Cages…

I hate cages.

So cramped…

So demeaning…

Oh, how could I forget… SO Depressing…

I saw many cages some lay out all alone, filled with "extra" body parts of failed experiments… others stacked, filled with either dying test subjects or those that were just too pointless to even bother with.

Sneering at the line up of body containment devices, I growled inwardly. Walking slowly beside the cart, which held my life… my flock, I took a moment to glance at them.

The closest one to me was Fang. He sat huddled up in his cage, eyes forward. Still… Emotionless… Stone-like.

Underneath him was a shivering Angel. Every ten minutes or so, she'd sob silently, then go back into her whimpering state... My baby.

I sighed and tried to place my hand near her cage only to have it smacked away by an Eraser.

"Get moving!" The hairy beast growled before pushing me in a VERY uncomfortable spot on my back.

"AAAHH!" I'm sorry, I couldn't hold that one back… You know, being drugged in the first place was a bummer, but I preferred it when I didn't feel my broken bone sliding in and out of its place beneath (other times outside) my skin.

Fang instantly snarled, hurling himself at the bars to get to the bastard who struck me.

"Down boy," Ari warned, punching the cage Fang resided in.

"Ari," I snapped, regaining back my normally composed appearance.

He growled slightly. Watching me for a few uncomfortable seconds, before turning to the Eraser who started all this and slapping him in the back of his head.

The drooling ball of fur was sent sailing across the hall.

"No one touches her until we get to the boss, except for me, understand?"

"Yes, Sir." The soft little cry from the jerk sorta put a sick smile on my face.

Moving forward, I looked to the rest of my flock. The rest seemed to be taking all of the scenery back in… all of the blood, the pain, the torture, the nightmares… it was like it was all coming back to us… our pasts were mocking us. Shows how 'great' of a home we had, huh? Who wouldn't miss it?

"I don't miss it," A small voice sighed, "I don't miss it at all, Max."

I looked down to see Angel whimper up at me...that look right there hurt to look at. Then again everything was kinda hurting now, but the sounds where getting to me the worst.

Drip, drip, drip…

My blood.

Dum dum… dum dum…

My heart.

Pit, pat, pit, pat…

My feet.

"I'm scared."

My flock.

"I know, baby," I choked down a hard sob. Tears began to brim my eyes…

We were really back… I couldn't save them from those freaks… I couldn't keep them from this twisted place… HOW THE HELL AM I SUPPOSE TO SAVE THE WORLD IF I CAN'T TAKE CARE OF MY OWN FLOCK!

'Was…' I thought bitterly, 'I was gonna save the world; I was hope… now I'm just used meat… again.'

"You're not, Max."

I jumped… unsure of whether that was Angel or my voice.

"You're so much more than that."

Angel…

I almost sighed with relief.

You will forever be the key to saving the world, Max. You can't outwit fate!

Sigh… The Voice.

If cages weren't bad enough to be on my hate list, I knew that operating rooms held a permanent spot that will never be altered.

Yet, here I stood... alone.

In my traditional hospital gown, with a shredded wing, and a recessive temper… no less. I was seriously about to let them dissect me. Reason being, you ask. My flock was in their custody, sealed off somewhere or equally being tested on again. I couldn't tell.

I was weak at the moment, and if nothing else: A girl knows when she's down. Erasers were tough on an average normal basis, but being surrounded in their territory? I'm brave, but I'm not dumb.

"Good girl, Max," An all too familiar voice filled the room.

My body immediately cringed. It's bad enough that overly clean smell was printed in my keen nose, and that the dreaded operating table nearly sent me into puking fits. But knowing that I was standing here, next to the place that may soon be the last thing I ever see. (Not to mention, putting my body in their CLEARLY incapable hands) Memories flooding back to me just topped the cake.

"Since when have I ever been known to be the good girl?" I sputtered, slightly loosing my normal harshness to my words, "Surely, you should know me by now, Jeb."

Jeb looked at me with a content smile.

Oh, how I hate that man. His stupid 'I-care' act he always claimed was slightly believable at first, but you know being stabbed in the back kills that whole thing. Still, no matter what he did he still spouted on about loving us, yet look who's standing here…. dressed as a good for nothing white coat just like the rest of them. Hypocrite.

"Well, considering we finally have you in our custody," He strolled around the room picking up a syringe, "I'd say you were very good for us, indeed."

"Uh, News flash," I rolled my eyes, secretly keeping my attention on that needle in his hand, "You're guys cheated. Given a fair fight, I coulda kicked everyone of their hairy a-"

"Now, now Max," He stopped in front of me, "Don't be upset. My, my, my, look at that wing."

"Touch it and I'll give you a demonstration of what fair fighting is all about." I droned.

Jeb smiled lightly, "I need to, and you've got a malfunction that clearly needs-"

"It's called a broken wing!" I snarled, "I'm not a computer or some device. Call it what it is, and then get the hell out of my face. You are not touching it!"

"Max, we have no choice," Jeb's smile dropped, "We don't have much time."

"Ah, that whole saving the world jazz, right?" I nodded my head, "How could I forget?"

Jeb closed his eyes for a moment, "Actually, I was thinking more along the lines of self-preservation and how there is a time limit on certain… life-spans."

Life-spans?

Then suddenly it clicked… sorta.

"Are you saying I'm-"

He moved at me, I don't know what it was, but I didn't budge. No duck, no punch, no kick, nothing; just the sick feeling of cold, hard metal piercing soft, shivering flesh.

"I can't give you an anesthetic, but this will help a little." He continued talking.

"Wh-What?" I looked down at my arm where I had been punctured, "I'm going cold turkey?"

"Sort of," He looked at me sadly, "Get on the bed, Max. You're toughing this out with only a small dose of left over Codeine."

"Glorified tylenol?" I gaped, slightly feeling a bit light headed, "What the hell?"

"Max, you're out dated. Time's ran up," Jeb explained, grabbing my shoulder and leading me toward the bed, "The Company won't pay, let alone deal with expired test subjects. Codeine is all we can offer."

"Expired," I breathed heavily.

It hit… and it hit HARD. Test subjects were limited in life… and my time was nearing its end. Feeling a bit nauseous from more than the drugs, I swiftly positioned myself face down on the bed.

"Sorry, Max. This is your last run," He sighed, "We patch this wing up the best we can with what we got, you save the world, and then end off your time with a bang. How's that sound?"

"Peachy-keen," I muttered sarcastically, my speech slurred... the whiteness of the walls slowly began to take a black tint to it. I was gonna die, in this hell hole?

A drill started for a moment and I braced myself clenching my eyes tightly together.

Counting the seconds never hurt more.

One…

WIRRRRRRR!

Two…

WIRRRRRRR!

Thr-

The drill stopped… and there was nothing, but silence.

Was I dead?

Opening one eye slowly, I caught sight of a white wall again…

"Oh, and Max," Jeb finally spoke, "Brace yourself… this is going to definitely hurt."

WIRRRRRRRR!

My vocal cords never knew such strain…

"….. !"