Sorry, it took me forever to update! I was on a stump for awhile...

This could be the longest chappie of all since it has chasing Max. Plus the auctioneers' insanely fast speaking.

Note: When auctioneer talks, imagine really fast talking. It's more fun that way.

Disclaimer: Um, I no own what I no own.

Max POV

"Get her!" I heard a yell behind me as I swiftly ran away from Jeb and Ari. I could feel the heavy footsteps of Ari and some other guy, that was following, through vibrations. It was so obvious they were chasing me. To catch me, you gotta be quiet, sneaky, sly, and clever; Jeb said it's was like dealing with a fox.

Throwing Ari off my track is a piece of cake. Frankly, the sole reason is because I'm like a ninja. Invisible, stealthy, all that ninja-like stuff.

I took a quick glance behind me after a while and saw that Ari and some blonde guy kept up with me. They haven't lost sight of me, well not yet. I looked back to the front in time to see that a couple of people were moving some stuff around for the auction; their eyes widened at me and I ran around them just in time. Slightly turning my head to the side, I could see Ari trip over someone's foot in my peripheral vision.

I chuckled a bit and uttered, "That dweeb deserved it."

The blonde guy was still after me, though. I think he was another one of Jeb's goons. I moved quickly and swiftly to dodge some items that were in the way. I even had to slide under two guys who were moving a table. People watched me run away from Blondie, but he was long gone- I lost him back when I slid under the table. I turned around for a second to check if he was still there and slammed into a wall.

Or at least, that's what it felt like. Then I put my hands on it to lift myself off of it when it grabbed my wrists. What?

I was starting to panic; someone finally caught me- accident or not, I was caught by a brick wall. But did this wall have feet? My eyes wandered around until a hand cupped my chin and lifted my face upward. The wall was a person. That's even worse; I struggled to escape but it wouldn't let go of me.

"Why're you running around like an idiot?" Mr. Brick Wall asked me.

I rolled my eyes and said, "Obviously, I'm running away from someone. And I'm not an idiot." And I started to twist my wrists around to see if I could get loose. The wall-like man tightened his grasp on my wrists and pulled me closer so I could get a clear look of his face.

He had raven tresses and midnight orbs that anyone -man or woman- could get lost while gazing in them. His olive complexion contrasted with my slightly tawny-colored skin.

"Do you have any idea who I am?" he questioned. I narrowed my eyes and shook my head. Should I know? I told him that I could really care less about who he is. The guy scoffed in disbelief.

"What? Does everyone know you around here?"

He nodded.

"Well, newsflash: I'm not from here. I come from Massachusetts." I struggled a little more again, but this time I stomped on his foot for good measure. He didn't even flinch and just raised his eyebrow.

"You know, lot of girls would be dying to be in your spot right now," he spoke.

"Okay, Playboy, what's your name? I'm dying to know," I replied rolling my eyes again.

"Fang. Fang Martinez, miss. How about you?"

"Maximum Ride. Well, nice meeting you, Fang, but I gotta go. See ya," I waved slightly and was about to take off when two hands grabbed my hips.

Fang lifted me up and slung me over his shoulder. I huffed in annoyance and pounded at his back constantly with my fists. I could feel a smirk stretch across his face which annoyed me even more. I had enough after, say, 30 seconds. I started to yank his hair backward and made him stumble quite a bit and kicked him in the gut. He doubled over, and I took that as a chance to get out of his tight grip.

"Bye bye!" I waved. I turned to go but saw Blondie again. Is everyone after me today? Is it Catch Max day or something? I saw Blondie make some motions to Ari and I charged off. Oh crap was the only thought on my mind other than Run. I panicked for a sec while millions of thoughts flew through my mind. The only one made sense and it was: Don't let them catch you.

