I-am-in -major- HURT
HERE! Oh lord I need to exercise more!
" Gozbud, How could
you do that? better yet why?" I asked
"He asked me."
"Oh so If I ask you Gozbud, did you have a girlfriend before
you became a genetic FREAK like me ...are you going to answer that?"
I could tell I struck a cord.
" No I wouldn't," Gozbud
replied.
" Okay , so tell me then Gozbud. WHY THE HELL did
you have to tell him!" " Why do you have to be so darn
secretive! Purple Cat!" ...oh-ho-ho ho...you know its fight when
somebody shouts your full name.
"Think about it Gozbud ,
you're the grown up here. Do you actually think I want to share with
ANYONE what it's like to lie on the ground screaming at the top of
your lungs as your body rearranges itself! Do you actually think I
want to share with anybody what it's like to lay in a pool of your
own blood and watch pieces of you fly across a room?" I asked
with a knot in my throat. "
" I apologize , PC. It
wasn't my place to say anything. But If you keep things like that
locked up inside you it will destroy you."
" I've
already shared my with someone and I think you knoe who."
"Breeaka"
" Uh huh... Look what's past is
past. I'll be stewing over this for a couple of days but in the main
time. We need to figure out how to get Bree back."
... muffled voices...I'm waking up now...oh please let that be you, PC...Roc...Gozbud...anybody but...WHITECOATS !
What the? NO!... I
started screaming angrily not listening to reason. I began to claw at
the wall of the cage. Two Erasers were guarding me...I didn't
recognize them. They cursed and spat at me trying to get me to be
quiet. Yeah good luck with that. I began to pull at the door of my
cage. Whitecoats were shouting at each other. I guess they just
expected me to sit there and look pretty.
"Let me out!"
I shouted at them. "Let me out or you WILL be sorry!" One
of the two Erasers kicked my cage, sending it tumbling to one side of
the room.
"Stop it! If you hurt her than, Rancor will be
furious," one of the Whitecoats said. I knew this one very well,
her name was Dr. Risa and she was the one that made me what I am. She
was both cruel and kind. When I behaved, Dr. Risa used to treat me
well. But if I got out of line there would be a punishment waiting in
the wings just for me and that was a guarantee. Dr. Risa, treated me
like she would treat her own dog, Samson, which she brought around
the lab sometimes. She knew that good treatment brings out the best
in a dog, but poor treatment only brings out the worst. It was by
this principle that she cared for me. Never think for one second I
considered her my mother. I immediately shut up when Dr. Risa knelt
down in front of the cage. She had piercing eyes like mine and they
looked hard at me now.
"Behave yourself my harpy and you will
not be harmed. You are not the one we want," she said in her
cold bitter voice. I knew she meant PC, who else.
"Haven't
you tortured him enough?"
"According to Rancor not nearly
enough nor to our special guest."
"Guest?"
"You
needn't concern yourself. If all goes according to plan, you will be
free once more." I forgot to mention that Dr. Risa is an old
woman...an old hard one at that. She called me her harpy...it was
kind of a pet name she gave me. Breeaka, the name I go by, I made up
myself. I was worried about PC and Roc...did Fox kill them? If that
was the case then I don't think I would be this fortunate. I had a
feeling that something more sinister was going on here. I had a
feeling that the pain and torment that was to come was not something
physical but mental...
You know that feeling
that you get when you want something to go by faster, for instance
the week, but it goes slower instead. Well I felt the same way. I was
anxious to get out of that stupid bed. But the pains and aches were
taking their time to go away. The day I became conscious again all I
wanted was to run to Lab 7 and get my Bree, back. That was the only
thing that mattered me above all else. I would do anything for
Bree...
I stumbled around in the hallway, my right leg was
cramping up and my left paw toe had fallen asleep. " PC what are
you doing! You're supposed to be in bed!" Gozbud shouted after
me.
"What are you my mother or my grandmother? I suggest
you...ow...ow...pick my grandmother...ow!"
"What are you
trying to do ?"
"Walk! I'm sick of limping around." I
said. I forced my leg to move they way it normally would, gritting my
teeth. " I can get hit by semis and cars and be fine in
hours...how come this is taking forever."
"Because you're
not in bed resting... and by the way the incident with the semi put
you out for a week." Gozbud said walking beside me.
"Whatever...just help me get to the kitchen."...
Time
was going by too slow for me. I wanted to save Bree just as much as
PC did. However I knew in some strange way that Bree was safe. My leg
and the rest of the wounds that I had obtained healed faster than
PC's and for that I was grateful because it looked like PC was having
a hard time getting around…but he seemed to be improving a little.
