Adalyn's POV
I, Adalyn Wing, leaned against the side of the rusty truck I had just exited, my wings folded into her back under a loose t-shirt and a cropped jeans jacket. My wavy lavender hair was pulled back in a ponytail, and my arms were crossed over my chest. I wore a grim expression. This might have been my birthday, but it was also a time to remember... her. And it wasn't safe to think about her at the moment. I had nothing, and going on a rescue mission right now would be waltzing into my own death. I wasn't about to do that.
I surveyed the area around me with steely blue-grey eyes. The town was small and dusty, but I had seen worse. Travelling across the United States makes you see things that aren't exactly awesome. I've seen ghost towns, stayed in places where it flooded every month. Then again, I've lived in areas where the weather was beautiful and everyone around you is marvelous. This town was mediocre, but it had to do. I had already parked the car anyway.
Was I really supposed to be driving? The lawful answer was definitely no. the only way I could be driving is with my parents and a learners permit. There are two ways I violate that. Firstly, I don't even have parents. Second, I drive a stolen car. I stole it a few months back when I realized that backpacking cross-country wasn't nearly going to be fast or efficient enough to avoid the School and its stupid Erasers. My other options were flying and bicycling, but I couldn't fly in plain sight, and I basically sucked at bicycling fast. I dreamed of getting a motorcycle someday, but for now this decades-old rust bucket that had essentially fallen apart would have to do.
Grabbing my backpack, I headed to the nearest motel. By some chance, I was able to sneak by the attendant by saying I was the daughter of one of the people staying at the motel. I guess "William" was a common name, because when I said I was the daughter of William, she nodded and gave me a room key. I had asked for a separate room, mentioning teen privacy, and I got one right next to this "William" character. I hoped he liked paying for two rooms for as long as I had to stay. I giggled at the thought, sashaying past the receptionist with my head held high.
I just hoped no Erasers could get me here. I had barely escaped their clutches last time, and I was certainly not inclined to risk that again. They had gotten bigger, and stronger, I thought as I drifted to sleep on the uncomfortable cot. If four or five of them came at me at once... I didn't stand a chance. My only bet then would be to fly out, something that I'm not exactly inclined to do.
Max's POV
Fang and I had just returned from the grocery store when we heard the familiar growl of Erasers. I sighed, calling out to the others, while Fang finished getting our groceries. "Erasers! You guys know what to do!" I yelled over the noise. I set my groceries down (potato chips and other junk food fit for an avian human), running onto the roof using the ladder we had installed for times like this, and taking off into the air. Surveying the scene outside our temporary house, it seemed as if only three Erasers had managed to find us. That was good. We could take three before they call for reinforcements. "Fang! Iggy! Help me out here!" I called to my fellow Flock members, flying down onto the soft grass.
Fang and Iggy emerged, with Nudge in tow. Together, the four of us turned to the growling erasers., who proceeded to attack us head on.
Bad idea, suckers. We each took one, Nudge teaming with Iggy because, well, you know. Iggy can't exactly see who he's attacking. I took the big one, eliminating him in a matter of minutes using my experimental strategy: kick and punch randomly and flail around until the eraser passes out. It worked surprisingly well, and I turned to see that Fang had pinned his Eraser to the ground, and Iggy and Nudge were currently punching the living daylights out of their Eraser. I smiled at their tactic, and soon we had all regrouped. "I'll get Angel and Gazzy," Nudge grinned at me from adrenaline rush. None of us were all to tired, as we had been through this situation numerous times before.
"I think it's time we move spots again," Fang spoke tactically. He was right, of course. Did I mention? Me and the Flock (The name for our group- Angel, Gazzy, Nudge, Iggy, Fang, and me, Max) are on the run from the School. All you need to know about them is that they are evil, like, mad scientist evil, and they gave me and the Flock wings. They've experimented on other people too, but we don't know how many. Right now, we have no plan, except don't get captured.
"True. Let's go. We can cross that mountain range and take a break overnight. then, we'll head to the nearest town from there," I agreed with Fang. Nudge emerged with the rest of our group soon enough for them to hear my plan They all gave their affirmation. "Oh, and we got sandwiches from the grocery store, so eat up while you can!"
AN: So this story doesn't exactly follow the plot of Maximum Ride, but I will try my best to adhere to it. This is a story involving my OC, Adalyn, but I promise it's not going to be a story where she gets everything and is 100x better than the rest of the Flock. Girl's got PROBLEMS! If I finish this story, I do intend to make it a trilogy, IF I have time. That's it for now. Peace! :)