Chapter 18:

ARIANA POV:

I rolled over on to my left side and gravel stuck into my hips. We had been here, what, three days? And my ribs were already clearly visible through my skin.

I rolled back on to my right, and the tugging of the chains attached to my wrists dug deeper cuts into them. Fresh blood seeped out of old scars, and I could feel the metal cutting deeper into my wrists and ankles.

I moaned in pain, because at this point, it was all I could do. I was trapped in this cell. This gloomy, dark, rat infested cell. Similar to the Itex dungeons in Germany, where I was created.

I tried sitting up, but no matter what position I maintained, pain came upon me. Where was Max? Sam? Anyone? Were they dead? Was I the only one left? Questions filtered in and out of my head.

I tried to push my low ponytail out of my eyes, but the shackles dug deeper into my wrists. If the Whitecoats didn't kill me first, I would die from loss of blood.

Death. The thought was almost comforting. Death would be so much more peaceful than this, so much better. I had a sudden glint of hope, and found myself asking for something.

Kill me, Whitecoats. Kill me.

MAX POV:

I woke up to the same thing I had woke up to before: bright lights, strapped to a bed. Except, this time a familiar face was standing over me. Jeb. Great…

'Hello Jeb' My voice was relatively less croaky than it was before.

'Hello Maximum. How are you feeling?'

I always wondered how he could ask such simple idiotic questions in such complex times. 'Well, I'm feeling fine, Jeb. Exactly how you would feel if your skull was cracked and your leg was broken. And not to mention, the whole strapped to an operating table thing.' I gave a fake smile and then rolled my eyes at him.

'Please, Max. Be serious, please.'

I stared at him with wide eyes. 'oh, but I was being serious, Jeb!'

He glared at me and I glared right back. Then, I sighed and asked, 'what is it you have come to inform me about today, Jeb? Having to save the world not enough for ya?' I gasped, pretending to be annoyed, 'do I have to save Pluto as well?! Or, Mars! I bet it's Mars!'

Jeb glared at me. 'Max…I don't know how to say this.'

'What!? What, Jeb!? Just spit it out.'

'Sam and Fang have been sent to a fight to the death. It's happening momentarily.'

I don't think my jaw dropped, but a sudden ringing began in my ears and I zones out the rest of Jeb's words entirely. Fang's in danger, Fang's in danger, I need to get to him, Need to. Was all that was going through my mind. My eyes brimmed with tears that I would of wiped away if my hands weren't strapped down to a metal operating table by Velcro straps. I'll do anything, just make sure Fang is okay I asked somebody up there. Somebody watching me. An angel, maybe? I sighed, the closest I was ever going to get to a guardian angel was Angel and Celeste.

I gritted my teeth to stop the tears from flowing. Not now. Later, when Jeb isn't here. I told myself. Yeah, later, I thought numbly, when Fang is already dead. The thought hit me so hard, almost knocking the breath out of me. Fang dead. Fang gone. No one there to comfort me. No one there to take my spot. No one there to laugh with. To fight with. Fang would be gone. I'd be alone. Alone and with one wing.

My body was numb as I tried to choke at a question. 'Sam was never on our side, was he?' I asked Jeb quietly.

'No, sweetie. He wasn't.'

I gritted my teeth. I was so upset I couldn't tell Jeb not to call me 'sweetie.''But the Voice said…' I muttered to know one but myself.

'The Voice?' Jeb asked kindly, so kindly it almost fooled me. 'Max, the Voice is me.'

Honestly.

I opened my eyes and looked at Jeb. He was the Voice. 'But if you're the Voice…'

My tone went from quiet and vulnerable to loud and angry. 'That was you! You led us here! You told us getting together with Sam and Ariana was safe! You lied! You're a selfish jerk, Jeb! I can't believe you! Fang is going to die, because you're a selfish bastard!'

'Ariana is not with Itex, Max.'

"Yeah, so? Sam is and he is about to get into a fight with my best friend! My best friend, Jeb. My life.'

'Max, I'm sorry.'

'Leave! Leave now!' I spat. I despised every living organ in his body right now. Nothing Jeb ever did now would make up for this. Nothing.

'Max…'

'Leave. Me. Alone.'

He took a long, hard look at me, sighed and left. Before the door was even shut, I started struggling. They were watching me, I knew. But I needed to get out. Needed to get to Fang. What could I do? What could save me now? Who could save me now?

