A/N: Here's a few quick things before the real story that, with any luck, should clear up any immediate confusion.

First off this story takes place before the whole Maximum Ride series. It starts at about the same time as The Angel Experiment, so it's been about two years since Jeb went missing and the Flock is still living in the E shaped house.

Second, this is mainly from Iggy's POV, but it will swap around bit.

Lastly, there will be a bit of FAX and maybe some other stuff, but personally it isn't my favorite (I know, I know, I'm sorry). I'm more of a battle/action person who laughs at others' love issues (hehehe). Just a heads up. Also, I'm not sure if I got the Flock's personalities quite right, but I'll keep working on it.

Okay, so maybe that wasn't the quickest intro, but on with the show.

Iggy's POV

It's business as usual at the School. Several White Coats stop by our room, which is just big enough to fit six metal cages side by side against the far wall. They make sure our cages are locked properly, and then before leaving they shut off all the lights.

I try to fall asleep as fast as possible, because here at the school the more rest you get, the better. I'm not sure how long after that it is, but some time in the middle of the night the door opens, flooding the room with a strip of light. I see that the others are still asleep, so I pretend to do the same. I don't move, not even as I hear my door being unlocked.

I do 'wake up' however, when a man lifts me up and lays me on my back on a gurney. As I am rolled out into the hallway, I try to look around only to find that my head has been pinned in place. I begin to panic. I thrash around and would have screamed but something is clamped over my mouth.

Staring at the ceiling in panic, I watch as I am wheeled into a large room with an over head lamp lighting the center of it. I finally come to rest right beneath that lamp. A man appears over me, holding a small syringe. He grabs my arm and injects me in the neck. I shake, numb with fear, until I realize I can't shake anymore. For that matter, I can't move at all.

I am freaking out in my mind. I see doctors examining me. They're poking and pulling at my eyelids. A pair of goggles is placed over my eyes so that I can no longer close them. I mask covers my mouth and I sink into oblivion.

When I wake I am still on the gurney. I don't hear anyone else in the room with me, but I'm strapped down now. I tug at the leather buckles in vain. It's then that I notice the throbbing in my eyes. It's not a sharp pain, they're just kind of sore. I hesitantly attempt to open them and to my relief, the goggles are no longer there. The pain isn't even that bad. What worries me though, is that the lights are off. The room is pitch dark. What ever the white coats have planned, it can't be good.

I hear a sound from out side, and turn my head to look at where the door should be. I hear it open, but still I see nothing. I can hear a man and a woman enter, talking softly. "It didn't work." The man. "I know, the director will be displeased." the woman.

There was a pause, then, "Let's just get him back." I was immediately on high alert. How long had I been out? Was it long enough for something to have happened to one of the others? What if Gazzy or Angel, oh God they were so young, what if, if?

I was jolted out of my panicked thoughts as the two scientists rolled me out of the room. That's when I became terrified for me. I knew something was wrong. I could hear the buzz of the fluorescent lights overhead, but to me, everything was dark. We stopped and the straps were removed. I was too tired to struggle. A pair of large hairy arms held me up effortlessly as one of the two white coats shined a sort of light into my eyes. I could feel the heat and hear the faint sound it let off.

Without warning, I felt myself being shoved, and as I landed with a thud the reality of what had happened hit me. I was blind. The cage door was slammed and locked behind me.

I was blind and helpless and weak and locked in an unforgiving hell.

I am so shocked I don't respond when Max calls my name. I'm not ready to explain what had happened. I rock back and forth. I think i'm muttering to myself. I don't know. I don't care. The world is pressing in on me, I close my eyes because it's easier than facing reality. In the morning though, I couldn't avoid them any longer.

For breakfast we received a bowl of slop and a small bottle of water. They are placed directly in front of me, so with only a bit of trouble, I'm able to scarf down the 'food'. We ate silently, and I was grateful for the momentary delay. When we're done eating there is an uncomfortable silence. I look around, I can feel my eyes darting from side to side, out of habit, but it doesn't make a difference.

"You all right?" Max asks.

"Just splendid." I reply, for the first time, I actually appreciate sarcasm. Sarcasm. What a weird word. Sarcasm, the world's best, last line of defense. You can even think sarcastically. I reach for my bottle of water, but can't find it. After I grope around for a bit Max says, "It's to your left."

"I know." Reaching to my left, I hit the bottle and hear it roll away from me. Grumbling I make another grab for it. I knock into it again, but this time it is stopped by the metal bars of the cage. Finally, I pick it up, and fumbling remove the cap only to have it bounce to the right. I reach for where it went angrily but end up smacking my hands against the bars. I hiss in pain.

"Iggy, what's wrong?" Max is pleading with me now. I don't respond. "Iggy! Look at me."

I let out a wry laugh. Turning in her general direction I say, "That won't do much good anymore."

"Iggy?" Nudge this time.

I sigh. "I can't see, and they can't fix it."

I resigned myself to everlasting night and just this once I was glad I couldn't see their expressions. I've never done well with pity.


Sorry this chapter's a bit short or if its a bit unfinished. Its my first fanfic ever and I wasn't entirely sure how to publish/write it properly. If it was confusing at all I promise I'll clear up as much as possible in the next chap. So please, please, please review, even/espescially if you think it could use some help or if you have any suggestions.

Thanks ;)