Angel: A Maximum Ride Novel

Angel tried to speak but couldn’t make a single sound. Was she even breathing? She thought so. She realized that her wrist stung—she must have an IV there. It was all nauseatingly familiar: the feeling of helplessness, the smell of disinfectant, the hushed hums and chirps of medical machines tracking every bodily function.

With all of her heart, she wished that she was home with Max and the others, wished she could curl up with Max and watch TV, wished she could watch Ella and Iggy bake cookies. She was just a little kid…

“You see, Angel,” the voice continued, “it’s important that you recognize your superiority. It’s part of your destiny. You have to take strength from that knowledge.”

An icy liquid seeped into her hair, and Angel wondered if they were cleaning the blood off.

“When you truly understand your superiority, you’ll be able to leave your humanity behind, once and for all. Humans aren’t needed for the New World. But superhumans are. Beings that are more than human, better than human. You’ll see.”

Angel tried sending her thoughts out, tried to get into the heads of whomever was around her. But it was like she was encased in plastic, with no thoughts entering or leaving. She’d never felt more alone. Where was Max? Was she worried? The flock must be going crazy, trying to find her…

She swallowed uncomfortably, aware that a tube was going down her throat.

That was when everything crashed in on her: The bombs, running after Gazzy in the tunnel, the huge explosion. She remembered nothing after that, until just now. She didn’t know if Gazzy and Fang had made it out alive. She didn’t know if they had saved thousands of people. She didn’t even know if she still had a flock.

She thought about the people, so many people, that might be dead right now, because she and Gazzy had failed. This is my fault, Angel thought. All of this is my fault.

Oh, Max, she thought, sure that Max couldn’t hear her. I’m sorry. I’m sorry.

Very slowly, a single tear welled up in her closed eye and seeped out from beneath her heavy lid. It rolled down her cheek, past her ear.

“Don’t worry, Angel,” came the voice again. “You’re very special. We’re going to take good care of you.”

But at least Angel was still human enough to cry.

In the Maximum Ride Battle of the Schools, schools around the country competed to be crowned the biggest fan of the Maximum Ride series. Congratulations to the following top-ranking schools:

Alton Middle School, Alton, Illinois

Amy Biehl High School, Albuquerque, New Mexico

Berrien Springs Middle School, Berrien Springs, Michigan

Bolivar Middle School, Bolivar, Missouri

Bondy Intermediate, Pasadena, Texas

Brownsville Elementary, Bremerton, Washington

Buffalo Island Central West Elementary, Monette, Arkansas

Cabot School, Cabot, Vermont

Caprock Elementary School, Keller, Texas

Carmel Middle School, Carmel, California

Central Tech, Erie, Pennsylvania

Centralia High School, Centralia, Missouri

Chain of Lakes Middle School, Orlando, Florida

Challenger High School, Hickory, North Carolina

Chester County High School, Henderson, Tennesee

Chicopee High School, Chicopee, Massachusetts

Clayton Valley High School, Concord, California

Cook Secondary School, Cook, Minnesota

Crone Middle School, Naperville, Illinois

Dalton Middle School, Dalton, Georgia

Decatur Central High School, Indianapolis, Indiana

Desert Mountain School, Phoenix, Arizona