Chapter One Max

I was ready to strangle this freak if he did not tell me what they wanted with me. I guess the same old stuff, you know, getting kidnapped, being held against my or the flocks will, being experimented on and possibly escaping. This time was different though, there was no one left to help me escape. No Ari (because he was dead, remember that budster), no Jeb (because I don't trust him) and especially no Fang (aka if you didn't already know, my soul mate). I ran my hands through the bars and pushed the freak aside. He scuttled away sulking.

From behind my shadow, Nudge and the Gasman crawled out.

(I'm sorry for the interruption but this idea of crawling came from a joke. Read about it later.)

Nudge had tears riding down her face like stallions on a chase. Gazzy had his face screwed up. I'd never in my wildest nightmares imagined Gazzy like this.

"Max, I'm scared," Nudge whispered through her chattering teeth.

"I know sweetie, I know," I answered trying to sound comforting but I was sure I was failing.

Gazzy, who now was mimicking Nudge, sat in the corner of our dog crate.

He wrapped his arms around himself and cooed himself to sleep. Nudge had curled up in my arms and had lightly fallen in an unconscious sleep as well. I without any adues fell asleep, waiting for what horrors they have put forward for us tomorrow.

That night I dreamt of Fang, Iggy and Angel and what tortures the whitecoats had put forth for them. I wished they were here with me and we were battling the horrors together as a family. When I thought I woke up Fang had already pressed his lips against mine, but it was just another dream. I fantasised Fang like this holding me, wanting me and smoothing me.

I woke to notice I had been placed on a metal slab and was bolted to it. Two other metal slabs lay next to me, one containing Nudge and the other Gazzy. Their faces were filled with sorrow and to watch their faces was hard enough knowing what horrors they have seen in their lifetimes. The whitecoats circled us and were mumbling to themselves.

One kept saying "Watch their reflexes and bones. They are as light as grain compared to us,"

And another said "I wonder if they could carry H5N1 without becoming sick like the chickens!"

It turned to look at their faces. The next bit was just as horrible as the first, trust me!

A scientist pulled out a vial containing flaming purple goo.

"Hello, you are aware that we are deadly allergic to liquid and if you put it on us then we explode and poisonous gases spread all over your bodies and you die!"

Gazzy turned to me and said "Is that true, Max?" I turned and said

"I'm improvising." Suddenly the scientist with the vile fell and it burned through the metal, giving us a chance to escape. I side kicked whitecoats in my way and ran down the hall with Nudge's hand in my left hand and Gazzy's in my right.

"Max, great improvising by the way. Are we going to save the flock now or can I grab a bite to eat first?"

I turned to Gazzy who was licking his lips and nodding. "Nudge, sweetie, I think we should save the flock first and then we'll go to my mom's for tea."

"Sound good to you Gazzy?"