Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment

29

"Um, Ella?"

The girl stiffened and jumped back.

I stepped forward a bit, out of the underbrush, so she could see my face. "It's me," I said, feeling even stupider. "The girl from before."

It was getting dark and still raining, and I hoped she could recognize me. The dog trotted over, saw me, and gave a half-hearted woof of warning.

"Oh, yeah. Hey, thanks -- for helping me," said Ella, squinting at me through the rain. "Are you okay? What are you doing?" She sounded wart and glanced around, like maybe in the time since she'd last seen me doing something so incredibly bone-headed and weak.

"Oh," said Ella. "Gosh. Okay. Did those guys. . ."

"One of them managed to clip me with some shot, if you can believe that," I said inching closer.

Ella gasped and put her hand over her mouth. "Oh, no! Why didn't you tell me? You're hurt? Why didn't you go to the hospital? Oh, my gosh, come on in!"

She stepped back to give me room and urged Magnolia, who had lumbered over and started sniffing my wet clothes with interest, away from me.

Guess what. I hesitated. Here was the moment of decision. Until I stepped into that house, I could still turn and run, escape. Once I was in that house, it would be much harder. Call it a little quirk of my personality, but I tend to freak out if I feel trapped anywhere. We all do -- the flock, I mean. Living in a cage during your formative years can do that.

But I was honest enough with myself to know that I really couldn't go on like this -- wet, cold, starving, and a little wonky from loss of blood. I had to suck it up and accept help. From strangers.

"Are your parents home?" I asked.

"There's just my mom," said Ella. "No dad. Come on, let's get you inside. My mom can help. Magnolia, here, girl." Ella turned and strode toward the house. She clomped up the wooden steps, then turned and looked for me. "Can you walk okay?"

"Uh-huh." Slowly I headed toward Ella's small house, which was glowing with warmth and light. I felt light-headed and panicky. This could be that last huge mistake in a long line of huge mistakes I had already made today.

I cracked my hurt arm with my good one.

"Oh, my God -- is that blood?" Ella said, staring at my pale blue sweatshirt. "Oh, no, come on, we have to get you inside quick!" She shoved the door open with her shoulder, almost tripping on Magnolia, who trotted in quickly. "Mom! Mom! This girl needs help!"

I felt frozen. Stay or run. Stay or run. Stay?