Maximum Ride Saves Us All

Blood

Max POV

My head ached and whirled. The room spun each time I had attempted to open my eyes. Even a crack of sunlight sent piercing pain through my skull.

I clasped my hands to both sides of my head to steady myself. All of the motion made me sick. It wasn't helping, I needed relief and fast but I could not even hold myself long enough to stand. I wasn't even sure if I could string a sentence together.

I glanced across the room to the window, as I could finally open my eyes. The blinds were shut, I could smell the sap and pine. I was clearly in a treehouse. Looking around I realized it was not my own. Who'a treehouse was I in?

I gathered all of the strength I had regained to turn my head to the left. On the bedside table was a leaf with a sticky green paste piled in the middle, next to that water in the plastic cup; obviously taken from the nightstand drawer.

I heard a shuffling noise outside the treehouse door and bolted to my feet. Like a bird kid I healed impeccably fast, regaining most of my composure I stood in a fighting stance. I braced myself for an invasion.

The shuffle grew louder and louder. Then a human hand appeared through the drapes at the hallow window. "Max?" The familiar voice called.

"Iggy? Is that you? Iggy! Iggy!" I called out. I raced to the window, thrashing at the blinds. I heard a whoosh of wings to my right. My head reeled on a swivel.

I peered into the sun, burning my eyes. Off in the distance I could see a small shape falling from the sky. "Gazzy!" I screeched throwing my hand out.

I darted for the door, kicking it down as it turned out to be locked. I shot out of the doorway into the air, unfurling my wings at top speed.

I felt a drop in height. I wasn't flying! Why wasn't I hovering? Flapping? I was falling from the sky! I called out for help, no answer. I could t feel my wings. One was thrown into a sling made from a huge tropical leaf. I screamed louder this time.

Then out of nowhere, a blurred image of another person wavered above me. They had wings! Nudge? It was Nudge! My babies were okay! They are okay!

I continued flailing through the air as I fell deeper and deeper. I called out to her, her body outline made a shadow by the blinding sun. Why wasn't she listening? Why couldn't I fly? What was happening?

Then I felt the air leave my body. A hard and cold shock sent spine shattering needles into every inch of my body. I felt my hair soaked with something sticky. The image of Nudge was gone. She was gone. I tried to scream out to her but nothing came. I was choking. Choking on something salty, almost rust in taste.

Blood.

I was choking on blood.