Prologue

Jaimie`s POV

I remember that day clearly. Among all the times they tortured us in that creepy, god-awful place called the School, the day Iggy was thrown back into the cage next to mine, unconscious, and soon to wake up only to discover that those monsters had taken away his sight, is the most prominent in my memory. I`ve tried to block off everything, all the years in there, which were, well, the first ten of my life, but for some reason I just can`t forget that day. I remember crawling over to the side of my cage, squinting at him in the dark, wondering what they had done to him. The whitecoats seemed rather pissed off as they left the room filled with cages, slamming the door behind them. I had just gotten a glimpse of the sun through the window in the hallway outside, shining determinedly in the clear blue sky, it`s rays barely managed to squeeze through the door just before it was shut and place one beautiful, golden finger on Iggy`s calm, tranquil face. I had never seen him look so peaceful, and I envied him. I wished I could have a few hours of sweet unconsciousness that wasn`t haunted by the nightmares. Nightmares of the hell we had been living in for too long.

Have you ever had a nightmare where you didn't study for your math final or something, and it was the very next day, and then you wake up and just after you calm yourself down and realize it was just a dream, you find out you actually do have your math final? Yeah. It was like that for me. Only ten times worse. Every fucking day.

I had envied him in unconsciousness, but not when he slowly drifted back, dazed, and then suddenly whipped his head around several times, seeing nothing, before the awful memories of what I'm guessing was the surgery on his eyes come rushing back. He collapsed in tears right in front of me. It killed me to see him like that. I remember slowly reaching a shaking hand through the bars into his cage, and holding his cold, and yet clammy hands in mine. He rested his forehead on my hand and sobbed for what seemed like hours, his sightless eyes squeezed shut, hot tears streaming through his eyelashes. The others, but Max, Nudge, and Fang especially -they were closest- looked at us with concern writ on their faces. I only shook my head, no, please don't bother him, and felt the burn of tears behind my eyes. I didn't let them out. For some reason, I felt like I just couldn't, like I had to be strong. I had never cried before- well, except I guess when I was a baby and had just shat myself or something- I still haven't. The tears don`t usually come, though when I can feel them burning my eyes, I stubbornly refuse to let them go.

Iggy had cried for I didn`t know how long before he finally subsided, only whimpering occasionally. I wouldn`t tell him it would be okay even when it wasn't; that was Max's job, and she was good at it. I knew it wasn't going to be okay, and it would never fully be okay again, but he was killing me, crying like that, and I still needed to make him feel a little better. I leaned forward so my head was resting against the cold bars of my cage, and whispered, "Ig...um...there isn't anything worth seeing here anyway..." I trailed off as he slowly sat up.

"Yes there is." He whispered, his small voice coarse. "When-whenever they opened the door...I liked to look at the sky." He started quietly crying again, and I held his hands tighter in mine. I felt pure, unadulterated rage burn within me. Those bastards had taken away the one small pleasure Iggy had. No matter how long we lived there for, I would still be able to look out that window whenever the door opened, gaze at the beautiful blue sky, and know that away from this horrible place, there was real, wonderful life, and maybe I would get to see what it was like one day. Iggy didn`t have that anymore. They had taken it away from him.

And I wanted to kill them for it.

Chapter one

Iggy and I are best friends, but we`re the type of friends that everyone loves to be around because it is so fun to watch us fight over the stupidest things. Take today, for example. We had just started eating breakfast, (which was pretty much dry cereal straight from the box) and Iggy and I were already well into our regular stance; noses barely an inch apart, eyes narrowed, fists clenched, and snarling. The rest of the Flock was sitting around the messed up piece of furniture that passed for a table, smiling at us. They always seemed to find our fights so freaking amusing, damn them.

"Alright look," Iggy said firmly, "it`s not my fault your jacket got a little burned because you leave your clothes lying around!" Shaking with fury, I was ready to kick him in the nads. That was my favourite jacket.

"Right, well it`s not my fault you have to blow things up left and right! What happened to clearing the area first?" I replied immediately. "And it didn't just get a little burned, it`s completely ruined!" Suddenly, The Gasman, Iggy's partner in crime, stood up and looked up at me with his big blue eyes shining.

"I'm sorry Jaimie, I didn't see your jacket there, and we were so excited 'cause it was one of Iggy`s coolest inventions and all, and we`re just...really sorry." He made the puppy-dog face, and my expression softened. Iggy just snorted.

"Alright," I sighed, "I forgive you. But I`m still mad at you though," I said, giving Iggy a hard poke in the shoulder. I grabbed a couple of oatmeal bar thingies off the counter and went outside, with Iggy on my heels, ranting.

"Hey! You can`t blame ME for not seeing you stupid jacket! I can`t see anything! I'm blind, remember?"

"OH MY GAWD, YOU'RE BLIND?" I shouted sarcastically. "I had no idea!" Iggy growled at me. I just laughed at him, glad I was pissing him off just as much as he was to me. "Okay, so you didn't see my jacket, but I did and I toldyou to wait!"

"I didn't hear you! I`m blind!" He exclaimed, keeping a straight face.

Then, we were right in each other's faces again, practically fuming. "Shut up, wise ass." I growled.

After a few shouts about whose right and whose not, we usually just end up spouting random insults at each other. It's childish really, but, hey, that's how we roll.

"Maybe if you'd lift your ugly head out of your stupid books every now and then, you'd have rescued your coat before it was too late!" Iggy blurted. He was right though. I do read too much for my own good...but did he just call me ugly? He sensed my hesitation before I responded, and looked a little guilty.

"Ugh! just forget it, you little jerk!" I cried, ready to run back inside and, yes, read. Read to my heart's content, away from people for a little while. They could be so annoying sometimes, you know?

"Wait, I'm sorry." He said, grabbing my wrist. Somehow, he didn't miss it.

I laughed. "About what? Calling me ugly? Or calling me a bookworm?"

"A-about calling you ugly...shouldn't have said that. Sorry." Iggy mumbled. Huh. That was, well, unusual, coming from him. Granted, it was nice, but I guess that's why it was unusual.

"It's okay...I know you didn't mean it." I said. This was getting awkward all of a sudden.

"I don't think I remember what you look like." He said, a tinge of regret in his voice.

Hmmm...

I swear, I have no idea what came over me when I lifted his pale hands to my face. His thin, sensitive fingers delicately traced my eyes, nose, chin, and lips. My heart was racing, and I didn`t know why. Part of me had changed its mind and wanted to slap his hands away and run screaming, and part of me wanted to gaze at his face forever, the concentrated expression making him look...I don`t know...different. I realized I was probably making stupid cow eyes at him, and tried to change my expression to one of indifference, but then, Iggy couldn`t see me anyway. Suddenly, Gazzy shouted from the house, and I almost jumped. Almost. We bird kids tend to keep our guard up at all times, so we rarely get startled.

"Guys! We have to get out of here!"

What?

I looked where he was pointing. Oh God. I grabbed Iggy's arm, ready to run. Or fly. Or whatever Max said to do.

"Erasers." I breathed.

I think I'll leave you there. I`m evil. I know. :3

Anyways, I'd LOVE to get some reviews especially on if you guys like Jaimie. She's pretty much the main character...I'm not sure...I may put the story in Iggy`s POV sometimes too...Maybe Max`s a couple times... Okay...I'm thinking of giving Jaimie the imitating power like Gazzy, so I'd also like some reviews on if you think that's a good idea or not. If most of you say no, then, well, I have other powers in mind, but I won't tell you that now. Hey, you'll find out eventually.

PLEASE review and rate!