I carried the large dog crate in my left hand, lugging it along easily. My heart was thrumming with excitement at the thought of finally getting my hands on the one inside the cage. She had been completely silent ever since I had managed to stuff her in the crate. That was about two hours ago. Probably a record for her. I silently hoped that she wouldn’t ignore me once we reached the place.

Without breaking pace, I pushed the door open and stomped inside. “Welcome home, Maxy,” I said, trying my best to sound sweet and caring. Of course, in her mind, it probably came out sounding sarcastic and evil. I shrugged. If things went well, she would soon realize how wonderful I was, and how we were meant for each other.

I took a deep breath and unlatched the door to her cage. She didn’t stir. I suppressed a snarl. “Max, you can’t stay in there forever.”

“Try me,” she hissed, scooting farther back into the crate. I felt the hairs on my neck rise with anger. Taking a few deep breaths, I tried again.

“Please Max?”

“Nope.”

I growled and slumped on the floor. This was not going the way I had planned. She wasn’t seeing the goodness in me. She hadn’t looked into my eyes, and seen the love I had for her. She hadn’t leapt into my arms, begging me to take her. No, she was stubbornly locking herself in an unlocked dog crate.

“You are the most stubborn, annoying, childish person I have ever met,” I murmured just loud enough for her to hear.

“Hah!” she snorted, peering at me through the slits in the crate. “I’m childish? I don’t kidnap other people just because I want to ‘be their friend.’ Especially after I’ve tried to kill them numerous times.”

I narrowed my eyes, not wanting to see the logic in her words. Stupid, mutant bird-girl. “Well...” I paused, trying to find the right words. “It’s not my fault you’re stupid and annoying.” Dangit, that sounded way better in my head.

“Oh okay, I’m the stupid, annoying one. Uh huh, sure.” I smiled slightly at her sarcasm. “And wipe that smile off your face,” she hissed acidly. I looked at her wryly and showed my teeth in an amused smile. She rolled her eyes and turned her back to me, leaning against the wall of her cage.

Stifling a laugh, and said, “Okay, okay, sorry. If that's what it takes, fine. I’m a big, stupid idiot. Happy?”

“Not really, no.”

I scooted closer to her. “Then what would make you happy?” I attempted to add a hint of seduction in my voice.

“You letting me go and never coming around me and the others ever again.”

“Other than that.” Just then, as if on cue, her stomach growled angrily. I smiled. “How about a snack?” I took her stubborn silence as a yes, and jumped to my feet. After all the hours watching her, I had picked up on her weird obsession with finding the best chocolate chip cookie. I don’t know; maybe it’s a bird thing?

I grabbed the batch of cookies I had slaved over last night, and popped them in the microwave. Y’know, so they’re all hot and melty. While they were cooking, I poured a glass of milk, praying that my father hadn’t made her lactose intolerant. The microwave beeped and I pulled out the cookies and went back to where Max was waiting. I sat on the couch and placed the plate on the coffee table in front of me. I looked over my shoulder at her and thought, If looks could kill…

“If you wanna eat, you have to come out.” I picked it up and waved it tauntingly, then slowly put it in my mouth. “Mmmmm,” I sighed. “Goo’ cookeh!” I said with my mouthful. Her stomach roared at her again, and I heard her sigh and scoot out of the cage. Cautiously, she made her way over to me. I smiled and received an acidic glare in return. Not taking her eyes off me, she snatched a cookie from the plate. She lifted it to her nose and sniffed, probably checking that it wasn’t poisoned. I rolled my eyes.

“I ate one, and I’m not writhing on the ground dying, am I?” Her lips twitched and she nibbled the cookie. Her eyes widened, and my stomach tightened with fear. I could have sworn I hadn’t put anything lethal in there. Of course, those eggs had been in the fridge for quite a while…

To my surprise, she stuffed the cookie in her mouth whole. She chewed slowly, her eyes narrowed into blissful slits. She swallowed and took a deep breath, looking at the plate. “Oh. My. God. Those are some dang good cookies! Even better than Ella’s mom’s!” She grabbed another cookie.

I cocked my head. “Who’s Ella?” I asked as she wolfed down another cookie.

“She’s a girl I stayed with when I got shot.” She swallowed and grabbed another.

“What? When did you get shot?”

“Ah, it was a while ago. I’m fine. Her mom was a veterinarian so she took me into her office and got x-rays. Then some of your posse came in and she totally blew them off. It was awesome, and—” She stopped, her eyes wide with fear. She snuck a glance over at me, and I could guess what she was thinking. Oh crap, oh crap. I gave too much away. Stupid, stupid, stupid!!

I place a hand on her leg, ignoring when she winced away. “It’s okay,” I murmured in a soothing voice, “you don’t have to hide anything else from me. I won’t hurt you.” She glared at me suspiciously then looked down at her hands.

“If I stay with you, will you promise me something?” I nodded. She sighed and looked up at me, her eyes rimmed with tears. “Promise that you’ll make sure the others don’t get hurt. That Jeb and the rest of the Erasers leave them alone, and never come near them again.”

In my head, I knew the answer to that. I have nothing to do with what the others do with the rest. Jeb only promised I could keep you. I knew if I lied, and she found out, I would lose her. But if I didn’t lie to her, but kept her promise…

The logical part of my brain screamed at me as I looked into her eyes and said, “I promise.” Shut up, I growled at the Voice. Somehow, I’d keep my promise. If I had to go out and save them myself, the so be it. But Max belonged with me, and that was the way it was going to stay.