I bustled out of the way of a few girls and headed for the opposite direction of Blondie, Ari, and Fang. I took the chance to take a quick glimpse behind me to see that Blondie and Ari were following me once again. I outwardly groaned as I sprinted again, hastily searching for an exit. Yet, after a few seconds, I was abruptly caught by the legs. In other words, I was tackled by someone.

I twisted my head to face whoever it was that decided to hug my legs together. To my displeasure, it was Blondie. He flashed me a great big smile and had Ari hand him a rope while he kept me in place. Then Blondie tied my wrists together in front of me and led me to Ari and Jeb. I still had a little strength to struggle so I kicked him where the sun doesn't shine.

Blondie choked out and sputtered random noises as he gradually fell to the ground. Ari's hands twitched downward and he had an apprehensive look strewn on his face. Jeb just looked really agitated with my constant hassling and the commotion I caused. Ari hesitantly started to follow me, but he took note of my sagging shoulders; that was a sign of tiredness.

I didn't bother fighting back anymore, I was too exhausted. I let myself get taken away onto the stage, but I planned to get away from the one that buys me.

I felt something burning my wrists and saw that Ari was spinning the rope around causing me a rope burn. I let my foot push his into the floor; Ari's face was contorted with discomfort and pain as he grunted and pushed me forward, making me stumble onto the stage.

The audience was intensely staring at me, as if I had grown wings and was flying around. I fixed my gaze down to my shoes. Some of the people had looks of awe, others of desire- like they knew I'd be a slave, and the rest were just gawking at me. It took me all of my self-control not to yell at everyone for goggling at me; all I did was ignore them.

"Okay," the male auctioneer said. "Next is this girl; her name is Maximum Ride. Her height is easily around 5'10" or so. She is fourteen and only responds to Max, apparently. Let's start the bidding at $500 for her." Five hundred? That's quite a bit of cash they've got there.

The female auctioneer took a deep breath and rambled away. "Five hundred, five hundred, who's got five hundred?"

Almost all of them raised up their bidding number sign things.

"Six? Six hundred, six hundred, six hundred. All right, seven hundred, seven hundred, seven hundred, seven, seven, seven hundred."

By now, about twenty-five people lowered their signs. Cheapskates.

"Eight, eight hundred, eight, eight hundred, eight hundred? Okay, nine? Nine hundred? Who's up for nine hundred?"

Some more signs went down.

"How 'bout a thousand? Thousand, thousand, thousand, thousand. Two thousand, two, two, two, two thousand. Three? Three thousand, three thousand, three, three, three thousand!"

Signs fell even more frequently.

"Anyone got four thousand? Four? Four? Five, five, five, five thousand. Good, good, six thousand now. Six, six, six thousand."

There were no signs up. The lady went up too high.

"Ten thousand!" A voice called from the back of the room. Gasps rang out throughout the area. Ten thousand could buy you three houses around here.

"Sold!" the male auctioneer banged his gavel on the stool beside him. "Sold to the man in black, number 134! Thank you, sir. Please come up here onstage to claim your prize." I growled at the word prize, and the man jumped in surprise. He smiled sheepishly and raised both of his hands in surrender.

A pair of hands gripped my shoulders and spun me around. I faced that person. My eyes broadened, and I sucked in a quick breath.

It was that guy from earlier. What's-his-name.

"Why, hello there. Max, was it? Remember me?" he grinned. "Fang. Fang Martinez. Recall that name?"

"Yes. Of course. I only saw you a while ago when you caught me while I was trying to escape and avoid being sold," I snarled.

"That's me," Fang said lightly.

"Unhand me." His hands were still holding my shoulders in a tight grasp. I strained my shoulders away from him- but to no avail. So, like I always do, I kneed him in the gut. Fang faltered, cleared his throat, and flashed me a smirk.

"Feisty. Just the way I like 'em."

Whew! Eleven reviews? You guys are awesome!

Overexposed- Oh, that makes a lot more sense. Haha.

I'll try to update my other stories as soon as I can!

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