Gozbud was able to remove that tracking device that the
Whitecoats placed in my body. The feeling that somebody was looking
over my shoulder seemed to vanish along with the device. Even though
all this good had happened I was afraid of what would happen when we
returned to Lab 7...would we get Bree back and disappear once again
or would we be killed?...
You know when people say" what you don't know can't hurt you?"... They lied...
The night was darker than usual which didn't help our growing
anxiety as Roc and I sat in the shadows outside of Lab 7. He insisted
that he come along even though I told him not too. I am glad to have
some company. I am a firm believer in the "two heads are better
than one" rule, because no matter how heroic it sounds to going
to Lab 7 solo it's not only stupid…it's suicide. Gozbud stayed
behind, he said it wasn't his affair and he had his own problems to
attend to...jerk...but I can't blame him, I didn't want to be there
either. But we were the 10 ghosts...not the 9 ghosts...or the 8 1/2
ghosts...NO we were 10 and there should always be. There were two
Erasers guarding the door. The light was dim so we couldn't see them
distinctly, but their hulking silhouettes were all we needed in order
to know how old they were. Fortunately for us they were young and
stupid...just the way I like it.
" PC are you sure this is a
good idea? Going through the front door?" Roc asked.
"Why,
is there something wrong?"
"Well its STUPID, I mean who
ever in the history of the world went to save someone and went
through the front door?"
" No one. But they didn't
have the element of surprise. Look, it makes perfect sense. Bad guys
usually expect you to come in through some shady way like an
underground pipe or ventilation system. THUS they have all their
attention focused on what's behind them instead of what is in
front...soooo...we are able to be sneaky...and get by them. On top of
that those Erasers are fresh off the presses. They can't tell the
difference between their tail and their butt. So we're perfectly
fine."
Roc paused to let it sink in "PC that makes NO SENSE."
"Is it really that hard of a concept?"
"It's
stupid! They'll gun us down before we can reach the door."
I
sighed. "Ye of little faith... Watch and learn." I said
moving towards the lab on all fours.
"PC! PC? What are you
doing!" Roc whispered.
"Sh!" I moved to the darkest
clump of shadows outside of the compound and then stood up and began
to whistle outside of the fence. The two young ones instantly heard
my whistling and followed it growling. I whistled louder and they
began to break into a run as I continued they ran faster and faster
and faster. Then I stopped. Th Erasers couldn't stop themselves in
time and ran into the fence and fell backwards hitting their heads
hard on the ground. I climbed over the fence careful with the barb
wire and used them to cushion my landing they were out cold…sweet…I
whistled in Roc's direction, he was hesitant as usual but then joined
me.
"That was stupid...what if they had night vision?"
I
shivered at the thought, "Well then I would have been in
trouble. But that is beside the point. The point is they are at our
feet and now for our use."
"What do you mean?" I
picked one of them up and tossed him over my shoulders "They have
cameras at the entrance naturally...so in order to get in we have to
look the part. They will be out for at least and five minutes. We
have to move quickly...come on."
"This is insane..."Roc
muttered...
The front door creaked
ominously as we entered Lab 7. A scent hit my nose which hadn't been
their before….cleanliness….You see Lab 7 was not the most well
funded place in the School's network. So for me to walk in and it
smell clean gave me the shivers and it seemed to worry Roc too. We
exchanged worried glances and kept walking. I listened to the faint
heart beat of the unconscious Eraser on my back.
"Uh what
happens if someone sees us?" Roc whispered.
"They'll
shoot us...it's slandered procedure."
"So what do we
do?"
"Throw your Eraser at them then run away like a
little girl."
"Well what if that doesn't work?"
"Will you quit with the 'what ifs' you're making me nervous."
I looked over at Roc, he was pale and..." SHAKING? Are you
shaking?" I whispered loudly.
He nodded "Why not? Aren't
you scared?" We cautiously rounded a corner.
" I am
terrified, but the only thing that prevents me from wetting myself in
terror is the fact that I am not alone. Will you stop shaking...dang
it , Roc."
"I can't help it."
"Come on your
guy. Where is your backbone or did you leave it at the Pansy Mart. If
you're worried it makes me worried and then our whole plan goes to
pieces. On top of that I think it would help to show our readers that
at least for an instant that we look brave and that FOR ONCE we know
what the heck we are doing." Roc finally stopped shaking and
adjusted the Eraser's position on his back. "Alright let's go."
