Agh!

Summer is almost over for me! Just a little time left before I have to go back to the dreaded place of torture: SCHOOOL! Do you know how hard it is kissing up to the teachers and studying math and reading comprehension and all that stuff for two hours EVERY DAY after school? I'm going to have to study on the WEEKENDS! What has the world come to?

Geez… Totally random rant… But anyways, swanfrost15, I'm giving you a little shout-out. (and not necessarily the good type of shout-out) On your last review, you said that Max's newfound weakness, the brain attacks ain't so impressive? (I love saying ain't… I know it's technically not grammatically correct, but whatever.) Yeah, well, the thing is, they weren't meant to be. However, because the whitecoats/REC control when they happen, so while Max is writhing in pain, the REC could probably manage to track her down. After all, the Voice can see and hear what she sees and hears, no? So while feeling like your brain is splitting open, wishing to die, the whitecoats can just swoop on by and BOOM! Wake up with a tube shoved down your throat, forced to do cruel, painful tests. I know this Max is much stronger and everything, but even she has limits. The tests she would have to do would be much worse than ones for others, because she is so much stronger than other subjects, she would still be just as exhausted and tired out. Also, if she tries to break free, just make her have another brain attack, drag her back, and continue the testing. So, it IS a huge weakness. The whitecoats totally have that over Max's head: cooperate, or just be totally in pain and despair for the rest of your life, and not even be able to escape. It's the perfect blackmail, so yes, it IS impressive. MWAHAHA!

If you read all of that above this sentence, you do realize you could have skipped it, right? Anyways, ON WITH THE CHAPPIE!

Max POV

Save the world? What's that supposed to mean? Save the world from what? I thought, bewildered. In case you haven't noticed, I'm kind of on the evil side here! And aren't you supposed to be on the evil side, too, Voice?

Maximum. Your destiny is to save the world. Never forget that, Maximum Ride. You have been trained until you are the ultimate, the elite, the Maximum. You will save the world. The Voice decided to chime in, not answering any of my questions.

What am I saving the world from? Why can't you be a little clearer? I thought, really pissed.

Maximum, the Voice said, You are to save the world from the darkness that is coming. It will envelop everything, and the flames of humanity will die. The world will become cold, dark, and forever terrorized by storms. You are to save the world from all that.

What the HELL is that supposed to mean? I thought, How am I supposed to save the freaking world if I don't even know what I'm saving it FROM? Stop speaking in riddles, and give me a break.

The Voice didn't respond. Of course. And what was up with that strange whole "world will end in darkness" crap and "the flame of humanity will die" stuff? So ominous… seriously, a simple "the world is going to end in some mysterious, creepy way" is too hard? Why do all apocalyptic warnings have to be so ominous and creepy?

I smashed my fist against a pillar jutting out of the cave wall, angry. A large piece of rock went flying into the air, then plummeted down into the forest. Ouch. Hope I didn't hit an animal with that… Oh well. That had been rather loud, though, so the flock was immediately up and worried.

"What was that?" Iggy asked, his head snapping back and forth, listening for the sound of people approaching.

"Nothing," I lied. "Just kicked a rock. Now go back to sleep." Fang shot me a worried look, but I just waved it off.

Save the world… I mused. Yeah, right. I wonder what the Voice meant by that mysterious darkness mumbo jumbo. So gloomy. Why can't the world end in exploding rainbows and fireworks? Much more colorful and cheerful. Or maybe it's just creepy…

Besides, how was I supposed to save the world? I was an assassin, for God's sake! Shaking my head, I quickly woke up Fang and motioned for him to take second shift. Going flying, I mouthed, shaking my wings out. Jumping out of the cave, I headed down into the forest, landing in a clearing. Frustrated, I proceeded to take my anger out on a nearby tree, cracking it in half with one kick. I kept punching the tree, splinters flying everywhere. Sighing, I sat down on a rock, trying to calm myself down.

Calm down, Max, I told myself, Calm down. I just sat there, breathing in and out, lowering my heart rate. After staring off into space, letting my thoughts just wonder about, a sharp pain shot through my skull. It wasn't a full-on brain attack, but it was still pretty bad. Blurry images and muffled sounds filled my head.

"I'm sorry, Fang," I said, watching as the Erasers tied up and gagged the flock. "But you never should have trusted me in the first place. I'm an assassin. I was never on your side in the first place." I watched them, my expression cold, though on the inside, I was screaming.

Fang turned on me, his eyes full of anger and hatred. "I trusted you, Maximum." His voice was so cold, so mechanical, that I flinched. "I thought that Maximum Ride, my best friend had come back. Turns out, Maximum Ride doesn't exist anymore. She died a long time ago, and the REC replaced her with a monster that wore her face."

Angel looked at me, her eyes so wise and knowing, they looked thousands of years old. "Max. To save the world, you must…" She faltered, her grip loosening on my hand. "There isn't much time I have left on earth, Max. I will die soon, but you must know…" Angel began fading away.

"Wait! Angel, what am I supposed to do! Angel? Angel, wait!" I shouted, reaching out to her, stretching my arms out.

The vision changed again. I saw Angel, dead, her eyes blank and unknowing, laying on the floor, her face peaceful, with a small smile on her face. Next to her, lay Fang, gripping his shredded side. He looked at me, his eyes angry and cold. Nudge was holding her arm, which was twisted at a weird angle. The left side of Iggy's face was burned, and so was his left arm. Gazzy was sobbing, next to Angel. The Flock, in tatters. And all because of me. My Flock, broken and destroyed. What had I done?

What had I done?

Now, I saw myself, flying in midair, somehow flying without flapping my wings. I wasn't experiencing what was happening this time, though, instead, I was watching myself from far away.

I knew what I had to do. To save the world, Maximum Ride couldn't exist. I stretched out my arms, closing my eyes. Then, my body began to burn. Brilliant, white-gold flames radiated from my body, slowly consuming me. Three words rang through the air, coming from me, but not in my voice. It sounded like multiple people were talking at the same time, the words sounding rich and radiant. "I'm sorry, Fang." Then, I disappeared into a wild explosion of blinding light and flame, so vibrant that the night sky lit up. I was gone, all that was left, was a single silver feather, drifting down.

Maximum Ride was dead.

Oooooooooooh, cliffy! Hahaha! Very dramatic, no? And to explain the very last vision, it was like this: Max was watching herself, but could hear the thoughts, but not feel anything. Does that make sense? I don't know…

Also, these visions might not match EXACTLY with the end, like a few words might be different. Comprende? Okay. Also, when school starts, I will update about once a week. So yeah.

Sorry this chapter took so long to put up. I was pretty busy all this week, with open house and a bunch of other things (not joking)

Anyways, remember, not updating until I get TEN REVIEWS, people. AT LEAST TEN REVIEWS! Remember, favoriting and following this story helps too.

Till Next Time, Whenever the heck that is,

-Less than 3, AZNRawk