Angel, Angel, Angel.

I thought repeatedly. Please respond Angel. Please. I prayed that Angel was sorting through the mind's of anyone in this building. Hopefully she'd pick up my pleading thoughts.

Angel, if you can hear me, I need your help. Fang is in trouble. I need help. Angel? Angel!?

No response. What had they done to her? The worst thing they could possibly do to her came to me first: death. No, no, no! Please no! Not Angel too! I can't loose all my flock!

I sighed and choked back sobs. If everyone of my flock was dead, you might as well kill me too. Please.

(Lots of death wishes, sorry. J )

ARIANA POV:

My cell door opened and I staggered, painfully, to my feet. I ignored the pulse in my wrists and ankles, and used the wall for support.

'What do you want?' I croaked. I was still staring at the floor and hadn't looked up to face my captor. When I did, I realized he was a more middle aged Whitecoat, a Whitecoat with an evil glint to his eyes. His grin was so evil I wanted to snap his neck, and that is exactly what I planned to do.

'You're slated for extermination.'

I rolled my eyes. 'What else is new?'

He seemed taken aback by my response, and for a moment it showed on his face. It gave me a new spurt of confidence, and I planned to use that to my advantage.

He came close to retrieve me, and bent down to undo my shackles on my ankles. Strike one.

He was either a newbie, which I doubt by his age. Or, figured I was in too much pain to get him in that position. Or possibility number three: He was just stupid.

I brought my elbow down on his head hard, and I heard the sickening crack. I was always surprised how fragile humans were. He went down instantly, moaning on the ground. I grabbed the key he was using to unlock me, movie style, and undid my wrists. I stretched them briefly, trying to get the blood flowing back in them, and then I undid my ankle shackles. I took one last look at the Whitecoat, bid him farewell, and opened the door in one running motion. How's that for an extreme getaway?

I was in the brightly lit hallway instantly. I looked left and right frantically. Empty. And it wouldn't be long before it wasn't.

My mind kicked in to overdrive, and I started to think. Where or where could I go? Where or where was Max? Sam?

I did what any avian hybrid would do in an extreme situation.

I started screaming.

'Max! Max! Where are you!? It's Ariana! Sam? Sam!?'

It had been a minute since I had escaped from my cell. I cocked my head to one side and listened: Angry Whitecoats, dogs barking, Erasers growling…yeah, they knew I got out. I ran down the hall just as they turned the corner. The Whitecoats spotted me and let the dogs loose. I'm fast and all, but I'm no match for dogs. I looked up at the ceiling…too low to fly out. As I turned the corner I almost ran into Iggy, Gazzy, Nudge, and Angel, who I almost had mistaken for an Eraser.

'Iggy? What?! How-?'

'I'll explain that later' he muttered, and in one swift movement he moved away from me, and made a roundhouse kick at the approaching Erasers. I followed suit, punching one in the head, and watching his blood stain the pearly white walls. Ladies and Gents, I call that Splatter Art.

'We. Need. To. Get. To. Max.' Iggy grunted with every punch.

'I. Know.' I answered back. 'But I have no clue where she is.'

'She's back in the other hallway. I know that much. I saw them take her their when we arrived.'

'Okay. So…plan?' I said, while I broke a Whitecoat's nose.

'Run!'

The command was so sudden I lost half a millisecond obeying it, and Iggy, Gazzy, Nudge and Angel were already meters ahead of me, and I pumped my arms to keep up.

We turned down another corridor, facing a long, narrow and empty hallway. Three doors aligned each side.

'Where to now, Iggy?' I asked. My pace had turned in to a run, but I was still frantically checking my back for them. I could hear the Erasers footsteps already on the tile floor.

'Last door…I think.'

'You think!? Iggy, this isn't a time to make assumptions!'

'I'm pretty sure, okay! Jeez, I get enough with Max yelling at me all the time, I don't need another one!'

Is it possible to smile when running for your life? The answer is yes. Yes you can.

We all made a quick 90 degree turn and faced the door where Max was being 'held.'

'I hope you're right about this, Iggy!'

'Just cover for me, okay?'

I sighed, and turned to face the approaching Whitecoats, Angel, Gazzy and Nudge did the same, forming a semi circle around Iggy.

Please be in there, Please be in there. I asked someone up there. Please let this be the right room…

'How ya doing there, Iggy?' I asked, sending him a nervous glance. The Whitecoats were ten metres away.

