Song of the Chapter: Leaving Now - Noisestorm (DnB) 
Wanchu Back - Aero Chord (Trap) 

Yes, there's two again ...

I'll admit Noisestorm's not super great at lyrics, but I still enjoy his song a lot.

(Nitro Fun's POV)

I feel like we're just wasting time here. I mean, come on. It's only a matter of time before the MI or that guy Jensen find us. When they do, it's going to be a heck of a lot harder to get things done. Sure, we were waiting for Tristam, but now that he's back, why don't we just keep going? I'm tired of waiting.

I run back up the stairs for probably the fifth time, not because I particularly like exercising, but because I really really really need to let this energy out before I explode. People are starting to hate me.

I pause as I hear something, further up. It sounds like someone ... crying. That's weird. The only one who ever cries is Braken, and he's always in his bed when he does. "Hello?" I call. "Are you okay up there?"

I hear the person catch their breath in surprise, but they don't answer.

"Braken? Is that you?" I try again.

There's still no answer, so I climb up the rest of the stairs to find out. I hear them scramble to their feet and run, going higher up to the next floor.

I'm determined to find this person, so I follow them up all the way to the fourth floor, where I hear the door open and slam shut. I open it and run out, only to see someone in a blue hoodie duck around the corner. Blue hoodie? I follow him down the hall and around the corner, but he's vanished. There's only a vending machine in the back end - not even a door to the outside or an elevator or anything. I walk down the hall and peek around the vending machine.

"Noisestorm?!" I yelp.

"Leave me alone," he says, his voice shaking. His eyes are red from crying.

I never expected him, of all people. "What's wrong? Are you okay?"

"No, I'm not okay." He sinks to the floor and buries his face in his arms.

"What happened?"

"None of your business."

I don't move.

"Go away, Nitro. I want to be alone."

"Do you want me to go get Phantom?"

"No!"

The tone of his voice scares me, and I take a step back. Something must've happened between them. "Are you sure?"

"Yes. He betrayed me. I don't want to talk to anyone, much less that backstabbing son of a - "

"Hang on!" I cut him off. "What did he do?"

"Leave me alone," he says, avoiding my question.

I put my hands in the air in surrender and back up. "Alright, fine. I'm sorry." I turn and leave, but walk as quietly as I can to try and hear anything else. He just finishes his sentence and sighs, trying to calm his breathing.

I think I missed something while I was occupied with the stairs. I go back down to the second floor rooms and let myself in.

"Phantom?" I call, closing the door behind me.

"What?" he snaps.

"What's wrong with Noisestorm?"

"Where is he?"

"Fourth floor behind a vending machine. I didn't send you, if he asks."

He pushes past me and runs upstairs, ignoring my question.

No one else in the room seems pleased to have me, so I leave and knock on another door. Rogue just yells at me to go away, ignoring Eveelyn's protest, so I move on, getting similar results in each of the rooms. Am I really that annoying?

And then I have an idea. I know how to make them appreciate me. I knock again on Rogue's door and get him to give me my laptop. It's dark, the perfect time to sneak around.

It's spy time.

(Noisestorm's POV)

Once Nitro finally leaves me alone, I sigh again and lean against the vending machine, wishing I could just crawl inside and hide away for a while. Nobody would bug me, ask me if I'm okay, and Phantom would never find me. My fingers tighten into fists as I think about him. How dare he betray me like that? I trusted him. I trusted him with my life, and look what he did. I hate him. I hate him ...

I just want to not exist for a while. Not die or anything, but kind of float away in my own little world as time stops so I don't miss anything. I could stay there as long as I want and no one would care. I could listen to music, make plans, sleep, sing ... do anything I want and forget about this dark world. I actually think about this place a lot. Maybe that's unhealthy, but I don't care.

There's something uncomfortable in my pocket. I take out the crumpled paper and unfold it. I forgot that was in there. I've never actually looked at it. As soon as I do, I feel my rage boil up again, not at Phantom, but at Rogue and whoever drew this picture. I think it must've been Eveelyn, because she's the only one who can really draw like this. The paper has been in the pocket since Phantom had the hoodie, the first night we spent at the hotel. How did he get this?

I violently crumple the paper again and throw it at the wall. Think positive, I tell myself. Don't let them know how they get to you. Everything will be okay. Just ... put on a smile and crack a joke. Make a pun. Everyone hates those. That's such a Noisestorm thing to do. But ... it is a me thing to do?

I don't know anymore. I've been hiding it for so long, I don't know how to deal with this. I roll up my hoodie sleeve and brush my fingers over the scars on my wrist. One thing is certain. I'll never fall as far as I did the night I did this. Especially since I hate pain almost as much as I love music.

"Noise?" Phantom calls, coming around the corner.

My head jerks up and hits the vending machine with a bang. That little twerp told him where I was.

"Noisestorm?" he calls again, peeking around the machine. His eyes fall on my exposed wrist and he gasps, kneeling down next to me. "You didn't do it again, did you?" He gently takes my hand and turns my arm over to make sure I'm not bleeding.

I yank my wrist back, holding my arm close to my chest. "I'm fine. Leave me alone."

"Noisestorm, I need to apologize." He shifts and sits down cross-legged in front of me.

"I don't want an apology. I want him to not know what you told him. Who else knows?"

He flinches at my tone. "No one else knows. I promise."

"Just like you promised you wouldn't tell?"

He flinches again. "I'm really sorry. I thought I was helping, but I was wrong."

"Yeah, you were wrong." I turn away from him and cross my arms. "Now leave me alone."

"You weren't going to hurt yourself again, were you?"

"No."

"Alright." He stands up and tucks his hands into his pockets. He glances at me again and sighs. "Look, I know hurt you by telling Rogue. I didn't think about what would happen if he ever said anything about it. I hope you know I was only doing what I thought would help you." He drops his eyes now and turns to walk away, his voice dropping to a whisper. "I understand if you don't ... if you don't want to be my friend anymore, but please ... forgive me."

He doesn't wait for a response, and I watch him leave. I should hate him, I think, but he's right. I should at least forgive him. Who says I have to stay his friend?

My heart does. It's tugging at my emotions, aching for the one person I could call my friend.

I scramble to my feet and run after him. "Phantom, wait!" He turns as I come closer and then yelps as I grab him in a hug, nearly knocking him over. He grabs me back, probably only to keep his balance. "How am I supposed to stay mad at you when you do that?" I complain, using humor to cover up the hurt I'm still feeling deep in my chest.

"Do what?" he asks, his voice hinted with amusement.

"Just ... that. Everything. Going all sad on me and admitting you were wrong."

He pokes my side to tickle me and I jerk away. "Well, it's hard not to when you keep saying things like that to me."

"Oh, really? When have I ever admitted I was wrong?"

He thinks for a second. "Mmm ... never. But that doesn't mean you aren't."

"Me? Wrong? Pfft. Never."