Shout-out to: Sierra156

I failed. I was responsible for the Flock, to keep them safe, and under my watch, we were captured and put in a hellhole even worse than the School.
Worse, I'd gotten Fang's Gang and Ella caught in this mess too.

I cringed as yet another needle was jabbed into my arm. I was strapped down on a gurney, completely exhausted. I was clueless as to what kind of experiments were being done on me. Earlier, they had me run for 48 hours straight. Before that, they made me go days without any food or water.

The Director walked in, that annoying smirk still on his face. "Hello, Max."

"Asshole."

"Now, now, Max," he said in mock shock, "Is that any way to be talking to the most powerful man on the planet?"

I shrugged. "Dunno. Haven't met him."

His icy glare bore into my eyes. "You think you're so smart and clever." He stopped glaring at me, and became excited. "I want to show you something. Look!"
He pressed a button, and a monitor swung down as my gurney adjusted into an upright position.

"Behold!" he roared. "Seattle! Live."

The scene was gruesome. Skyscrapers were on fire and collapsing. People were running through the streets and screaming, being killed by falling debris and DG mutants. The US Military was there, but they were accomplishing nothing. Bullets were literally bouncing off mutants, and soldiers were being slaughtered. The Director finally turned it off.

He knelt down to be eye level with me and whispered, "Did you see that? That was because you failed. You failed to save the world. You even failed to save your Flock and even yourself." He stood up. "Bring her back to her cage." Two Erasers grinned as they grabbed my arms and started dragging my limp body back to the others. I didn't even struggle.

What the hell happened to me?

There was no true distinction between night and day. We were locked in windowless rooms, experiments nonstop. Only half of us were in the same room at once.
Fang and I were never together.

It was torture, living like this. I'm sure it was only a few days, but it felt like weeks. I wanted to try to plot to escape, but if I did, the Director would know. After all, he is the Voice.

Two days later, the Director walked in with everyone else into the holding room. They were all thrown in cages. Simply to annoy me, Fang was the farthest away.
I noticed a figure standing behind him. The Director noticed. He smirked at me. "Oh, you want to know who that is? Everyone, meet your executioner." The figure stepped forward.
It was Jeb.
The Director laughed at our faces. "You're execution will be tomorrow, just after a few more tests." He continued to cackle. He and Jeb left.
Jeb.

I woke up strapped to a wall. I could barely turn my head, but I could just make out the rest of the Flock.

We were going to die.

Trust me, I heard the Voice beg me. This is going to work out fine.

Why should I trust you, Director? You want me dead. I spat back.

Who said I'm the Director? I didn't answer. He was trying to mess with me. I wasn't about to die a pawn, being tricked and lied to up until the end.

The room was empty. It was very similar to the holding cell – all white, an unseen door. The main difference was this room had a window for observers.

Finally, the Director walked in with Jeb and one guard. The guard was armed and the Director was holding an unloaded pistol. Not that it mattered – this time, there was no way to escape. We'd cheated death enough already.

The Director filled the magazine of the pistol at a painstakingly slow pace. He pushed the bullets in one at a time, letting each click resonate in the air as we waited our impending doom.

There were 13 bullets in the mag - the perfect amount. No errors were expected, or tolerated.

The gun was handed to Jeb, the Director giving him only one instruction: "Leave Max for last" That son of a bitch Director wanted me to watch – listen – to my family's deaths.

Angel, I thought. Can you stop him?

I got my response immediately. No. Sorry, Max. I already tried. With that, Jeb took aim at Angel. He stared down the sights and aimed for her head. His finger began to tighten around the trigger, and –

He whirled around, and shot the gun five times into the Director's chest. He was dead before he hit the ground.

In turn, the guard shot at Jeb, hitting him twice in the gut before Jeb managed to return one to his head. But Jeb was on the ground, bleeding out. Dying – for us, for me. He'd always said he'd take a bullet for me, and now he had. Twice.

I hadn't tried before - I'd already given up - but I struggled against my restraints. My adrenaline was higher than ever. Like that, the thick leather restraints snapped and I was standing on the ground. I took one step and kneeled down next to him while the rest of the Flock struggled to escape. Jeb looked up at me, his eyes starting to look glassy, and his face paling. He gave me a pained smile. "Max." My eyes began to water. I grabbed his hand. "I told you to trust me." His hand had been shaking, but now it was completely still. His expression was frozen on his face, and his body slumped. "J-Jeb? W-what? No! No, Jeb, goddammit!" My hands were on his chest, and I was slamming it, desperately trying to get his heart to start up again, to get his lungs breathing. It was no use, but I refused to stop.

Every single memory I ever had about Jeb came rushing back: When he started watching us more than any other Whitecoat at the School. When he got us out. When he watched after us at the E-house. When I would wish and pretend Jeb was actually my dad. When he disappeared and we all knew he was dead. When we found out he betrayed us and was with the School. When I ignored him, mocked him, ridiculed him. When I found out he actually was my dad, and I didn't care. When I told him I didn't trust him at all, and how hurt and upset he was. When he took that first bullet for me. And now.

But the day that changed me more than any other was the day he told me I had to save the world. It really changed me. I couldn't just bead anymore. I couldn't just look out for my Flock. I had to look out for the world.

Below me, Jeb was still unresponsive. I heard Fang's voice warn me and tell me to stop, but I didn't listen. I was completely sobbing now, and reason meant nothing.

I felt my own heartbeat slowing, my breaths shortening, my vision blurring. Everything was going much slower.

The very last thing I remember before blacking out was hearing everyone's concerned voice, even –

Jeb?

So, as you may have noticed, I saved the Author's Note for down here. Why, you ask? Because you got to read the chapter 20 seconds sooner, on top of the month and a half wait. You're welcome.

But as for the wait, I'm really sorry. I had no idea where I was going with this…came up with something on the bus in the morning two days ago…nothing like 6:30 for plot ideas.

But, as of right now, I think there will be three more updates for this: One more chapter, an epilogue, and a thanks/stats/goodbye chapter. So, this is finally coming to a close.

Oh, and did you guys hear? In just a few weeks, the official Nevermore cover will be released with an excerpt!

See you guys in a few weeks!

Fang: Hopefully.

Me: I was wondering when you would show up.

Later everyone.

-MaximumX and Fang