The gun is light as a feather against my sweaty palms. We all stand in a line in front of a row of targets. We have glasses to protect our eyes, but ear protection isn't needed. These aren't regular guns, like the pistol Ingrid lent me all that while ago. These are quiet, deadly silent. They're small, the barrel a little longer than a regular gun. It still has a trigger, and a safety, which instructors have gone over with us. Now, we learn how to fire. This is the last thing we need to train with until we finally learn what it is we're going to do. 

Of course, as I hold the gun in front of me like a female instructor shouts at us to do, I'm anxious. No, the gun doesn't make me anxious: the idea of finding out the real reason we have Chips and this training is. Finally, I'll find out Leane's plan, and everything will be set in motion. The sooner Leane is handled, the sooner I can get back to my friends, my city, my parents, my home. 

My arms begin to ache as an instructor comes up beside me. She puts a hand under my arm and lifts it to chest level. My other arm and the gun follow, and my eyes inch to the laser pointing at the target. Dead center. She barks at me to fire, and I do. Thanks to the laser, the bullet hits the target exactly where I aimed. I flinch slightly, but there's no recoil, no sound. Only a perfect hit on the target made of some sound-absorbing material. 

No one misses and hits the wall of concrete behind the targets. Also, nothing separates me from the two random people next to me. So, as I bring down the gun, pointing it at the concrete floor, I watch. I watch the girl next to me hit the target dead center. It's like most of them have trained with guns before, and they probably have. Everyone is perfect. No one flinches, or recoils, or looks uncomfortable in the slightest. A part of me still expects a sound. A part of me expects someone to turn around and shoot me dead. 

If we need to stun someone, there is a switch that activates the electricity. However, I don't think I'll need it. Not with the electricity inside me. 

Finally, we're done. A male instructor shouts at us to leave our guns on a table in the back. So, I walk over and gently place the weapon on the table, not wanting the memories. The memories of a gun failing me in the past. Or of who gave it to me, or of the guns pointed at my friends. I think I'm going to be sick, thinking back to that moment I decided to risk my life. But, I'm not. I can take a deep breath and walk away from the people who barely register the lethal weapons as-lethal weapons.

"You okay?" Ash whispers to me.

I jump slightly, not having realized her and Aubrey now flank me. "Yeah."

"Memories?" Aubrey whispers.

I nod. "Yeah." It's like she understands. I see it in her eyes.

"I was there, when my last girlfriend was killed," she says quietly. 

I nearly stop walking, but the swarm of people heading towards lunch won't allow me to. "You said she was killed on a mission two years ago, right?"

She nods. "I was there. I couldn't help her. They shot her. Once. Twice. Thrice. The last words she whispered where, 'Aubrey, don't let her get away with this.'"

Tears well in her eyes, and curiosity pools in me. I can't push her for information- not after the horror that she witnessed. Aubrey is such a sweet girl on the outside. It seems like she's never seen anything go wrong. But, she keeps surprising me.

By now, it was just us in the concrete hallway. Just the three of us facing the doors leading us to our food. 

"Leane killed her."

"What?" Ash and I both exclaim.

"Not so loud," she sighs, brushing a curl out of her eyes. I've never seen such fire in her eyes, in her soul. "My girlfriend went on a mission to get information from The Others. But, in doing that, she realized that Leane was the crazy one, that once Chips were removed that Leane would try to take control. It's always been a game for control, for whoever can gain it and hold it. 

"She tried to get me out of here, and her family. But, Leane found out and shot her on the spot."

"I'm sorry. That- I can't believe she did that. Leane, I mean. Your girlfriend seemed like an amazing person."

"She was," Aubrey sniffs with a faraway smile. It's like she's remembering all of the good times. Remembering the past that she wishes was the present. Then, she shakes her head and swipes away the few tears that spilt onto her brown skin. 

"Why did she let you live?" My cousin asks.

"Because she doesn't know I saw it." With that, she walks into the lunchroom, not sparing a glance over her shoulder to make sure Ash and I are following.

"Wow," Ash mutters.

"Ash- why did you fake your death?"

Her eyes widened, then I see a sadness in them I've never seen. So- intense. It's almost like guilt is gnawing at her heart, like she regrets the choice she made. "I shouldn't have. I shouldn't have left you, Hurricane. But- the government found out that I was part of the AntiChips. One government official helped me fake my death so I wouldn't actually die. At the time, none of us knew about Leane's Chips. The woman thought she was doing the right thing to defy her husband. Her name was-"

"Ingrid," I mutter.

