Wow, I got five reviews twelve hours after I submitted chapter 7, and I submitted it just before my bedtime, so that's not half bad! And I'm sorry some of you cried or almost cried, but it had to be done! If it's any comfort at all, I almost cried writing chapter 7, especially the part where Rina said what happened to the world. So you're not alone! I decided to update earlier than usual, because I love writing this so much! Plus you all seemed to like the last chapter well enough, so I better give you this one.

As always, I want to give a million thanks each to the people who reviewed chapter 7. And they are DarkBlade98, ghj1, Bubble Blower, maximumride4ever, Maximum Ride all the way, and xxApocalypexx! So you all get a hug from me, a hug from Max and- oh, wait, Rina's gone now, so you can hug anyone you want in the flock and they will hug back, I promise! Plus you get fresh brownies (chocolate cures everything!). Can't give you much, Rina's gone now. Hey, remember when she responded to reviews that one time while I was typing a chapter, and she almost killed me when she figured out what the chapter was about? (sigh) Those were the days. Oh great, now I miss her even more. Quick, I gotta update!

But wait….what's this I smell? Is it…could it be? Yes, it's…it's a SONGFIC! I wanted to write these in forever, and this song is perfect to the mood! It'll come up later in the chapter, after everything is explained. The song is "Blurry", by Puddle of Mudd. Plus I'm gonna mention a few verses from "I'd Do Anything" by Simple Plan. Here you go!

Chapter 8: Blurry

POV Max

I can't believe what's happened these past two weeks. It's incredible how one person can cause so much trouble when she's not even there. But you don't know why we're sitting here in dog crates awaiting some last tests before Itex kills us. Here, let me back up a second and explain.

Two weeks ago, we were in a forest near the Great Salt Lake. Rina was showing off her powers for us, and Nudge suggested traveling through time to the future. We all went through a portal. I don't know what we expected, maybe a utopia for every living thing to be in peace and harmony with each other or something like that. But whatever we imagined, the future wasn't what we expected. But you know what was there and how it got to be. I'll skip that part. I don't want to relive the experience.

So we all fought to get back to the present and sat down, trying to take it all in. It was then that Rina sat down and started crying. We tried to comfort her (even Fang tried to help!) , but Rina stopped crying as suddenly as she started. She told us that she was a distraction, that she was preventing us from saving the world, and she was going to leave us. We tried to convince her to stay because we enjoyed her company too much for her to leave, but she wouldn't listen.

The little kids gave her a huge hug that almost knocked her over, she shook hands with Fang, and she gave me a bear hug that I tried to return as best I could while being crushed. It was when she said goodbye to Iggy that nearly tore me in half. They kissed, and Rina gave him her iPod, claiming that she could be reached through it. Then she flew away. Iggy looked crushed and tried to stop her from leaving, but it was no good. But you already know that part. Here's the part you don't know.

After the clouds swallowed Rina whole, Angel, Gazzy, and Nudge completely lost it. Tears fell down their faces in gallons. I tried to comfort them and not loose it myself, and Fang just stood by, trapped in his own thoughts. Iggy, on the other hand, was still looking up, trying to see Rina. And a tear or two trickled down his cheek. I never saw Iggy cry before.

We tried to continue flying to Seattle in time for that meeting, but we never thought we'd miss Rina that much. Her help, her humor, her expertise, her power. We mostly healed. The kids tried just to forget about her, but it proved difficult because some of their best memories were with Rina. So they just stayed quiet. Fang seemed the most normal, but I knew he missed the sense of security that came with having a genie. I missed those days too, the days when I knew that if something went wrong Rina would fix it. I came in second place for the "Calmest Person in the Face of Loss" awards because I had to be strong for the flock, but there was one night when Fang had to get up and comfort me because I was crying during my watch.

"She left us because she knew we could do it on our own. So stop crying."

"You know, you're not exactly going to be the best motivational speaker."

