My dad scoffed. "I broke it." He stood up, holding a glass of pop tightly in his grip. "You're blaming this on me." Matthew took a wary step back, weakly nodding. My father, who I'd rather call Jack, laughed.

"Oh son, this wasn't my fault. If you would have listened to me, I would still have my motorcycle and you wouldn't be in a cast."

"I'm sorry Jack, but this wasn't all my fault. I forgot your motorcycle, but you broke six of my bones and I will never forgive you for that," Matthew replied.

My father yelled out. He didn't speak any words, it was just one long raw cry of frustration that clawed at the back of his throat. He raised his hand, launching the glass across the room. The glass was headed straight for Matthew, but he stepped right and the cup smashed into the wall just inches away from his head, shattering into hundreds of glass shards. My adoptive father stormed off to his room like a toddler, slamming the door behind him.

After a few moments my sister spoke. "Well, that went better than I expected."

Matthew chuckled. "I'd agree. I thought that glass was going to hit my face." It was strange how suddenly light hearted Matthew was about the situation, but he had always been strong.

I got the broom from our pantry and swept up the mess of glass, throwing it in the trash. We made dinner and watched some t.v. A commercial break came on so I got up and went to the kitchen to make popcorn. Just as I was about to sit down with the bowl in my hand, another pain shot down my neck. I gasped, regretting it the second after it left my mouth.

"Are you okay? You've been doing that a lot lately," Hannah asked me worriedly.

"Yeah I'm fine." Matthew looked over to me, giving me a look that definitely said tell-me-or-there-will-be-consequences.

"Seriously Rebecca, what's going on?" Matthew asked, staring intently at me, waiting for an answer.

I tell Matthew and Hannah everything. We don't have secrets. With everything we've been through, we can't afford to have secrets, and this is why it was so hard for me to keep this from them. My only secret was the surgery. No one knew about that surgery, and something told me it had to stay that way. My better judgement said it was dangerous for my siblings and I both if I told them.

"Nothing, I've just been tired and stressed out," I lied to them. The feeling of guilt swept through me. I hated it.

I could tell Matthew didn't believe me but he dropped it. Hannah seemed perfectly content with my answer and she went back to the chick flick she had just put on.

"They're kissing. That's my cue to leave. I'm going to head to bed guys," Matthew announced. I laughed at him and gave him a slight wave. He turned and slowly climbed up the stairs, wincing with each step.

I agreed, it was 11:30 at night and I was exhausted. It had been a long few days. I took a shower, changed into pajamas, and stumbled into my room with sleepy eyes barely able to stay open. Before I went to bed I checked my phone which sat on my bedside table.

There were a few messages but one stood out to me. It was from an unknown number, but I was pretty sure I knew who it was from. I opened the message.

It's Ty. Meet me at the cafe at 5:00 tomorrow morning. We need to talk.

I rolled my eyes at the text. What happened to me calling him when I was ready? I knew we needed to keep things somewhat secretive but five in the morning seemed a little overboard. I was to tired to argue though so instead I made a mental note to wake up at five.

* * *

I slipped the store key into the door and with a twisting motion the door gave way and opened for Ty and I. It wasn't easy to sneak out this morning, seeing as how I had to sneak past both my siblings and parents door. But, somehow I managed, and here I was standing in the store I worked at 5:00 AM.

Ty had met me outside, dressed his black leather jacket. I found the switch and the lights flickered on, lighting up the cafe. Ty found a seat in the middle of the cafe while I ran back and made myself a coffee and a muffin. I grabbed a blueberry scone for Ty, along with some hot chocolate.

"Okay, so what's so important? I thought I was suppose to call you?" I placed the cups and food down on the table.

"I thought we could do some research. We need to find Dr. Belford before its to late. I had another episode yesterday afternoon and it lasted for fifteen minutes. I don't know what's happening but it's getting worse quick."

"Alright," I agreed. "Where do we start?"

"Google," Ty said in a 'duh' tone. "Let's just start researching."

Ty pulled out two laptops from his bag and handed one to me. I thought it was strange how urgent he was about this, but then again, it was his life that was in danger—not mine. Ty was different. He was blunt, sarcastic, and I had a feeling I wouldn't want to get him angry.

He wasn't incredibly big or scary, but something about him was intimidating. He had Raven black hair that was short and messily spiked upwards. His eyes were a striking dark blue, and they seemed to bore into everything and anything he looked at. So far, he'd only worn dark colored clothing. Honestly, his looks and size wouldn't intimidate you, but he managed to scare most people around him with his personality.

I started up the laptop and opened Google. My fingers stayed stiff for a moment before an idea came to mind. I typed in 'Dr.Belford West Stone Hospital.' A website on the hospital appeared with a profile of Dr. Belford. He was a man in his mid-forties with dark, short black hair.

"Look at this," I said to Ty, turning the computer his way. Ty scanned over the article taking in every single word.

"It says he retired just a few weeks after we were born. It was a really sudden decision to retire," Ty read.

"Do you think Dr. Belford could have been the one who implanted the chips?"

"It's possible. He could be the one sending us these messages," Ty said, scrolling down the page.

"Why would he be so secretive about it?" No one else knew about our surgery except for Ty, Dr. Belford, and I.

"I don't know, but that's what we're going to find out," Ty stated, determination thick in his voice.

"Wait, I think I have something on Dr. Belford."

"After Dr. Belford retired he moved to a small town in Montana. He said he wanted to live in a secluded area, away from the public eye," Ty read. "The article is actually entitled Beloved Doctor and Friend Moves To the Mountains."

"Maybe Dr. Belford made a mistake, or something went wrong in his surgeries so he went into hiding," I suggested. Ty glanced up at me and shook his head.

"No, it doesn't say anything about a fault or mistake in his surgeries. He was the best surgeon at that hospital. And, that was one of the best hospitals in the country. They would have figured it out. They would know Dr. Belford did something wrong and then ran for it."

We contemplated this for a while, sitting in silence until a loud knock on the door startled Ty and I. I jumped up from the wooden chair and rushed across the cafe to the door, swinging it open. In front of me stood my brother, arms crossed tightly over his chest and scowl burning on his face.

"Matt, what are you doing here?" I asked him, attempting to block the doorway.

"I was just about to ask you the same thing," Matthew stated plainly, glaring at me. Overprotective brothers. I sighed, opening the door a little to let myself out but before I could get my foot out the door Matthew had already shoved his way inside, despite his injuries.

Ty looked like a deer in the headlights, his eyes wide and mouth open. I slammed the door behind me and rushed around Matthew, getting in between him and Ty. Matthew glanced at me, then back to Ty.

"What's going on?" He asked firmly.

"Matthew, I'm just helping Ty out with some schoolwork," I lied. Maybe Matthew would believe me. I always got good grades in school.

"At five in the morning in the cafe," Matthew said incredulously. I looked back at Ty, and then to my brother.

"Yes, he-he didn't  want anyone to know about it," I lied again to my brother. Matthews eyes softened, and strangely, that didn't bring me any comfort.

"Rebecca you're lying to me. You were lying to me when you almost passed out earlier, and your lying to me now. What's going on?" Matthew said each word slowly and clearly. A mixture of anger and fear burned in his eyes, searching for the truth.

I turned to look back at the other person in the room. "I'm sorry Ty, but I can't lie to Matthew, not about this."

How did you like this new chapter? How do you think Matthew is going to react? Let me know your opinions!

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