My mom won't let me go. She holds me tightly in her arms sobbing into my hair as she did last night. It's morning now, and I've decided it's time to show my face to the world. I need to get back to school, and I need to finally tell the world that I'm alive and face what's to come next. My parents don't want me to go, to leave their sight. I mean, they thought I was dead. But, Cody's right. It's now or never. However, last night's reunion is still stuck in my head.

I rapped on the door, shaking with nerves. I had no idea how my parents would react. I should've been dead, and they thought such. Then, the door opened, and my fist was still hanging in the air. It dropped to my side the same time my mother's jaw dropped to the ground. Her expression could be described as shocked, happy, and scared. It seemed like she debated whether or not I was really standing on my front porch, if I was really her daughter.

She wordlessly pulled me into her arms and sobbed into my hair. I heard dad asking her what was wrong as I awkwardly wrapped my arms around my mother. I loved my parents, but we hadn't been that close lately. Even then, I felt myself crack as I saw my dad over my mother's shoulder. His arms joined my mother's and we stood like that for a while. Neither my dad nor I cried, but we both had glossy eyes.

Finally, we all pulled away. Before my mother could open her mouth, I knew I had a lot of explaining to do. So, I walked into the house, closed the door behind me, and let everything tumble out into the open. All of it, right from the night I lost my Chip, to meeting Cody, to dying, to Leane, to appearing on the doorstep. 

"I love you guys," I whispered. "You're my parents, and I want to thank you for making me who I am. However, nothing you can say will change my mind, will make me stop continuing what I have started."

"I'm proud of you," Dad smiled, and I knew he was fighting back tears. 

I couldn't smile, but I nodded. 

"So, what now?" Mom asked. I'd never seen her as this broken shell of a woman. My mom, the business woman.  My mom, the woman who was always so strong and prim and perfect. It was then I realized they did care. But, perfection came first, and that wasn't what I was fighting anymore. One day, maybe people would change.  Even if Chips did try to instill perfection, Jeremy was just continuing what society believed in his own way. In his own power-craving way. We hadn't had Chips for that many years, just more years than I'd been alive. I was fighting a battle of power, of the aftermath of society building up to perfection. The were facing the side affects of our own stupidity.

"I go to school. I keep fighting."

Both of my parents nodded, albeit reluctantly. They knew this wasn't their battle. It was mine.

"I'll be fine," I tell mom, snapping out of the flashback and stepping out of her arms. "Really. It's just school."

"Everyone thinks you're dead," she points out.

I shrug and grab my bag, hoisting it onto my shoulder. "Well, not for long. Bye, mom." I walk out of my room, a bit over emotions. She's going to go back to her salon, and I'm going back to school. It's like the past all over again, except not. So much is at stake, and there is a battle going on right under everyone's noses. 

I pop in my earbuds, just like old times. I wear the watch that Hailee gave me to contact Cody, and I already have everyone's contacts that I need. Plus, I have music filling my ears. As I walk to school, I can almost pretend like I'm the old Autumn, even if I'm not sure I'd want to be her again. This Autumn is stronger, and not just physically. The old Autumn was dangling over a chasm, but this one has a stronger hold on herself and reality. 

The faux greenery waves at me. I pass the house that old lady used to live at. The one who used to wave at me, and that became overruled by grass. It's been cut, and the lady sits on the porch again. I'm not sure what happened, but I thought for sure she'd either moved or died. Either way, she smiled and waves at me. Just like old times. Mrs. Jenny. That's her name, I remember.

What's strange to me is that she starts beckoning me over with her hand. My heart rate speeds up as I remember the world thinks I'm dead. I still move towards her, through the perfectly cut grass right onto her wooden front porch. The elderly lady smiles at me from her wooden chair, and points to the one beside her. I take out my earbuds and pocket them.

"Hi, Mrs. Jenny," I smile, but I don't sit. "I, erm, have to get to school."

She still points to the seat, so I take it. She speaks, but her lips don't move. The sound comes from her watch. "Hi, Autumn!"

I gawk at her before realizing that's rude. "Hi," I squeak.

She smiles faintly. "I can't speak. Not regularly, anyways."

I want to ask why not. I want to ask why she's stopped me on my journey to school. Then again, school isn't my biggest concern anymore. I can be late.

I jump as the front door opens and someone steps out. It's her husband, who has graying hair like his wife. While hers is long and silk-like, his is barely still clinging to his head. He smiles at me, and that reveals a mouth full of pearly white teeth. 

"This is my husband," Mrs. Jenny tells me, although I already guessed as much.

Her husband leans against the screen door leading into the house. "So, you're the girl that took down old Jeremy? It was about time. He got annoying."

I gape at him, my mind not able to wrap around what's going on. I suspected he worked for the government. Did he? Does he?

Mrs. Jenny smiles softly. "I think we're scaring the poor girl."

Her husband nods. "I used to be part of his team. I helped him work on Chips. Make sure they worked properly and all that. I signed up for the job when I thought things would get better, not worse. But, after he gave people Chips, he gave citizens a curfew. After that, he kept going."

My eyes are wide. Quickly, I compose myself and clear my throat. "Yeah. Um, he was certainly not a good person." How much does he know?

