Disclaimer: I don't own Maximum Ride, or anything out of the book. I do, however, own the plot, the characters, and anything else. I would also like to add Rebbeca's song is in here and Bruce Coville's idea about the chimes and jumping off the church is in here to but in a diffrent way.
Flashbacks and thoughts are in italic.
Chapter 2- The Cards We're Delt
I was flying. Passing through the silky night air, I soared and dipped in perfect silence. Flying on and on, I savored the freedom. I couldn't see, but I didn't need to. There was no up nor down, no land nor sky. No stars nor moon. There was only endless space and endless darkness. And there were endless memories as well.
(Flash back)
I was five and running barefoot down a golden palace in a faraway town. I'd long since forgotten the name or mabey I'd never knew it. Vibrant colors flew past in a blur and a warm weight landed on my chest. A thrust upward and I was spinning looking down at a smiling face. I can't recall who but the flawless face with smile lines danced into my head often. Mabey it would have lasted until later that night.
The night filled the pink bedroom. A rushed voice came into the bedroom. Even at five I knew that the tone the woman carried was a sign of distress. Her eyes were filled with worry and the frown was married to her normally perfect complection. The only language I can relate the foreign tounge to was Russian.
"Come! You must hurry! You don't have much time! They're coming!" Her voiced strained low. She helped me out of bed and dressed me in one of my many dresses. She put a shawl over my head and tied it under my chin securley.
"Who Momma?" I asked as she grabbed my hand and started dragging me down the palace halls. A loud explosion burst over head. She ducked into another room where the window was open. She placed the bag over then picked me up and handed me to Basch who was waiting outside. I snuggled closer to the warmth and familiarity of my brother. She crawled over the ledge as well and we started to the end of the court yard. A bunch of carriges awaited. My father stood proudly dressed in steel and leather.
"Daddy!" I yelled to him. I lunged myself out of my older brothers arms and bolted towards my stotic dad. He looked down at me and his face sofened. I attached myself to his leg and looked up at him. He picked me up ginderly. The smell of cigars and fine wine driffed into my nose.
"Darling. You know that daddy can't stay long. I have come to bid you farewell. Yourself, Basch, and your mother have to leave." He said as he set me down to boost my mother in the carraige and my brother in suit. He once again picked and kissed my forehead.
"Daddy?" I chocked out realizing that he wasn't kidding.
"Goodbye darling." He whispered in my ear as he handed me to my mother who was now sobbing uncontrolablly. My brother saluted my father as the carraige jarred forward.
"Daddy? Daddy?! Daddy!" I screamed as my father mounted on the huge yellow birds back. His figured wained in the distance. The last words I heard out of my fathers mouth was his war cry.
(End of Flashback)
"Ashe where are we going?" A voice inturrupted my thoughts. I shook my head and cleared it from my confused brain.
"Ummm... I..," I stumbled over my words because I knew I shouldn't lie to them," Honestly I dont know. So... any suggestions?"
"Oh I know. I know!" Rose's scratchy voice filled the air as she raised her hand. "We should go to Flordia!"
"Hmmm." I pondered on the situation we were in and we definatley need a 'get away'. They probably already knew of the situation and why we left so I needed to take there minds off of it. "Any objections?" I asked.
"I'm down with that." Blade said. He was messing with on of his many knives.I shook my head.
"How 'bout you two boys over there? Speak now or forever hold your peace." I giggled at the last part. It sounded like they were getting married.
"As long as we have enough money." Was the only thing Basch said and I got a simple 'hn' Caleb.
"Alright then... Flordia here we come."I murmmered. My wings pumping up and down gave me the suttle lullaby to put me back into deep thought.
(Flashback)
The only other sound other than my mothers sobbing was the steady tread of the Chocobos' steps and the soft humming of the carraige comming from the wheels.
My mother stopped sobbing and looked at me and my brother. Then all of the sudden the carraige came to a screeching halt. My mother flew foreward and hit the door hard. One pane of glass shattered and the shards cut across my back and my brothers back. Mother took no time to gather the bag she had and grab my hand.
We bolted out the carraige door and into the night. The bad men weren't far behind. There clattering armor and the chocobo's protests gave them away. Fire lite the sky where our palace stood. The dense forest around us gave us shelter from the chocobos so the men would have to dismount in order to follow. Basch took the lead and went ahead to scout for enemys.
