As I finish filling Eva in on the mission, Ash walks into the lounge room swinging her mom's keys. Everyone else around me stands up, and we wordlessly follow her. The uniform hallways fly by as my mind wanders. Strangely, all of my previous fears have vanished. I know what I need to do, and I know that I wouldn't pass up with opportunity if I had the chance. Sure, I feel I bit nervous of all that's to happen. However, I know that I can't keep working myself up over this. I have people I care about by my side, and together we're going to do this.

I'm snapped out of my thoughts as Cody's hand slips into mine. He squeezes gently and I squeeze back, glancing at the elevator I first arrived here in. Ash walks up to a panel attached to the outside of the glass. With a few taps, she sends the bottom of the elevator tumbling down. Eva tenses beside me, and I laugh lightly as she punches me in the arm.

"Please don't tell me the elevator will do that while we're on it," Eva mutters.

Avery's laugh is sharp, yet light at the same time. "Just wait."

Glancing at Avery and Aubrey, I realize that they have their hands clasped together. I smile at their cuteness, then drop Cody's hand to walk over to Aubrey. Smirking, I whisper in her ear, "I guess you've finally found that perfect someone."

She turns red as I walk back to Cody's side, smiling to myself. About that time, I notice a familiar red car pop up as the elevator doors open. My jaw goes slack as Avery and Ash walk towards the car. Turning to the rest, I notice that their expressions mirror mine. Pushing away my astonishment, I squeeze into the back seat. Somehow, four of use manage to fit where only three should go. Ash sits in the driver's seat with Eva beside her, then taps a button on the car's touchscreen. The elevator begins to rise as soon as the glass doors shut, and I notice Eva glancing around in awe.

Ash smirks at me through the rearview mirror, placing her hands on the steering wheel and leaning forward. "I hope you guys are packed in tight enough."

Before I can open my mouth to respond, the car is lifted through an extension of the storm drain cover. No sooner does it meet fresh air does Ash cause the car to speed down the road. I fall against the door, Cody's arm flush against mine.

"Who taught you to drive?" I gasp.

My cousin laughs. "My mom a while back. I can't exactly have this car drive itself to a rebel base, now can I?"

I laugh along with her, forgetting my worries. It almost seems like old times, just with a few new friends. "I guess you can't."

"Just don't kill us before we can complete our mission," Avery grumbles.

Eva turns to face me. "So I'll be with Avery and Cody on standby in case you need anything, right?"

I nod, please with the determination written across her face. "Yes, Ev. I'm sure everything will go fine, but it's just a precaution." I think I'm saying that for my benefit rather than anyone else's.

Eva rolls her eyes. "Come on, Autumn. Don't tell me the girl who didn't fear death is scared of a little action."

My stomach twists. "No one said I wasn't scared. My determination just overpowered it."

The car falls silent and Cody's hand falls on my knee, giving it a gentle squeeze.

"Plus, we don't want her to die this time," Aubrey adds. "We need her."

Her words shock me for a moment, and I realize that people truly need me, but I need them just as much.

The rest of the ride is spent going over possible scenarios and how to handle them. Everyone else seems to be giving themselves pep talks, everyone but Eva and I. I decide that I don't need to think about my fear anymore. I need to think of the reasons I need to make it out of this alive, of everything that is at stake.

Finally, the car pulls to a halt. Gulping in a deep breath, I glance at the faux grass surrounding us. It seems to stretch on forever, and my breath catches in my throat as Eva pushes open her door. Following suit, I exit the car, everyone but Ash doing the same. She presses a button and the window rolls down.

"Keep walking that way," she points behind me, "and you'll reach it in no time. Good luck."  Before I can catch her expression, she turns away and the window rolls up.

I glance at the people around me. Each of us are dressed in black body suits that cling to us. Avery found them, claiming they were old mission suits that The Others used. They will allow us to move comfortably, yet help conceal us from the eye. Even Aubrey and I sport the clothing. You can never be too safe. My gaze travelwsfrom the attire to the faces surrounding me. Everyone has cold determination in their eyes. No matter what they felt before, there's no room for doubt now.

I nod to Aubrey. "You ready?"

She nods, flashing me a small smile. I know she's scared, but she's burying that under her desire for revenge. Leane took someone she loved, and Aubrey hasn't forgotten.

Avery reaches for her hand and squeezes. "Be safe in there." Her gaze flickers to me. "Both of you. I expect both of you to come out of there alive."

"Me too," I sigh, placing my hands on my hips. "It's now or never. Let's get to walking."

Before I can begin walking, Cody pulls me into his arms. His chin rests atop my head as he whispers, "You better come back alive, Autumn. I can't bare to lose you for real this time."

I wrap my arms around him and squeeze, slightly aware of the eyes on us. "Don't worry. This is over yet. I have more enemies to deal with."

His chest vibrates with his chuckles as he pulls away from me.

Eva smiles at us. "Come on you two. You can get a room after we complete with mission."