My cousin has surprise slapped across her face. "How'd you know?"

I shrug, smiling a bit. Ingrid saved Ash. I'd have to thank her next time I saw her. "It just- sounded like her."

"You know her?"

"Yup," I respond, heading into the noisy cafeteria. "I sure do."

Hailee, Ash, Aubrey and I sit in the grass of the nature room. Faint moonlight drifts towards us, and a watch lies in the grass before us. I can hear water rushing in the stream as I stare at it, at the single message: Autumn, we need to talk to you. -Cody

Hailee had told me to give them the contact information of this watch in case they needed to communicate with me when I visited them. This watch, she said, wouldn't alert Leane that I'm conversing with someone outside of the facility. So, I stare at it now, my fingers hovering over the device. I glance to my friends and cousin. They all nod, so I tell WatchAssist to contact Cody.

Soon, a hologram of Cody appears, and I feel myself smile at his disheveled hair. Ash nudges me in the side and I roll my eyes at her. She creates a heart with her hands, and I'm too busy swatting at her hands to hear what Cody has to say.

"Autumn?"

I clear my throat, my cheeks now burning. "Hey, did we wake you?"

His eyes widen. "We?"

"Hey, Cody!" My cousin sings, leaning next to me so her face will also appear in the hologram. "Remember me? It's Ashley-"

"Autumn's cousin that was supposed to be dead but is part of the AntiChips," Cody deadpans.

I burst out laughing at my cousin's expression. It is a mixture of horrified and surprised.

"Yeah, that's me. But, I'm alive. And, if you ever hurt my cousin I will-"

I shove her away, and it's her turn to begin laughing.

"I also have two friends named Hailee and Aubrey. They're really nice and trustworthy. Trust me."

"Are they also going to threaten me?" Cody muses.

I shake my head, shooting Ash a glare. She just smirks.

"So, um-"

"Did we wake you?" I ask again, looking into his hazel eyes full of sleep. His light hair nearly falls into them, and he pushes it away, his lips curving upwards.

"Yeah," he admits. "You did. But, I'm glad you called." His tone turns serious, and the butterflies in my stomach disappear.  "We found out that we don't have two separate threats to face, but one huge one.

My mind whirls. It comes to a conclusion but- no. My breath catches, and I feel like the world has come crashing down around me. 

"Autumn?" I hear the concern lacing his voice.

"You don't mean-"

He nods. "Yeah," he says softly, "they're working together."

I twist away from his hologram. anger burning within me. "Hailee, did you know about this?"

She shakes her head. "No. Leane never told me." From the shock in her eyes to the tremor in her voice, I believe her. Of course, Leane didn't trust her own sister with the information.

Cody proceeds to fill me in on the details, on all they've learned from Jared's father. My mouth opens and closes, and then icy fear fills my veins. 

"Is he here?" I whisper, glancing around as though the walls have eyes and ears. "If your father is working with Leane- then is he in the facility with us right now?"

Everyone around me, including holographic Cody, seem terrified by the idea.

But, I'm tired of being terrified. So, I crack my knuckles. "If he is, I'd love to put an end to him once and for all. Before anyone gets hurt." The threat isn't amplified by my tone, nor my heart. I know I can't just walk up to him and kill him. I didn't feel remorse the first time- but I never had time to dwell on it. After all, I was supposed to be dead myself.

Cody chuckles, but I can see the worry in his eyes. "Let's hope not, or else he'll get what's coming to him." He tries to crack a smile, but fails. "Just- be careful, Autumn."

"You too," I mutter. "I mean it. No one dies this time."

He swallows, then nods. 

"If only you could kiss through a hologram," Ash muses.

I reach behind me and smack her arm. "Oh, shut up. I remember your first boy-"

"Shut up! We promised to never talk about him again!"

"I'm interested," Hailee smirks at my cousin.

"As interesting as this is," Cody drawls, "don't kill your cousin, Autumn."

I shoot him a glare, but I can't help but smile a little. "Tell the others that I said hi."

"I will. They'll be glad to know that you're alive."

