Max's Perspective
I woke up to the sound of motorcycles in the distance. It was light already; I usually don't sleep this long. Even after a seizure as bad as last nights. I roll over and see Zack asleep in a chair next to my bed. The memory of the night before floods back into my mind. Zack had been there for me. He held me telling me everything would be okay. He stayed with me even after the seizures were over. I lay in bed and watch him for a few minutes. He has that look of innocence on his face again. I start to wonder what things would have been like for us if he wasn't my brother, but I quickly push the thought out of my mind. That's something I shouldn't be thinking about. He is my brother and that's the way it has to stay.
I crawl out of bed and wake Zack up. I tell him we have company coming. He becomes alert; however, he doesn't seem concerned. I know it's probably just Tinga and Johndy returning, but we can't be sure. This is a dangerous time and we need to take precaution. Maybe I'm just concerned because Zack isn't, but I don't want to get caught off guard. I tell Zack I'm going up the trail to see who is coming. It's obvious he doesn't want me to go alone, but he knows there is no use protesting, I'm going to do what I want. At least he's figured that out. I leave the cabin and make a dash into the woods surrounding it. Zack follows close behind me. We run through the woods in the direction the motorcycles are coming from. When we reach the top of the hill, we see Tinga and Johndy off in the distance. I don't see the kid anywhere, but there is a guy with them. He doesn't look familiar; perhaps Jace got married. That still doesn't answer where the kid is though. I'm a little concerned, but I make myself believe that she left the kid with a family that she trusted like Tinga did.
When I go to leave I bump into Zack. An uncomfortable silence spreads between us. I blow it off like nothing happened and turn away from him to head back to the cabin. I can't get the look he gave me out of my head. It's almost like he looks at me like more than a sister. I know he favors me over all our other siblings, but I always thought that was because we would stick up for each other. We were always close. I didn't fight with him like I would the others on occasion. I'm confused. I wish Logan was here with me, then everything would be all good. I wouldn't be concerned with what Zack thought because I would have someone a lot closer to talk with. But in away Zack is a lot closer than Logan could have ever been. I can talk to Zack about Manticore and he understands. He doesn't pretend to. He truly knows what it was like because he was there with me; however, Zack could never be any more than a brother. Logan was my love. If only he could see us now. We're ready to take on Manticore and destroy that which took his life.
"Max" I hear Zack yell for me. I turn around, but I see it to late. I fall to the ground; I can't move. I'm fully alert and awake, but I can't move. There is a man standing over me with a dart gun and a devilish grin on his face. I thought I saw him shoot Zack too, but I must have been mistaken because when I looked back up where I saw Zack earlier, he was gone. Zack must have been faking it. The guy turns around and takes out his radio. He has something on his neck. It's not a barcode, and it's not like what the Red's have. It's something different.
Zack's Perspective
I woke up to Max touching me on the shoulder and telling me we've got company. I immediately sat up and listened. It sounded like two motorcycles off in the distance. It was nothing to be concerned about. Max told me she was going to see who it was. I didn't want her to go by herself. I know she can hold her own; I just don't want to leave her alone.
I tried to tell her to stay here, but she has already made up her mind. She never listens to me. She ran off into the woods, and I ended up following her. She never listens to anyone; one of these days, she is going to get herself into some major trouble. Then I'll have to bail her out, and of course I'll be there for her, how could I not? I wouldn't allow anyone or anything to take her from me.
When we reach the top of the hill, we crouch down in the bushes so no one can see us. I see Tinga and Johndy on there way back. I was right as usual, it was nothing to be concerned about. I didn't see the kid with them, so they must have left her behind. That was probably a good idea. I wonder who the guy with them is. I better be able to trust him. It better not be Jace's boyfriend; I don't want to have to deal with another Logan. This is depressing I can't believe after all this time I still feel like I have to compete with him. He's gone and he's not coming back. I'm the only one in charge now, and it is going to stay that way.
I hear movement behind me and my focus is quickly diverted. I'm paying attention to what's going on in the woods behind me, I thought I heard something, and when Max bumps into me, I'm caught by surprise. We stand there facing each other for what seems like hours, as time stands still. I'm about ready to reach out and kiss her to let her know exactly how I feel, when she just walks away. She pretends like nothing happened. I'm about to go after her and tell her how I feel when I hear a twig snap off to the side of me. Max doesn't hear it. She is so concerned with pretending to ignore me that she doesn't realize she is in danger. Holler for her; I scream "Max!"
she turns around to late. She doesn't see the guy in the bush shoot at her. The dart hits her in the shoulder and she falls to the ground. I thank the Blue Lady it was only a dart. The guy shoots at me and I turn away from the dart and catch it as I fall to the ground. I play dead for a few minutes until the guy turns back to face Max. Then I roll down the hill behind a log and prepare for attack.
The guy radios in that he has two X5 and the other three are on their way here now.
He was mistaken about one thing, he only has one, and I'm not letting him take her.
Johndy and Tinga should be getting close to the cabin by now. They will unknowingly create a distraction and then I should be able to get to Max.
Gunfire starts Tinga and Johndy must be close to the cabin, I hear them quickly turn their motorcycles; I look up as they head into the forest. Once they get past the tree line, the leave their motorcycles. The guy is called on the radio to help pursue the others into the forest. This is my chance. I run out from my hiding space and catch up to the guy. I grab a hold of his head and twist until I hear the soft crack of his neck breaking. I pick up his radio and run over to Max. I pick her up and carry her in the direction I thought Johndy and Tinga would be coming from. Max is getting kind of heavy, but I push on. I'm a soldier, this is what I was trained for.
