Chapter 5

Disclaimer: I don't own Maximum Ride or Google Translate. *sad face*

A/N

Me: Greetings Earthlings!

BFF: Why are you calling everybody earthlings?

Me: Because I've been reading a book about aliens, and earthlings sounds cool.

BFF: What if some of your readers are space aliens though?

Me: Good point. Let's start over.

Greetings Earthlings and Space Aliens!

Better?

BFF: Definitely.

Me: Moving on, sorry guys it took me so long to post, I've been meaning to write for days, but I hope this chap makes up for it. Also my apologies to anyone reading The Runaway Case, I did write the bonus chap, it's just taking me forever to write all the Truth or Dare stuff, there are so many dares!

BFF: Come on, Wander! Get on with the story!

Me: Gosh, aren't you impatient! *smiles*

BFF: Of course I am! Story. Now.

Me: Okay, here it is.

Max's POV

The walk back to Fang's house seemed to take much longer than the walk to get to the party had taken a few hours ago.

I'm sure it has nothing to do with the fact that Fang is hung-over. I thought sarcastically to myself.

Each step forward with only-half-aware-of-his-surroundings-Fang took as long as taking five normal steps when I was trying not to get somewhere. In other words, Fang is freaking slow as molasses! And the longer it took for us to get back to the house, the longer I had time to think, which was not a good thing, because my thoughts instantly turned to Zeph and his screams began to ring in my ears.

I tried to turn my focus back onto Fang only, to getting him home safely.

I wasn't sure yet, however, whether or not I was going to let him get away with sneaking out of the house, partying, and getting drunk. I should wake his mother before he gets there, Fang needs to go see somebody about this alcohol problem. He needed to talk to somebody about it. That and he needs to talk about Ella and Maya.

The bad thing was that, deep down inside, I didn't want to turn him in. It was stupid, feeling this way. Why was I even feeling this way? I'm here to help him, that's all. Give him some bad medicine that will make him get better, and then be on my way once he is no longer in need of my assistance.

Why do it feel like somebody just stabbed me through the heart with a knife?

The thought of leaving him, it sent pain radiating throughout me. Starting with my chest and slamming into every nerve end till all I wanted to do was cry. My legs wobbled, barely holding me up, I grabbed a light pole near me and leaned my weight into it. A burning sensation made its way up my throat and nearly made me choke.

There's definitely something wrong with me.

I heard Fang's feet shuffle to a stop behind me and I remembered that I still needed to lead him home. No street was safe at this time of night.

Pulling myself together took an effort. I forced down these strange feelings I was having. I had a job to do, and I refused to screw it up this time.

"Come on, Fang. Home is only a few blocks away." I told him and he trudged along behind me, groaning and clutching his head.

I sighed, closing my eyes and then opening them back up, whispering:

"Why do you get drunk if it gives you so much pain?"

I looked out into the darkness of the night, it was like a blanket over the land, but it wasn't comforting. Night was when the demon came. Night was when Zeph and his family died. Night was when I failed.

"I drink because it numbs the real pain, this headache, its physical, its nothing." Fang said, he didn't slur, but I could tell he wasn't fully aware. He would have never confessed that sober, that I was sure of.

Surprise took me for a moment as I took in what just happened.

He spoke to me.

I knew he could hear me, but it never occurred to me that he might actually reply to what I was saying. It made my heart lift and the guilt over Zeph's death ease a little. The guilt soon came back, but my heart still beat with happiness. I didn't even bother to question why.

Then suddenly the hairs on the back of my neck raised, and I knew. We were being watched. I could feel it. This wasn't some paranoid feeling that came from losing my last ward, this was true, genuine. Someone was watching us, and the eyes were not friendly.

I backed away toward Fang, and unconsciously went to grab his hand, remembering only seconds before I was about to do it, that I couldn't. I wanted so desperately to hold his hand, to have that reassurance that I wasn't alone.

But that's just not how the world works for me.

"Fang, we've got to get going." I told him and he looked at me in confusion. "It's not safe here. Please, just go as fast as you can."

After an antagonizing moment, what I had said seemed to register with him and he nodded before speed-drunk-walking (about the equivalent to normal paced walking) down the road towards his house.

I followed behind him, that's the direction I felt that malevolent gaze come from. I'll be damned before I let anybody touch my ward!

I would destroy Satan himself if he so much as looked Fang's way. I may only be a Guardian, but do not underestimate my fighting abilities. I would wipe the floor with the king of the demons.

As we made our way to the house, I could slowly feel the old me coming back, and I knew what the cause of it was. Fang.

But he was also the cause of my undoing, tearing me apart, like he did when he kissed those girls.

He was chocolate covered cyanide.

