Chapter 29: War


Max PoV


I flew through the crisp morning air, looping and spinning. I had absolutely no idea where I was headed, so I was flying in a vaguely eastern direction.

Where to go, where to go. I sang in my head. Maybe I was going mad. Or gone really, I suppose.

Go back Maximum. The Voice seemed louder than usual, and was that a desperate edge to it?

I need to do this.

No, you do not. Head back.

Make me. Yes, childish, I know.

Maximum, this is not a joke. Stop behaving like an insolent little baby, and face up to your responsibility, or I will make you.

Insolent, that was a new one.

I am facing up to my responsibility. I'm protecting my Flock. It's what I do.

Turn around. Now.

I ignored it. Big mistake.

It started gently at first, picking its way carefully across my head, as if searching for weak spots. When I continued to pretend ignorance, it started hammering, bashing my mind from the outside in. The brain attack had declared war.

I fought with everything I had to keep my wings flapping, knowing if I fell now I was definitely dead, with no 'ninety-nine percent chance' about it. Apparently though, everything I had was no match for the imaginary chisels being rammed into my skull. If only the pain was imaginary.

My wings folded and I plummeted.

Sure, this had happened before, but this time there was no Fang to catch me.

I, Maximum Ride, was going to die.