We walked down another hallway. I had a good idea where Bree was
probably taken, our old room...or cellblock is what I liked to call
it. I read the directory conveniently posted on the wall and
quickened my pace once I knew we were close. Suddenly I realized that
Roc was no longer walking beside me. I looked over my shoulder. Roc
stood stiff eyes wide and as pale as the tiles on the floor.
"What's
wrong?"
"My Eraser is waking up," he breathed...
I noticed that my
Eraser's heart rate was going up. "Shut...I am going to count
to three...On three hurl your Eraser against the wall and stay on my
tail because once security sees us they are going to be all over us.
Bree's room is down the hall, we get her and we get out, okay?" I
said.
"Okay." Roc whispered.
"1...2...3!" With all
my strength I hurled the Eraser off my shoulders and into the wall
and Roc did the same and then we ran. The alarms didn't go off right
away wihch was good. I kicked in the door to Bree's room and Roc and
I darted inside. Just as we shut the door, the alarms began to blare
and lights began to flash. I knelt down in front of the cage.
"Bree
are you alright?" The creature that was inside the cage was not
Bree. It was cross between tabby cat and something else sinister. Its
eyes were on the sides of its head and it had no nose. It made a
strange noise and attacked the bars of the cage with the biggest set
of fiendish teeth I had ever seen. I instantly recoiled and my heart
began to pound. Where was she? "Roc let's move she isn't in here"
I said. We bolted out the door and ran down the hall. I could here
Erasers in their human forms shouting in normal sounding voices….
"Where is she?"
Roc asked running alongside me.
"I don't know!" I said
irritated. The more we didn't know the more chance there was capture.
I would NEVER leave Bree here THAT wasn't an option. The phrase "Room
333" popped into my head. That was the room where I was
supposedly executed. I read the numbers of the rooms were close. I
kicked in the door and before I could set foot inside an Eraser
darted out biting into my shoulder. I roared and tore at the Erasers
fur which normally would result in instant recoil. But this thing
wouldn't let go. The more fur I pulled the more it chomped down into
my shoulder. Roc Jumped on top of it and wrapped his arm around its
throat in an effort to choke it. I roared angrily and fell backwards
on top of Roc, but he stayed on. I hurled myself at the Eraser and
took my claws to him .But much to my surprise the thing didn't bleed.
Roc we suddenly ripped from the Erasers back by another one. This one
was bigger than Fox , it had small red eyes and enormous jaws with
over sized teeth that looked like razor blades. I continued to try
and make a scratch in the Eraser I was fighting, but to no avail. It
grabbed my entire head in its hand and rammed me into the wall. The
force was incredible. I had never faced a creature that strong. I
struggled to break free; grip was so strong it was suffocating. Then
with a snort it hurled me into the dark room. I rolled a couple of
times before stopping. The Eraser stared in at me from the door way.
I could hear Roc fighting outside.
"What are you staring
at?" I asked getting up. The Eraser said nothing its two blue
beady eyes glowing in the dark, then it pointed to something behind
me. A huge striped creature very similar to the tabby with enormous
teeth lunged at me roaring like a lion. I quickly evaded its heavy
paw and swung at it and hit it in the side of the head. That just
ticked it off. It pounced on me its body like a sheet of organic
steel. Before it could pin my I slid out from under it and looked for
anything in the in room that could used as a weapon.
Nothing...naturally. The creature paced eying me with eyes the size
of plate. Suddenly it made a slight twisting movement that looked
like its version of a fake out and got me on the ground its teeth
around my throat. Surprisingly enough the teeth had not broken the
skin and it was only keeping light pressure... so I could still
breathe. Afraid of being choked to death I froze. Out of the corner
of my eye I saw Roc fall to the floor unconscious. The big jawed
Eraser gingerly picked him up and tossed him over his shoulders.
Suddenly I heard footsteps coming our way. A short shadow darkened
the entrance to the room.
"Welcome home, Chesire."
"Rancor," I breathed. The creature released me and then
clubbed me in the head with its paw. Lights out ...again...
Alright will someone please explain something to me...Why is it that bad guys always think that they need to knock you out? It's ridiculous! Its turning my brain into pudding! I think I am competent enough to know when I am down...or do I...
Cleanliness...its the smell I hate
...besides the smell during surgury... Clean air has no character and
in my current perdicament it was an indicator that I was back in the
hellhole known as Lab 7. I yawned and streched out my limbs to find
that I was back in my old cage. How did I know?...there was the
occasional blood streaks on the walls and daily talley I kept on one
side. I observed the room outside there across from me was Bree
curled into a ball staring at me with wide eyes.
