=D that was a mean one too. i'm sorry, but it's just so...driving. i bet you're still reading. =P well, anyways, the song in chapter 42 was Runaway by Eowyn. i'm about to go to bed, so i'll work on 44 tomorrow, and you'll just see. sorry for the mean cliff hangers and stuff. this one isn't so bad, but it's really sad. i was tearing up, but i wouldn't say you will. idk. depends on how much you love this story.

anywho, chapter 43.

DISCLAIMER: James Patterson owns the Maximum Ride series, not me.


Crash you're going down
Without a sound
And I'll pass you up
Before I explode
Breaking in two
I'll see it through
You won't keep me down
When I crash through you


*Seth*

I couldn't think of anything except Ari as the bullet shot through her shoulder. The worst part was, she didn't even scream or make any kind of sound of pain. She just took it, and knowing it would hurt me to hear her pain, she didn't show it.

Why?

No one said anything. I couldn't even tell everyone where we were. Thankfully, she thought for me.

Hey everyone.

Look, I know you're gonna be really ticked, but it's what's best. I mean, you guys are safe, and you'll be safe until I'm dead or I take these losers out. So, I'm sorry, but I have to do this.

You can try to get out, but only one person can get you out, and it's not someone you would think. Actually, it's the last person you would think. Find the exit first. That in itself will be a great challenge. But, once you find it, you gotta figure out how it works.

Ha.

That's the reason I did this the way I did. And, Seth? Yes. That's why I never showed you how to get out by yourself. Not saying that you can, but I never showed you how you could, if you were the one person, besides me, that can open the exit.

It's like my own personal prison. Ha, ha.

Look, I know you guys are freaking out, but you know as well as I do that things are getting serious and extremely dangerous. Someone had to do this, and you guys can come up with a plan to stop it while you're safe and don't have to worry. I know Seth's family can't help with this, but I'm not sure how far this has gone.

Alex? I just...I wish I could tell you this in person, but I'm pretty sure we all know how this is ending. You're my brother, and I love you, so much. You're one of my best friends, and I would do anything for you. You know that. That's why it kills me so much knowing that this was my fault. I shouldn't have been so stupid! She should've come here, and we could've talked alone. I'm so, so sorry, and I know that doesn't make up for it. But, please don't dwell. I'm begging you to move on. Please? If you don't, I will come back and haunt you. Don't you doubt it.

Daddy? I'm sorry. I know you told yourself all these years that your little girl is always gonna be there with you, forever, with the guy of her dreams, and I'm sorry that I can't be. But, even though you guys are invincible, you can still get hurt. I can't let that happen, because this is my fault, my mess to clean up. That's exactly what I'm doing. I love you, Daddy, so much, and I'm sorry I didn't a chance to say goodbye the right way. Please don't let this go to waste, though. Think this through. Figure out a good plan, and just promise me that you won't let anything happen to Seth, or his family, or Alex. Just watch them for me and keep them safe.

Momma? I've always known I'm not your favorite kid, but I've been okay with that. You still love me, so much, and I know that. Today, you were right to worry about Elli. She was the one in danger. As for now...don't worry about me. By the time you read this, most likely, I'll be done suffering. I'll be looking down on you guys and just hoping that you do the right thing and end this, once and for all. Momma, I love you, so much. Please help Daddy, and just watch over everyone, like you always do. Keep everyone safe, Momma, and please don't dwell on this. I'm fine; I assure you.

Iggy? I'm so, so sorry that I didn't listen to you last night. You told me something, and you were right, so right. I just didn't believe you. Of course, I'll never see it. In my eyes, I will never be beautiful, and nothing anyone can say will change that. Thank you, for everything. You have been so amazing, and you're just...you're my best friend, Ig—well, tied for first. I love you, Iggy, and help my parents, please. I need you to also make sure that Seth and all of his family are kept safe too. I'm really sorry things went down this way, but it's what's best, and Marie and Cory had to be protected. Seth had to be safe, and you know that.

