Chapter 15: Wings Don't Work When Wet
Max PoV
My breath was knocked out of me as I slammed into the water with a huge slap. It made a dish shape then arched over, coming down on me. I sank further each second, my heavy clothes dragging me down.
Releasing my jacket, I ripped off my shirt, and tore the bottom off my jeans. I started to feel light-headed. I was running out of oxygen, fast.
Frantically, I started kicking my way to the surface. Just as I felt I was about to pass out I saw glittering above me. With one last strong kick I broke out into the fresh air.
Gasping, I treaded water, struggling to stay afloat.
"Fang! There!" I heard Angel scream. I saw her pointing to me.
The water thrashed me around. A rock came out of nowhere and I crashed into it.
"Fang!" It was me who yelled this time. Forget pride; life's more important.
Plus I would kick his ass later and get it back.
Fang jumped off the cliff. His black wings snapped out, catching the air. He swooped down to get me.
I felt the cold seeping into my bones as the current dragged me under again. My heart felt like it was covered in ice. Like a hand was squeezing it. Stopping it from beating.
I stopped struggling and let myself be drawn into the darkness.
'Max! Kick! Please!'
Angel's sweet voice filled my head. I used all the strength I had left to make it to the surface. Fang was hovering, waiting for me. If I hadn't come up in the next five seconds he would have gone in for me.
I reached for his outstretched hand. A wave crashed over my head. Fighting for breath I choked on the salty water.
Fang grabbed me. He beat his wings hard, lifting me up and out of the icy depths.
He lowered me carefully on to the grass. The darkness was covering me again.
"Max?" His low voice was right by my ear. He sounded worried.
I couldn't breathe. The hand was now crushing my whole chest. I was in a prison of ice.
"Max! Breathe Max! Fang, do something!"
My heart gave a twinge from inside its own personal Antarctica. Gazzy was scared. Now I listened, I could hear Angel and Nudge crying in the background.
"Max, can you hear me?" This was a person, someone I didn't know. Their voice was too smooth. I automatically shied away.
The darkness was so warm.
"No Max!" Angel spoke like she was scolding Total.
Something hit my chest with enough force to knock my breath out of me. I felt liquid rush up my throat. Rolling over onto my front I puked out all the contents of my stomach. From Iggy's breakfast that morning, to the water I had just swallowed.
I collapsed onto my side. Then curled up into a tight ball, shivering violently.
"Max?" Iggy asked tentatively. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah Ig. Perfectly chipper. I'm only fricking freezing!" I replied sarcastically. I'm amazed I didn't stutter. My teeth were chattering so much it hurt my jaw.
"She needs body heat." It was the smooth voice again. The one that sounded suspiciously like a Whitecoat's when they were being persuasive.
"Max?" Fang's arms slipped round me as he pulled me into him.
I burrowed into him, his warmth. It didn't cross my mind that this was the fifth time in the past three days. Sixth, if you count my nightmare on the plane.
"Hey, what's going on?" Another voice was added to my headache. "Is she alright?"
"I'm fine." I looked up at the newcomer.
The guy was probably about sixteen or seventeen. He had a long, gangly build and sandy coloured hair. He had the same sort of feeling to him as the other three.
The other three.
The Cullens.
Fang had flown to get me.
Well, crap.
I looked round to see exactly what was going on.
Nudge and Angel were getting water, Iggy and Gazzy were building a fire in front of me. I smiled gratefully at them. The Cullens were all watching me and Fang. They kept glancing at each other. Paul had disappeared. Jacob and Sam were looking back and forth between Fang, me and the new guy. Who was staring at me.
I looked down to see what he was staring at. I was only in a tank top and my jeans were halfway up my thigh after I had ripped them. I shivered again.
"Here, Max." Iggy lit the fire. I moved out of Fang's grasp and as close to the flames as I could without burning myself.
I know what you're wondering why I haven't flown out of there by now. Well, there's this little problem with that. Wings don't work when wet and, as I told Iggy, I'm fricking freezing.
"Max? Are you warming up? Listen, I'm a doctor. I can help you."
"Don't touch her!" Fang and Jacob both yelled at him.
I looked up at him. He was probably in his mid-thirties. His hair was blond and he had a kind look on his face. His voice was like silk.
"What's that? On your back?" Everyone looked at the new guy. Then they turned to me.
"Yes, what are you?" The 'doctor' sounded so business like it scared me.
Hang on. Scared me? Me? Maximum Ride, scared? I tried to look him in the face, a snappy comeback ready. I couldn't.
Out of the blue I felt panicked. My breath started coming in short gasps. Erasers, Whitecoats. We're meant to be safe here.
I saw the new guy take a step towards me, a concerned look on face. Everyone turned to look at him. Edward growled. The new guy didn't seem to hear him and took another step. Faster than I could follow, Edward was in front of me.
"Don't take another step." His voice was cold and hard.
"You can't do anything to stop it, leech. You're on our territory. You broke the Treaty." Sam's tone was angry. Edward's head flashed round to him.
"You're friend almost killed her!"
Everything was spinning, I couldn't breathe. I coughed up something. It looked like blood. The darkness was coming again.
"Max? Max, what's wrong?" Nudge asked, worried.
"So. Cold." I whispered. It was all I could manage.
"Max!" Gazzy yelled, "Iggy? What's happening?"
"I don't know! Max? She's shutting down!"
Why couldn't they just stop shouting? I curled up into a tight ball again. I began to sink into the unknowing. The shadow crawling up the outsides of my consciousness.
Maximum! You need to stay awake!
"No, too cold. I'm sleepy." I mumbled back to the Voice.
I'm sorry for this Maximum, but it's the only way.
I frowned, "What is?"
I immediately wished I hadn't asked.
