Read, review, and enjoy! I do not own Maximum Ride.
Fang's Point of View
As the Flock fell asleep one by one, I waited impatiently for the chance to escape. I was going to save Max. She was more important to the Flock anyway, more important to the world. Who was I to stop her from being with her "children," as she fondly called the Flock?
I glanced behind me and saw that everyone was sound asleep. Good. I pulled a note that I had written out of my jacket pocket and stuck it under a rock, and then took off into the night.
I was going to save Max. Even if it killed me.
Max's Point of View
"Max, now you can finally save the world."
Jeb's words rang in my ears as I entered the stark white room. I'm finally fulfilling my destiny of saving mankind, while sacrificing myself. I thought it was kind of unfair-I mean, I'd like to live too, ya know! But then again, what hero's life is fair? They're always flying around, saving people, and risking their lives.
Still, maybe this wasn't so bad. I was saving my family, and Fang. And millions of other people who will be saved by Fang.
All these thoughts raced through my head in a millisecond, and I knew I was doing the right thing. I could do this. I had to be strong
Jeb placed me on a cot in the middle of the room. It was actually quite comfortable, surprisingly. And then Jeb pulled out a needle.
"Max, I'm so sorry about all of this, really." Jeb spoke, and I believed him. His misty eyes were filled with regret and sorrow, and his hand was clenched around the needle so tightly that it turned a shocking white.
"I get it, Jeb. I know I have to go. It'll make everything right." I replied, and his eyes glimmered a bit with pride-his baby girl knew her place in the world.
"This'll only hurt a bit, Max. We tried to make this as…easy…as possible for you, to minimize your suffering." He closed his eyes and let a few tears fall. "Goodbye, Maximum Ride." And he jabbed the needle into my shoulder.
As Jeb left the room, I felt a shooting sensation in my shoulder. He obviously put the needle there so I would have more time to say goodbye…in my head. Where to start? Well, Jeb, I guess, because he was the last one I saw. I have to say; after all of his cruelty to us, he really was trying to look out for us, in his own way.
Total and Akila were an interesting pair. I would miss Total's, um, cultured mind, and his and Akila's love for each other. I wish I had had something like that.
Mom and Ella…they were awesome to me. I think I'm going to miss their chocolate chip cookies the most. I chuckled to myself, but then stopped-I didn't have enough oxygen to breathe right, let alone laugh.
Gazzy and Iggy, my bombers. I'll miss their sense of humor and their protectiveness of the Flock. I can only hope that Fang won't let them make those fertilizer bombs again; they smelled horrible!
I lost all feeling in my legs. Guess that poison's moving fast. I continued with my mental goodbyes. Nudge was next. Her incessant chatter would annoy me to no end, but I'm defiantly going to remember that most about her. That and her sense of fashion. I let out a mental sigh. That kid and clothes…maybe she could go somewhere with that.
Angel. My baby. We were so alike in looks, that she could be my baby. She was always my favorite in the Flock, always knew what to say to me and what to do to make me feel better. Even with her powers getting creepier and more developed, she was always a sweetheart. I would probably miss her most…except for….
Fang. When I thought his name, my heart gave a lurch, though that may have been the poison seeping through my veins, slowly shutting down my body. Fang. I loved him. There was no denying that, no matter how many times I did. He loved me too and that made me feel better than anything in the world. It didn't matter that I was dying now, now that I had finally experienced true love. I knew that I was leaving the Flock in his care, and as my last wish, I wished that Fang would have the strength to carry on and protect them without me.
While I thought all of this, my mind somehow conjured up the spitting image of him right in front of me. Pseudo-Fang rushed in through the door, and, seeing my nearly lifeless body (the poison had been in my bloodstream for about 2 minutes now), broke down. Tears were streaming down his beautiful face, as he screamed, "No! Max, it was supposed to be me!"
This fake Fang-damn, he looked so much like the real one-rushed over to my bed and climbed on top of me, his nearly black eyes locking onto my fading brown ones. "Max, I love you," he said, as if it was the most important thing in the world. And right then, it was. I leaned up with all of my strength, but couldn't even lift my head up. Fang, sensing my struggle, pressed his lips against mine. They felt loving but urgent, but electrified my body all the same. Kissing Fang…it could have been my adrenaline rush, my antidote, if I wasn't already dying.
When he surfaced to breathe, I finally let out what I needed to say. "Fang, stay strong for the Flock. Goodbye…" and with that, all the energy left my body, and blackness encased me. Even if that wasn't the real Fang, I knew he could hear me. The last thing I remember is Fang shouting for me to wake up, that he wanted to take my place, that he loved me. But it was too late…I was gone.
Fang's Point of View
She was gone. I couldn't believe it. Lumpy water droplets fell like huge balloons, exploding upon impact with Max's beautiful and lifeless form. "Max, why'd you have to do it, huh? It could've been me there. You know I'd rather it be me. I'm nothing without you, Max."
Jeb came in then-apparently, he was collecting her body. He wasn't surprised to see me there. "Fang, I know how difficult this must be for you," he began, but I wasn't even listening.
"You killed Max! Why didn't you take me instead?" I cried, my throat raw. Jeb just looked at me with eyes that seemed haunted by ghosts.
"Because you won the final test. You were strong enough to not go back." And with that he took Max's body and left. I sat on the bed, not comprehending what Jeb had just said. They kept me alive because Max was "weak" enough to go and rescue Nudge? That's ridiculous. But true. And now I was left alone. I had to stay strong though. Max needed me to.
I sat in that room while silent sobs wracked through my body. Max was gone. I could never kiss her soft lips, never hold her hand, never hear her voice again.
Jeb came back then, holding a jar. "We felt you should have this." He said simply, and handed me it. It was ornately crafted, with golden wings on the side. Inside, I assumed, were Max's ashes.
She was really gone. I nodded my consent and then got up to leave. I flew back to the Flock, the golden jar that was Max the only thing that was keeping me tied to the Earth.
Enjoy? I'm just cranking out the chapters now...I may have another one coming soon! Reviews would be nice :) Oh, and this isn't the end; there'll be at least one more chapter, maybe more...