"What, you think I'd die that easily?" I flex my arm, almost feeling like an egotistical guy in doing so. 

I hear snickers. I look up and see that the three girls sitting with me a moment ago have backed away to the door.

"We'll let you guys catch up," Ash smirks.

I tell her she's number one (not really, you know what I mean), and shake my head. She simply waves and all three of them exit the room, trying to keep quiet as they do so. They can all see in the dark, anyways. They should be fine.

"So..." Cody sighs. "How're you been?"

"Sore," I admit, looking at anything but him. I feel like a part of me is on fire. This feeling is so- weird to me. My boyfriend. Wow. I never thought that would happen. Then again, I never thought that I'd almost die and that I'd be brought back by a crazy lady who I had to pretend to follow even after I got my memory back. And, you know, amongst other crazy things that had happened ever since my Chip initially fell out.

"You look- fit. A little weary and worn. Maybe even tired of all of this, but fit."

"I could totally beat you up."

He shakes his head, smiling. "Yeah, okay. Whatever you say, Autumn."

"I totally could. Or, I could use my awesome new abilities from my Chip."

The smile drops from his face. "You need to get me one of those. It's not fair that you get powers and I don't."

I shrug. "It's totally fair."

"Well, you're an actually hero, so-"

"You think so?" I cut him off. Am I really? A hero? Me?

"Of course. It's not your fault that things aren't over. But, you risked your life, Autumn. Even if it was kinda stupid, it was brave. And, you're still fighting. I'm really proud of you."

My cheeks are probably all kinds of red by now. I glance at the grass beneath my fingertips. "Thanks. I'm proud of you, too. All of you. We're gonna get through all of this together."

"Yeah. Together. Eventually. But," he gulps, "I want you to come home, to be at school with me, with Eva and Jared. I want it to be like it used to be- all of us laughing together and eating lunch together."

"You guys can still do that without me. Just- do it."

"Things aren't the same. Jared's even acting- different. Since his dad left. Him and Eva- I'm worried about them. Well, I guess they were worried about me months ago..." He trails off, letting out a sigh as I glance into his eyes full of pent up pain and worry.

"When you thought I was dead." It's not a question. I just- know. If he died- I couldn't even imagine that. If any of them died. My stomach plummets at just the thought.

"Yeah."

"So," I mutter. "How's life?"

"Pretty bad, but it'll get better."

"Yeah."

His eyes flick to mine. "That day you left to go get yourself killed," a humorless laugh, "I heard you whisper something while I was sleeping. I just thought of it, actually. I was wondering if you meant it."

I think I know what he means. When I told him that I loved him. "Yeah." I did mean it. I still do, corny as that sounds.

He's grinning, and I think my heart skips a beat. That smile- unrestrained, totally defying our messed up reality. "Well, what if I said it back?"

He's playing with me. This is so- new to me. The whole idea of romance alongside- everything else. "Then say it, dummy."

"I-"

There's a crash. He freezes, eyes wide.

"What was that?"I whisper. 

"I don't know- let me make sure my mom is okay."

"Wait- take me with you! The watch, I mean."

He does, and the hologram moves up and down as he walks. I hear screaming, and my blood runs cold in my veins as Cody whispers, "Dad?"

Then, he's yelling. "Mom? Where's mom?"

My heart beats fast against my chest, and before I know what I'm doing, I'm running out of the room.Cody's ended the holochat, and I run into the room I sleep in, shaking Aubrey awake. I drag her behind me and find Ash's room. I'm not stupid enough to go alone. So, I drag them down a concrete hallway, on the brink of tears and hysteria. 

"What in the world, Autumn?" Ash pants.

"Cody's in trouble," I all but scream, rushing for the exit I used last time.

Leane's at the door when I reach it, a gun pointed at my heart. Rachel is beside her, face ashen.

"Going somewhere, Autumn? To help your little friend?"

"Get. Out. Of. My. Way," I grit out.

"Oh, never. Little Rachel here has let me in on your plans. Trying to undermine me, are you? Aubrey, Ashley, I expected better."

Suddenly, Rachel and Leane fall, paralyzed. 

"Run!" Hailee screams, tossing a gun to each of us.

So, we do. We run like hell. 

_____

That was intense. What do you guys think of this book so far? Thanks for 730 reads and 95 votes! Also, this story is ranked again! Yay! 

-Sarah