"I know. Just stop crying. It's all going to be fine. You'll save the world like you're supposed to, and then she'll find us again."

"And what if I don't save the world? The only reason I agreed to going to Seattle was because Rina could take care of us if I goofed up. And what if we can't find her again? Or if she can't get to us?"

"Max, don't worry about it until the time comes. It's going to be fine. Now get some sleep. I'm taking your shift."

Sighing, I laid on my side next to Fang, and I felt a little better when I heard his breathing and felt him s close to me.

I think the person most affected by Rina's departure was Iggy. He hardly spoke anymore, and whenever someone would mention Rina, he would walk or fly away, depending on what we were doing. I didn't see him blow anything up recently, and he only cooked for us to eat, never for himself. He never let that iPod out of his sight, but he never talked to it either. He would just look at it as if he could see Rina's face on it. The only time I saw him smile was in his dreams, when he was probably dreaming of Rina, and he was most upset when he just woke up, because it was then that he realized that his meetings with Rina the night before were just dreams.

When we reached Seattle, we had no clue what to do. We ended up calling everywhere there was meetings, and we weren't having any success. It was only when the voice showed up that we got help.

Hello, Maximum.

Long time no hear, Jeb. I sneered in my mind. What do you want?

The meeting takes place at 420 Eagle Street, seventh floor, last door on the left.

Wow, the voice was actually cooperating. Are you sure this isn't a trick?

Positive.

But you'd be lying, probably. You probably want me to trust you.

Listen to your gut, Max. And then I didn't hear anything.

"What happened?" Fang asked from the other bed of the hotel we were staying at. Yes, Fang and I shared a room. But Angel wanted to go with Nudge, and Gazzy and Iggy were partners in crime, so that left me and Fang.

"The voice just gave me an address."

"Wow, the voice is actually cooperating? Never thought I'd see the day."

"I thought the same thing. Should we try it out?"

"Might as well. We're not having any better luck with the phone." So we took a very long walk downtown to 420 Eagle Street and took the stairs (you don't know us very well if you guessed we'd take the elevator). We tried to listen in, but Itex hired guards to place in front of the door. So we sent Angel through the heating vent to listen in (because she's the smallest and she can send messages with her mind).

We got the details, and flew down to Microsoft as soon as we could, but guess what? There were more guards. We tried to get past them, first by fighting, then by Angel's mind control. But the guards were trained to fight, and they could have been black belts. But we didn't figure out that they weren't from Microsoft until Angel tried to read their minds and didn't get anything.

"Max, there's nothing going on in their minds! I can't get or send anything. It's almost like…" She said in a whisper.

"Almost like what, sweetie?"

"Max, it's almost like they're flyboys!" At that moment, the guards morphed into those mechanical Erasers I hated so much. The scientists must have found a way to make them morph into humans or wolves. And they were apparently programmed to capture us. One of them picked Angel up and swung her over his shoulder before she even had time to scream. Five more came out and picked us up in a similar style. I swear, those idiots have no imagination. We struggled as hard as we could, but we were wore out and these guys had a killer grip, so it didn't make any difference.

They took us to a helicopter and threw us into the back where we couldn't even escape. No one tried to fight. I didn't know what was into them, but I didn't try to encourage them to fight. They'd need all the strength they could muster for our landing. But just before we landed, the pilot gassed us unconscious, and we woke up in dog crates. That was three days after Rina left.

On the fourth day, we were visited by none other than Doctor ter Borcht himself. He looked beside himself with glee.

"So, ve ave caught ze amazing Maximum Ride and her flock. It is about time ve ave done so."

"You flatter me, Bortchy. I thought I was nothing more than stupendous." This comment earned me a few smiles from the younger kids and a red Doctor ter Borcht.

"I ave just come to let you know zat you will be completing some last minute experiments for us bevore you are exterminated."

"What kind of experiments? And at least you used the word 'exterminate' instead of 'retire.' 'Retire' wasn't fitting. But then again, neither is 'exterminate.' 'Massacre' or 'murder' is more like it. And I see you still haven't cut down on the fatty foods." I gestured to his overly-large stomach.

