Prisoner- Chapter 9

When Ari and I had finished eating he put our plates in the sink. While his back was turned I quickly surveyed my surroundings. The exit was down the hall, almost too easy. I turned my attention back to Ari, his back was still turned.

"Today's my birthday." I lied.

"Is that why you got so upset?" He asked turning to look at me.

"Yeah," I answered and continued on with my lie. "I just thought they'd come for me, so we could celebrate my birthday together."

I looked up at him, "You probably don't even care. I wouldn't blame you. Jeb probably doesn't even remember your birthday."

"No, he doesn't." Ari confirmed taking a seat again. "He doesn't even remember how old I am."

"Look on the bright side." I said with a bitter laugh. "At least you know your birthday." He smirked, that seemed like a good sign.

"I just picked a day that I thought sounded good and called it my birthday. We all did, the flock I mean." I said wiping away another tear.

"Well, if it's a birthday celebration you want." He said walking over to the refrigerator. "Then that's what you shall get."

By the time he turned around I was halfway down the hallway. I heard him yell and looked back, he was now in wolf form and a few steps behind me. I reached the door and pulled it open only to be yanked back by my hair. I let out a cry and fell on my back.

"Where do you think you're going?" He snarled looking down at me.

"For a walk." I quipped, sarcasm clear in my voice. I threw my leg up, catching him off guard as my foot smashed into the bottom of his jaw. His head snapped upward and then returned to looking down at me with new coldness in his eyes.

I scurried up to my feet in time to dodge him charging toward me. He slipped on a rug placed in front of the door on the wooden floor. I took that as my sign to leave. I ran out the open door into the woods. I unfurled my wings and pushed off the ground. With a few hard down strokes I was flying higher up in the air. Ari took off after me, struggling a bit more than I had in getting up so high. I was about to go into high speed when I noticed five figures on the ground. It had to be the flock.

I flew down to them, landing about ten feet in front of them.

"Max!" Angel yelled running to me and throwing her arms around me. I kneeled down and pulled her into my arms. I looked over her shoulder at the rest of the flock until my eyes landed on Fang. I gave him a small smile and to my surprise he returned it.

I was brought back to reality as Ari cackled touching his feet to the ground.

"Max, we already have a dog." Fang said looking at me. I gave him a smile.

"Go home dog breath." I said turning to Ari.

"Max." Iggy said from behind me.

"Yeah?" I asked keeping my eyes on Ari.

"Erasers are coming." He said. "They're almost here."

"Fang, you're in charge." I said taking a step toward Ari. "I'll take care of Ari."

"Just don't get kidnapped again." He said turning away from me and giving the flock instructions.

"Here we go again." I said staring down Ari, he growled.

I delivered a round house kick to his chest and he staggered back a step caught off guard. He lunged at me and I dodged easily giving him another kick, this one to the head. He swung a clawed paw at me and caught my cheek. I could feel it swell and a stream of blood run from my cheek down onto my neck. As he laughed I kicked the back of his knee, so it gave out and he fell to the ground. I took time to look around me.

The fight was almost over. Three erasers were still standing, not including Ari who was rising to his feet. Fang was walking toward me with Nudge by his side.

"I'll be back mutants." Ari growled.

"Later dog breath." I said watching him take off. I walked over to Fang and Nudge as the other three came up behind them.

"Max, are you ok?" Fang asked me looking concerned, well as concerned as Fang can look.

"I'm fine." I said letting out a sigh. "We should go."

"Where?" The Gasman asked looking up at me.

"As far as we can get before dark." I answered not really knowing where to head next. I took off , Fang behind me, then Iggy, Nudge, Gazzy, and Angel last.

We landed in a wooded area out in the middle of nowhere when the sun started to go down. We stacked our fists and tapped the backs of each others with our other hands. Everyone went to sleep instantly except for, you guessed it… Fang. I took a seat next to him as he looked over at me.

"Looks like you did a good job being leader." I said with a smile. "You want to save the world for me too?" I joked. He gave a barely audible laugh then turned to look at me. His eyes instantly filled with worry as he titled my head to get a better look at my cheek.

"Does it hurt?" He asked rifling through his bag. He pulled out antiseptic and dabbed it on my cheek.

"Only when you do that." I said pushing his hand away. He pulled out a bandage and put it on my cheek.

"When we find some water you can clean the blood off." He said shoving the antiseptic back in his bag before turning to look at me again.

"Thank you." I said touching the bandage.

"We're glad to have you back, Max." He said walking away and laying down. "You had us worried."

"Don't I always?" I asked sarcastically with a laugh laying down also.

"I guess so." He said closing his eyes. I could tell he was really tired and who was I to refuse him of sleep just so I could talk. I had plenty of time to talk to the flock now that I was back where I belonged, with them.

AN: Hope you liked it! Keep reviewing and I'll keep posting.