We were only a few yards from the house now. The darkness seemed to be closing in on us, as if it was some kind of monster we had awoken and it was hungry for flesh. Our flesh. The blackness was like tar, and my skin felt as if it was too close to a fire. The tongues of that fire licked me and seared me, but I was physically left unscathed. But I knew better than to think that would be the end of it.

"Go, Fang! Get inside!" I whisper-yelled into his ear.

He did as he was told, getting out his keys and opening up the door. Fang turned and sent a worried look in my direction, but I knew it wasn't at me, it was toward the dark evil that was beginning to surround the house.

Fang stood there in the doorway, concern filling his glazed eyes.

"Close the door!" I yelled to him. There was no way what I was about to do would work if that dang door was open.

He closed the door, but I could feel his presence on the other side. My sharp vision caught him peeping through the keyhole.

But he would see nothing.

I nearly fell to my knees, the darkness was so strong, but I stood there defiant. Staring it down as if my death glare would kill it. Oh, if only…

An evil chuckle broke the night air. My blood ran cold. I knew that laugh.

It was the demon's laugh.

He stepped out of the darkness, but his face was hidden, as it was the last time we had met. My hands clenched into angry fists and my heart began to pound like crazy. I was scared, but I wasn't about to let my fear show.

"Oh, Maxi, you don't look as broken as last time I saw you, have you moved on from Zephyr so fast? Did you care for him at all?" The demon taunted.

I wanted to scream at him, tear him limb from limb and feed him to winged llamas.

You see, angry Max doesn't really think straight.

That's why, as much as I would love to feed him to winged llamas, I ignore what he says and get straight to business, which is protecting Fang from this devil.

"Haec est domus custodiri," I spoke aloud, casting my protection over the house and everyone in it. A thin clear bubble formed around it, the demon and I stood outside of the shimmering protection. "non intrábitis." (The protection "spell" is in Latin, I used Google Translate, here's what it says: "This house is guarded, you shall not enter.")

The demon hissed at me, but said to me in an only slightly strained voice:

"That's the best you've got?"

"Daemon exire!" I commanded him. "Hic non receperint vos! De quo egressus es tu ad ignibus atris!" ("Depart demon! You are not welcomed here! Go back to the dark fires from which you came!")

The demon bared his teeth at me, letting out an animalistic growl. My fear was gone and only my determination remained. I would see to it that this demon would never touch my Fang.

"Exeatis! Et si revertamini, daemon, et projiciet te in vacuum." I promised him, and angels never break promises. ("Depart! And if you return, demon, I shall cast you into the void.")

The demon merely smiled at me.

"I don't plan on leaving, so I don't think I have much to worry about that, and even if I did, I don't think you would." He replied, a cocky grin spread across his lips.

"Don't underestimate me, demon." I growled, keeping a wary eye on him, following every movement.

"Oh, I don't, if anything I think I overestimate you."

Anger boiled inside me at his words, I wanted to wipe that grin off his face, but I also did not want to touch him, I remembered the way his touch had burned my flesh.

"You know, Maxi, I'm somewhat offended that you don't recognize me."

I looked at him confused. What the hell was he talking about?

"I remember you, you were the demon who killed Zeph." I spat at him.

"Not that Maxi," He chided. "I mean, we knew each other so well, we were best friends, remember?"

I was about to ask him what drug he was taking that screwed his head up so badly, when the shroud of darkness hiding his face from me lifted.

My eyes widened with disbelief and horror. I gasped.

No, no, no! It can't be!

I took a step back, and then another.

"Max, aren't you going to give your long lost, best friend a hug?" Sam goaded, holding his hands out wide, as if waiting for me.

My "dead" best friend, Sam, was a demon.

Sam was the demon who had killed Zeph and made me watch him burn.

A/N

Me: Betcha didn't see that coming! PLOT TWIST!

BFF: How? Whaaaa? Why? I can't even—WHY WOULD MAX'S BEST FRIEND DO THAT TO HER?!

Me: *mischievous smile* That's for me to know and you to find out.

BFF: EVIL!

Me: *smiles*

Anyways, let's get to replying to some of those reviews, shall we?

Btw, thank you Cm cookiemonster (Guest) for the cookie, it was delicious!

BFF: Yeah, okay. Here's a question from Pain-is-just-a-Message, "Will Nudge have a chapter/POV soon?"

Me: I wasn't actually planning on it, but that sounds like a good idea, it won't be the next chap, but I'll try to see if I can find a good spot where I can put in her POV.

And don't fret Strawwberryz, the story is far from over.

Thank you to everybody who reviewed! You guys are the freaking bomb diggity!

BFF: And don't forget to PLEASE KEEP REVIEWING!