"Autumn," my cousin says in a shaking voice.

I glance at her, and she points to her watch. All watches in the vicinity simultaneously beep, and then holographic images are projected into the air. Gasps collect around the room. I can't utter a sound. It feels like my airway is closing shut. My head spins and it feels difficult to breath as I flash back to dead bodies and ruined lives.

Leane readjusts the holograph so Jeremy's whole face fits into the frame. Her hair has been cut to just above her shoulders, but it's as blue as ever. Jeremy's eyes seem to pierce right through me. Right through to Cody. I turn to look at him, and his face has gone pale, his mouth set into a firm line.

I place my hand in his and give him a reassuring squeeze. He squeezes back.

Leane clears her throat and my heart drops to my toes.

"Hello citizens of the capitol city," Leane begins.

Confusion floods through me. Capital city? I've never heard of any other city.

Jeremy smirks. "You think you have won, Autumn Morales?"

No. Far from it.

Cody scoots closer to me and wraps an arm around my shoulder. Not even he can comfort me. I feel frozen like an iceberg, my face hopefully not revealing the turmoil beneath.

People look my way, and I suck in a breath.

"You think this is over? Do the citizens of your precious capitol city?" He continues.

Does he not know that almost everyone in this city hates me, and rightfully so? Does he not give a damn about the lives that have been slain or the blood that is on his hands? Our hands? I couldn't stop them for good, and now they're going to come back. This is all not going to be over, and more people are going to die. It's all going to be my fault.

"If any of you are loyal to us, you are welcome to join our cause. Chips belong to us," Leane says.

"All of you belong to me. Just because Autumn kicked me off the official governing chair doesn't mean things won't go back to the way they were. But, don't all of you hate her as much as I do?" Jeremy said.

I clenched my fists by my sides. No one had recognized me until now. No one had looked at me like the horrid person I was until now. Maybe I deserve it.

I don't care if they hate me; I won't give up this fight until I've won it. That's a promise.

"Maybe you all can make this easier on me. Maybe she'll be dead before we return," Jeremy says smoothly, his voice like butter.

"We will return," Leane says. "Resistance is futile. Not even a bunch of stupid teenagers will stop us. Be loyal to us, or to the current government. Which is better?"

"Neither," I whisper. I don't think they can hear me, but I wish they could. I wish I could scream every profanity at them. I wish I could make my own threats. I wish I could ask why they're calling this the 'capital city'. Where are they, anyways?

My head swims with questions, memories, emotions, and everything in between. Still, I stand strong, forcing myself to breathe. They won't win. I told my friends that they were still a threat, and they didn't listen.

I furiously tap at my watch. Cody pulls me closer to him. A tear runs down my cheek as I try and fail to get their stupid faces out of the air. Yet, it isn't just my watch; it's everyone's. Everyone in the city is probably watching him talk right now. Everyone in the city probably hates me even more.

I blink, and the faces of my enemies have vanished from the air. Everyone is staring at me now. A part of me wants to run. A part of me wants to shy away from the attention, from the hatred, and from the memories flashing in my head. Yet, another part of me wants to stand strong. I'm tired of moping around and letting the past get the best of me.

I square my shoulders and step away from Cody. I was right. I was right because Leane and Jeremy are still out there, and it is far from over. Looking at the accusing eyes of my parents' customers, I wonder if I can really stand here and blame myself. I wonder what I got myself into the day my Chip hit the grass of the cemetery.

"Keep staring, because that'll make a huge difference," I scoff. Suddenly, I feel tired of everything and everyone. I'm tired of fighting a fight that I seem to be losing; both with myself and with my enemies. I'm tired of Jared and Harold acting righteous like they have done nothing wrong. Most importantly, I'm tired of the citizens of this city, who once stood with me, acting like I'm nothing but scum.

People begin to murmur.

I gather a large ball of electricity in my hand as someone else starts to do the same. It's the client my mom was working on. "If you people want to judge me, or my friends, then get out there and defeat Jeremy and Leane yourselves."

Everyone is silent.

Cody opens his mouth to say something, but I shake my head at him.

I drop my hand back to my side. Suddenly, Mom's client rushes up to me with a ball of electricity, hand outstretched as to use it to stop my heart.

I extend a hand and raise them in the air, slamming them back onto the seat. "Chips aren't a toy."

With that, I exit the salon, breathing heavily. Anger clouds my thoughts and I want to watch something burn. I want to see Jeremy and Leane crumble for everything they've done.

Ash stands beside me. "They're horrible. All of them. It isn't your fault."

I shrug. "Maybe it was. Maybe it wasn't. Still, I'm so tired of it all."

Cody stands on my other side and reaches to grab my hand. I shrug him away, beginning to walk away from the salon.

I glance back at the salon, and I see Avery standing at the door with the woman who tried to attack me. She gives the woman a shove out of the door, and she walks away.

"You didn't have to do that," I tell her.

She shrugs as Aubrey comes to stand beside her.

"Your mom didn't want her to stay, so I kindly escorted her out."

"You threatened that next time she tries-"

Avery smirks, then presses a finger to her girlfriend's lips.

"We don't need to repeat what I said."

I laugh softly. "Thank you."

She nods.

Cody grabs me hand and gives it a squeeze. We all begin walking. I glance up at the cloudy sky. It looks like it might rain. Maybe the rain will wash away the impurities of this city. Maybe my impurities.

No one utters a word. Ash and Cody flank me on either side. Avery threatens anyone who looks at us for too long. Aubrey finally tries to lighten the mood, but it doesn't work.

I'm not sure if the blame can all be placed on me. I just know what I have to do. I know that I'm angry. I know that I'm sad. I know that I'm broken. I know that I feel guilty. I know that things will never be the same.

When we stop, it's in front of the ice creamery. I just stare at the almost repaired building. A few people are working on it, and it seems like it won't be long before it's as good as new. Still, I notice a few differences. There seem to be less windows, the inside's colors look to be a bit off. It makes my stomach sink to know that it will never be the same again. This place meant so much to us, to me, and I let it be set on fire.

"It's not your fault," Cody whispers.

I just squeeze his hand tightly. He doesn't complain, but I worry that I'm going to cut off his circulation.

A drop of rain lands on my nose, and a slight breeze blows back my hair.

"We have to do something."

"Do what?" Cody asks.

"They made a threat, Cody. They're going to come back and everything is going to go to hell all over again," I say.

"They're not here yet," Avery replies.

"I don't want anything to happen, either," Cody says. "Autumn, it's just, I don't want to jump to action right away."

I jerk away from him. "Why not?"

"Autumn," Ash says gently, placing a hand on my shoulder. "Don't get all worked up. We have time to logically plan, okay? Leane is going to take her time, so we should, too."

I let out a breath. "Well, we need to make sure."

"Let's let things be relaxed, okay?" Aubrey says, standing in front of me. "That's what everyone needs right now."

I shake my head. "No. You know what everyone doesn't need? Another war! Because that's what this all is leading to. What about the government now? Do you think it's stable with Harold and Jared at the top? Do you really think everything is okay? That everyone is going to be fine?"

I look down, and I realize I've turned myself invisible. I'm shaking, and I ball my hands into fists to stop it. Hot, angry tears spill down my cheeks and I rush away.

"Autumn?" Someone calls. I'm not sure who.

"Just leave me alone. I need time to myself."

—————

Soo, any predictions? Things are going to start getting heated.

Who do you thing is right: Autumn or her friends?

What do you think of Autumn's behavior?

-Sarah