I stare at my old journal, which rests in my lap. My body aches from a day of training, both by sparring with others and by Derek and others teaching. We only focused on the physical aspect today, even doing some things to strength our bodies. Now, a bit after midnight, I've decided to go through my journal before allowing my weary body to drift off. My eyes burn, as do my muscles, but I ignore them both. I clutch the journal in my hands, smiling as I remember when Cody handed this back to me. He said he wrote in it, and I want to know what.

Becoming giddy, I flip open the cover, the journal opening to a page Cody marked with my pen.

Hey, Autumn. So, you're alive. Obviously. I wrote those poems before, when I thought you could've been gone for good. So, read them if you want, but I thought I'd return what belongs to you. I found your poem book in Teresa's house by the way. I might have read through them. They're amazing, and you're pretty good at expressing your feelings, even if it is on paper. Maybe you'll write me a poem one day. Maybe, one day you'll write about all that's happened, about this crazy adventure we've been on together, together including Teresa, Jared, and Eva. I hope you no longer feel as much pain as you did writing those poems, but things have been pretty crazy. We'll all get through this. Together. You're a hero, Autumn. Remember that.

-The idiot who kinda pulled you into all of this, but is kind of glad he did. Cody.

A silly grin spreads across my face. Maybe, one day, I'll write poems about all of this. Maybe I'll write him a poem, just like he said. My heart tingles with happiness and giddiness, and I can't help it as my lips spread into an even wider smile. Things have been hectic, but at least I have Cody and my friends to dull the pain. Remembering Cody wrote about Jared before he said what he did brings a pang to my chest. However, I push it away, relishing in the good feelings brought about by his message. I can't believe I'm important enough to him for him to write to me, to actually grieve me. A year ago, I didn't feel like I had anyone. Now, I feel like I have so many people.

Flipping backwards through my journal, I find the first of Cody's entries. It's marked by our difference in penmanship, his slightly neater than mine.

Dear Autumn,

Tomorrow's your birthday. You would be sixteen. I wish you were here, alive, with me. We would have a full blown celebration. I mean, not only did you save the world, but you're turning that magical number; 16. I'm not sure why it's so magical in our society, but it is.

Maybe because you're almost an adult. Maybe because it's a year of maturing. I'm not sure, but I still wish you were here to enjoy it, to live it.

I'll write you a poem tomorrow, I promise. I will write one on every one of your birthdays, because I feel it will be a nice tribute to you. Well, it won't be enough. Nothing will. But it's something.

I love you,

-Cody

I can almost feel his sadness bleeding from the page. My heart breaks, even if things are better now. I just didn't realize what an impact my death would have on people. I find myself smiling a bit at how much Cody really does care for me. A single tear slides down my cheek, but this one isn't from sadness. It's from happiness, and a bit of love, and whatever else his written words have made me feel. I feel a tingle of happiness, and I flip to the next entry.

All of the entries warm my heart, even if they shatter it a bit. I can't believe someone felt all of this pain because of me. I can't stop flipping through Cody's attempts at poetry (what aren't too bad), and his heartfelt words. I wish I could've been there to give him a hug, to let him know that I was alive. But, I couldn't. I didn't even remember him. A shudder goes down my spine in remembrance of all that's happened so far and all that is going to happen.

With a sigh, a pick up my pen from where I set it beside me. I flip to a new page and put pen to paper. It feels good again, to write after everything that's happened. That's exactly what I write about; everything that's happened. Only, in poem form. I pour out my emotions until my eyes feel so heavy I can't bear to keep them open any longer.

I'm awoken by whispers floating down the hallway. Thinking it's my parents, I don't think much of it. I'm still drunk on sleepiness, and opening my eyes, I realize I fell asleep while writing. I managed to finish one last poem before drifting off, my journal and pen finding a place beside my body. Wearily, I close my journal and place it and my pen on my nightstand. Then, as I prepare to sleep, I hear a crash.

Paranoia and worry creep up on me. I can't help but throw off my covers, my heart thundering as I sober up. Hurriedly but quietly, I make my way down stairs. I stop at the end of the stairs, smiling slightly as I remember the time Cody broke into my house. Then, I turn myself invisible, tingling slightly as I look down at my arm. Perfect. I take in my dark living room, then head towards the kitchen. I heighten my senses and make myself able to see in the dark. It's almost second nature by now, just like the aching in my muscles.

A gasp nearly escapes me, but I throw a hand to my lips. Three people dressed in black stand in my kitchen, surveying it. I don't feel scared, mostly curious and angry. I wonder if these people work for Leane, or just broke into my house for the fun of it. My breathing seems too loud, even if my senses are heightened. Slowly, I lower my hand from my mouth, sneaking closer to the figures in black. I realize one of them is a girl while the other two must be males. The males easily tower over her, but they all seem to know what they're doing. They seem to have a purpose.

I nearly gasp again as one of the men turn invisible. They have Chips like me. I hold my breath, hoping they can't hear my breath. All I can think about are my parents upstairs. The girl and visible guy start to walk out of the kitchen. I force myself to calm down, to think reasonably. When it really matters, I'm not going to let my emotions control me. Not this time.

