Nudge POV:

'Collin!' I screamed his name as if my soul was ripping in two. And believe me, it felt exactly like that. The world was spinning crazily and my head had started to pound like a thousand elephants were jumping on it. My breaths were fast and still not drawing enough oxygen in. My smooth brown hands were outstretched as if I could rewind time, my whole body shaking like a leaf. I was getting tunnel vision and the screams that were echoing around the room were becoming fainter.

Who's screaming...? I opened my mouth to tell the person to be quiet because I was trying to think, when I realised my mouth was already open. Wait, I was the one screaming. I had good reason to scream, though, in my defence.

The room was covered in white tiles and smears of what looked like blood decorated the walls. The blood, which was probably Collin's, looked so out of place and alien next to the perfect blank room. And lying on a single metal table was Collin, motionless. I fell to my knees with a choked cry and could only whimper at the sight of him.

He was completely still, with his clothes hanging off him, covered in blood. His head lolled off the back of the table, he was too tall to fit perfectly. There was something wrong though, horribly wrong. His blonde hair that normally fell around his face was streaked with brown. Wolf brown. His right hand was encased in some sort of metal contraption and it looked so... so Robot-ish that I had to suck in a large breath, my eyes brimming with tears. They had made him into some sort of mashed-up experiment. It was all my fault.

He looked as if the whitecoats had just picked a bunch of random things and shoved them all onto him. I suddenly understood, and promptly stopped breathing, my throat all closed up. He was their little plaything. They weren't going to need him for anything; they were just playing around with him and using his body for their sick games.

He was still completely lifeless on the table and I, fearing the worst, started to sob. My cries were loud and I curled into a ball, feeling the hot salty tears run down my face. A noise that sounded like a cross between a groan and a grunt caught my attention and I snapped my head up so fast, ignoring the sudden pain that erupted down my spine. Damn whip-lash.

I hardly dared to breathe as the figure of the table started to move and make noises. Noises that sounded distinctly Collin-ish. My hopes soared as Collin went to roll over and hit the floor with a thud, letting out curses that would have made a sailor blush. I was on my feet and running towards him in a second, my body complaining but my heart urging me on.

I dropped suddenly with a thud as my legs gave out on me, but was I dragging myself towards him on the floor as he looked at me. His eyes... They had changed drastically in colour from the brilliant blue that had captivated me from the first time I had seen him here, to a dark black. They made me freeze as his foreign gaze pinned me, his black coals of eyes penetrating my large brown ones.

'Stay away, Nudge. I'm not Collin anymore, I-I don't even know what I am. I could... I have no idea what I can do.' His words seemed to scare him, making him go a little paler. He was as white as a sheet now, the only colour in his face being his black eyes and the vibrant red liquid that was coming from a deep cut above his eye and running down his face.

'Collin...' My mouth spilled out the word and I regretted it as soon as it passed my lips, it made him flinch and clench his fists, as if he was afraid of himself. I trembled slightly as I slid myself across the floor towards him. 'I-I don't know what they did –bastards—but I do know something, you're still Collin. The same Collin who gave himself up for me, the only person I feel stand to look at without wanting to immediately kill, the same Collin who gave me this speech a while ago... The Collin who saved me. I don't care about what you may have become or what you look like, I care about the Collin in here,' I pointed at his chest and he gave me a half-hearted smile, 'What I'm saying, is that we can deal with any creepy -or cool- powers you may have developed, later... But, right here, right now, it's just us.'

He looked right at me, seeing through all the pain and hurt, and something seemed to change within him. I scooted over to him slowly, my legs were just too beat up to work properly (I also had a feeling my ankle was broken or badly sprained), and slowly put my arms around him. He smelled like Collin, with a hint of rusty blood and the icky antiseptic smell that seemed to hang around this place. After a few moments of hesitation, he did the same to me, his strong arms locking around me and making me feel protected.

Good things only last so long, though. The door was opened after only a few blissful seconds of our embrace and I was dragged, kicking and screaming at the top of my lungs, out by an Eraser that smelled like wet dog and evil. Collin yelled after me, too weak to fight, a helpless look in his eyes. 'I'll come back, I swear! Just hold on!' As soon as the words were out of my mouth, I was clubbed over the head with the dog's paw and knocked unconscious. Ah, crap...

