Packing up was my least favorite part about setting camp, even if it was in a tree, let me tell you it makes it all the more a hassle. I shoved our blankets and contents of our minor breakfast, which consisted of mainly energy bars and a carton of milk, into my red backpack with haste.
"Where to?" Nudge was probably the first to actually say something to me that morning… well, besides the traditional 'Good Morning, what's for breakfast?'
"Well," I sighed, zipping my backpack up and fixing my eyes forward, "I was thinking we head south. With winter coming up and all, it would probably be a good idea to get somewhere warmer."
"We'll be just like real birds," Gazzy giggled, before adding sarcastically, "Exciting."
"South sounds great, Max," Angel glared at her brother, then turned to me, "Can we go to Mexico, you think? I've always wanted to see what it's like there."
"I don't think we'll have to go that far down south, babe." I smiled lightly, "We'll start with…" I thought for a minute, "El Paso, and work our way down from there, k?"
Deciding for the flock was part of my job, and I took it seriously. So, whether or not they liked it we were going to El Paso, Texas.
Why Texas? The Voice queried.
"Sounds warm enough," I whispered to my voice, as I picked my backpack up and spreading my wings.
I gazed over my flock again, to ensure that they were ready to take off and they were, of course.
"Ready?" I asked.
All of them nodded in unison.
"Take off!" I yelled.
All our wings unfurled, all of us pushed off and in mere seconds all of us were in the air.
Flying was completely and utterly unexplainable by means of words. It's kind of a needed to be experienced type of thing.
All of us flew by order of age.
I was the highest, being as how I am the oldest and the leader. Next was Fang, then Iggy, Followed by Nudge, Gazzy, and Angel, who had Total.
"Everyone doing okay?" I screamed down at them.
All of them methodically flicked a wing, signifying that they were all fine… well all except the obvious (AKA Total) and Fang.
Ever the rebellious one, isn't he?
"You just now figured that one out?" I rolled my eyes, "I think I'm beginning to doubt your extensive knowledge."
I never expected you to think I had an extensive knowledge, Max. And that was just an observation not a real question.
"Okay, okay," I sighed, "I got it."
You haven't heard the half of it, Max. You have a job to do, you know. Saving the world is your destiny. Soon, you're going to be forced to, if you don't do it willingly.
"Are you threatening me?" I smirked at the challenge.
Not me, but Ari would be more than happy to collect you and discard your precious flock.
"He touches my flock and he'll be dying… again."
I wouldn't be so sure of myself if I were you.
"Yeah, but you're not me…" I shook my head and looked down to see Fang giving me a brief quizzical look.
"Talking to yourself again?" He raised a brow.
"The Voice," I pointed to my head.
He nodded looking back down, not saying another word about it.
"We should turn slightly west to avoid the dust storm in northern New Mexico." Iggy reported up to me, "But other than that the weather's great."
I smiled to the blind kid. You know for being blind, he seemed to sees a lot of things a lot better than others.
"Thanks Igg!" I yelled, grateful for his skills.
"When do we turn, Fang?" I asked.
"I'll let you know when we get there," he drowned.
"Or you could tell me now," I lowered my speed and carefully came up beside him, "I'd rather know ahead of time. Instead of depending on-"
"What?" He glared my way, "Me?"
"You know that's not what I meant," I snapped back.
"Fine," he turned back toward the direction he was flying and sniffed the air lightly.
I waited for him to spit it out. Keeping my glare pointed intently at his dark head.
"Thirty minutes," his eyes remained glued ahead, "Give or take."
"Thank you," I stated slowly, "Now, was that so bad?"
I pushed off not expecting an answer.
"Yes."
Of course, I still got one.
Shaking my head, I sighed.
I feel must warn you, though you probably should have already expected this.
"What now," I growled, annoyed. Getting daily nags about 'saving the world' and all that was getting frustrating.
There are-
"ERASERS!"
My eyes instantly shot down toward Iggy, who was screaming at the top of his lungs.
Inhaling sharply, I scanned the area to find nothing, but clear blue skies ahead of us.
"Iggy?" I asked, confused.
"Behind us!" He shot down followed by Angel.
Fang and Gazzy spun around to meet them head on.
I turned next…
Too late.
Suddenly, I was grappled by the waist by a hairy slobbering monster with wings.
"Miss me, MAX!" Something growled into my chest.
I hissed, officially pissed off, "Don't flatter yourself, ARI!"
Considering the fact that we were ambushed, I must say we were doing very well. With the Erasers outnumbering the freaky flying kids 4 to 1, it was… well, you could do the math.
All of us were pretty busy.
Ari had me by the waist while the rest were after the rest of the flock.
"Dive!" I hollered around the drooling beast.
