Chapter 6

Evil lairs, as I have learned, do not offer cookies even though you are a bird kid who has been on a helicopter inside a net for a good hour or two. I was scared though that we were not on the helicopter too long, it meant that if they wanted, Mr. Chu's M-Geeks could easily go back and hurt any one of my family.

I was dizzy and trying not to fall over when Brigid released the nets and when I say Brigid I mean the two M-Geeks she ordered to do it. Then, she dragged me to my feet inside a narrow little room with metal floors and walls. There were no windows or sunroofs for me to just go jumping through. It was Maximum Ride proof for sure. One wall however was the non-breakable glass that even a bullet couldn't go through. I was strong but obviously not strong enough.

"Traitor," I murmured. Brigid slapped me with the handgun and I felt a new flesh wound starting to form. As blood dripped down my face, I glared at her as if I hadn't felt her smack. Her head was fuming with rage. I could tell because her forehead almost blended in with her hair.

Brigid, so angry, didn't even bother checking my pockets for stuff, and I watched as she walked back out the door. I heard the sliding metal as the door was completely locked. I went to the single bed in the far corner wondering how I could sleep with the bright fluorescent lights glaring down on me. I bet they never turned them off…energy wasters.

I casually lay down and slipped my hands in my pocket. I managed to pull out my pocketknife. Thank goodness I turned fifteen the other day and not tomorrow. I cut the top of the mattress at my side in one quick moment. Then, I shut the blade safely before placing it in the hole to be hidden.

"Max-uh-mum Ride," a M-Geek yelled. I sat up and looked past the glass to see him standing there. He didn't look like anyone I knew which was nice. I had come across the Ari version back in Utah. It wasn't fun for me. "Mr. Chu is here."

So what is one necessarily supposed to do when they meet the one responsible for their imprisonment? I had done it before but I don't think Mr. Chu would like the same theatrics as the Director would. Females and males do tend to be different.

I chose to stand when Mr. Chu arrived. I bowed really low so that my wings were almost parallel to the ceiling. Then, I sat back down on the bed and faced the wall. "You will face me when I speak to you." Mr. Chu demanded.

Okay, for the moment, he didn't seem to have much leverage. I mean I was Maximum Ride here. I don't just listen to orders real well. It's programmed into my human/bird DNA. That's when I got zapped really hard so my body was in so much pain I rolled off the bed. I was kind of having a seizure in the way my arms and legs just jerked all over the place.

When the pain stopped I faced him. He had proven his point perfectly well. I could see the remote in his hand with the obvious red button. I would've laughed if he couldn't shock me. It was just so…movie scenario like.

"You're lucky you're here Max, instead of one of your flock members. We don't need them alive so much as we need you." I held my fist behind my hand. For one moment, I just wanted to be stupid and try to break through the glass but it would be pointless. I needed all my strength if I was ever going to get out of here.

"Would you like company?" He asked pleasantly. "We could go get another member if you would like." He smiled and patiently waited as if he actually expected me to answer that. Like I would ever sentence my flock to having to meet him. So far, I was the only unfortunate one to have seen Mr. Chu.

"What do you want me to do?" I asked casually, crossing my arms from where I sat on the floor. I was bothered by the way he chuckled as if we were long time buddies. I hoped for some new power such as heat vision. You know…so I could just melt the shocker box in his hand or better yet, the door so I could escape.

"Nothing for now, Max, you can simply stay here. In the dark," then I watched as he walked away. I focused for a moment on the scientific laboratory. I shivered from the memories it brought up. At least this time, my cage was bigger. Hey- what do you know; you truly can be optimistic about any situation. Good job Max!

When the lights went off, I crawled over to the bed and sat back down. I reached into my pocket and pulled out a piece of paper that I had felt there before. Now in the dark maybe they wouldn't know I had it. Thank goodness for raptor vision. Dear Max, don't worry. I've got everyone working towards the plan. It will work out perfectly. We'll find her. –Angel

I smiled, that's my girl. Angel would get everything to work out. Soon, when all was revealed people would find it hard to believe that I had come up with it just then on the spot. A friend told me that if I ever needed her she would show up. Everything would come together soon and I would get out of here.

Don't be afraid to be here long though Max. Remember, you learn more from your enemy the closer you are to them. Well I expected to have some company all right and the Voice had shown just on cue. I rolled my eyes. I decided not to respond, probably a first ever for me, and pretended not to listen.

Just listen Max, you want a bigger picture and maybe by being here you can get another piece of it. I sighed, of course Voice of course. There was so much I needed to know. How was I supposed to get this big picture? Should I just draw one up and see if it works? No, of course not because nothing is simple like that.

Hoping the Voice had decided to leave, I shoved the note from Angel in the hole before reaching into my pocket. I pulled out the last item which I instantly recognized. The fabric was stiff for wear and tear. I opened it slowly hoping everything was still there and that it wasn't all gone. When I slowly flipped to the last picture, I smiled.

All right, I hate gushy emotions and all but still, I have to admit they feel good. Right now, being locked as a prisoner without a single member of my flock and without having to know they were safe, it was nice to say things such as how much I loved Fang. He would be the hardest to miss. It would be like when the flock broke up all over again. But this time, I had left them by choice to save Fang and the rest of them. I knew, out of all of us, that Mr. Chu was right. I was the only one they needed alive. Fang had to understand that I did what was best.

I spent the entire time in the darkness hoping and wondering just memorizing the lines and shapes of the one picture that made everything okay. When I fell asleep, I had the image of Fang and me as perfectly normal teens just sitting without a care.

In my dreams, it felt real.