Thinking. It's what I seem to be doing a lot of lately, and I'm not sure I like it. But, I don't really have a choice in the matter since my brain keeps whirling and refuses to give me a peaceful moment. I let out a sigh, leaning back in my bed with the tv blaring. I'm exhausted from the exercising I got done today. By that, I mean I couldn't stop aimlessly walking around the city. I even jogged a bit, even went to one of those gyms that used to be more popular when we still had Chips. Might as well keep in shape.

My mom isn't home yet, so I just stay my room, muscles aching. I will probably be sore tomorrow, but I have worse things to worry about. Worse as in a possible crazy rebel leader, worse as in my father, worse as in the mess my life has become.

Suddenly, my watch beeps. I'm attempted to ignore it, but I glance at the screen anyways. It's a message from an unknown sender. It reads "Cody, gather Jared and Eva in one place and tell me once you have."

I furrow my eyebrows, then speak my message that is translated into text. "I'm sorry, but who are you and how do you know our names?"

The reply is swift, barely allowing my head time to mull this over and spin more than it already is. It reads, "Don't ask questions. This is urgent."

I roll my eyes, but decide to comply. Then, my heart speeds up, and I allow myself to hope. What if it's Autumn finally trying to reach out to us? Hurriedly, I send a message to Eva and Jared to met me in the ice cream shop. It's late enough that it's closed, and it'll be the perfect place for us to communicate with whoever is trying to reach us. Gosh, I really hope it's Autumn.

I practically sprint to the location, ignoring the burning in my muscles. My determination and impatience and excitement override the pain, and I allow a small smile to appear on my face. Autumn is alive, she has to be. I keep running and running, the mansions around me blurring into a whirl of random colors and shapes.

Almost being hit by a vehicle, which luckily senses me and skids to a halt, I cross the street towards the familiar parlor. I sigh, skidding to a stop right in front of it, glancing through the glass windows staring back at me. The cool air takes me by surprise, and I shiver a bit while typing in the code to open the doors. Of course, it accepts my code and I'm in, breathing in the all too familiar scents of ice cream and coffee. The tables are the same, the colors are the same, everything is the same. Except the fact that the lights are off and no one is here to work.

The others have yet to arrive, and I have a last minute thought. If it really was Autumn, why hadn't she mentioned Teresa? Did she forget, or just want it to be between us? I have a gut feeling and messaged Teresa, telling her to get here in a hurry. Then, I walk up to the counter that houses all the ice cream. My mouth begins to water and I open the mini gate, stepping behind the counter. I scoop up a random cone and plop a random flavor on top, and another random flavor on top of that.

"Are you planning on sharing?"

I jump, ready to defend myself as I squint against the darkness. A shape of a person walks towards me, and I sigh in relief. I can make out the icy eyes of my cousin, which catch the faint light flowing in from the windows, as he walks towards me. The door swings open a second later, allowing more orange light from the streetlamps to flood into the parlor. Jared triumphantly spins to face a disheveled Eva. Eva's panting, long hair knotted and messy. Her chocolate eyes narrow, hands on her hips as she attempts to gulp fresh air into her lungs.

"You-cheated," she pants, and I simply take a lick of my ice cream, eye widened as I realized I picked Autumn's favorite flavor. Letting out a sigh, I watch the couple bicker, Eva fully inside the building now. Wait- did he cheat on- her. No, he wouldn't.

"I did not!"

"You gave yourself a headstart! Not fair!"

At that, I begin laughing. I feel ice cream already dripping onto my fingers, and simply lick it away.

"I still won. You owe me five bucks."

Eva sticks out her tongue. Then, as she opens her mouth to rebuttal, she slams it shut. Turning to me, she whispers, "What's going on."

My face lights up, and I'm pretty sure they both think I'm insane. I hop over the counter, excitement flooding through me as Teresa enters next. She has a slight smile on her face, almost like she knows that something big is about to happen. It's almost like she's quietly congratulating me as she takes her time stepping forward, her boots clacking against the tile flooring.

"Hey, Teresa!" Eva greets, pulling the older girl into a hug.

Jared grumbles something about girls under his breath. "Don't keep us in suspense."

My smile grows wider as I lean against the cool, clear glass shielding the ice cream. "Well, someone contacted me and asked if we could all gather together before conversing with them, and I think it might be Autumn."

Gasps sound around the room. Teresa looks a little smug, as if she knew this would happen, while Eva looks the happiest I've seen her in a while. Her eyes seem brighter, a richer shade of brown, as her teeth catch the straggling light. She practically hops up and down, reminding me of a little kid being told something amazing, or receiving something grand. Her hair swats her in the face as she lets out a squeal.

"Really? Could it really be Autumn?"

Jared seems more relaxed, more skeptical. However, he's failing to hid the slight smile tugging at the corners of his lips. His own icy eyes seem brighter as well, and I think we all feel relief flowing through us; relief that our friend, and my- whatever the heck we are, might be alive and okay.

"Cody, are you sure?"

My shoulders slump a little. "No. But I hope that it is. Whoever it is, they have something important to say either way."

