Crack! The whip hit my back and I fell to the ground. I snarled.

"Get up bird boy!" Max II yelled. I pulled myself up again and felt the sting of the cuts on my back.

"Run!" Max II commanded.

I started sprinting trough the maze again. Right turn. Straight. left right again I nicked the wall as I turned the corner and felt the jolt of electricity run through me at the speed of light. "Ahhhh" I groaned.

"Sucked it up dip-shit and keep moving!" Max II sneered. I pushed myself to run again. Straight, right turn ,another right and , left exit. I emerged from the maze, breathing hard. My muscles ached and throbbed. But I dreaded what came next

"Better bird boy" she taunted. " Time for your incentive." I grimaced. More like time for my beating. Two erasers grabbed me and shoved me to the blood stained wall.

4 chains hung against the wall waiting for me. Taunting me. The erasers strapped me in place, my bloody back to Max II. Max II chose her weapon. I didn't fight them anymore the beating would just be worse.

"Look Fang at the knew toy I got for you." She held up a Cat O' nine tail with glass woven into each string of the whip.

I shuttered involuntarily. She pulled back and slammed the cat right into my back again and again.

I clenched my teeth and groaned. "Fuck"

"Hey!" She yelled in glee. "We have an audience today, so you better watch your mouth." She gestured to the window on the far side of the torture chamber. There stood Jeb and the little fucking traitor. Angel.

"Ha ha ha ha ha." Max II cackled and started up with Cat O' nine tail again." I stared up at Angel. Her eyes were wide. With each hit of the whip she flinched slightly. I didn't stop staring at her. She had sold out the flock. I had gotten Max and the others out but couldn't save myself. She had done this to me. She didn't break my stare.

"Shall we continue?" Max II toyed.

"Do I have a choice?"

"No, of course not."

I was dragged to chair and strapped down again. This time I struggled against the restraints. I could smell smoke which meant branding… Angel and Jeb hadn't left the window. I fixed my gaze on Angel again. Traitor! You betrayed your family! Traitor! Traitor! I screamed in my head. Her jaw set and she hung her head.

Then hot brand was pressed to my naked stomach. "Ahhhh! Shit!" I couldn't help but scream. The odor of burned flesh was left in the air. It burned my throat but I was still watching Angel. She cringed when she saw the singed skin. She disappeared with Jeb trailing after her. Max II soon grew bored.

"Well I suppose we can put you in your cell until you heal up again."

"Don't do me any favors." I sneered

She snorted. "For that you earned yourself a knife." She plunged a knife into my side.

"That's a wound. Ha."

She left me alone till the erasers came to get me. I hung my head fighting tears. The Pain was un-bearable , but not as painful as not having Max. The door opened on the far side of the torture chamber. I heard soft footsteps when I had expected heavy eraser's footsteps. I didn't look up I didn't care who it was.

"Fang?" a careful voice asked.

I tensed. Angel. "What the fuck do you want traitor" I looked up. My eyes hard and unforgiving. I had no intention of forgiving her. Ever.

"Fang I'm so sorry Fang. I never wanted this to happen. I just wanted to grow up like a regular kid and we were always on the run."

"So you sell out your family. Max? Me? Iggy? Nudge? Gazzy?"

"I did what I had to get a normal life. Here let me clean some of your cuts."

"Don't touch me!" I snarled. " I don't need your help."

The door opened again and this time It was the erasers. I was unchained and dragged out by my arms.

"You are dead to me." I whispered to her I passed by and spit at her feet.

They took me to my cell and threw me in without a word. I laid up against the cool stone wall and tried to ignore the pain. The blood from my wound started to pool around me. I thought about letting it bleed out but I remembered her words. Never give up on us Fang, We will last forever. I had promised her and I couldn't break a promise to her.

I sighed and placed my had over the wound and pressed down hard until the blood flow slowed to a trickle. I needed a distraction from the pain. I'm alone so I can remember her without being interrupted.

Flashback

I walked up behind her and pulled her closer to me. "Max." I breathed. I nuzzled her cheek. " Happy birthday babe."

