WICKED is Good

Chapter Eleven

I woke up hanging upside down.

"Guys?" I asked.

"Yeah," Thomas said.

I asked, "Anyone else here?"

"We're all here," Minho informed me, "You just missed an announcement from WICKED helicopters around us."

"Max- sorry, Wren- can you fly over to the side and-"

Minho interrupted, "Newt, she can't see it. Wren, can you beat your wings so I can see which way you'll fly?"

I flapped a few times.

"Alright, fly that way about ten feet," Minho described, "At that angle, you should reach a metal bar."

I flapped a few times until my fingers wrapped around it.

"Now reach over your head a few feet. You should feel a handle," Minho said, "Pull it towards you."

As I did, the rope around my ankles loosened enough for me to untie it and stand up.

"Three steps to your left, grab the tall stick leaning against the wall," I followed to all of his descriptions, "Hold the end- other end- and take three steps back to your right."

I was nervous about the potential drop off, despite my wings resting in my back.

"Reach out the stick, sweep to the side," Minho said, his voice getting closer, "Pull. Now reach down."

I felt his hand on my wrist and smiled as I heard him pulling himself up. He took the stick and repeated the same steps to get everyone else up.

"Thank you," I whispered.

I knew he was smiling, "Not a problem, little Wren."

Thomas said, "Let's go!"

Too loudly, I knew. Heavy footsteps walked near. I couldn't earn them in time. Instead, when I heard the click of a gun being cocked, removing the safety, I pushed past the others and spread my wings around them, shielding them.

"Hello, little bird girl," the voice growled. I didn't know who it was, bu I still didn't allow myself to flinch, "Maximum Ride, I presume. WICKED will pay good money for you. As a matter of fact, they're outside right now."

That thought shook me to the core, but past my wing, I felt a hand on my wrist. Minho.

"Of course, they'll probably just kill you to get rid of you," the man continued, knowing just how to hit every weak spot, "But maybe they'll just do a few experiments on you, leave you in a cage."

I couldn't help it. I actually growled, snapping my wings shut and running forwards, ramming my fist into his face as I reached for where I'd heard the gun in his right hand.

He was left handed. Why did this one person have to be left handed this one time.

It was a different grip on my wrist. This one was rough and tight, one that could snap my hollow bones. And now he knew I was blind.

I felt myself being pulled towards him, felt something cold on my forehead. A gun.

I should've been scared. I should've been shaking with fear. But if he killed me now, it was all over.

WICKED couldn't use me dead. They couldn't torture me, experiment on me. I was calm, and that alone was what scared me.

Just a whisper from Minho, "No-"

"Put the gun down," I heard Thomas speak, "We'll come, don't kill her."

I'd rather die than be responsible for their deaths, "Thomas, don't. Run."

"We'll come, put the gun down," Newt backed him up.

"Don't," my voice got quieter, pleading, "I can't be an experiment again. I'd rather die than go back."

The man laughed, "That can be arranged.

I heard a gunshot, followed by screams from the group.

And I found myself wondering what it was like to die. Was this it?

Just hollow, empty.

Feeling tears slide down your face. Pain as you hit the ground. Hearing screams. Wondering if it was worth it.

Was it worth it?

I found in that instant that I didn't want to die.

"Come on, little Wren. Wren, Max- Maximum," I heard Minho use my real name, "Come on!"

"Don't call me that," I said. I wasn't dead. No, I wasn't dying. Who pulled the trigger?

A laugh of confusion as a song started playing through loud speakers.

Brenda's voice broke through my confusion, "Let's go."

"What-"

"We'll get you to the Right Arm," Brenda said, "Just the two of us. Jorge knows a guy. Let's go, we don't have much time!"

Minho was picking me up, pulling me through various hallways until I heard the whistling of wind.

"Grab this," Minho put something in my hand, "Don't let go."

I felt myself flying through the air, free for a few seconds until I hit the ground.

"Come on," Minho grabbed my arm and led me through hallways, following Jorge, Frypan, Aris, and Teresa. I heard Newt behind us, his ankle probably slowing him down.

I froze as I heard an explosion, before asking, "Where are Thomas and Brenda?"

After hearing Jorge shrug, I heard him say, "Brenda will have made it to the tunnels. Thomas is with her."

"How do you know they're the only ones missing?" Newt asked.

I frowned, "I can't hear them."

"But earlier, you couldn't hear any of us," Frypan said.

I heard a gasp from Teresa, "She's evolving."

"Excuse me?" I asked, turning to face her, just so she could see how outraged I was that she was talking about me like a test subject.

"I heard something about this," Teresa continued, completely ignoring me, "Subject 0-13, Maximum Ride. Something about how you were designed."

Rolling my eyes, I said, "I was designed to be 'the maximum', as Ava Paige put it. And I'm willing to bet she isn't actually dead."

"Hey, maybe you can talk some sense into her," Frypan suggested, "She'll listen to you. You're her daughter."

"Ava Paige is many things. My mother is not one of them," I hissed through gritted teeth, "Next I see her, I'm going to kill her."

Teresa continued, "You were designed to adapt. Your speed healing was just a part of that they took away. But it's only been a few hours, and you're already adapting. Evolving."

"I hate to admit it," Newt said, "But that is pretty cool."

"You're not the one who grew up in a cage," I snapped, "It is definitely not cool."

I was grateful they didn't press the matter. The flashes I got for my memories were not pleasant.

"Can I get a name check please?" Jorge asked, "I think you're Teresa." I heard Teresa's head nod, "And Minho. Frypan- weird name, no offense- Newt, and Aris."

Everyone nodded as he looked at me.

"Your ID chip called you Maximum Ride," Jorge said, "So I'm guessing Maximum? Or Max, maybe?"

"Wren," I corrected.

Jorge sighed, "We should get a move on. We need to get to one of the settlements near the base of the mountains. There's a man there, Marcus. He'll help us find the Right Arm."

"Thomas and Brenda?" I asked.

"They know the way," Jorge informed me.

"You gonna be okay walking?" Minho asked.

I nodded, "Yeah. I'm gonna be okay."