Long time between updates sorry, I had to read the sequel (it was awesome by the way) so as of now this story still takes place after the first book.

ya this update kinda stinks so i apoligize, i kinda had to change my plot around.

thank you to my 2 awesome reviewers. to you i would just like to say you rock my socks

all the characters belong to James Patterson.

I flew to California. The flight was one of the most loneliest times of my life. I stopped as little as possible, in hope to finish it faster. I cried a lot too. Ahh yes I know what you're thinking. Fearless leader Max. she sure has been crying a lot, but hey so would you. I landed in the woods behind our former house. The first thing I noticed was the silence. The woods were dead silent. It was eerie and the manor lay in ruins.

I walked into what used to be the living room. Charred lumps of what used to be furniture lay in random positions around the room. I recognized one as the couch and sat. I fell right through it. Totally embarrassing. I was glad nobody was there to see it. Well so I thought.

Smooth move max, why don't you go try the bed or something else that could have been rigged with explosives.

Hey guess what the voice was back. It had been silent for so long, I had almost forgotten it existed.

'great just great. And I thought my life couldn't get any worse'. I muttered to myself

"so what's up?" I asked the voice in my head. If there were any body else passing by they would think I was mad. A loon. I can't name a single situation where talking to yourself is a good thing.

What no hello? Was its response "I don't think you should be here. Go now" the voice was silent after that (thankfully) But I knew from a lot of experience that the voice is rarely been wrong so I took of without hesitation.

My wings carried me through out the rest of the day. I stopped only at night, to make camp. I started my journey again before dawn. My wings seemed to know exactly where we were going. To Arizona, to the only family I had ever knownoutside ofmy flock.

As I flew I looked down and saw the ancient grand canyon. Soon the canyon lay behind I flew over deserts and suburbs until I recognized one specific wood and tiny town. When I found the house of Ella and Dr Martinez I began my descent. All seemed quiet I began to worry that maybe they were not home.

You shouldn't be here. You could be endangering them, leave regroup you need to fulfill your destiny. The voice preached. Ahhh its back there goes my peace it fell off the cliff along with my sanity. I wasn't lucky enough to have the bodiless voice leave for ever, that's not how my life works. They make it as hard and painful as they can. I don't get it if they want me to save the world, why cant they be nice. I don't know about the rest of the flock but I have no desire to save the school and the white coats from destruction. In fact if I were to meet Dr. Batchelder on a cliff, I might "accidentally" slip and "accidentally" shove him off. Accidentally of course.

Ohh shut up I have no where else to go, plus there hasn't been an eraser attack in over a year. I said back not truly believing it but I pushed back all the doubts I had, after all I deserve a shot at happiness to. Just like the others.

I pulled on my worn windbreaker and strolled up to the door as casually as I could manage, and knocked.

A man who looked to be in his mid-forties answered. shit "Is Ella here?" Please tell me they didn't move or something.

"uhh ya one sec." he hollered her name over his shoulders and looked me over confusion apparent in his eyes.

"max? omigod max!" she ran and engulfed me in a bear hug. "mom!" she called.

Dr Martinez walked out of the kitchen she had an apron on, that's when I noticed the smell they were making cookies. I smiled, I couldn't help it. My smile spread from ear to ear.

"Max is that you? any bullet wounds or something that needs stitching up?" She grinned at me.

"no not this time" I smiled choking back tears. She laughed then wrapped her arms around in a tight embrace. I pulled back I saw Dr. Martinez' smiling face and Ella grinning at me. And that man but I ignored him for the time being and just stared at the only mother figure I had ever had. For the first time in a long long time I felt safe and at home.

We spent the next hour catching up. Apparently Dr. Martinez got engaged, to a fellow vet his name was Chris Dawson. ya that guy who answered the door. Ella finished her first year at high school and had a boyfriend (who her mom and new dad did not approve). I told them most of what had happened to me and the flock. Although I left a lot out, I didn't trust Chris yet.

and I don't think he liked me that much either, but he wasn't going to say anything. Once again I was filled with an unfamiliar feeling. I was jealous of this man, that he had a place here, in my fantasy. Ella and her mother were my secret sanctuary. when we were living on the streets, my mind would often wonder of what life would be like if i had stayed with them.I never thought that there might be someone else now. Of course in my dreams of the future I was married to fang and the rest of us lived together in one big happy house with the Martinez's'. Eating as much chocolate chip cookies as possible.That hope was what i fought for.

So when they offered me a place to stay. I immediately said yes.

That night I slept in Ella's room just like last time. We stayed up most of the night. I told her about everything and she told me everything that had been going on here. I described in detail each of the flock, and she told me about her boyfriend(I don't approve). We laughed and joked around like normal teenagers, that alone meant more to me then words could ever express. After awhile Ella fell asleep. I almost fell asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow. As sleep slowly began to overtake me I was suddenly jerked awake when the voice decided to ruin my good mood.

Good things never last.

The thing I hate most about the voice is that it always knows what to say to freak me out. With this last comment a new fear gripped my heart. I didn't sleep at all that night. But I did nothing about it I stayed. Maybe I should have run, but either way it doesn't matter; I stayed. Everyone is allowed to be selfish sometimes right?

review please

sorry for all the errors. and i think i got ellas last name wrong oops