I do not own the Maximum Ride series. All rights go to James Patterson

Mask. A noun. An object that hides even the most disgusting of faces. It covers the bearers true feelings and masks their motives. I am Maximum Ride, and I create and wear hundreds of these masks everyday.

I made my first one at the tender age of seven when I saw my parents shot before my eyes. I remember being shoved into the tiny kitchen cupboard as my father quickly hushed my protests 'Don't come out until I tell you to. I love you.' I huddled in it drawing my knees as close to my body as possible. I heard shouting and glass breaking. My eyes widened as I peeked through through the crack in the cupboard. I saw the figure of my mother standing, protectively in front of me, my father beside her fists clenched staring at the gun in front of him.

First there was a click. Then an explosion. I shut my eyes tightly and quickly covered my mouth. At an age when a child should be dreaming and laughing, I wore a blank mask and fought for my life on the streets, it was either that or get taken away by child services. It wasn't until I met Ari did I learn that a mask doesn't truly hide my emotions. Ari took me under his wing and taught me how to twist my actions to match my mask. To blend in with my surroundings.

He was like a big brother I never had, note the was, Ari had died when I was thirteen, he was shot as well. Pretty ironic, huh?

Now four years later I have perfected my masks, I can blend in with anything or anybody. At school I am the nerd, at work I am just another boring store clerk, at home I am me. Maximum, Max and M.

You may be wondering at this point what M is, well that's my name at work. I am, what I guess you would call a spy, but not in the conventional sense, oh no. I don't work for the CIA or the FBI, I am a private spy hired by others to gather information on who ever they want.

Who are these 'others' you ask, well the others are my clients, they usually range from a 12 year old wanting information on her crush's life to a policeman wanting inside gang information. Yeah pretty big range, right? But when you live on your own you really can't be picky about who comes for your services. Sure the job can be dangerous at times but, that's life for you besides, I am pretty good at what I do.