The darkness was lovely and painless, making me wish I could stay in it forever. It ended all too soon, though, and I woke to find myself in a room with the one man I vowed to kill. Jeb Batchelder. The second I realised who it was; I was straining at whatever was holding me down, desperate to get my hands around the man's throat. By instinct, I flared up my gorgeous purple energy and went to fling at right at his smug face... Only to be shocked with what sounded (and felt like) a taser. Fantastic, this will make my day so much better. Damn people.

'What-Aaah!' I screamed as it connected with my skin and made me jump in surprise, but then I forced my scream back in and bit my lip. I was determined not to give in to their crazy games, which now included shocking a twelve-thirteen year old girl with wings for their own sick pleasure. The gun-thing shocked me again and again, making my body jump involuntary off the chair that was holding me down. Three times, four, five... It just went on and on.

When it stopped at last, I was covered in sweat, my bottom lip was half torn off and I could taste the rusty tang of blood filling my mouth (I had been biting down on it so hard) and my head felt like it had its own pulse and was going to a different beat. It was a feeling I was all too familiar with.

'Now, Nudge, are you done yet?' The voice that cut through my pain was smug and made me want to punch something so hard my fists would come off. I hated the soulless monster that was Jeb Batchelder.

'Oh, I don't know, you're the one with the freaking taser! What the hell do you want Batchelder? I'm tired of these stupid games, just change Collin back to a human... Now.' My voice was made of steel and I was pretty proud of how scary and ass-kicking I sounded. Sweet... I tried to summon the energy again and even though I felt the awesome feeling that always came, there was no explosion of purple flames.

A quick inspection of my hands showed them encased in what looked like giant metal balls that were locked down into the chair that was just so dang uncomfortable. Someone should complain. I could see energy shining through the cracks and I started to hyperventilate as, no matter how hard I tried (and I tried pretty damn hard); I couldn't throw the stuff in Jeb's face. I was also tied to the chair and surrounded by a circle of Erasers in human form. Jeez, they looked like the secret service or something, except more feral and dangerous.

'I see you noticed the hands restraints, they are impossible to break and flame, bullet, and just about everything proof. Good luck trying to get out of that,' I opened my mouth to yell at him and was about to try and knock that stupid smirk off his ugly face again, but I stopped when I saw another Eraser firing up a big electrical gun of some sort. Better wait for a while before I unleash my wrath.

'About the screw-up, Collin, we only just improved him. Oh, did out scientists have fun with him – it's like modern art; no one really knows what the hell it is! Call it an upgrade if you wish, and now you have a new mutant-freak to be buddies with, instead of a human you'd end up killing. You're welcome. I only want to help you to reach your full potential and then- well, let's leave that for another time. Good day.' Jeb said all of this, an amused look in his eyes as I tried in vain to get free and do something as bad as Collin and I had endured, to him.

And with that, he walked out of the room. I struggled against the Erasers, shouting after him, 'Jeb, you little snake, you horrible man! Max is going to kill you when—' he stalked back into the room and gave me a stinging slap across the face, leaving a bright red handprint. 'Ouch, that hurt Jeb—'

'Don't ever mention Max to me, you little freak! Take her to the punishment room, immediately!' The last part was directed at the Erasers who promptly hauled me off to the "Punishment Room". This turned out to be a large room filled with Erasers that beat me up and who enjoyed every last second of it. Don't you just love my life?

Anyway, I was just about half dead when they finally tossed me back in with Collin. 'Nudge!' He gasped as I fell into his arms, and started to cry. He went to wrap his arms around me but ended up hitting me in the back with a spiky thing on his metal-y hand. 'Crap! Sorry, Nudge, sorry!' He gushed out apologies as I winced. I suddenly looked up and treated him to one of my smiles – which didn't appear often, believe me.

'You know what, Collin? It's okay, everything will turn out okay... As long as I have you beside me.' We totally had a Hallmark-ish moment and for a few blissfully ignorant seconds, I actually believed my words. Then reality crashed down on me and I remembered my current situation. 'Dang metal yolks, stuck on my hands... I swear I'm going to kill Jeb Batchelder one day, and I will enjoy it, let me tell you that...' I muttered under my breath as I smashed the things on my hands into the wall over and over. They didn't even crack.