" Hey
Bree," I said pleasantly.
" Hey..." she said.
"
Where's Roc?" I asked.
" They took him away," Bree
replied worried. A pang hit me in the stomach and my mouth became
dry. This can't be good.
" Well let's help him come on,"
I said kicking at the door only to get a rather painful jolt of
electricity. I recoiled "This is new."
" That's
not the only thing that's new," Bree replied. " I suppose
you encounted one of those Tigers." she said.
" You
mean the creepy cat thing?"
" Yes...they're used as
trackers...for hunting down experiments at night and when they
retreat into water."
"Great and I guess the Eraser I
fought in the hallway was a new model."
" That's
correct."
" Well this is scary," I said knowing it
was an understatement.
" How are we getting out?" Bree
asked.
" I'm not sure...I'll think of something...of
course." Suddenly the door slammed open and Buch of Whitecoats
followed by an Eraser entered the room. The Eraser was holding Roc in
it's arms.He was unconcious and there was something different about
his appearence...it took me a minute to realize what the difference
was. Bree gasped and I roared and attacked the bars...getting
accouple healthy doses of electrcity before having to let go. Roc's
wings...they were gone!
WHY DID THEY DO THAT! How could they! ...Heads would roll for this ...I would see to it! I could tell Roc enjoyed flying and to see him wingless made my heart sink...
Bree and I and roared and screeched at them.
Basically its all we could do, but if we ever get out ...they would
pay DEARLY!
" QUIET BOTH OF YOU!" one of the Whitecoats
said. I replied showering the moron with a stream of obscenities. The
Eraser plopped Roc into the cage next to me then glared in at me,
there was something about that things stare that made me keep my
mouth shut. The door opened again and two other Eraser's entered.
"Rancor wants to see the cat," one of them said. The
Eraser that had first entered deactivated the bars and opened the
door. I was expecting it to reach in and grab my by the neck as they
often did. But I think it already knew I wasn't going to fight
them...if I was, it would be waste of energy. I crawled out and they
slapped handcuffs on my wrists. Bree screamed angrily and clawed the
cage. I looked back at her as they led me away and winked at her. It
was my way of telling her that everything was going to be okay...I
hope. I wasn't badly treated surprisingly, which made the situation
even more suspicious. I heard distant screams echoing down the other
hallways we passed and tried to ignore them. Lab 7 was even scarier
than I remember it and it now dawned on me that we might actually die
here. We reached Rancor's office and the Erasers released me and
pushed me inside. The room was dim. I guess not everything had been
remodeled. Rancor looked cross as usual with his hands folded on top
of the desk.
"Hello, Rancor," I said cheerfully
"...how's business?"
"This is no time for you to
be cute, Chesire."
"Why do you insist on calling me
that...when you know I go by something else."
"Alright
then, PC."
"Thanks...You mind telling me Why Roc has no
WINGS!"
"That is not the reason you were called down
here."
I roared and pounded my fists down onto the desk "ANSWER
ME!"
Rancor seemed frightened by my out burst, "Greenwing or
Roc as you call him was a wing donor…wings were grown on him for
the purpose of being removed and being implanted on an Eraser."
"That's sick. Now what are you going to do with him? He
doesn't have them anymore?" " My dear boy , we will grow
another pair on him and we will keep doing it….again and again and
again! " I roared again and raked my claws across his face. He
cried out and the Erasers were on me in an instant, flatting me on
the ground knee burrowing in my back. A Whitecoat Nurse arrived to
survey the damage. It wasn't the first time I had attacked Rancor
…one time I had bitten him in the face after a procedure.
"You're
lucky …HE wants you alive or you would be on the slab in an
instant," Rancor growled. He gave me a swift kick in the stomach
and left the room. I looked around and noticed a figure standing in
the shadows. The figure stepped into the light to reveal another
man...one that I didn't recognize. He was dressed like someone very
important...he smiled at me...Ewww...creepy...The smile said to me '
you can trust me' ...But I knew better than that.
"Release
him…I'll be fine." his voice calm and collected. The Eraser
obeyed and left the room. "Hello Seth...I'm Jeb."…….
OKAY! I AM IN SO MUCH
TROUBLE. This was definitely scary...this dude knew my real name the
one I was given at birth. Jeb..Jeb...the name finally clicked after a
moment of pondering...It was The Jeb...the one that used to be a
friend to Maximum Ride...What the butthead wanted with me I wasn't
sure but it couldn't be anything good. I tried to collect myself so I
wouldn't look like I was surprised it didn't work...I looked like a
wide-eyed idiot.
