About fifteen minutes after driving out of the beach area, we stopped over at a Subway to grab lunch. I know, not the best of choices, but our options were limited in the small Alaskan town, and Amanda insisted on getting something we could easily eat on the go. 

Our sandwiches were all ready in less than five minutes, courtesy of the Code, and we ate inside the RV's, not wanting to draw too much attention to ourselves. The last thing we needed right now was the police walking up to us wondering why twenty six people, all under eighteen except for one, were driving in unregistered vehicles without driver's licenses. 

Although I'd take the police any day over certain other threats that faced us. 

"Okay, so right now, I can think of about a million different ways we could die in the next few minutes," Justin said, the tension evident in his voice. 

"The aliens could blow up our fuel tanks, take control of my brain and make me start killing everyone, poison our food, send in a squad of three-eyed assassins to take us out one by one...And that's just the tip of the iceberg." 

"Maybe if you would stop saying stuff like that," I said between bites. "The level of stress in the air wouldn't be so astronomically high!" 

"Geez, sorry," he shrugged. "I'd rather hear the truth than your nice, happy version." 

"I'd rather not be constantly reminded that we're a bunch of teenagers in an RV against an evil alien Empire." 

"We are, though," Justin stated simply. 

"You don't get it, do you?" I shook my head. 

"Hey, guys, what evil alien Empire?" Kelly scrunched up her nose in confusion. 

Oops. 

"Oh, just something from one of Justin's video games," I shook my head and laughed. "I swear, he's obsessed." 

Play along, I mouthed to my brother. 

"Oh," Kelly smiled. "What's the game called?" 

Shoot. 

"Um...Evil Blue Aliens of the Galaxy!" I blurted. 

"Never heard of it," Kelly shrugged. 

"It's not very popular," Justin said. 

Nice save. 

Soon, the RV's were in motion again, and I was lost in a conversation with Justin and Kelly. For once, it wasn't about aliens, or the end of the world. It was normal kid stuff, like who won a recent football game, or what new movies were out. For the first time since I discovered my true identity, I was starting to feel like a regular girl again. 

Until Amanda ruined it with a CT. 

Amanda Lynne Myers: I have urgent news

Me: What? 

Amanda Lynne Myers: The Icehearts are gone!!!

Me: OHMIGOSH YESSS!!! 

Amanda Lynne Myers: No, stupid, that's not something to be celebrating about!

Me: Why would I not be celebrating when my worst enemies just went poof? 

Amanda Lynne Myers: They didn't "go poof" as you say. 

I could almost feel her sighing and rolling her eyes behind me as I read the CT. 

Me: Then define "gone." 

Amanda Lynne Myers: A few minutes ago, the air was filled with noise from their Auras. Their presence was so powerful I could barely even sense you! And then, suddenly, they're just...gone. I can't feel their Auras anymore, it's like they're not even there. 

Me: Maybe they changed their mind about me! Maybe they left!

Amanda Lynne Myers: This is Queen Saralee, Armetorius Kandain, and Raliyel Novisty we're talking about here. Three of the smartest, most determined people in the universe. They don't just suddenly leave for no reason. And even if they did, their Auras would slowly fade away as they went out of range. They wouldn't just disappear! 

Me: Then what do you think's going on? 

Amanda Lynne Myers: They must've used some kind of scrambler to mess with the signals of their Auras. They don't want anyone to know where they are. 

Me: But they're still the same Icehearts. It doesn't make the situation any better or worse if they're invisible. I don't see why this is so urgent. 

Amanda Lynne Myers: Which one's scarier, a spider you can see or a spider you can't see? 

Me: Well, that's a random question. 

Amanda Lynne Myers: Just answer it. 

Me: One you can see, duh. Cause if you can see it, it's closer. The one you can't see could be in China. 

Amanda Lynne Myers: What if the one you can't see is on the back of your neck? 

Me: Well that changes things. 

Amanda Lynne Myers: Exactly. They're closer than we think, Viv. Much, much closer. 

...................................

I'm so sorry for the short update, guys! I just really wanted to end a chapter on that awesome line! And, I don't think you want to read a 2000 word chapter about them sitting in the RV during their four hour drive to Yukon- that is what happens next, and I hate doing time skips. 

Hope you're enjoying the series so far!

-Queen Saralee (a.k.a Strawberry_Cream1928)