Disclaimer: I do not own MR or any of the other characters in the book. The other characters and the story are mine.
A/N: Sorry it took so long for me to get this chapter up if you read the A/N before this then you understand. Again this chapter is dedicated to Moon Lady 13 who gave me the idea for it. Thank You everyone who has reviewed you have no Idea how much it helps me to keep writing. Keep em comin. WARNING mild violence and language. ENJOY
P.S. Italics are someone's thoughts and Italic Underline is the voice.
RECAP: "MAX, MAX" Came Angel's panicked cries in her head. "What's wrong?" Max replied. "ARI'S HERE" Max froze.
CHAPTER 15
"Where?"
"On the field playing you guys."
"Damn!" Max said aloud. "Tell the others then you and Gazzy go find Annica's dad and stay with him. Understood?"
"Ok Max"
"Be careful and stay out of site. Warn me if anything else happens."
"Max you be careful."
"That son of a bitch. He's always ruining our fun."
I was up in my tree when one of the guys came into my field of vision. I could see Max off in the distance looking around almost in a panic. Max finally caught sight of him and headed straight for him. She hadn't shot at him yet so I started shooting. I hit him numerous times in the back and that seemed to snap Max out of whatever was going on with her so she started shooting him in the chest. He wasn't saying hit and he wasn't shooting back. I looked back at Max and saw her throw down her gun and rip her mask off. He had also. What the hells going on? I kept shooting him in the back but it didn't seem to faze him at all. Fine if he wants to play like that so will I. I took my little wrench out of my pocket and turned up my gun as high as it would go.
I jumped out of my tree and started running toward them shooting. Ah that seemed to get his attention. He still didn't turn like I expected him to he kept right on heading for Max.
"Hello Max having fun?" I heard him say.
"Not anymore." Was her reply. You could hear the hate dripping off her words.
They had finally reached each other. He lunged at her but she dodged it and threw a jab and hit him in the face.
"Oh Shit" I screamed. He was able to punch her in the stomach. I threw my mask off to get better aim. I brought my gun up to my face.
"HEY ASSHOLE" I screamed as loud as I could. He turned. As soon as I locked onto his eyes I took my shot.
He screamed in pain as the paintball found its mark right between his eyes. Blood mixing with paint as it ran down his face. He started running at me. I kept shooting. I hit him once in the cheek drawing more blood, and multiple times in the chest. As he got about 5 feet from me I shot and hit him right in the throat. Ouch. He immediately dropped to his knees hands around his throat gasping for air. I could see the blood seeping through his fingers where the paintball had no doubt cut his throat open.
I dropped my gun readying myself to fight. Max ran over.
"Nice shot" Max told me watching this guy rolling around gasping for air. "I can take care of him go help the others. They're here for us."
I saw the strength and the determination in her eyes and had no doubt she could handle this guy. I ran off to find the others.
Annica ran and found Tiffany shooting at one of the other guys trying to keep him at bay. When she ran out of ammo the guy grabbed her. Annica ran up and kicked him right in the side as hard as she could. You could hear the sickening crack of his ribs as her kick found its target. He dropped Tiffany and clutched at his side.
"Run. Get to my dad." Annica yelled to Tiffany. She took off without a second look.
"So you like pickin on little kids huh? Why don't you try that on someone your own size you coward." That got his attention. He turned toward her and ripped his mask off and growled at her.
Annica chuckled at this. "What you think you're some sort of dog?" He started running at her. "Well you do look like one. A real ugly one at that." She egged him on.
He tried to punch her but he was still winded form the kick and she was able to dodge him. She jabbed and hit him right in the side of his head. It stunned him for a minute but he came right back at her. He swung and caught her in the face right on her cheek bone splitting the skin open and sending a trail of blood running down her cheek and neck. She staggered back but recovered quickly.
As he ran back at her she jumped in the air and did a flying kick and hit him square in the chest with both of her feet sending him flying backward, hitting a tree with a thud. She kicked with such force that her momentum changed when she hit him and almost sent her colliding with the ground face first. She barely had enough time to get her arms in front of her to stop her face from blowing into the ground. She landed with a thud a little breathless. She got up and ran off toward the middle of the field were she heard more fighting.
She saw Nick and Jeff fighting two more of the guys holding their own. Max came stumbling into the middle of the field still fighting the other one. Annica couldn't help but laugh seeing this big guy completely covered with pink paint, except for his face which was a bright maroon from the red blood mixing with the pink paint.
Annica got tackled from behind and it sent her flying toward the others. She landed with a thud on the ground the guy that she had been fighting before landed right on top of her. She threw out her elbow and got the guy right in the nose. He rolled off her grabbing his nose and she took the opportunity and quickly jumped up.