"I'm retired now," he continues. "I knew you weren't dead. Once Jeremy was brought back, he came to take those loyal or useful to him to help his cause. I retired, and told him I wouldn't help him. He couldn't do anything about it. Not then, anyways. But, I knew it wouldn't be over. Perfection has driven people to do maddening things, even before the world became what it is now. Even before we had to create faux plants because the real ones died. Even before you, me, or anyone alive today was born."

I listen intently, my breath caught in my throat. I didn't expect this, and I have no idea what to say.

"I left a note for your friends. I knew they'd go back to the spot it all happened, and I hoped they'd follow a note saying you were alive. I couldn't do more because I couldn't have the wrong people finding out. But, now that you're back, I have hope."

"I'm just a teenager," I voice. "I don't want to get anyone's hopes up. I'm sorry, I'm trying but-"

"What he's trying to say is you're not alone," Mrs. Jenny says through her watch. "And that he wants to see the world change before his time is up."

Her husband smiles. "She's right. And I'll help you with whatever I can. Your friends, too. Shout to the world that you're alive. Tell the world of the threat at hand, and watch your support grow. Jeremy won't give up, but I hope you won't either."

"I won't," I tell him, getting to my feet with a smile. "Thank you for telling me this. And for offering me your help. It means the world, sir."

"James. Just call me James," he laughs. "Sir makes me sound so old." Then, he leans closer and whispers the last part in my ear. "Jenny was going to tell the world about him. Get them to rebel. So he tried to silence her forever, but I managed her give her back a voice."

I gulp as he backs away, his breath reeking of coffee. Looking to the fragile woman who always used to wave at me, I feel anger burn within me. How could Jeremy do that to her? 

"Thanks for giving my friends hope," I smile at James, turning to leave.

"One more thing!" He exclaims.

I turn to face him.

His expression turns extremely serious. "Go to the government now. Ask them to help you. Ask for Herold. He's the one who's stepped up as the leader of the country until another one can be elected."

I snort. "Wait, so people actually elected Jeremy?"

He nods. "People make mistakes. Big ones."

Then, his other words hit me. "You really think I should go to the government?"

He nods again. "I think you should. I used to work with Herold. The government is quite clueless right now, and in disarray. You got rid of Jeremy. They'll listen to you, I hope. Tell them what they've been too afraid to believe; that it's not over yet."

It's my turn to nod. "I'll try my best. Thank you again for all of your help."

A wide grin takes over his features, his few wrinkles on display. "No problem. Make the world proud, kid."

"I'll try," I respond, although it's more to myself than him as I turn away and hurry in the direction of school. 

I don't pop my earbuds back in. My brain is too busy processing everything I just heard from James, and too busy being anxious about going to the government. Can it really help me now? I hope this 'Herold' has more of a brain than Jeremy, and that he's a good person. If not, I guess I have another person to take down.

The school comes into view pretty quickly. It's the same as ever, with the same three buildings. I'm still in the same grade, so I head to the same building I usually do, the one for ninth and tenth graders. I feel an urge to put my head down, to hid. I feel an urge to turn invisible, something that I can literally do. However, I can't. I force myself to keep my head high, my fingers tightening on the strap of my bag. Luckily, I'm right on time, which means no one is outside.

As I shove open the doors to the school, no one looks up. No one glances in my direction. So, I continue to my old locker, hoping that it hasn't been reassigned. Students chatter and head to class as the warning bell rings. I keep walking towards my locker. The two people at their lockers near mine gasp in unison. I try to ignore it, mustering all the confidence I can find within myself. My locker still unlocks, and my old belongings are still in here. My old school tablet. I shove it into my bag, slam my locker shut, and head towards homeroom. 

"Is that Autumn?" I hear someone whisper behind me. I ignore it.

I open the door to homeroom as soon as the bell rings. Eyes snap in my direction, and the teacher looks like they're about to have a heart attack. I find myself laughing inside my head. My friend's eyes are probably the widest. They didn't think I'd show up. 

I plop down next to Eva. If the seat was taken before, I have no idea. I toss my bag to the floor and glance at my friend, who smiles.

"Just like old times," she laughs softly. "Except for the part where everyone stares at you like you're a ghost."

I shrug, then lean back in my seat. "Well, in the past I felt like a ghost." It's so different having eyes on me. I'm used to being the girl no one cared about. I guess I've made a name for myself, but I'm not exactly sure if that's a good thing.

Someone gently taps me on the shoulder. I turn to see a muscular guy with skin as dark as his eyes and hair. He's looking at me strangely. I mean, everyone is, but his look is quite different.

"Um, yes?" 

He blinks, then breaks out into a smile. "Autumn Morales. Last I heard, you were dead."

So, he's the first person to voice it. It seems like the whole class leans in to hear my response.

"Yeah, I was. And, now I'm not."

Eva holds her breath.

The guy raises an eyebrow. "How so?"

My eyes meet Eva's, then Jared's next to her. Then, they snap to Cody at the back of the classroom. Then all seem to say the same thing: do it. Just like James said. It's time to come clean, but not just about the fact that I'm still breathing.

"Because someone found a way to bring me back. This city is still in trouble. This didn't end with Chips being removed."

Gasps echo around the room, but the one from the guy in front of me seems off.

"So, what's happening?"

The bell rings, signaling it's time to leave homeroom and get to our first class. "What's happening is that Chips are coming back worse than ever if we don't do something." I stand and grab my bag, staring the guy in the eyes. "But we're definitely going to do something."

_________

Thoughts?  Unedited, so point out any mistakes.

Any predictions?

-Sarah