"You vill perform ze last experiments! You are only useful to us if you perform ze experiments, or you vill die earlier! So cooperate, and you may live another few days." He sputtered. Then he turned to leave. I think I got him mad. Good.

"Max: one, Bortchy: none." I muttered.

The last ten days were nothing but painful experiments. I won't go into detail, unless I want the rating to get higher and higher. So I'll just say that they hurt a lot, and we went to bed (okay, we fell asleep in crates, we didn't have actual beds) whimpering in pain. I didn't even get to share a crate with Fang. They only had five crates, and Fang, Iggy, and I were too big to share even a large crate. They were going to pair Gazzy and Angel up (being the smallest and youngest and all), but for some reason Angel used her mind control to get Gazzy and Nudge in the same crate. I never did figure out why she did that. Well, no better time to find out.

"Hey, Angel?" I asked in my mind. Angel, who was leaning against the side of her crate and nursing her knee (they tested her reflexes a bit too hard, but that was the least of it), sat up, instantly alert, and turned to look at me.

"Yeah?"

"Just wondering, how come you put Gazzy and Nudge in the same crate?"

"Well, just look at them!" I turned to look at their large crate. Nudge was crying silently from a bite from a new breed of eraser, and Gazzy was looking at her with sadness. All of a sudden, he pulled her so that her head was against his chest. Nudge didn't seem to mind being so close to Gazzy, and she stopped crying a little when he stroked her hair. Of course, everyone in our little circle of crates saw this motion, but Gazzy and Nudge didn't care, they just comforted themselves with the other's presence.

"I see what you mean." I told Angel (in my mind again).

"Gazzy and Nudge both kinda asked me in my mind if I would control the whitecoat's mind to give them a crate together. I did it for them because Nudge is one of my best friends and Gazzy is my brother, and sometimes I look in their minds, and they really like each other. They both got especially restless and anxious when Iggy and…." She stopped, afraid to say her name and bring a new wave of tears.

"I never thought that they would like each other." I tried to get her off the subject.

"Yeah, it is kind of unexpected. I just hope Iggy doesn't get reminded of what he used to experience."

"What do you pick up from him?" I guess we couldn't avoid the subject any longer.

"Extreme sadness. He misses her so much it's unhealthy. He checks the iPod every time we're asleep for something from her, any message at all. He also sent a few messages to her. And he thinks about his dreams, where he's with her. I don't like to look in there much, it's so sad and upset, and all he thinks about is her."

I sighed. Poor guy. I wish she would show up. It would make everyone happy, especially Iggy. Maybe with her around he would eat an entire meal for once. Maybe he would laugh at one of her jokes again. Maybe he'd smile again. But would she ever come back?

POV Iggy

I don't want to talk about it. I'll just say that I can't believe she left us. I can't believe she left me. It was her fault that we were here in these dog crates awaiting pain and death! It was her fault that everyone but me was afraid to say her name for fear of crying! I would never do this to her if it caused her pain, so why did she go ahead and do it to me? I thought she loved me. Why did she leave me, then? And no, genie law is not an answer.

I still managed to save the iPod and some ear buds. It was like my escape from everything. Everything but myself, my pain, and my thoughts. And sometimes I still heard what was going on. For example, even with the ear buds on, I could still hear Nudge whimpering (oh my god, it sounded so much like Rina when she was crying after she kissed me!). Then it was muffled. I turned to look for the cause, and saw Nudge's head in Gazzy's chest! He was stroking her hair and everything.

I sent him a questioning look. He sent me a look that clearly said "I can't stand to hear her cry." It was then that I realized that Gazzy, my eight-year-old partner in crime, loved Nudge! I looked away. Sure, I was happy for them, but I just didn't want to remember how two weeks ago, I was doing the same thing to Rina. It was too painful.

