Chapter Eleven: No Freedom Was Given, It Was Taken

MAX'S POV

I'm back in my room but this time the door is locked and Isa doesn't come in. I don't understand the sudden change in the Admiral or my rights but it seems like nothing will be the same. So much for those outside privileges.

I'm sitting on my bed after a week of this isolation and I've had enough. They can't keep me locked in here.

"Oh for heaven's sake. This is ridiculous." I stand, determined to get out of here. I bang on the door but all I hear from the soldiers is snickering. "Okay, I see how it is."

I'm pissed off and things get ugly when I'm mad. I march over to the window, feeling around for the latch. I smile evilly when I find it, unhooking it and sliding it up. The breeze is nice against my face and I laugh. I look down, making sure no one is around to see me escape.

Honestly, it's almost too easy. It makes me suspicious. I step back from the open window, pondering. Why the hell is this so easy? I look around the room for the security cameras but just like in the interrogation room, no such luck in finding anything.

I gather my personal items like the clothes Isa gifted to me and stuff them in a bag. I put it on, marching up to the window and climbing out, sitting on the sill. Before I can second guess myself, I push myself off so I am free falling down the side of the building.

I hear shouts from above me and turn to see the two soldiers staring down at me, dumbfounded. I salute them before extending my wings and catching air. I cruise for a moment, testing out my wings since it's been over three years since I last flew before flexing them and flying upward. I get high enough that I can be detected by radar as some sort of bird or plane.

I look down, awed by the beautiful Oregon forest. I twirl, laughing. I'm finally free. From here, I look like a giant eagle or maybe a small plane.

I take one last look at the building, silently promising that I'd come back and find Isa before going into hyperdrive. I need to get away from here as fast as possible.

At sundown, I stop in a town to try and figure out where I am. I drop down behind a building, putting on a sweatshirt to hide my wings before walking out into the street. I pull the hood low to shield my face as I walk into a local restaurant.

Kids are laughing and adults are chatting. The smell of burgers and fries fill my nose and my stomach rumbles. Shit, I wish I had money to pay for food.

I look around for a minute before approaching the attendant at the front. "Hello, I'm lost. Where exactly am I?"

He gives me a weird look. "You're in Jackson, Wyoming."

"Okay, thank you." I exit the restaurant quickly and smile once outside. I'm far far away from the Admiral.

I walk over a nearby park, finding an empty bench to sit on. Everyone is out tonight with the nice temperature and it being around dinner time.

Now that I am free, I should head back to the Flock, Ella and my mom. They're probably wondering what happened to me. Yeah, I could probably make it there by mid morning.

I smile, standing and walking towards the nearby trees. Making sure no one is watching, I take off my hoodie and spread my wings, rising up.

As I cruise in the air, looking down at the miles of forest, I realize that over the past three years, I haven't thought of the Flock much. I guess in all of my freetime, I pondered over the terrible things I have done. It makes me sad. The Flock probably has thought about me a lot while I haven't.

I also didn't have my own mind much over the course of two years. Now, the Flock takes full capacity of my messed up mind. I think about what the last few years must have been like for them and if they truly are safe.

I pause for a second, mid flight. I fall for a second before my mind remembers to flap. I'm launched upward, unsteadily flying before I land on a tree. I just had the biggest realization.

Whenever the Flock is with me, they aren't safe. When I'm off on my own, they are. Jeb and the scientists only ever wanted me.

And all I have ever wanted was for the Flock to be safe. Maybe going back to them isn't such a good idea. They are living a new life, safe from me and fucking Jeb.

And the only way for me to be safe is to find Jeb and destroy the rest of my past. Then, maybe after that not only will I be safe but my mind will finally be free.

I stay in the tree trying to figure out which thoughts I want to follow. Do I go back to the Flock and risk the safety they've had over the last few years or do I go find Jeb and finally get my well deserved freedom. Once I have my freedom and safety, I can go back to the Flock.

I guess I only have one option. I spread my wings, taking flight and heading in the direction I was trying to escape from. Admiral said they found everyone but Jeb. Maybe they can help me and in some form, help them. They want something from me and the only way to get what I want is to willingly go back and do their bidding. It seems all I ever do now is willingly even if I don't really like it.