Sleep is fickle sometimes. It comes and goes throughout the night. Sometimes it eludes you and laughs as you lay awake, your mind refusing to stop replaying images of the past or stop conjuring plans. This happens to me until sunlight peaks through the window. If I close my eyes, I see Hannah on the ground, dead. Sometimes, I see Monica removing her Chip and slumping to the ground. Sometimes, I even see Ash's grave and Kaylee's scornful face.

No matter which past I think of, all of them seem to haunt me.

I tuck the blankets up to my chin. I lay awake as tears slide down my face and plans rush through my head. I can't stop envisioning new horrors: Cody dying by his father's hand. Leane shooting Eva. Aubrey watching Avery die with tears streaming down her face.

I know I have to do something. I know I need to get to Jeremy and Leane before they get to everyone I love. I should've known it would never be easy to eliminate everything that oppressed us. Etchers are back. Harold wants to become a second Jeremy. People want me dead.

At half past seven, I finally decide to get up. I take a long shower, trying to scrub off blood that will never fade. I still smell the burning of the ice creamery in my hair and feel like blood is caking my skin. As I dry myself with a fluffy towel, I feel like if I look down, I'll see red staining the perfect white.

Anxiety eats at me as I get dressed for the day ahead. I know I have to take drastic measures. This time, I'll truly have to do this alone. I can't risk involving the people I care about. I can't let them get hurt, even if they don't realize how big of a deal this all is. Even if the citizens of this city want to cling to safety, I need to cling to reality before I go insane.

My parents are sitting at the kitchen table when I walk in.

"What are you doing up so early?" My father asks.

I shrug, sitting down next to him and across from mom. I grab a piece of toast and shove it in my mouth, knowing I need to eat.

"Come on, we need to get to the salon," my says, her demeanor cold.

Dad's gaze hardens as he gets up from the table. "Don't be so cold towards your own daughter. Appearance isn't everything!"

Mom walks out of the house without another word. My heart plummets to my chest as I recall her perfectionists ways. I remember her dressing Dad and me up to go to Jared's for a nail polish sale. I had thought she'd changed when she'd welcomed me home with open arms, ecstatic I was alive.

I guess I was wrong. Everyone was going back to their old ways. Jared was back to the jerk that kicked cats, and Mom was back to caring about her reputation.

Dad jerked me out of my thoughts as he wrapped his arms around me.

"Have a great day, Autumn. Be happy, okay? You deserve it. I still believe in you. I still believe it isn't over."

I smile at my dad as he walks out of the house. As soon as the door closes, my smile fades and I bite my lip. He's the only person who still believes in me.

Then, it hits me; it's now or never. If I'm going to stop this once and for all, I need to first find Jeremy and Leane. Harold can wait. Maybe my friends will come to their senses.

I rush up the stairs and grab my old, gray school bag. I grab my journal and shove it in there. I find the gun I have hidden under my bed and also shove it in there. I go downstairs and grab a few bottles of water and some beef jerky in the fridge. I slam the fridge shut and lean my forehead against it for a moment. I'll stop Jeremy and Leane, then I'll come back to save Eva from Jared. I'll save the whole city from Harold.

I let out a soft breath and walk towards the door. Cody will be so upset with me. At least this time, I'll be leaving my home willingly with a plan of return. I stare down at my watch. I probably shouldn't take it with me or else I can be tracked. Maybe I can use it to leave a message for everyone.

I'm about to remove my watch when it beeps with an incoming HoloChat. Without really thinking, I answer. A face I never thought I'd see again pops up; a face I haven't really thought about since escaping Leane's compound.

Kaylee stares at me for a moment. Her holograph blinks, and she clears her throat.

"Hello, Autumn."

I mutter under my breath before responding. "Hello, Kaylee."

She tilts her head to the side, red hair spilling over her shoulder. "It's been a long time, hasn't it?"

"Yes, it has. Now, what do you want?" I ask, irritated. I can't help flashing back to how things used to be after Ash supposedly died. I can't help but remember the compound and my memory loss. I can't stop remembering the people from that compound who died: Hailee, Monica, Hannah, Annette, and Teresa, who died at the compound saving me. There were also others who died and showed up on the news after all was said and done.

