Chapter 1(Fang’s POV)

I walked out of my ‘room’, if you could call it that, and into the so called play area. I was six years old, and I hated being here. I opened my six foot, jet black wings and flapped. I put my hands up to stop myself from hitting the top of the dome that concealed the play area. I put my forehead on the glass. It felt cool on my forehead.

“You better get down from there before the adults punish you for trying get away.” I heard a strong female voice. There was a girl that looked my age. Her hands were on her hips and she was looking up at me with her chocolate eyes.

“Come on, before I have to come up and get you!” She said.

“I’m the only one who has wings, though.” I said.

“I wouldn’t be so sure about that.” She said. She snapped open some tawny wings and came up to me. She started to drag me down before someone started yelling.

“Experiment number 1, get down here at once!” An adult started yelling.

“Make me!” She yelled back. The adult growled, but walked inside. We landed together.

“I’m Maximum Ride, but people call me Max.” She said.

“I’m Fang.” I replied.

“That’s a cool name.” She said.

“Fang, where are you?” I heard a voice that could only be known as Iggy call.

“I’m in here!” I called back. Iggy walked in. He had strawberry blonde hair. He was blind. They had tried to enhance his vision, but had ended up blinding him.

“Max, this is Iggy. He’s blind.” I said to Max.

“It’s nice to meet you, Iggy.” She said.

“You too.” Iggy replied.

“Maximum, I understand that you were uncooperative, so we must punish you.” An adult came out.

“Fine.” She sighed. She followed the adult. I went back to the room that I shared with Iggy. I heard some screaming come from down the hall. A minute later, Max was shoved into the room. Her shirt was bloody and had been ripped on the side like she had been whipped repeatedly. Tears were streaking her face.

“I hope that will teach you to be uncooperative.” A voice growled. The door shut and Max slid to the floor sobbing.

“What’s going on?” Iggy asked. I walked over to Max. I kneeled down beside her and wrapped my arms around her. Her face was in her hands. She took her face out and buried it in my shoulder. I held onto her as her sobs subsided into shuddering breaths. She pulled away from me, looking down. She was blushing.

“Will someone please tell me what’s going on?” Iggy asked.

“They whipped me, again.” Max said, finally looking up at me. The red faded from her cheeks.

“Again?” I asked. She nodded. She turned around and lifted up her shirt. She had many scars on her back. They were crisscrossing. She let her shirt down again. She turned to look towards me.

“Oh, I almost forgot!” She said. She went rummaging around the room until she pulled out a box with a red cross on it. I figured it was a first aid kit. She took out a bunch of supplies. She bandaged up her wound after pouring disinfectant on it.

“I need experiment number 1.” An adult said, poking his head in.

“My name is Max.” She said sternly. She looked at me and followed him out.

I was waiting for Max. Why was it taking so long?

“Let go of me!” I heard her shriek. I tried to open the door. Suddenly, it burst down. Max was fighting an eraser.

“Poor little Max.” It snarled and punched her so hard that she went flying back.

“Back off, Ari!” She yelled, lunging at him. He fell down with her. She smashed his face in. She grabbed my hand and Iggy’s hand and led us out the door. We ran to the play area. She unfurled her wings and took off, smashing the glass. Shards rained down on us as we followed her.

She stopped short and turned.

“I have to do something. Stay here, don’t move.” She said. She zoomed towards the school. She came back with three babies in her hands. She was struggling under the weight of the three year old, plus the two younger babies. Suddenly, I heard a gunshot. Max screamed and started falling. I zoomed after her and caught her. Blood was pouring down her beautiful wings. She opened her eyes and looked up at me. She looked scared.

“Are the kids okay?” She asked. I nodded and relief showed in her eyes. I flew up with her in my arms, the babies in hers.

“Iggy, come this way.” I called to Iggy. He nodded to acknowledge that he had heard me and followed me. We stopped at a cave for the night. Max had fallen asleep in my arms.