Eh, I know it's short, but it's 10 p.m. and I'm sleepy. lol Darn my 15-year old metabolism of not being able to stay focused for too long at one time! ...Oh look...a butterfly lol Anyway, chapter 16, R&R and enjoy!

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16

I sat there, pain still coursing through my brain, trying to understand everything Roland was telling me. It was just too much. Was I really born at Itex, and was I really part Eraser? And how could Max 2 just die like that? It all seemed so surreal.

"I know it doesn't seem true," Roland's voice had turned sweeter. He sounded sickingly like I always imagined a father would sound. "But it is. It's all real. The Jeb you know and love is dead, along with your clone, Max 2."

Out of nowhere, Ari leapt over me and plowed headfirst into Roland, fangs and claws baring, ready to kill. "You killed her? I hate you! I hate you!" Ari screamed as an Eraser kicked him hard in the ribs, knocking him to the floor with blood streaming from his mouth. He tried to get back up, but Erasers were on him in a flash, kicking him and beating him with the ends of their rifles.

I tried to get up, but Roland was yelling into the silver box now, and it was eradicating my senses. Don't try to fight it, Maximum! My son made the choice! He chose to fight me, he chose to love you, and now he's choosing to die! Just like the pathetic creature he always was! For a second I couldn't believe that Ari's own father was saying these horrible things, right there in front of him, but then I realized whom I was dealing with. Roland was the new public enemy number one.

And apparently I was now his puppet. Flicking the switch on his black box again, I screamed and realized I wanted nothing more than to die. Right here, right now, just curl up and die. Pain was inching its way through every fiber of my being, tearing me apart from the inside. For the first time in a while, I felt like taking a seashell and carving my wrist open, just to get that damn chip out. Then I'd truly lay a can of whup-ass on Roland.

Instead I watched in horror as Ari was killed by his father's minions, and then tossed aside like a rag doll. I knew that would be me soon as Roland came to me and whispered something into my ear before hooking a gas mask to my mouth.

"Sweet dreams, Max. We'll talk in the morning."