I kept up with it for a good while though, refusing to give up. I was not about to let them win.

'C'mon, people! Why can't I ever get a break, like, just once?!' My voice was high and dangerously close to tears as I tried in vain to get my hands free for the third time that hour. Finally Collin pulled me gently towards him, with his not metal hand thing, and I fell against him. 'I'm just tired,' at his raised eyebrows; I continued, 'Tired of my life, of these sucky restraints, of the scientists... Of everything! Ugh!'

He just held me, as I cried, rocking me back and forth. He was perfect for me, and I loved him like a friend. My only friend. But did he feel differently about me? And if so, could I learn to feel the same way?

Max POV:

We snuck out the door of the conference room from hell, our sneakers (for once) silent against the lino floor. Our bag packs had been conveniently dumped in the corner of the room and, thankfully, we put them on. Out main objective was to find an emergency exit door and get the heck out of there. Now to put that plan into action. I was first, then Gazzy, Angel and Iggy, with Fang bringing up the rear. We were the perfect team, in sync and perfectly trained for anything. Yeah right, the in sync thing was bang on but we were basically winging it until we got into battle or an opportunity came where we could use our creepy gifts.

The corridors were weirdly quiet as we snuck through them, smashing any cameras we could find, we didn't need anyone seeing us. The silence pressed down on us, as heavy as an elephant and ten of his closest friends. But then, everything changed in the blink of an eye. The second Angel sniffed and drew in a low breath to sneeze, I knew we were goners.

In her defence, she tried to stop the sneeze and had just wiped her nose with her sleeve when her body convulsed and an almighty sneeze erupted out of nowhere. Angel tried to silence it the second it came, but it was in vain because the second she did that, the halls were filled with Erasers. 'Crap! Get ready guys!' I screamed and then there was a mini-war.

They dove on us, separating everyone; we were weaker and more vulnerable by ourselves. I couldn't see anything apart from the four Erasers that were on me. I tried desperately to get to the younger kids and Iggy who was still injured, but every time I knocked one down, five more popped up in its place. I swung my fist around and managed to get one full in the temple, making it cry out and stumble blindly around, taking a couple of others with it. Well okay, that works for me.

I pushed my way savagely towards the others and ignored the pains that were the consequences of barging to get through to your family in the middle of a battle that was taking place in a crowed corridor. When I got to Fang and finished off Angel's Eraser, I screamed, 'We gotta get out of here, now! Before some--'I was cut off by Gazzy falling against me, unconscious. Crap,'—one gets hurt!' I finished, trying to support the nine year old boy.

Iggy came to stand as guard in front of me and dealt with the oncoming Erasers as I checked the Gasman quickly. Good pulse, no immediate signs of spreading blood... Then I saw it, the bloody gash that was slowly staining his fluffy blonde hair a dark crimson. This was not good, terrible in fact. A closer inspection showed a large lump and the gash that was gushing blood. He probably just got knocked out and hit with something sharp, it wasn't majorly serious if we got out quick and fixed him up, but the kid was going to have one hellva headache when he woke up. Ouch.

Fang whirled around, searching for an exit. His eyes lit up suddenly as he nodded upwards at a skylight that looked big enough to fit a couple of mutant-freaks through. 'Perfect!' I hoisted Gazzy up in my arms and yelled for the others, motioning for Fang to go first. He jumped into the air and snapped out his wings, hitting a couple of Erasers and knocking them aside with his dark powerful wingspan. Nice one, Fang. He reached the skylight and, in one fluid motion, smashed the glass with his fist.

The sparkly shards of glass rained down, making everyone in the corridor shield their eyes. I took advantage of their weakness and, yelling co-ordinates to Iggy, burst out to the open sky with a limp Gaz in my arms. We looked like fallen angels as we soared high in the sky, blood dripping down to the ground that was swarming with other Erasers and whitecoats. Just as I was about to start barking orders and trying to find a place to land so we could catalogue injuries and deal with the serious ones (Gazzy and Iggy were the worst, by far), a bullet whizzed past my head, making me gasp and almost drop the young boy in my arms. We have to get out now.