Angel and Total spiraled down into a clearing in a forest, followed by Gazzy and Iggy.
Hordes of Erasers piled after them.
Just as I expected the kids were maneuvering with grace while half of the mutt population collided with trees.
Nudge and Fang were still punching away at the group that decided to stay in the air with us.
"Pay attention, Max!" Ari snapped in my stomach as he wretched his body deeper into my stomach.
I kicked up and my knee collided with his chest.
"Oof!" He exhaled.
His mind on the pain currently in his stomach was a perfect opportunity.
Loosening his grip on me, I had just enough room to do a round house kick to his fat snarling face.
"Pay attention, Ari." I snapped back and stifled a chuckle, as he tumbled back a bit.
Suddenly, a sharp pain started in my back and ended in my head.
Spinning around, I met face to face with my mirror image.
"Maximum Ride," My face smiled back at me.
"Wh-What did you-" I asked raising my hand behind me to feel my spine between my wings.
A syringe.
Ripping it out, I roared with anger and threw it at her, facing myself back toward Ari, who had regained himself and was making his way toward me.
"You're pathetic!" He howled smashing into me once again.
The world started spinning a bit too fast for my taste as I watched it all fly by.
I punched him.
He swung at me.
My knee connected with his stomach.
His fist clipped my left eye.
So slow, yet so quickly.
I looked over just to see Fang finishing off with his group of Erasers and attempting to make his way toward me. Max II, interfered and soon both he and her were going at it.
Nudge was pushed downward toward the rest of the flock; while Ari and I stayed way up above in the clouds.
"You're making this way too easy, Max." Ari snickered, "I was expecting better from you."
"Well, you cheated, Ari." I snorted back, "And it's not over yet!"
I head butted him and was relieved to feel his weight off of me.
Glancing down at Fang, I watched as he retreated back into the forest, as well, leaving the nasty dog breath and I alone.
"You can fly, right Max?" Ari slowly circled me.
"Nah, these wings are just for show…" I spat sarcastically. The world was spinning, I could hear my heart beat getting slower, "You know, feathers are all the rage now a days."
"Well, then," He positioned himself behind my right wing, "LET'S FLY, MAX!"
Before I knew it he was on my back, his forearm digging into my throat, his knee was pinching my right wing to myself.
"Damn it!" I cursed. How had I let myself get in that position? It happened so fast.
Or whatever it was they gave you is making you slow.
I struggled against him as our weight combined pulled us downward toward the heavy canopy of trees.
The ground started getting closer and closer.
"Get off!" I yelled, pointless as it was. My vision started to blur and my heart started pounding slower and slower. I was… numb.
'What's happening?' I thought to myself.
Lack of oxygen perhaps? Or maybe the fact that they just drugged you with generous amounts of morphine?
'Morphine?'
"Stay with me, Max!" Ari growled in my ear, "I want you awake for this."
Closer and closer the ground got.
Faster and Faster I lost myself.
Slower and slower the world seemed.
Before long we were no longer surrounded by vast blue, but suffocating green.
SNAP!
My face was full of dirt.
I could hear the gasps of my flock.
The sobs of Nudge and Angel.
The silence of Gazzy and Iggy.
The single, nearly silent whisper from Fang…"Max."
I lifted my face from the ground.
Something hot and sticky fell on my face.
I didn't even feel the weight of Ari lift off of me and the hurt that should have retched though my body wasn't there…
There was nothing, but that sticky hot liquid…
Blood… So much blood.
Stretching to reach back to my right wing, I barely lifted my body from the ground. My hand touched something sharp and jagged. Looking back I saw crimson… and white…
My wing!
The bone had snapped clear through the skin of my wing. Blood gushed everywhere, and the faces around me were sick and silent.
My face twisted up in disgust and horror.
"Smell that, Max?" Ari crouched down beside me, "That's what real blood smells like… what your blood smells like."
"Bastard!" I snapped swiping out at him, "You… you!"
"For once, you have no snappy come back," Ari chuckled, "Wow."
"SHUT UP!" Fang jumped at him only to be held down but three other Erasers.
Slashing and cussing, Fang fought. He fought until they injected him…
Then Iggy…
Then Nudge…
Followed by Gazzy and Angel…
Total was snatched up and caged.
They were all caged.
"Let them go," I whimpered as I looked up and my dear little brother. "Please, Ari."
"Jeb wants you all," Ari whispered into my ear, "I'm sorry Maximum, this is how it has to be. Jeb wants you back at the school…"
I looked up and for a moment I could see a twinge of pain… regret maybe?
"I'm sorry." He repeated.
"Like hell you are," I spat at him, before he stood.
"Let's go," he turned from me, as the two other Erasers gathered my broken body up.
We were caught…
And back to School we go…