"Please sit down" Jeb said pulling out
a chair. I was still fuming from what they did to Roc that I
preferred to stand. Jeb didn't seem to mind. " How are you
today, Seth." Who was this guy a satanic psychiatrist? I didn't
like this...it gave me Goosebumps all over.
"That's a stupid
question...how should I feel?" I finally said. "And why the
heck are you calling me Seth, no one has called me that in years."
Jeb chuckled " You're interesting...I am calling you by your
name...because I consider you a person not an animal. Think of this
as an interview of sorts..."
"Whatever."
" I
know you are upset about your friend…but please…listen to what I
have to say."
" I take it you are the one responsible for all
the murders."
" Murders?"
" YEAH MURDER STUPID ! You
don't consider opening fire on innocent people murder?"
"
You mean the experiments."
"Yes!"
Jeb nodded "That is
regrettable but certain things must be done…for the better of the
nation." I wanted to rip his face off and I bet every experiment in
the world wanted a shot too.
"So What does that have to do with
me?"
"I need your help."
" I am not going to kill for
you," I said firmly.
"I am not asking you to kill anyone. I
need a person with your kinds of skills to "collect" the renegade
experiments."
"No."
"Listen to me," A flash of
impatience gliding across his face. "You wouldn't be killing them
or harming them in anyway. All you need to do is capture them."
"What will you do with them?"
"That is none of your
concern."
"Well then we are done here," I said quickly
heading for the door.
"Do you love Bree?" I froze, my hand
gripping the door knob.
"What?"
"Do you love Bree,
Seth?"
"What does it matter to you?"
"Let me tell you
something, Seth. If you don't help me than Bree and Roc will most
likely spend the rest of their lives here…and probably die here
too…and I will see to it that you die last."
"You—."
Yeah I cursed at him there…fill in the space with what ever word
you see fit. I returned to the chair and this time sat down.
Jeb
grinned " I know. Many people have often called me that…they are
all dead, the ones that refused. Slow and painful deaths they were…it
was sicking."
"If I help you…will you let them go?"
"Yes, of course…they will never be harmed."
"How do I
know that you will keep your word?"
Jeb chuckled," I can't
afford to be making anymore Maximum Rides so…you can trust me,
Seth." I hated this…he was the devil …and I felt like I was
selling my soul…My mind turned to Roc and the other ghosts and then
to Bree…I couldn't stomach seeing them suffer just because of my
stubbornness and there was no guarantee that we would ever be able to
escape. A knot was tightening in my throat. I HATE THIS! WHY?...WHY
ME! I bet a lot of people asked that question…I didn't want to
be special…I didn't want to be the exception…I sat in silence
for a moment.
"Well?"
"Fine….I-I'll do it."……
Jeb smiled at me with
that wicked smile. "Good choice." Jeb picked up the phone and
made a call, "Roc and Breeaka are to be released…unharmed."
"Wait. Can I say goodbye?" I asked.
Jeb sighed "You
may…but don't forget our agreement." I nodded and was led away
to another room where Breeaka and Roc were. Bree had Roc in her arms
because, he had not yet awakened. I told her the news and Bree was
furious.
"How could you do this?" I couldn't speak. "HOW
COULD YOU DO THIS? PC!" she shouted.
"I did it to protect
you…and everyone else. If I didn't do this than two of us would
be gone and the network would eventually fall apart. Without the
network other experiments have no hope of escaping the School's
reach." Bree sighed and shook her head. She understood but she
didn't like the way this had played out.
"Why did this have
to happen…we never had our vengeance on the ones who killed our
family?"
"That is why it's more important than ever that
you and Roc live. Please Bree…it was hard enough to say yes"
"…Will I ever see you again?"
"Probably not…" I
said plucking one of my feathers and handing it to her with a wink.
"A little something to remember me by." She stifled a grim smile
and gave me a hug.
"Goodbye then," she said.
"Goodbye."
I really wanted to cry but I had to be the tough guy right now. I
watched her leave the room and I stood there alone. Fear was tearing
at me. All I wanted now was to run, but I stayed put, my head hanging
low. The door opened …I could tell it was Jeb. He placed a hand on
my shoulder.
"Everything will be fine," he said. I didn't
reply. Suddenly I felt a sharp prick and a monstrous pain explode up
my spinal cord. I cried out and wanted to curl up in a ball to
relieve the pain but Jeb held me up. "Now listen to me…You are
MINE."…….
