best. After all, 800 meters was nothing after what I went through at the school.

800 meters was 4 laps. I let Ansley be ahead of me for the first 200 meters. When we were getting around the first bend of the second lap, she smiled at me a couple meters ahead.

"Told you. Don't even try to beat me."

Believe it or not, staying behind her was pretty hard. I had to make myself take shorter strides, which is pretty difficult for a tall person.

"I told you too... We'll see about that." I smiled smugly.

I ran as fast as I could in full sprints and before I knew it, I was meters ahead of Ansley. She didn't stand a chance.

"WOO HOO! Go Max!" I looked up at the bleachers. Iggy? The entire boys gym class was sitting on the bleachers waiting for us to finish. I guess it was testing day for them too.

I finally finished the last lap and almost collapsed of exhaustion. Why did I feel so tired? Either I'm really out of shape… or... no that's pretty much it. I looked back and saw that Ansley was a good 50 meters behind me.

I laughed to myself. I actually underestimated her… she's pretty good for a human. I ran over to drink some water.

"How? How… did you do that..." Ansley ran over to me practically out of breath.

"Lets just say I've had pretty intense training."

She glared at me and walked over to her group of friends. She looked really mad. Well its not my fault I my DNA was enhanced. I spotted Fang and Iggy in the bleachers.

"Hey guys."

"Yooooo you destroyed her!"

"I'd say it was pretty impressive myself. " I smiled at Iggy.

"Yeah that was pretty insane, not to mention the uniforms..." My face turned red and I instinctively tried to pull me shorts lower.

"Yeah well that girl is a brat and she had it coming."

We talked for sometime about how the day was before the coach called us to the next test.

"Great… next is volleyball… I suck at that game… see you later guys."

I jogged to the indoor gym where the volleyball nets were. I'm okay at volleyball but by no means amazing. I mean, the game is so stupid… it's just a more advanced version of "don't-let-the-balloon-hit-the-ground" game that we used to play as kids.

The coach set up the teams and I was a blocker because I'm obviously taller. This is good because all I have to do is block the ball and spike it, which seems pretty easy to me.

When the whistle blows, Ansley serves. The ball comes straight to me… I slam it down. 'Yes! I did it!'

The coach blows the whistle. "The other team gets a point. Sorry Max, can't block on a serve."

What? That's the stupidest rule I've ever heard. The point is to prevent the other team from hitting the ball… that's what I did. Ugh whatever. I need to focus.

This time, the ball goes behind me and on the second hit, my teammate sets the ball up high. This is my chance. I run forward 2 steps and jump and spike the ball as hard as I can down. We got the point!

Soon, the game was tied. 26 all. It was Macy's turn to serve. It went to the back left corner to the middle… to me. I got ready to spike. I glanced at an empty spot I could aim for. I found it. I ran, jumped and slammed. I did it! We won! Then I see Ansley dive from the other side of the court… barely making it and getting the ball to our side. Our team looks in surprise at the unexpected hit.

We stare as the other team jumps up and down, giggling about their victory. I have to admit, I'm a little pissed that Ansley got the winning point for them. But it's just a stupid game right?

The next test was gymnastics. I haven't done gymnastics since…. Since Jeb.

~ Flashback ~

"Max! Do it again!"

"Jeb, I'm tired! I want to go flying with everyone else!" I stomped my foot and glared at Jeb. He'd been making me do the same round off backhand spring forever now. I know I'm capable of more but he won't let me. I don't even like gymnastics.

"Max, honey, this is training. It's going to prepare you for the future. Gymnastics is making your flexible and strong. If you're going to be the leader of the Flock, you have to do what I say."

"Leader?"

"Yes. You are going to be the leader of the flock and it's going to be your job to protect them. You have natural leading abilities and you're one of the strongest flock members. I want you to remember everything I'm teaching you, because one day, when I'm not here, you'll have to teach them what I'm teaching you right now."

"When you're not here? Where are you going Jeb?"

"Never mind that Max. Focus on what I'm teaching you. Now do it again… but this time, do a round off backhand spring layout." He smiled at me. "I know you can do it."

I sighed. "I've never landed it… but I can try. Just for you Jeb."

I ran and did a round off back handspring. I bent my knees, arched my back and put as much power into my knees as possible. I lifted off the ground, flipped in a perfect line and landed.

"Jeb! Jeb! I did it! I finally got it…" I ran over and hugged Jeb. I looked into his eyes and said, "I hope you never leave dad."

~ End Flashback ~

"Oh my gosh Max! That was amazing! You should join our school's gymnastics team… you would definitely be a shoe in!" The coach shook my shoulders. "I mean a round off backhand spring layout? That's just… I mean that skill, I mean WOW!"

What just happened? I finished the test and walked back to the locker room. I quickly changed and took a look in the mirror. Blondish-brown hair down my back, light brown eyes, curvy, skinny frame, clear skin, high cheekbones and a mature face. I look exactly the same as I did when I was a kid.

I thought about what Jeb told me that day. He told me that I'd have to teach the other what he taught me, and I did. I kept the promise. After that day, after he mentioned that he wouldn't be there one day…. 2 days later, he disappeared. And never came back. And I hate him for that. I called him dad. Little did I know that it was actually true.

I glanced back at my reflection. I put on my blazer over my white button down shirt that was tucked into a plaid skirt. I put on my tights and my combat boots over them. I washed my face and stared at the water dripping down.

I thought back to the memory. I hate Jeb. I hate him for betraying me and I hate him for doing what he did to us. He was supposed to love us. Instead, he abandoned us. Even though Jeb is my real dad, he's nothing more than the whitecoats who torture people's lives. He promised that he would never leave us but he broke that promise. I promised that I would never hurt him and I intend to break that promise if I ever see him again.

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Guess the answer to this riddle if you want to know more about the future plot ;)

RIDDLE:

Good and bad,

Both wands contain parts of me.

My tears heal and I have healed he.

When I am near death,

I burst into flames.

Soon, I shall be reborn from the ashes.

Can you guess my name?

You must have read the latest Maximum Ride book, Nevermore. The riddle is a Harry Potter reference for those who don't understand... Let me know what you think and what this means for the plot of the book!