I tried to concentrate purely on the last few lyrics of I'd Do Anything. Yeah, you heard me, I'm listening to the song that was in my dream, the one with Rina as the shadow girl.

I'd do anything

To fall asleep with you.

I'd do anything.

There's nothing I won't do.

I'd do anything

To fall asleep with you.

I'd do anything

'Cause I know

I won't forget you.

I had the iPod play only one song until I changed it, so it started over.

Another day is going by.

I'm thinking about you all the time.

But you're out there

And I'm here waiting.

And I wrote this letter in my head

'Cause so many things were left unsaid.

But now you're gone

And I can't think straight.

Nah, this was getting old. The mode was on shuffle, so I just went to the next song. The song was Blurry. Perfect.

Everything's so blurry

And everyone's so faint. Too true. I hardly notice or care what's going on around me.

And everybody's empty

And everything is so messed up. Yeah, everyone and everything does seem to be affected by Rina's departure. The flock acts so depressed, but who wouldn't in the School? And we would all be happy and free with Rina if she hadn't left.

Preoccupied without you. Isn't everyone?

I cannot live at all. Even if you say you're saving our lives, I still can't live without you.

My whole world surrounds you,

I stumble then I crawl.

You could be my someone, You already are.

You could be my sieve.

You know that I'll protect you

From all of the obscene Or you protect me. Either way it works.

I wonder what you're doing,

Imagine where you are. You could be anywhere in the universe, but you chose to be away from me.

There's oceans in between us,

But that's not very far. Especially with you at the other side waiting for me.

Can you take it all away?

Can you take it all away?

Well, you shoved it in my face,

This pain you gave to me. The pain of you leaving, that is, among other things (coughSchoolcough)

Can you take it all away? What are they talking about? Of course you can take it away, you're Rina!

Can you take it all away?

Well, you shoved it in my face.

Everyone is changing,

There's no one left that's real.

So make up your own ending Well, make up your own ending, our ending, and the world's ending when you make your decision, but no pressure!

And let me know just how you feel Yeah, do you love me enough to come back?

'Cause I am lost without you. Just ask the flock if you need proof.

I cannot live at all.

My whole world surrounds you,

I stumble then I crawl.

You could be my someone,

You could be my sieve. Would you?

You know that I will save you

From all of the unclean.

I wonder what you're doing,

I wonder where you are.

There's oceans in between us,

But that's not very far.

Can you take it all away? Could you take us all away from this hellhole they call the School?

Can you take it all away?

Well, you shoved it in my face,

This pain you gave to me.

Can you take it all away?

Can you take it all away?

Well, you shoved it in my face,

This pain you gave to me.

Nobody told me what you thought, Well, actually, Gazzy did, but the only way I'd be sure was if Angel told me directly.

Nobody told me what to say, Yeah, they just told me I should get you before someone else, but they didn't tell me how!

Everyone showed you where to turn, I think the genies probably told you what to do.

Showed you when to run away.

Nobody told you where to hide,

Nobody told you what to say,

Everyone showed you where to turn,

Showed you when to run away.

Can you take it all away?

Can you take it all away?

Well, you shoved it in my face,

This pain you gave to me.

Can you take it all away?

Can you take it all away?

Well, you shoved it in my face,

This pain you gave to me.

This pain you gave to me!

You take it all

You take it all away…

This pain you gave to me.

You take it all away

This pain you gave to me.

Take it all away

This pain you gave to me.

That song made so much sense. I missed Rina so much. What would I give just to hear her crack a joke or see her smile. I'd pay any price just to have five minutes alone with her, to ask her why she left and hear her jokes, and maybe we'd….never mind. I said I didn't want to talk about it.

I know this chapter wasn't that satisfactory, it just showed you what everyone was feeling. But I'm in the mood to forget those reviews and just go type chapter 9 for you right after I submit this. Hoped you liked the songfic, and please review! You're so close to getting that sequel it scares me! See you in a few minutes!