"Autumn! Thank goodness!" Before I can process anything, Eva's arms are around me. She holds me tightly, and I can feel her tears soaking through my shirt. My heart breaks for her, and I tighten my arms around my friend. She chokes on a sob, her head buried in my shoulder. Over her head, I meet the relieved yet concerned gaze of Cody. My aunt stands next to him, as do Hailee, my cousin, and Aubrey. Ash stands close to her mother's side, and I can tell she's missed her mother more than she let on.

"Eva, what's wrong?" I ask my friend. I already know the answer. Jared.

She just shakes her head and pulls away, swiping the back of her hand across her eyes. "I can't believe he left us," she whispers. "I can't believe anything that's happening anymore."

I turn to the others gathered in the large room, the one for relaxing that has a bunch of furniture. They all stare at me as though trying to debrief me with their eyes. Suddenly, my own eyes widen.

"Where are my parents? I totally forgot!"

My aunt smiles gently. "Don't worry. Once your dad is patched up, I'll bring them here. Everyone is here. Everyone is fine."

Cody grimances. "Well, except Teresa. Your aunt couldn't find her."

My heart drops to my stomach.

"Autumn?" Eva mutters. "You know something."

I sigh. "We have another problem. Jared and Teresa is a part of it." I then fill them in on what I learned in the ice creamery.

Eva shakes her head, tears pricking her eyes once again. "He wouldn't."

I turn away from her, instead focusing on Derek, who's just entered the room. "Yeah. He did. He said he did it for you, you know. Well, among other things."

"It sounds like we have some traitors to deal with," Derek smirks.

I shake my head, turning to glance at Eva. She's trying to be strong, to hold herself together. Aubrey places a comforting hand on her shoulder.

"We can deal with them later," Hailee speaks up. "They're not an immediate threat."

Ash scoffs. "Really? They broke into Autumn's house!"

"She's here now. We don't need to worry. Let them be stupid for all I care. We need to focus on the girl who said she can replicate the Chips with abilities!"

I raise an eyebrow at Cody.

"I filled them in on all you told me," he supplies.

"I guess Hailee's right," I surprise myself by saying. My anger has dwindled, and so has my adrenaline. Now, I'm left feeling tired, like I could sleep for a very long time. My eyes burn from lack of sleep, and I barely stifle a yawn before it escapes my lips. "Cody, did you send Molly what she needs?"

He nods, then walks over to me. His eyes scan me, and I realize he's looking for injuries.

I smile softly. "I'm fine. Just a bit worked up, but I'm fine."

Cody pulls me into his arms. I sigh into his shoulder, happy to be surrounded by his comfort. Lifting my head, I catch sight of Eva over his shoulder. The look in her eyes breaks my heart. I pull away from Cody and walk over to her, squeezing her shoulder. She turns away, hastily heading toward the housing part of the base.

My heart breaks for my friend. She really cares about Jared and it's not fair on her. No matter what he said, he's not helping her. He's breaking her.

"It's not your fault," my cousin murmurs, stepping next to me. "Not everyone is good in this world, but no one is pure. Maybe your friend will come to his senses."

I shrug. "I doubt it." Then, I turn to everyone still standing in the room. They're all watching me, almost as if gauging if I'll break as well. I turn to Derek, and realize I can feel the tiredness in my bones. "If you don't mind, could you show me to a room?"

Derek nods, then wordlessly walks down the right hallway. I follow, and I can hear the footsteps of the others behind me. We walk down a corridor full of closed doors. Before it ends, Derek stops in front of one on the left marked with the number 20.

"You'll share this room with your friends," he tells me. "The ones that are female." He gives me a pointed look and I laugh.

I push open the door. Bunk beds line the dirt walls, and the room isn't much to see. I turn to watch my roommates pile in. Eva, Aubrey, Ash, and Hailee. Smiling, I watch them head to their own beds. My aunt and Derek have already left, yet Cody still stands in the hallway. Glancing back at my roommates, who seem distracted, I walk into the hallway and close the door behind me.

"You shouldn't have walked alone," he sighs, then smiles. "But I guess you really can take care of yourself."

I laugh, leaning against the closed door. "Yeah, I guess I can."

He takes a step forward and leans his forehead against mine. His breath fans my face and I flush. "We'll get through this."

