Max POV:
I was being pushed through the sewer system, tossed through the air, landing on hard, unforgiving stone steps. The entrance to the Institute. My leg hurt bad, and I couldn't stand on it. I began to crawl up to the door to see if it was open. Marian Janssen, otherwise known as the Director, slammed it shut. But not before I saw one last piece of my real life, my flock, my family. I saw Fang's teary eyes, shocked beyond belief, staring right into my lazy-butt own eyes. Then he was gone, just a memory, and I was being moved again. I swung my arms, screaming and crying. But I was too weak. All I could see was Fang's silently crying face. Fang never cries! What happened to me? Why was I entering the Institute carried by the Director, instead of creeping in with my flock? I must have hit my head on something to not remember something as important as that!
Oh yeah, now I remember! We were trying to get here, I had a brain attack, Fang calmed me down, and when I took a step the Director must've grabbed me! How clever, I must say! So, Fang was sad because he thinks I'm going to die? That he'll never see me again? Why else could he be so neurotic to cry? I mean, like, come on, he's Fang! Fang doesn't cry! Ever! Maybe Angel has some freaky new power that worried him. I need to talk to her about that kind of stuff. I'm the freaking leader! I need to know too!
For now focus on the immediate task, my Voice chimed in. What, you don't have a Voice in your head? You can buy 'em at Target! They give you fortune cookie advice and brain attacks. You should get one! Like I haven't figured that out yet, I thought back snidely. It didn't answer, of course. it never answers direct questions or comments.
Hey! I stopped moving! Where am I? I slowly sat up, waking from my somewhat concussion. I was in an all white room, surrounded by cages. I was in the experiment lab. How weird, the ages all seem to be empty. Looks like for this escape I only have to worry about myself.
Wait, what was that? I swear I just saw something move in a far cage. Something feathery and large. I leaned over the edge of the table I was strapped to to get a closer look.
It was a bird boy, looked about my age. His name card read Dylan. His wings were a tawny gold, and he looked neat and perfect. He was the only experiment here, and he looked successful. Man, he must be so bored! I had to get him and myself out of here.
I took another look around. On second glance, I could probably smack open the door and make a run for it. I remembered the layout of the place from my earlier break-out escapade here.
First, I need to get these annoying little straps off. I tugged and my wrists came free. They must be really dumb to make straps this weak! Uh oh. My leg. I'd completely forgotten my injury in all my confusion! Funny thing, it didn't hurt anymore. Odd. I ripped off the leg and waist straps. I tested my weight one foot at a time, putting a careful amount of pressure on each leg. I could stand! The whitecoats must've thought I was "damaged", like the Uber-Director thought Angel was, and fixed me right up.
How long had I been out for? I don't know, but my guess was too long. I silently crept up to Dylan's dog crate and unlatched it. The noise stirred him awake, he probably thought I was a scientist coming to test him on something. I was way better than that, I was his saviour! He just stared at me, eyes wide with disbelief, body tense with uncertainty, mouth open in shock. "May I help you out of this horrible mess of a lab?" I asked him. I snickered. He seemed paralyzed, like he hadn't expected to ever be free. I grabbed his arm and yanked him out of the cage. "Come on, Dylan, do you really want the whitecoats to find out we're gone, or do you want to escape into a free world?" That got him moving. He sprang into action like all you had to do was flick a switch, and boom! He was everywhere, re-latching his crate, re-doing my straps, re-setting the alarm, unlocking the door to the stairwell, all at once. I didn't know anyone could move that fast! It must be a superpower at work. Oh well, I'll deal with it later. It's breakout time! "You have to go down those stair, then through a doorway, then up a bunch more, out another door with no handle. You come out in a sewer tunnel, I'll take the lead from there. Can you fly?" Dylan nodded. "Follow me, and here we go!" I said, already out the door and up a couple steps. Dylan was hot on my trail. We made it all the way to the second door before any type of alarm went off. I stared at Dylan. "Didn't you just reset the alarms?"
"Yeah, guess I forgot one, huh?" he replied. Wow, his voice was amazing! It sounded so smooth, like an Angel's. I wonder what life he was taken from? I charged a little ways, then snapped out my wings, hovering over the sewer water. I waited for Dylan to follow.
I was starting to get a weird emotion by being with Dylan. What was that about? I guess I'll find out soon, but I can't shake this thing. It feels almost like...love.