"Can we just-"

"No."

"Let's just-"

"No."

"But-"

"Do you want to become one of them?" I hiss furiously at Ivor in between breaths. We're running away from Lukas' house, following Harper through the streets on the neighborhood. Unfortunately, we've attracted swarms of PAMA's chipped victims.

Harper hasn't said anything to answer the pile of questions building in my head. So far, she's been leading us to who knows where and only speaking when we get behind. I'm starting to get tired, and Ivor has been complaining to rest for a while now.

"No, but would you rather have me-passed out?" He retorts back, breathing heavily.

I think for a moment before sighing in defeat and looking around for a hiding place.

"Harper!" I shout, pulling to a short halt in between two houses. She turns back to look at us, stopping as well.

"We need to lose them!" I nod towards the group of people following us. They aren't that close, but they're coming for us quickly. Believe me, I would've gotten out of the open ages ago, but I want answers from Harper.

Harper's eyes dart around in front of her for a route, and then a few seconds later she gestures for us to follow her again with a slight movement of her fingers.

"Alright, come on."

She weaves in between a few houses, jumping over their fences with me and Ivor attempting to follow. I don't understand how she has so much stamina, we've been running for ages. And she's older. No offense. It just makes me feel out of shape.

Finally, we're out of the neighborhood. In front of us are a few roads leading to different destinations, and smack dab in the middle is a black car. When we finally stop Ivor is panting and out of breath, hands on his knees and bent down.

I quickly pat him on the back and give him a weak but hopefully encouraging smile. I take a few moments to catch my breath as well.

Harper gestures for us to get in the car, getting in the drivers seat while me and Ivor hop in the back. Right as the door closes, she starts the car and presses on the gas. The vehicle immediately surges forward, making Ivor lurch backwards and me almost falling to the side.

"Seat belts on kids." Harper exclaims, basically speeding down the road. I quickly sit myself upright and reach for my seat belt, buckling in it.

"A few seconds would have done us some good, you know." I retort back, biting my lip to prevent myself from spitting some insult at her. "Where are we going anyway? And when are you going to tell us what in the world is going on?"

"Yes, I believe we have the right to know." Ivor says bitterly, folding his arms across his chest. "Those things aren't acting like they should. They could've killed me, you know!"

At this point his emotions are taking hold of him, and I glance at Harper through the rear-view mirror. She catches my eye, but only for a half a second before she puts them on the road again, face tight. Now I feel like she's a complete stranger, demeanor completely changed from before.

"Those 'things' are still human. Don't try to classify them as anything else." Is her only reply, voice low and slightly bitter as she continues to drive.

Ivor and I share a look, not knowing exactly how to react to her change of behavior.

"We just want answers Harper." I exclaim gently, "Look I know I sound selfish right now, but I just saw my friends being controlled by an evil machine that you made. We don't have the slightest idea what's going on, besides it taking over. It'd be more useful if you'd at least explain the gist of what is happening so we could try to help."

I grimace a bit. That word is suddenly chilling. It pounds in the back of my head and makes me lost in thought again.

SCREECH

The car jerks to a halt, making me snap out of my daze. Ivor groans and accidentally hits head on the seat in front of him. He rubs his head, where his bruise is now threatening to enlarge even further, turning a deeper shade of purple.

"Get out."

I gap at her, and even Ivor looks incredibly stunned.

"W-what?!"

"Get out. Before I have to make you."

"Harper, we're not leaving." I say firmly, tempted to grit my teeth and rage at her.

"Fine. You can let PAMA get you then."

Shocked, we turn our heads around to see the horde of chipped people still coming towards us, and this time they're running. They aren't that far, but they could gain distance from how we've stopped. I growl in defeat and take off my seat belt, getting out of the car and facing her in the tinted window. I can hear Ivor get out and follow me as well.

She rolls it down, and then finally, turns to face me and looks me directly in the eye. From close up I can see her face clearly. Wrinkles and creases embedded into her face and making it weary, little scratches and wiped blood marks smeared against her cheeks like a furious blush. Bags rest under her eyes that are filled with something like grief.

"You'll get answers. Just not now. Not when...not like this. I promise. But you need to leave." Her voice is now hoarse as she speaks, and then hands me a folded up piece of paper. I'm starting to have mixed feelings. There's something I'm not getting. "Look for the big difference. You'll see it."

And with that she rolls the window up, with me holding the folded up piece of paper which feels heavy in my hands.

"Harper, wait-" I reach out a hand to try and stop her, but she starts the car again and speeds off into the unknown before I can put together the right words.

"Well, that went well." Ivor retorts sarcastically, voice quiet but sharp at the same time. I can tell he's also clouded with confusion. I stare at the paper in my hands and turn it over in between my fingers. "And it's going to be worse if we just stand here, come on!"

And for a second there's no complaining, while Ivor grabs my wrist and we're off running again.

*singsong voice*

🎶 This is freaking filler 🎶

I'm so bad at updates I stg

Feel free to bug me if I don't get an update every 2-3 weeks, k? :')

Anyways bai