Teresa stiffens as though a malicious thought pops into her head. "What if this is some sort of trap? We haven't really thought this through."

I shrug. "There's only one way to find out."

Eva, bouncing on the balls of her feet, nods her agreement. "Come on, what are you waiting for? We're all here! Call her, er, them!"

Jared smiles at her, and I can tell her excitement is rubbing off on him. Teresa shakes her head, and I almost sense a sort of longing in her. Maybe it's longing for a better life, one more normal and full of other people. Maybe it's something we all wish for inside of ourselves, something that isn't exactly an option in the middle of all that is happening.

Letting out a tense breath, I raise my watch up to my face. The three others in the room stand still, holding their breaths as though one gust of air could blow this all away. I speak a single message, which is sent to whoever arranged this makeshift meeting. "We're all here."

I jump as my watch begins to beep, and quickly accept the call as everyone gathers around me. Hope gathers within my chest. I just want to see her face again, hear her voice again. I want to know that she's okay, safe and sound, and alive.

But, my heart and hopes immediately plunge into my stomach as the hologram appears above my watch. Gaps sounds around me, and I feel as though my throat is closing up. I feel like breathing is a chore, and I can't look away.

"Dad, what the heck?"

But, it wasn't me who said it. It was Jared, who shoves his way to stand right next to me. He's right, it is his dad. He's dressed smartly in a suit, looking as well groomed as ever. The hologram disfigures his features slightly, but his gaze still scares me a bit. He's usually so jovially, so easy going. But now, my uncle looks like, well, my dad, in a sense.

I remember sneaking into his house with Autumn and grabbing that cookbook filled with government secrets. I mean, I knew he also co-owned a nail polish line with his wife, but he also had ties to the government with my dad. Hence, the secrets Autumn and I found. However, he was nothing like my dad, just like my mom. He was just someone caught up in everything.

But now, staring at the four of us, he looks nothing like the uncle I have come to know.

"Who's that?"

He's referring to Teresa.

"Our friend. Dad, what are you doing?" Jared's voice wobbles, and it never wobbles.

My uncle addresses me next. "Hello, nephew. Long time no speak."

Someone about this whole situation sends a shiver down my spine.

"Why did you need to speak to us?" I ask, trying my hardest to sound strong and assertive. Not him too. My dad's alive, now this.

"Because. Whatever you guys are doing, it needs to stop."

My eyes widen, they narrow. "You've sided with dad." It isn't a question, it's a statement.

"Now, children-"

"Don't call us that." Jared's voice has a dangerous edge to it.

"That's what you are. Now, listen. I don't want you guys to get hurt, and that's why I called you. Yes, I sided with him, but my reasons don't matter right now. You two boys are still my family, and Eva I have come to respect, being over at my house everyday."

I can see Jared flush, along with Eva behind him. I almost feel like laughing. Almost.

"And, your friend, well, Jared has good taste in friends. Because he hates almost everyone, anyways."

Jared opens his mouth and I shoot him a warning look. It's kind of true.

"Cody, your dad is trying to reclaim what has been lost to him. This is so much more than whatever you think it is, and I don't think you guys should meddle with this."

My gaze hardens, and I challenge my uncle's. "We got involved in this long ago, when Autumn-"

"Yeah, yeah, but she's gone and you need to stand down."

"Why have you sided with him?" Jare practically shouts.

His dad shakes his head, a sad smile playing on his lips. "I'm sorry, Jar. I won't be at home from now on. But, I want you to be-"

"We won't be safe until this is all over!" Teresa exclaims. "Don't you people understand? The whole population is at risk right now and Autumn or no Autumn, we're going to fight until the end."

My uncle sadly shakes his head. "Fine. But, be careful. This isn't something a few teenagers can magically fix. Your friend was lucky last time, and now she's gone."

My fist by my side clenches, and my extended arm begins to ache. "She could still be out there-"

"But if your dad doesn't have her, who does?" It's Eva who voices the question, her voice sounding fragile and broken. I've been silently wondering the same thing, but I don't want to think of that right now. She has to be alive, she just has to be. We can't give up, especially right now.

"If you need it, you guys can use our second house." My uncle addresses Jared, then turns to me. "And I know your friend didn't learn about the Master Chip from thin air, and I wonder who those masked burglars that broke into the house were."

I freeze, but I swiftly shake it off. "Why are you helping us?"

He shrugs. "Because I'm a nice person. Take it or leave it, but Jared knows how to work the security equipment, and I've sent him all the information he needs to use it to the advantage of all of you, Chip Busters, or whatever you're calling yourselves now."

My blood runs cold. How does he know all of this? Has he passed the information to my father?

"The house is safer than an ice cream parlor, anyways."

Before we can ask anymore questions, he ends the call.

-----

Thank you guys for 608 reads, 84 votes (come on, let's get 100! Maybe?) and getting this story RANKED! Thanks for all the support and to all the people that have started reading this book recently! Tell me what you guys like and what I can improve on! Predictions?

-Sarah