I roll my eyes at her, then search hers for any sign of pain. She's still healing from Jared,'s betrayal, but she's happy for us. I can see it in the way she smiles, in the way she holds herself. She knows that a boy won't make you whole, and she won't let one make her crack. Besides, I'm sure she'll find someone better some day. Someone who won't run off when you need them the most.

Wordlessly, I follow Avery, who has already started walking.

"Get in, get out," Avery whispers as I near her. "And please keep Aubrey safe. She's feisty, but she's still a bit fragile."

I smile. "Don't underestimate her."

"I'm not," she sighs into the darkness, her keen eyes always scanning her surroundings. "She's been hurt too much. If anyone deserves a happy ending, it's her."

I nod in agreement, and the conversation falls short. Nerves jumble in my stomach, but I let the new Autumn take over. This Autumn knows how to fight, how to survive, and knows that everything she's fighting for is at stake.

After walking for about five minutes, I can see the abandoned building ahead. The many windows are shattered, the glass nowhere to be seen. The gray structure leans slightly to the right, and the door is barely on its hinges. A regular person would look right past it, but I know what's in there. I know that hidden under a rug is an entrance to Leane's base. It's where I snuck from the first night I visited my friends, and it's what I escaped through the night Rachel betrayed Aubrey's trust.

Aubrey walks to my side as the three others back away into the shadows. Before I can catch their expressions, I grab Aubrey's arm.

"Turn invisible," I whisper, making sure my senses are as heightened as they can be. No camera are around, which causes me to sigh in relief.

Glancing to my left, I notice that Aubrey was winked out of existence. I follow suit, allowing tingles to envelope my body as it becomes invisible. My strength has been restored, so holding the invisibility is pretty easy. I walk forward and tug Aubrey along, clinging to her arm so I don't lose her. Both of our feet carry us to the door. Wordlessly, I open the door and we through.  My eyes land on the faded gray red in the middle of the room.

I'm not sure what this place used to be. There's some kind of receptionist desk at the front of the room. I notice something resembles an elevator- except it's made of metal. I also know there are floors above us, but they'll probably very unstable. Glancing up, I can already see the ceiling caving in.

Aubrey tugs her arm, and I follow her to the rug. She pushes it aside, revealing the familiar metal hatch. My breath catches in my throat as I let go of Aubrey, taking the leap into the hatch. Landing on my feet, I continue down the dark hallway to the door I know is at the end of it.. I hear Aubrey behind me, and I'm pretty sure I can hear her heart pounding. My own heart beats faster and faster as I reach out to the handle my night vision allows me to see. Then, I soundlessly tug it open, then wait for Aubrey to close it. This is the door Leane stopped us at, the one we could've lost our lives at. Now, we're back, and we're here on a mission.

One thing I didn't plan on are the new guards. They stand a bit further from the door, the guns pointed forward. I guess Leane wants to make sure no one can escape again. Quietly, Aubrey and I sneak past them. One tenses, glancing around, and I pause. Nearly sighing in relief as the guard looks away, I quicken my pace

My feet guide me through the familiar hallways. I know where just about everything is, including my destination. Aubrey's hand fumbles for my arm, then latches around it. Both our breathing steadies as we walk further down the hallway, but catches as we spot Leane walking down the hallway. Monica, Hailee's sister, walks on her right. Rachel is too her left.

Aubrey's nails all but dig into my arm as we halt our steps. I wish to rip Rachel and Leane apart for all that they've done, but I restrain myself. Instead, I listen. I know they can't see us, but we don't want them to hear our footsteps, either. I also know that it's past curfew here, so I wonder what they're doing up. Of course, Leane wouldn't follow her own rules.

Leane stops in front of what I remember as the garden room. So many memories swim in my head, but I push them away. I let my anger at the people in front of me take over. If only I could kill Leane right now, but I know I can't. Her whole army will be after me.

Rachel sighs. "Are you sure Derek will pull through?"

Leane smiles wickedly. "If he know's what's good for him, he will."

My eyes widen in shock. Then, it starts to click. Leane was the lady Derek was talking to last night. We've been betrayed.

Monica stays silent, glancing around the hallway. She seems timid, almost like the people next to her scare her into submission. She's the opposite of Hailee.

"We have to move fast! That Autumn girl and her friends are still out there, still trying to ruin everything!" Rachel cries.

My anger threatens to explode out of me, but I also smirk with pride.

Leane rolls her eyes. "It's fine, Rachel. Derek will take care of them!"

"He used to be your enemy!"

"Yeah, will I need to trust him if I want things to go smoothly," the leader huffs. "Come on, we don't have much time to put everything in motion! We attack in two days! Everything needs to be perfect." She glares at Rachel. "Don't forget who's in charge, and who offered you the position you have now!"

Rachel sighs. "Okay, okay."

As they walk off, I hear Aubrey huff out a breath. Panic rises within me at Leane's words. Two more days. Two more days until everything begins, and Derek is actually our enemy.