I smile. "I hope so. I hope all of us get through this." Then, I raise my head and connect our lips. The kiss lasts a few seconds before we pull away. After bidding each other goodbye, I walk into the small room. There are four sets of bunk beds, and I wander over to the closest vacant one. Not even bothering to take in the room, I fall back onto the bottom mattress and let sleep take me away.

My eyes open, and I'm met with the sight of a dirt wall. Rubbing the sleep from my eyes, I flip onto my back, staring at something above it. It's then I realize I'm in a bunk bed, and the events of last night come rushing back. A groan escapes me, and I glance around the dark room. Summoning electricity to my fingertips, I climb out of the slightly uncomfortable bed. I'm alone in the small room, and I notice a note lying on the cot above me.

We figured we'd let you rest. When you're ready, eat your breakfast and come to training.

-Ash

p.s- your parents are here and safe.

I smile slightly, then rush to the other side of the room. Allowing my electricity to dissipate, I flip on the single lightbulb. Then, I turn back to the single plate sitting next to the note. On it is a sandwich. Quickly, I eat the soggy bread, meat, and lettuce, then turn to the change of clothes on the other side of the note. They consist of loose gray pants and a matching t-shirt. I pull them on, trying to think of my actions rather than the events of the night before.

As I turn towards the door, I realize I need to stop doing this to myself. I need to stop filling my brain with so much worry, with so much anxiety. Instead of thinking of everything that's wrong, I need to focus on fixing it. So, letting out a breath, I swing open the door, running a hand through my messy hair. I know notice a bathroom connected to the bedroom, but I decide that I don't care about hygiene today.

My feet carry me to the lounge area, then down the other hall to where everyone is training. Immediately, I hear a mixture of voices, grunts, and sparing. Immediately, Aubrey waves at me from the weapon's side. Half work with weapons and have spar. Since I sparred last time, I walk over to Aubrey and pick up a gun from the table in the back. It's the same as Leane's, and I realize with dismay that I left my gun at home. Oh well, there are plenty here.

I let out a breath and turn to the target.

"Hey, how are you today?" Aubrey asks from my left.

I turn to smile at my friend. "Better. I guess all I needed was a bit of sleep."

She grins. "That's great. I was a little worried with all that's going on."

I turn back towards the targets at the same time that she does. "Yeah, well don't worry about me. I realized that I can't drag myself down before the real fighting even begins."

We train with guns and knives. Aubrey seems to have learned a lot, and she ends up teaching me about knives since Leane never covered them. It feels good to lose myself in something. It feels good to spend time with my friend, who I bond with even more. The best part is a get to meet people from The Others. They all seem to look at me with pride and hope. Not only that, but they're all very friendly.

A short girl with midnight hair grins at me. She hurls her knife into the dirt wall, right through the bullseye of the holographic target. "You need some help?"

I glance at my own target. My knife is stuck below it. Aubrey grins at the girl from my other side. "Avery is the master of knife throwing. She's the one that taught me."

Seeing the way both of them look at each other, I grin. It seems that Aubrey has made some friends as well, and I hope that she gets the happily-ever-after that she deserves.

I smile at Avery, whose head comes up to my chin. Her own chin is sharp, and her dark eyes hold a sense of innocence, yet a sense of loss. Her skin is pale from lack of sunlight, and her long eyelashes cast shadows down her face.

"Are we gonna throw knives or what?" Avery laughs.

"Sure," I grin. I hope I'll never need to throw knives, but it's nice to know every skill that I can. So, I let Avery teach me, but I don't miss the glances she risks at my friend, who flushes every time their eyes meet. Happiness swells in me for her. Everyone deserves a happy ending, and after her dead girlfriend and the traitor Rachel, I hope she finds her forever.

I'm no good at knife throwing, but at least I'm able to hit the target. After a while, when sweat begins to pour down my back, we're summoned to lunch. Avery and Aubrey walk shoulder to shoulder, and I can't help but grin at them. My eyes land on Eva, who walks up to the two girls and starts a conversation. Before she can spot me, I fall behind, happy that Eva doesn't seem to be wallowing in her misery. Then, I spot Cody talking to my cousin and wave both of them over.

"Wow, I didn't know you were so bad at hide and seek," Cody laughs.

I glare at my cousin. "What've you been telling him, Ash?"

She holds up her hands innocently. "Oh, nothing. Nothing at all."

I laugh, and they join in. Despite all that's happening, I feel a sense of normalcy wash over all of us. How long it'll last, I have no idea.