'Just. Hold. Them. Off.' He said through gritted teeth.

'I'll do my job, you do yours.' Was my oh-so snappy comeback.

He didn't have time for another remark, and if he did, I didn't hear it. I waited for the Eraser to make the first move, dodged it, and then sent a punch in his direction. It just scraped his jaw, and in return he grabbed my wrist and twisted it. I screamed in pain, and sent my left fist flying at his face. It was a bull's eyes this time, and he fell to the floor. I kicked him when he was down, hearing a snap in both legs. He's going to have trouble walking after that.

I looked up from my triumphant victory, and an Eraser punched me right in the nose. Blood squirted in all directions and he took that opportunity (while I was holding my nose and screaming) to sweep me up from under my feet. My skull hit the ground and throbbed, sending a pulse throughout my body. Ow!

'Got it!' Iggy shouted, just as I scrambled up from the floor, almost slipping on my own blood. Gross.

I dodged another head-injury-type attack as I yelled at Iggy. 'Take my spot. I'll get her out!'

In one swift movement, Iggy had obeyed me, got in front of me, and hit the Eraser that was going to hit me, right in the nose. What I was most impressed by? That he obeyed me.

'Cover me!' I yelled as I crawled into the room where Max was.

'You do your job, we'll do ours!' Iggy quoted me.

'Yeah, Yeah.' I muttered, as I got up from the floor. My knees trembled as I got up. Max was on an operating table, strapped down. I undid the Velcro straps, with great difficulty, due to my shaking hands, but I managed. Luckily, there was only one entrance to this room, and Iggy and the others were guarding it… I think. I took a glance over my shoulder to make sure. Yep, they were still fighting.

I brought my attention back to the unconscious Max.

'Max? Max?!' I said. 'Wake up, Max! It's Ariana! We need to get out!'

Max stirred but she didn't wake. I let out a frustrated sigh. 'If you want this to be done the hard way…' and I brought up my hand and hit her across the face.

'What the-!?'

'Good morning, Max' I said dryly, while heaving her off the operating table.

'Ariana?' her voice was dopey. 'Where is everyone?'

'Iggy, Gazzy, Angel and Nudge are outside, fighting off a pack of Erasers.'

Max looked up and for the first time seeing the epic battle happening outside the doorway. She must have been slow on the uptake, because the next thing she shouted was 'Fang!'

'Yes. We don't know where Fang is.'What did they dope her up with this time?!

'No. I know where Fang is.' Her voice was becoming stronger, more determined.

It was my turn to be confused. 'You do?'

'Yeah. In a fight to the death with Sam.'

I loosened my grip on Max's shoulder's suddenly, and she slipped. Her legs were still adjusting. 'Hey, watch it!' she yelled.

'A fight to the death, with…Sam?'

'Yeah. I was shocked too. He's with Itex. But, I would really like to save my best friend, so can we get moving!?'

'Yeah, sure.' I muttered, still kind of in a trance. Sam with Itex. My enemy the whole entire time…

'Where do you think they'll be?' I was so ready to give him a piece of my mind now.

Max straightened up, thought about it for a second, and then said one word in a whisper. 'Courtyard.'

MAX POV:

I straightened up and leaned off of Ariana, to instantly find a pain shoot up my leg. My knees buckled and I reached out to her for support. She gave it to me, and then shouted to Iggy.

'Iggy! Max needs a ride!'

Iggy darted into the room, pulled me onto his back, and then ran out the door, Ariana, Gazzy, Angel and Nudge following closely behind, as well as defending us.

'Where to?' Iggy asked over his shoulder.

'The courtyard. Are we above ground?'(A/N: They are in Australia, I know, but lets pretend they have a courtyard their too! )

'I think so.'

'Ok. Just run, and hopefully we'll reach a door.'

Iggy gave me a look, and I just shrugged. Even though he's blind, he might of known I was.

'Whatever, Captain.'

I smiled and urged Iggy on like a racehorse. We took rights and lefts, until we came to what looked like a promising door.

'Shall we?' Iggy asked.

'You betcha.'

And with that we ran through the door, at full speed. Or, as fast as Iggy could run with me on his back, anyways.

When we burst through the door, the first thing we saw was Fang on the floor, bloody and bruised, with Sam standing over him.

No way. No freaking way.