Ella? You're my aunt; what can I say? Of course I love you. Who else is there to take me shopping at random moments, no matter what the occasion or time? Well, okay. Who else named Ella? You and Momma are so important to Alex, and I'm begging you to just please make sure that he moves on. Trust me when I say that will be a challenge, but you're tough enough to overcome it. I know you are. I love you, Ella, and you know that. Everyone does. You're just…incredible, and so much fun, even if you were one of the masterminds behind the destruction of my closet.

Nudge...don't even get me started. Even though you ramble, and you say some things that just...wow. That's all I can say. They're just wow. Ha, ha. Well, the point is, I love you and your obnoxious rambling. I don't think you would be Nudge if you were any other way. You're you, and I love that about you. It inspired me to just be me, from when I first went to preschool. Honestly, Nudge, I wouldn't be the same person if it wasn't for you.

Sean? Wow. That's all I can say. I'm just kidding. But, of course, your modifications ticked me off so badly sometimes, but I have to say thank you now. They saved everyone's lives. You are the reason I got into cars, and you're also the reason I'm addicted. I blame you. =P Just kidding. The point is, Sean, that I just...I love you, and I really appreciate everything. I wouldn't have been able to do it without you.

Angel? Jesse? Gazzy? Alli? You guys know I love you too, so, so much, but I have less than a second to think all this, so I don't have much more time. But, I will say this. Thank you guys, for everything, and always protect everyone and keep them safe. Make sure you watch Seth and make Alex move on. That's all I ask.

And of course, Seth...no. I didn't forget about you. How can I? Number one, you're sitting right behind me with your arms wrapped around me, and number two, you're the best thing that's ever happened to me, literally. Nothing could ever change that. I didn't want you to get dragged into this, but Alex used the, "Well, what if something happens, and you're about to die?" line, and I got sucked in. You didn't need to get involved, and none of your family did too. But, don't worry. They'll protect you guys, and once this is all over, you'll be fine.

I need you to do me a favor, besides making sure Alex moves on. I need you to move on yourself. Like I told Alex, I will come back and haunt you if you don't. You're so young, Seth, and about to graduate high school. You have life ahead of you. So, find someone to grow old with. Just find someone who can have your cute, adorable babies, because I know that they're gonna be so beautiful. That sounds weird, but, whatever. The point is, I need you to move on. If you guys don't move on with your lives, what is the point? I cannot be that important to you, because I'm not important. I'm just a girl.

That made me so mad. Of course she's just a girl, just the girl that stole my heart and changed everything. She's just the girl that broke my heart and put it back together again, perfectly, in the same day. She's just the girl I've fallen madly in love with and can't live without.

I love you, Seth. I know I don't have to say that, because you know, and I always will love you, till that last rose dies. Guess what. It's still living and beautiful. The rest are dead, but that one is still alive and still beautiful and perfect. Don't live in the past, Seth. As the wise Alex Lawrence once said, if you're depressed, you're living in the past. If you're anxious, you're living in the future. If you're content, you're living in the present. Seth, please just live in the present, and move on. Use me as a guide to find that girl that just treats you right, doesn't put your life in danger, and doesn't complicate things beyond belief. Find that girl who's gonna treat you right and never hurt you. If you mess up, I will come fix things until you get them right, though. Don't you doubt it.

There's so much more I wish I could say to you guys, but I don't have the time. My second is just about over, and I have to get you guys to safety. So, without further ado, bye. I love you guys, so much, and if you don't move on and dwell in my death for more than a day, I will haunt you and make you regret it.

Love always,

Ari

P.S. Don't ever look back on this day and think of it as a day of sadness, of grief—not for my death anyways. Think of it as the day I got my revenge, the day I finally lived up to something. Today was the day that I finally did something worthwhile.

And that was all I had left of her. Max had made a million copies of it, and I got the original one. She just knew that this hurt me more than anyone else, for some reason, and I was shocked she knew that.

How could she do this? Why not snap herself here too? Why does she have to do things this way? I can't move on! I can't! Fine, she comes back to haunt me. Perfect. That means I get to see her, in some way. It's all I have to hold on to, the last memory I have of her.

Well...the last one I wanna remember. Why would I want to remember her getting shot for me and holding in her pain?

Maybe I should remember back to last night, in the truck, or in my bedroom.