"I can't believe we're seventeen." She whispered.

"Believe it." I said and turned her around to kiss her. I slowly pushed her towards the edge of the cliff. Her tongue glided across my bottom lip and I bit her bottom lip as I edged closer cliff. Her arms locked around my neck and she widen her mouth giving entrance to my tongue. We reached the edge and I let us fall. I finally broke the kiss mid fall and caught her in my arms as I snapped my wings out to catch us.

As we rose higher she leaned in closer to me. "Where are we going?"

"A place."

"Any particular place?"

" I'm not telling."

But she guessed as we started to descend

"Our grove." she whispered. I smiled and nodded. She loved the little grove on the edge of our desert home. Its where we first made love and I wanted to stay with her here on her birthday.

I landed on the shore of the spring and put her down. She has always loved it here. I pulled her to me and she laid her head against my chest.

"Fang I love you." she mumbled into my chest.

" I love you more Max." I pulled her chin up and kissed her. She tilted her head to deepen the kiss. I felt her hand reach for my shirt and slowly push it up. I broke the kiss to whip it off . I pulled her back into a kiss and bit her lip softly and she groaned.

My hand traveled up the back of her shirt until she broke the kiss herself and slowly, torturously took off her top. I could wait any more. I pulled her to me and ravished her neck.

"A little eager are we?" she smirked.

I pulled away." I can't help it when you go slow. That's playing dirty."

"I like teasing you. It's entertaining."

"You be sorry you did."

I unhooked her bra with no problem and I had her pants unsnapped and off before she could gasp. I put a arm around her waist and cradle her to my chest as I walked towards the grassy knoll next to the spring. I laid her down and pulled my own pants off.

I laid on top of her without putting all my weight on her. I kissed her again and slowly drew her hands over her head and I pinned them there with one hand. She broke the kiss.

"Fang. What are you doing." "You tease me. I'll tease you."

She squirmed under my grasp. I slowly pushed her under wear down and threw it behind us. My boxers were next to go and the I teased her. I didn't enter her. I played with her clit. I rubbed her sweet spot till she squirmed and moaned.

"Fang! Please."

" The great Maximum Ride begging. I thought I never see the day."

" Shut up! Fang and do it now."

I plunged into her and she moaned louder.

"Faster harder Fang!? She cried in ecstasy. I drove her faster and harder. She came and I rode her orgasm into mine.

I collapsed next her. She curled into me. Both of us sweaty and hot.

" Perfect Birthday." She smiled sleepily. We fell asleep in utter happiness.

End of flashback.

The door opened and she stepped in. Brigid. Of course it must be meet-the-traitor-day. She walked over and knelt beside me. I pulled myself up to sit up against the wall. I winced as the wound and the burn were both still fresh. I glared at her as she pulled out bandages and antiseptic.

"Fang?" she asked timidly.

"What?" I snarled.

Her eyes recoiled but she stayed firm. She tentatively put her hand on my stomach and started to clean the wound.

"I need to know where Max would be."

I laughed. I seriously laughed. "Why the hell would I tell that. Even if I did know where she was I wouldn't tell you. You seriously think I would tell you of all people." I laughed again. I must be slap-happy.

"They are going to get it out of you Fang. Everything they have done to you so far will feel like a reward after they start to grill you on where Max is. She is even more important to us now."

Her hand traced some of the old scars on my chest. The one that ran along my abs was newly healed and still pink.

"Why is she more important all of the sudden. I know she has always been important because she was the one who actually turned out right but why more now?"

"She is carrying something precious to the research." she whispered.

" What is it? What is she carrying." I countered.

" A child, Fang. Your child." she confirmed as she got up.

I felt my eyes get wide and my stomach heaved. A kid. My kid. Max was pregnant and I wasn't there to help in whatever way I could. I was letting her down. I hung my head.

" What would they do to her?"

"Use you imagination Fang." she whispered as she stepped through the door.

Now I could wait for help any longer I need to get out of here and find Max as soon as possible. As soon as I was healed they would start the torture again. But instead of just sliding past them time, I'll use the running as work out. I needed to build up my strength again.