Max, Fang, Iggy, and Annica formed a loose circle in the middle of the field surrounded by the erasers. They all stood waiting for someone to strike first. All the erasers lunged at them at the same time. There were blown eardrums, shoulder chops, and kicks all around. At one point in the fighting all of the Erasers seemed to go after Annica. They must have been thinking that if they got hold of her it would probably be the fastest way to stop the flock from fighting. Max and Fang watched with their mouths hanging open as Annica fought them. She looked like she did when she was dancing, moving seamlessly from one move to the other. Instead of dance moves though there were punches, kicks, and moves that they had never seen before. She seemed to be moving to some unheard song. Then Max remembered her i-pod and figured she must be fighting to whatever song was playing. It was truly a magnificent sight to see. They were broken out of there revelry when Ari managed to wrap an arm around her neck and started squeezing. She kept struggling and another eraser punched her in the stomach sending all the air she had left out in a whoosh. Max and Fang immediately stepped forward.
"LET HER GO" They both yelled in unison.
"Just come with us and your little friend here wont get hurt anymore" Ari sneered back with a sickening grin crossing his face as he looked at the shade of purple Annica's face was turning.
Max and Fang looked at each other and nodded in some sort of understanding. Annica was still struggling against her captor with no real effect. As Max turned back to look at Annica what she had tattooed on her arm and Annicas voice seemed to float through her mind. "Never give up, never surrender." Max was again filled with that same hope and purpose as before.
"NEVER" Max yelled at Ari. Max and Fang stepped forward and both jumped and did round house kicks landing them on either side of Ari's head making it bounce in between their two feet. It was enough that he released Annica. She ran away from him gulping in huge lungful of air.
"What are you guys doing?" Billy yelled. They all turned to see him running toward the field followed by Nudge, Gazzy, and Angel.
"See you soon Max" Ari said with a sneer as him and the other erasers ran off.
"Are you ok" Fang asked Annica grabbing her shoulders.
"Yeah" She said a bit breathless still trying to get her breathing back to normal.
"You sure?" Max said walking over to them Iggy right behind her.
"Great here comes my dad. Let me do the talking." They all nodded not wanting to try and explain this to her dad.
Angel ran up and right into Max's arms.
"Is everyone ok?" Angel asked Max in her head
"Everyone's fine. Thank you for the warning and doing what I asked you to."
"Billy's pretty mad. He couldn't hardly believe it when Nudge came running in and said you guys were in a fight."
"Great"
"What the hell happened here?" Billy asked finally reaching them looking them all over. They all looked at Annica.
"We were getting ready to start our last game when these guys came onto the field and asked us if we wanted to play against them. So we started the game and then they just started attacking us."
"Why would they do that?" He asked still angry.
"How am I supposed to know what possessed them to start fighting. Maybe they were mad and thought that we would be easy targets, or maybe they were just plain crazy."
"Do you know who it was?"
Annica looked over at Max. "No dad I've never seen them before." This was the truth. Everything she had told her dad was the truth. She hated to lie to him and wouldn't unless it was absolutely necessary.
"Maybe I'll go call the police."
Max shot Annica a look. Annica didn't know why she looked panicked again but she knew it was probably for a good reason.
"No dad that wont be necessary nobody knows who they were and besides where all fine."
"You don't look it. You're all bleeding from somewhere."
They all looked around at each other and it was true. They were all bleeding.
"Go get all your gear and come back to the van. I have a first aid kit in there and we'll get you guys all cleaned up."
They spread out collecting their gear that was scattered all over the field. Max caught up with Annica.
"Thank You." She told her. Annica could see the sincerity in her eyes. "You didn't have to do that."
"Of course I did. You think I'm gonna stand by while my friends get beat up? What the hell was that all about anyways?"
"Tread carefully Max"
"Oh now you show up. Were where you before?"
"It's a long and very complicated story." Max told her hoping she wouldn't ask.
Annica held her hand up to stop Max. "I understand ….somewhat. Everyone has their own secrets."
"She's right Max, even her."
"Yeah I gathered that but what could hers possibly be?"
"Thats not for me to tell. You will find out though."
"When? Can you tell me that?"
"Not until she's ready."
"Great another cryptic reply to try and decipher."
"You ready?" Annica asked her.
"Yeah" Max replied a little startled.
They walked back to the others and they all headed back to the van.
Annica grabbed Fangs hand as they started walking off the field.
"You sure you're ok?" Fang asked looking into her eyes.
"Yeah I'm fine. I've been hurt worse before, this is nothing." She said waving her hand like this was something that happened everyday.
"What about you? You got a pretty nasty cut their on your arm." She said lightly brushing her fingers over a cut he had on his forearm.
He shrugged. "Just a scratch."
She couldn't help but smile at him.
At the van Annica got the first aid kit out and her, Max and Iggy started cleaning and patching everyone up. Annica refused to let anyone touch her until everyone else was taken care of. Iggy was finishing cleaning Max up before she finally let Fang clean her cheek up. Shivers ran down her spine when Fangs fingers brushed her neck as he cleaned off the trail of blood.
Billy looked them all over and seeing that they were all patched up told everyone it was time to go. They all loaded in the van and headed back to their house.
A/N: I hope all you action junkies liked it. Review Please they are always welcome and greatly appreciated.
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