We fly as fast as we could (which is pretty fast), trying to dodge the bullets that were making the air resemble a mine-field. Suddenly, all the shots stopped and there was silence. Before they could start again, we managed to get out of range with only a few casualties. Why did they suddenly stop? They could have picked us off like sitting ducks... We landed in a deserted strip of land that was far enough away from the School that we wouldn't be seen, and close enough that we would be able to hear any disturbances.

We collapsed on the ground, and lay panting for a few seconds, all about to pass out. I hauled myself up (feeling like I was about to break into a billion pieces) and Iggy and I bandaged the Gasman's head wound, and his other wounds (that kid fights hard). While we were doing that, Fang was fixing up Angel and doing himself. When Fang and I were both done, we forced Iggy down and made him let us look at his stomach.

It took ages, and for most of that time Iggy was cursing fluently with pain, but we finally managed to get all the horrible stuff out of his jagged laceration and firmly tie a massive bandage around him. Then, we devoured the last of our food supplies, saving some for the Gasman when he came 'round in a few hours, and Angel collapsed against me the minute she was done, completely worn out. Iggy tried to fight Fang and me for first watch, but I used my "leader voice" and basically ordered him to get some rest so he could heal.

Then it was just Fang and me. He tenderly wrapped up my battle wounds and I relaxed for the first time today. I leaned against him when he was done, and he wrapped an arm around me, resting his chin on my head. 'This day has been, like, one of the suckiest ones in a while,' My voice was low, but it seemed to travel a long way in the silent night. Fang just turned his eyes down towards me, showing me in a glance his agreement. 'I just—I wish things were different. That we weren't constantly on the run, being chased by God only knows what and all the other crap that seems to have a constant part in our lives.

'Max, look at me...' I obeyed Fang and my chocolate brown eyes met his deep black ones. Our heads moved closer, and within a short few seconds, we were kissing each other. I let all my emotions out in the kiss, and I could tell he did the same. It was so magical and perfect, and for once I didn't have to fight the urge to run. I stayed. Maybe things would start to look up, from now on. I would make sure of it.

Third Person POV:

Jeb Batchelder watched from the window of his office, on the highest floor of building three, with a sick pleasure in his eyes. He watched Max and her Flock fly away, bloody and a bit worse for wear, but alive. He shook his head, slightly amused, at their ignorance and stupidity. How could they really not be suspicious at how easily they got away?

Jeb had not planned for the Eraser ambush in the halls, which had been some fool's mistake. He had made sure that fool had been "taken care of". As for the shooting fiasco, he had radioed down to the supervisor in charge and gotten him to call off the Erasers immediately. He couldn't risk Max and the others getting too hurt. It was not good to have idiots running around the place, thinking they had control. He, Jeb, had the power. All the power. He considered doing an evil laugh, but somehow, the idea just seemed slightly cheesy and a tad cliché.

He chuckled slightly at the situation and moved his binoculars (that were so strong and enhanced, he really would have been able to find a needle in a haystack) and zoomed in on a face that was watching from a window in another building. He almost laughed out loud when he realised who it was. Nudge.

Her face was pressed up against the triple glazed and specially enforced glass (that also had real metal bars on the outside), and her face was the perfect picture of betrayal and despair. Her face was streaked with tears and her eyes were fixated on the flying figures that were growing smaller and smaller. So the freak still had feelings for the other freaks? He suddenly had an amazing brainwave. He was going to use the stupid weakness for all it was worth.

He smiled a wicked smile and, making sure no one else was around, allowed himself a short evil cackle. This was going to be good...

So... Love it? Hate it? Want more? Review and give me advice, corrections, suggestions, thoughts... Just REVIEW!
I hope my attempt at writing a little FAX at the end was mildly acceptable... Tell me how I did!
Let's try and get those reviews up and over 100... I honestly can't believe my story got over 10 reviews, let alone 90 something, to be honest!

Thanks to the following for reviewing the last chapter:
MEGGEM
Nudge&Iggy fan girl!
MaxRide05
MaxandFang101
Zoe625
BookFan a.k.a. GwenFan22
max ride book lover
Emilyf
Constant-Rae-of-Sunshine
nequam-tenshi
You guys really brighten my day!

I'll try and get the next chapter up by next weekend... But I need feedback people!

Addicted-2-oxygen ;)