AN: Hi y'all! It's been a while. Guess what, I got invited to EIGHT things in the past two weeks alone, I'm so happy for my budding social life. I'm really sorry I haven't updated in forever though, I've been so super busy. Thank you all for all the support, I couldn't be more grateful. I have a study hall period now in this semester, so I'll be able to write more then, so expect a lot more frequent, good quality updates. I was thinking every two weeks, I hope that's alright by everyone :) Thank's to my friend King who's supported me since I first started this story, I really truly appreciate it, and everyone who read it in general :) I love y'all :)
Disclaimer: I don't own any part of the Maximum Ride franchise, all credit for that goes to our lord and savior, James Patterson.
Dear Anonymous,
Thank you for calling me a "fucking asshole" and I deserve all the shit that comes my way. It gave me a good laugh on Christmas morning :)
Nudge's POV
I woke up the next morning feeling drowsy and heavy. Angel helped drag me out of bed, and we walked to the "cafeteria". It was really just the store-room that Max made everyone organize, and this was where we ate.
We stood, everyone sleepy and yawning, except for Gazzy, who was excitedly rambling about how he found oil in a storage bin in another room while he was exploring. How he had stayed up exploring and not slept like she should've and still have had this much energy was beyond my comprehension. Max, who had previously been nodding off, stood straight up, looking at Gazzy with wide eyes.
"You found another store room?".
The Gasman grinned sheepishly. "It's in this hidden part of the tunnel, and I found it all by accident in one of the tunnel parts caved in. Yeah, um, I sorta forgot to tell you sooner,".
Max rolled her eyes, and turned to Fang, that old glint back in her eyes. I was up for an adventure. Without taking her eyes off of Fang, she instructed the flock. "After breakfast. Get your stuff ready," Max grinned. "We're gonna-" the flock chanted the next part with her, effectively eradicating(10 points to me for fancy shmancy vocab) our sleep, "-blow this joint!".
Still Nudge's POV
"Alright, up and at 'em, c'mon, perk up, let's go,", Max ushered the flock. Gazzy was at the front, leading us to the collapsed tunnel. The place had been built to withstand nuclear weapons, but parts of it were underdeveloped. Hence, bomb say hi, tunnel be sad, tunnel die(so much for my schmancy vocab skills).
We stopped at the edge of an empty, echoey hallway that was deserted(5 point to me for vocab. I have...15 points now. Let's keep count!) and dusty. I made a face, trailing my finger on a wall and picking up about four dust bunnies. Cute dust bunnies, but dust bunnies nonetheless. The flock walked into the tunnel, everyone except for Gazzy and Angel bending over to accommodate to the short tunnel. This went on for a few minutes, Gazzy letting one loose at some point and nearly killing us all.
I found myself bumping into Ig, who was in front of me. He complained, annoyed. "What's the hold up?".
Gazzy's response came, sounding excited. "We have to crawl now, the tunnel is too tiny,". I looked, and the tunnel had caved in with partially compacted lightly colored concrete stones, the hole 2 or 3 feet in diameter, touching the ground. I assume it was Gazzy's work when he came "exploring", because there were scorch marks.
Max systematically spoke. "Mmkay, smallest people first, with the exception of the Gasman. Gazzy, you first, then Ang, Nudge, Ig, and ummmm…"
Max trailed off, her cheeks tinged with red, and she whispered in Fang's ear. I could hear through the echoey tunnel.
"I, I can't fit. Not with this freaking baby in here, I'm not going to be able to squeeze in the tunnel,". I bit back a laugh; unfortunately, Fang didn't possess the self control I did at the moment and I could hear his snickers. He recoiled, rubbing his shoulder where Max punched him.
Max tried to regain control. "Okay, umm, I can't go because of my little stomach problem,".
Ig sniggered. "'Little'?".
Max shot him the bird, and took deep breaths. "I need to go in with you all. Gaz, any way you could make the hole big enough that I can go through?".
Gazzy frowned. "Ummm, I'll need a couple of shovels. The dirt here is pretty loose, and I'll need your help from the other side,".
Angel raised her hand, "I'll get a shovel," and raced off, returning 5 minutes later toting two shovels nearly as tall as her. She quietly handed one to Gazzy and Max. Gazzy took the shovel and crawled to the other side. "The rest of you get in here, except for Max. We need to work quick,".
We obeyed after Max gave her nod of approval, and Max and Gazzy started to pick at the edges of the crumbly pieces of concrete from opposite sides of the 4 foot across tunnel. Eventually, it was about 4 feet in diameter, enough for Max and her tummy to fit through. She bent down and slid her shovel to our side. She followed, crawling slowly. She made it to the other side, Fang helping her stand up.
"Guys," Gazzy spoke nervously. We all instinctively stepped back at his tone. "I think the wall is going to-".
We heard a crashing noise, and the cement powder, pebbles, stones, and boulder fell with an earthshaking rumble. There was dust in the air when we tentatively stood up.
"-collapse," Gazzy finished weakly.
I stared at the once a wall with a tunnel, which was completely free of any openings or gaps for us to get out. We were trapped.