Kaylee lets out a breath. "I didn't want to reach out to you, but you're the only person I know will do something. Can you meet me somewhere?"

I glare at her holographic form. "Why should I?"

"Why should Harper have died for you, huh?"

I squeeze my eyes shut as my own screams echo in my ears; as the gunshot echoes in my memories. "She believed in the cause."

"And so do I," she said.

I reopened my eyes. "Fine. Where?"

"Behind the ice creamery."

My stomach twists, but I find myself nodding. I can get there fast, hear what she has to say, and still continue with my plans.

She hangs up. I take off my watch and aim to at my face, setting it to record.

"To whichever of you are watching this, I want you to know that I'm okay." I gulp in a breath of air. "I'm going after Leane and Jeremy. I'm going to stop this once and for all. You don't see what this world has come to, but I do. I can't let anyone else die."

A tear slides down my cheek thinking of everyone I'll leave behind. "Cody," I say, my voice cracking,"I love you, but I wish you weren't blinded by wanting everything to be okay. Aubrey, Avery, the same for you. And Ash, you were the first rebel I met. You were the first one to tell me to be careful. You're one of the fiercest people I know. Please back sure Harold doesn't ruin all of our hard work and revert everything back to how it used to be.

"Mom, I love you, but you're too obsessed with everything being perfect. It never will be. We'll always be flawed, but maybe flaws make us perfect in our own ways. Dad, you always believed in me. I hope you never lose faith in the fight for what's right."

Tears are now pooling at my chin and dripping onto my shirt. "Eva, if you happen to see this, you're like the sister I never had. You need to realize that Jared is long gone. I shouldn't have pushed you away though. I love all of you, but you'll eventually realize that things are dire."

I end it there and set my watch on the couch. After swiping the back of my hand against my eyes, I head out of the door to meet with Kaylee.

^^^^

Kaylee is waiting for me. She leans against the dumpster without a care, arms folded across her chest.

"About time," she snorts.

I roll my eyes, stopping a bit away from her. "What did you want to tell me?"

She lets out a breath. "Autumn, you saw the message from Leane and Jeremy, didn't you?"

"Everyone did."

"They're huge threats. The current government has found a way to regain control of Chips. It'll be like before, but worse. You need to get out," she says urgently.

"There's nothing out there, right? I mean, Leane and Jeremy are, and- and I know I have to find them," I say.

She sighs. "You're all about rebellion, but have no idea of these facts? Well, Leane told me a while back. This is bigger than us. There are other cities."

I gasp. "N- no. You're lying."

"There are. They've been lying to us. This is the capital city where the main government is. Out there, Jeremy can take over some of the smaller cities. He can gather an army. Her eyes widen slightly. "This has always been big. Are you understanding it now? Do you understand that this is bigger than everyone within this fence. Besides, have you ever seen anyone get out? Or heard of it?"

I think for a moment. She's right. "How."

She smirks. "That, I can tell you. Once, Leane sent me out of the city to gather some supplies for her for her Chips. There are guards, but they change shifts everyday at noon. Then, you can escape."

"Why would you tell me all this?" I query. "I mean, why not be a hero yourself?"

She shrugs. "You've always been the better person. I told you my sob story back at the compound. Either way, I want to come with you. After everything I've lived through, and everything Harper died for, I want to do good. You don't have to like me. You don't have to stay with me once we get outside. I just need to make sure that this isn't all for nothing."

"You sound a lot like Harper right now," I confess. I glanced around, trying to search for prying eyes and cameras. I find none.

She bites her lip. "You were already going to try." She gestures to the bag slung over my shoulder.

"How can I trust you?" I ask. I gulp in a deep breath, trying to calm myself down.

"Trust me, or don't. I can get you out, or the guards will shoot you. Especially you."

"You know a lot," I say suspiciously.

Kaylee tugs at her hair, glancing around nervously. "Yes, I do. Come on if you're serious about this. If not, I'm wasting my time."

After a moment of hesitation, I follow her. I know this si my only option.

_____

So, I got a job, and ooooh my gosh. I don't regret it, but it's also taxing since I'm still in school....

Here's the next chapter! I hope I'll still be able to write despite being even more busy with a job. 

What do you think of Kaylee's intentions? 

-Sarah