Author's Note: Hiya, guys! If you're freaking out about the last chapter, don't worry. Dr. M's to the rescue. Just wanted to clear that up, haha. WE'RE SO CLOSE TO 100 REVIEWS! MAKE ME PROUD! :D

DISCLAIMER: Sorry, I don't own Maximum Ride. If I did, Nevermore would've been pretty different.

Enslaved

Chapter 7: Collapse

Iggy POV

Max hesitated to answer, almost seeming as if she was arguing with herself on how to answer Nudge's question.

"How could they know her already? They just met, silly Nudge. Nice to meet you, Max. I'm Dr. Valencia Martinez. Feel free to call me Val, okay?" Dr. M popped up behind Angel and Gazzy and introduced herself.

"Ah, you're right. What am I thinking? Sorry, it must've slipped out." Nudge bowed her head slightly, a sign of her apologetics.

"Excuse me for a second." Dr. M pulled Angel and Gazzy away, probably to scold them about something, but I followed them after telling the others to wait there for a second.

She bent down to the kids' level and looked them straight in the eyes. "Sweethearts, what did I tell you? You can't go around accusing every new maid of being your sister, alright?"

"But- but that really was her, Auntie!" Gazzy protested. Angel nodded in agreement.

"No, sweetie. This is for your safety. Forget the fact that you think that Max is your sister. She's not, okay? I'll explain why when you get older," Dr. M said.

"Auntie," Angel whimpered.

"No, darling. Listen to me, okay? This is to keep you safe. Understand? Please," Dr. M begged. Angel and Gazzy nodded slowly. Dr. M smiled a thank you and let my younger siblings go back to where the others were. I stayed hidden and listened to her mutter to herself.

"What if he comes back? No, no, no, he can't. That'd be a disaster. I might lose her again. T-that, no, no, no," she whispered to herself. Then she looked up at the ceiling and put her hands together. "Please, don't let that happen. Please."

I'm positive I saw my aunt cry. I turned to go back when I heard, "Iggy, don't tell them. I know you're there. Don't tell your siblings. Please." I froze and looked back to see my aunt staring straight at my hiding spot.

"Okay, Aunt Val. You have my word. Do you want me to tell them that you're...?" I replied.

She sniffed and wiped her tears away with her fingers. "Yes, dear. I'll be out soon." I nodded and went back to the others.

"So, Max, how'd ya know that they were Angel and Gazzy?" Nudge interrogated.

Max replied, "Well, obviously, you said that they were both Iggy's younger siblings. You said that Gazzy was only nine years old. And so far, they're the only kids I've seen near your house."

"That makes sense," Nudge agreed. "But then how'd they know your name? Care to enlighten me on that?"

"Oh," I interrupted, "I told Dr. M Max's name before we got here. I made the call when I went to the bathroom at the station. Did I not mention that?"

"No," Nudge sniffed. "Whatever. Anyways, Max, this is Ella Martinez. She's Iggy's cousin, and she's only twelve. Cute, isn't she? I'm the same age as her, so it's like we're sisters!"

"Cool. Nice to meet'cha, Ella. I'm Max," Max introduced herself to Ella. Ella shook Max's outstretched hand and said, "Likewise."

Nudge tugged on Max's shirt sleeve. "Ella and I'll show you to your room, okay? The boys can lug your luggage around. Ha ha, see what I did there? Anyways, Angel and Gazzy have the rooms on the second floor, along with Dr. M. My room and Ella's are jointed together on the second floor, too. Sorry, but your room has to be on the third floor with Fang and Iggy. Ugh, sometimes boys disgust me. You shoulda been here that one time Gaz and Ig were having a belching contest. It was revolting..."

I saw Ella hand Max a cold glass of lemonade that one of our other maids, Lissa, had made for Max. Max sniffed it suspiciously and swallowed it down. I think I had a glimpse of a ghost of a smirk on Lissa's face. I shrugged it off, thinking it was my imagination.

Nudge continued to ramble while Fang and I grabbed Max's suitcases. Funny enough, she only had one suitcase and one backpack. I cast Fang a curious glance and he shrugged. He didn't know why she had so little either.

Together, we trudged up the staircase to the third floor and saw Max staring at the bedroom right in between Fang's and mine.

She seemed to be in a trance of some sort. She wasn't blinking or anything. I was afraid that she might not have been breathing either. How silly, right?

Wrong.

Max crumpled down to the floor. Fang and I dropped her things and raced to her. Gazzy and Nudge caught her before her head banged against the floor. Max was pale, and she was panting and gasping for air.

"Call for the doctor! Hurry!" Angel screamed.

Author's Note: You guys like? Hope so. Sorry about the little cliffhanger there. Ha ha. Merry Christmas; a little present for you readers! Here's a tiny sneak peek at my new Percy Jackson fiction, Shy Boy!

Story Summary: It was just a bet, a dare, a game. She didn't mean for him to get hurt. Hell, she didn't think he'd actually fall for her. She knew she should have listened to Thalia when she told her not to play this dangerous game. Too bad she didn't listen. Now, poor Percy was broken up beyond repair and so many of his friends hated her for it. She didn't mean to. "I can't believe this, Annabeth! Was this all just a big joke? You were playing me this whole time!"

Side Note: Would you guys read it? Is it overly dramatic? Let me know!

P. S. Can I get 100 reviews for my present? Please?

Like it? Hate it? Love it? R&R!