The girl and guy whisper to each other, casually walking away from me. They don't seem to be worried about being caught. In fact, they seem comfortable in my house. Too comfortable. My heart continues to hammer against my ribcage as I follow them. I could bust them now. I could take out my anger and frustration on them. However, I won't. I need to know why they've broken into my house. There's no question about who they work for.

The girl heads towards the living room while the visible guy heads outside. I head up the stairs, where I'm sure the third intruder has gone. My hands clench into fists as I keep reminding myself to keep a clear head. This mantra repeats over and over in my head until I reach the top of the stairs. My heart drops as I realize my parent's door is open. I rush towards it, no longer caring about stealth.

My mom screams and my heart feels like it's being shredded. I hurry into their room as light illuminates it. I stop in my tracks as I see my dad standing in front of my mom, who just turned on the light. The third intruder is now visible, but their black clothing and face disfiguring mask (like the ones Cody and I wore) give nothing away.

"Get away from them!" I scream, willing myself back into existence. It feels like nothing but a tingle and brush of air.

The person turns, whipping out a gun to point at me. It doesn't scare me.

My eyes narrow as I place my hands on my hips. "Can I help you?"

My mom stares at me with wide eyes while my dad reaches for her trembling hand.

"Speak," I hiss at the person in front of me.

"Autumn..." My dad trails off, my name almost sounding like a warning.

"This punk doesn't scare me," I sneer. "I know you work for Leane. You have a Chip, after all. Tell Leane that she doesn't scare me, and it'll take more than three burglars to scare me."

My heart stops as I think of my friends. Most of them are safe at the rebel base. Just not Eva or Teresa. Teresa can handle herself- Eva will be okay. She has to.

The person laughs. They have the audacity to laugh. Then, before I can stop it, they whirl around and fire. I scream, reaching out with my air manipulating abilities. I'm not fast or trained enough as my dad attempts to duck. Luckily, the bullet is diverted from his chest to his shoulder, my dad letting out a grunt of pain as he clutches at his new, bloody wound.

Anger takes over my entire body, merging with my adrenaline. My hands shake and my eyes zero in on the person. I won't give them another chance to hurt my parents. I grit my teeth, summoning energy into my palms. Before I can blink, the person extends their hand and my back meets the far wall. I force myself to not cry out in pain, but my eyes widen in surprise. Leane must've figured out that the Chips can do more than she originally thought.

I realize they're manipulating air, not me. Just like I did with those shards of glass. So, I just need to dodge out of their line of fire. I jump to my left, placing one hand over the other as I summon as much electricity as I can. I feel my body hum with the electricity. I even feel it in my Chip. The person extends their arm again, and I fall to the ground just as I feel air whoosh past my head. My eyes narrow at my target. I can't shoot yet. I need to wait.

Shakily, I hop to my feet, sprinting to the door. I need to get him away from my parents. I keep running, not allowing myself to stop until I'm down the stairs. Then, I turn invisible, hoping my electric ball follows suit. It does, but I feel a strain on my Chip. I've never been in a situation like this, using two abilities at once and using so much of my abilities at once in a hostile situation. I realize my Chip has limitations. I feel my arms shake, but then I grin. If my Chip has limitations, then so do theirs.

The person stumbles around, blindly shooting their gun. I hurriedly move out of range, hiding in the living room. The other two intruders are there, seeming to be discussing information they've collected. The third intruder jumps off the last stair, rushing towards the others with his gun pointed towards the floor.

"Autumn's down here somewhere," they hiss, their voice distorted by some kind of device. That disappoints me slightly, then I grin. Three intruders with one electricity ball.

I force myself back into appearance, feeling my Chip growing hot under my skin as I hurl the ball towards them. All but one manage to hop out of the way, the girl falling to the floor. Her scream is the last thing I hear before her body convulses, then lies still. I've never used enough electricity to harm someone before, and that has honestly drained me a bit. I flicker back into existence, my Chip feeling burning hot under my skin as my body pools with sweat.

The two guys stare me down before one tosses the girl over his shoulder.

"It's not worth it," the one with the girls states. "The time will come. We have what we need."

I glare at them, trying to create another ball of electricity. A few sparks ignite my fingertips before fading away. The males look at each other, smirk, then disappear. I watch as my front door opens and closes, then swipe the sweat from my forehead. My body shakes, but I'm not sure why. I'm hot, not cold.

"They're gone!" I scream as loud as I can, hoping my parents can hear me. My dad needs a hospital, and fast.

A few moments later, my parents come rushing down the stairs. My dad is clutching his shoulder, blood dripping down his arm.

My mom looks to me, her face ashen as she attempts to speak.

I shake my head, then realize she probably can't see much of me through the dark. "Take care of dad. I'm fine."

She seems to debate this, then rushes my dad out the front door. I follow after them, opening the door to watch them get in the car and drive off. I needed to make sure they got away okay. Now, I let out a breath. There's no way I'll be able to go back to sleep. So, I walk out of the house and shut the door behind me, making sure to turn on the house alarm. Then, I rush towards the only place I can think of: Mrs. Jenny's house. I think it's time to take up Molly on her offer.

_______

Yay me, another update! Thoughts? Ideas for this book just keep rushing in, and I've been getting a few more reads lately. Anyone want to vote or comment?

-Sarah

p.s this is officially the longest novel I've ever written at a little over 67,000 words so far!