Chapter Four: Trust Troubles

The other Max is standing there like a sitting duck. Nobody but me has seen Max II yet, and I am too hurt to move. I do the only thing I can think of, yell at her. "Max, Duck!" She turns to face me, but at the same time ducks. The tranquilizer dart goes right where her head had been moments before. Max II is gone from the window before anyone else notices her.

Everyone sees something in the wall and goes to see what it is. They all realize it is a tranquilizer dart at the same time, and spin to face me.

The other Max demands, "Tell us how you knew that was going to hit me!"

All I did is point to the window and say, "Max II." My Flock gasps and the other Flock is still staring at the window.

Suddenly Matthew turns to face me and yells, "You! You brought them here! Well, GET OUT! We don't want The School back here! Get out before we force you out!"

He calms down a little when Max puts her hand on his shoulder. I barely hear her whisper, "Calm down Matt, remember what happened last time you saw something you didn't want to see?" After she said that he looked grossed out, and she had an evil grin on her face.

"Ew, ew, ew! Don't remind me!"

"Then calm down," she replies.

"Fine," but he doesn't look happy about it.

The other Max turns to look at my Flock and me. "Okay, I want to know what the heck is going on here. I want the full story, and right now!"

What she doesn't realize was that I was almost out of it, again. Fang on the other hand, does. "Max, look at our Max. Can't you tell she needs rest? She has more then one bullet wound, and those take time to heal." Max sighs and motions for her Flock to leave, and they do.

"Thanks Fang. I don't think I can deal with her yet. But man, that Matthew has some issues." Everyone nods in agreement. "You guys okay?"

Max, none of us have slept since you got shot. We haven't been out of the other Flock's sight the whole time. This is the first time, only you and Fang haven't been watched because you are the oldest.

They didn't let you sleep?!?!

No.

"Guys, get some sleep. You look like you need it." They all give me grateful looks. Fang on the other hand, is looking at me and seems to want to know if I was ok. I just shrug at the question on his face. He frowns slightly, so I don't think he likes that answer, but it's the best he's getting. I sigh one more time and then fall asleep.

I wake up the next morning to find my Flock is still asleep, even Fang, which is a relief. I don't think I can deal with one more of his questioning looks. I want to enjoy this peace and quiet while I can, but, of course, somebody always ruins that. In came Max, and she makes such a racket that my Flock wakes up. This Max is ruder than Max II! And that's saying something.

I glare at Max, but she doesn't even seem to feel the power of my glare. "Why did you barge in here? My Flock was sleeping. You didn't even let them sleep yesterday, and that was for twelve hours, and after we had been flying for hours." She just stares at me, like she can't even understand what I am saying. She shakes her head slowly, almost as if she feels sad for me.

At that moment her two children pop in and go straight to Angel and Gazzy. Those four look happy to see each other. I decide to find out why.

Angel, sweetie, why are you and Gazzy so happy to see those two?

We made friends with them last night. They don't like what their mother and her friends are doing to us. They think it's rude, and thoughtless. They have been trying to make her stop, but she really doesn't like us. I don't know why, but that's what they have been telling me. They know I can read minds because I told them, so they just send me messages.

Interesting, thanks Sweetie.

"Is there a reason you are ignoring what your children have been telling you? And is there a reason you don't like us?" She stares at me in disbelief and her two children smile at me and then Angel meaning they made the connection. "Well, is there?" She sighs.

"I don't know how you know that, but I'm ignoring my own children to protect them and the rest of my family. I don't trust you; you seem to know too much about the School. I still think you are spies for the School that is trying to kill us, even if they are trying to kill you too. The rest of my family disagrees, but I'm making them do this. That's why, so just heal and leave us alone."

It's my turn to stare. I can't believe she thinks we are spies! That is an insult; I mean we are being hunted just like they were! I even saved her life; she doesn't know what those scientists from The School put in those darts these days. They put tracking devices in those things now, if they have to, and I can tell that one had one in it.

I am about to scream when Fang puts his hand on my shoulder, calming me. Then he looks up at Max and says, "We aren't spies, we are being hunted too. Oh yeah, that dart had a tracking device in it, and Max here saved you from being traceable for a while. We've had a hard time, and she's in pain. Can you calm down and try to get the full story? We will give it to you, but only if you calm down. Give us another day and then if Max still isn't up to it, someone else will tell you. Just wait until tomorrow."

Max calms down. "Okay, you guys have until tomorrow, but then I want my answers." Fang nods and she leaves. I lie back down while sighing in relief. I really am getting tired of her. That's when I realize her children are still sitting by Gazzy and Angel.

"Aren't you two going to get into trouble with your mom? She doesn't seem to trust us."

They shake their heads and Ozy says, "Nope, if she has any soft spots, it would have to be us. Anyway, she doesn't hate you, she just doesn't trust you completely yet. You getting shot twice made a difference, but still, you guys have to understand why she doesn't trust you." We all nod because we do understand, even if we don't like it.

Maximum, get out of that house right now! The Erasers are headed there after you and your Flock, the Director has given up completely on the older Flock. That tranquilizer dart went to the wrong Max because Max II wasn't looking closely enough. That window was darkened, so she couldn't see which of the two older girls in there was you. Get the heck out of there!

Fine, just shut up please. I'm getting tired of you being in my head.

"Guys, Erasers are coming for us. Turns out the Tranquilizer was aimed at the wrong Maximum Ride. We have to get out of here." Ozymandias and Frannie stare at me like I am crazy, but my Flock starts to pack everything away the moment I finish. Then I realize one member isn't moving. Guess who it is. Yup, you guessed correctly, Fang. He keeps moving his gaze from my face, to my shoulder to my leg, and back again. That's when I realize we still have two problems; I couldn't walk or fly. This is going to be a bad thing…

Once everything is packed up the rest of my Flock realizes our problem. We have no idea how to fix this, or at least I think we have no ideas. That's when Fang speaks up, "I can carry you while we fly." Everyone turns to face him and stares. We can't believe he had just said that. Then everyone looks at me; it was my choice. I nod, even if I don't like the idea that much, it was the best we have and we need out. We are all ready, that is until Ozymandias speaks up after he and his sister have been talking for a little. "We want to go with you."

We all turn to stare at the twins. "No Way! Your mother already doesn't trust us; this will make her hate us! We like you and all, but we don't need more enemies."

Frannie replies by saying, "We know, we know, but she doesn't let us do anything, and we are so bored. When you guys came here we asked if we could fly up to you guys and say hi, but-"

"She said 'No, not right now,'" I finished for them.

"How did you know what she said?"

I roll my eyes. "I heard her."

This seems to surprise them, but then after talking for a few seconds under their breaths so that we can't hear Ozy repeats, "We want to go with you. Don't say no, please! We have backpacks ready and everything so that we can leave now." They show me their backpacks. I frown at Angel realizing that she had something to do with this. I also realize that we won't be allowed to leave if they don't come with us.

"Okay, you can come with, but just be quick and silent. Let's go!" Fang picks me up in his arms, Angel opens the window, and we all jump out, and fly away.

Okay, I didn't think to mention this, but someone mentioned it in a review so I'll tell you this. Icarus is a mistake and that's why he's blind. I think he might have been born blind. Most of the older Flock are mistakes. I got that from When the Wind Blows, the book they come from.

Hope you liked it. This one was for a little explaining of things.

Edited: 10/10/09