My mother stopped at the base of a willow tree and sat waiting for the return of Basch. She sighed and then to lighten the tensness of our situation started to sing.
"If you are near to the dark
I will tell you about the sun
You are here, no escape
From my vision of the world
You will cry all alone
But it does not mean a thing to me "
She combed her fingers through my matted hair trying to straighten some knots that formed. She sang low but loud enough so I could hear it.
"Knowing the song I will sing
Till the darkness comes to sleep
Come to me, I will tell
About the secret of the sun
It's in you, not in me
But it does not mean a thing to you
The sun is in your eyes
The sun is in your ears
I hope you see the sun
Someday in the darkness
The sun is in your eyes
The sun is in your ears
But you can't see the sun
Ever in the darkness
It does not much matter to me"
The song was comming to an end and our time was to. The soldiers were slowly but surely making there way to our little hiding spot.
If you are near to the dark
I will tell you about the sun
You are here, no escape
From my vision of the world
You will cry all alone
But it does not mean a thing to me
Knowing the song I will sing
Till the darkness comes to sleep
Come to me, I will tell
About the secret of the sun
It's in you, not in me
But it does not mean a thing to you."
There was a rustle infront of the large willow. My mother tensed and pulled me into a bear hug. Basch burst through the leaves grabbing my hand and forcefully picked me up. Mother was close behind running with all the strengh she had left. We finally reached the outskirts of the land. There was a tower. Just a stone tower. Wild vines traveled up to the top of the tower. Mother dropped to her hands and kness infront of me and Basch.
"You both know I love you. But its time to say goodbye know. Mommy must go. She'll be fine." She said. No matter how much icing coated those words I knew she wouldn't be okay. "I love you Basch," she said kissing Basch on the head then she kissed me," I love you too Ashe."
With that she pulled her neckalace off and inserted it into the key hole. She turned it right a total of twelve times. The door opened. She pushed us inside and handed me the neckalace and handed Basch the bag.
"Take good care of this. Once you hear the old church bell chime count them. On the twelfth time sing the song I sang then jump towards the sun. Don't look down, don't look back and don't let anyone know of the things I told you, Okay?"
"Yes Momma." I said. She hugged me once more then shut the door. Basch took my hand and we started up the stairs.
The many flights of stairs seemed to take forever. Then the first chime went.
'One.'
The crude building was rough and made it hard to climb.
'Two.'
Sand and dust disloged and made it slippery for the grippings of my palace slippers.
'Three.'
I slipped on the ledge of a stair.
'Four.'
The stone felt cool aginst my burning face and a sigh escaped my lips. I closed my eyes wanting to fall asleep like I used to on the palace floors.
'Five.'
"Are you okay?" Basch asked helping me up and looking me over for any scrapes.
'Six.'
"I think so." I answered.
'Seven.'
"Alright then come on." Basch urged me up and the climb started once again.
'Eight.'
The sound of men beating on the door echoed inside the dark tower. My head swiviled to see if they had bursted through yet. They hadn't.
'Nine.'
I stopped when I heard my mother's screams. I closed my eyes and turned to return to my mother.
'Ten.'
Basch noticed, picked me up, and sprinted up the rest of the way.
'Eleven.'
He swung the wooden door open and the frost bitten wind burned my face. The top was flat with only brick crests to stop anything from rolling off. He balanced on the edge. Snowflakes fell and I started the song. Everything about it reminded me of mother.
I finshed the song but I didn't hear another chime. The beating on the door was like the second hand on a clock, constantly ticking and never stopping. Then dread filled me. Had I missed counted when I fell? Had I started at the second chime? Was mother lying? How did she know anyway?
'Twelve.'
The chime rang loud and crisp through the winter's air. Then the thrust foreward of my brothers body sent us spirling downward in a frenzy. The scream was never able to escape my mouth. The ground was approaching fast but before we hit the ground a flash of white light consumed us.
(End of Flashback)
Okay my faithful readers here is the second chapter. Its longer than the first... I think. Anyway thank you for reviewing! Keep it up! Thank you Rebbeca without you this wouldn't be up and the idea from Bruce Coville's Into the Land of the Unicorns was the chime tower thing and the song from Rebbeca.
Nicole