Unplugged: The Hidden World (#2, Unplugged Trilogy)

Chapter Four

A week later I find myself sitting on the couch, eyes glued to the television. So far, everyone ages one to nine had been chipped. Our plan is to infiltrate the AGD tomorrow morning, when the ten- and eleven-year-olds are supposed to be chipped. Hopefully we can, somehow, limit the chip supply and warn people to leave. A sure suicide mission. But it's not like we haven't survived through trying circumstances before.

"Anything useful?" Matthew asks, stepping into the living room from the kitchen. He takes a bite of an orange.

"Nope," I mutter as I watch footage of a large line of newly-chipped Members. Some of them are so young that they have to be led by their parents. Everyone walks forward robotically, emotionlessly; as though they were wearing RScreens. Matthew joins me in watching the dismal image.

"It's sickening," he states crossly. "How could chipping everyone possibly be different from giving them RScreens?"

"That's definitely the question," I mumble, shaking my head. As if awakening myself from a daze, I force my gaze away from the television. "How's your foot doing?" In reply, he rolls up the leg of his jeans to reveal a jagged scar just above his ankle bone.

"As good as new. Only hurts when I put stress on it." I nod, pleased and distracted. We are all ready to go.

"So what did you talk to your mother about last week?" Matthew whispers, even though my mom is taking a shower at the moment. She could never hear us over the spray of water. "It seemed like you guys made up pretty well."

"Oh... You know," I say, diverting my eyes from his own. I don't know if I want to admit my mother's suspicions about Matthew not being trustworthy. The water shuts off.

"It was about me, wasn't it?" He says lightly. I feel like I'm deflating. My shoulders droop and my eyes lower to the floor. "She doesn't think I can be trusted because of my father." I nod reluctantly.

"Enna, please look at me," he asks patiently. I do. I wish he were angry; at least that would hurt less than the pain in his gaze. "I'm not mad. I knew this might happen."

"She doesn't think that anymore," I blurt out. "I changed her mind. It's fine." Just before I can say anything else, the bathroom door opens. I almost jump off of the couch.

"That water is cold!" My mother complains, her voice shaking as her teeth chatter. She starts to enter her bedroom, wrapped up snugly in a towel. "What are you two all tense about?"

"Just the... uh... television." I splutter dumbly.

"Okay..." My mom starts to close the bedroom door behind her. "Why don't you look through the closet to see if you can find anything useful?"

Suddenly, I perk up. Having a goal gives me something else to think about, something else to do. I stride over to the Miracle Closet and pull open the doors. Matthew joins me and we begin to search the packed metal racks. All I can find are more emergency supplies, such as blankets and candles and batteries. Matthew crouches and brushes his fingers against the back wall, focused on something I can't see.

"What are you doing?" I whisper. In reply, he grabs my hand and places my fingers on the wall. One section seems to be sticking out farther than the rest of it.

"A secret compartment," he mutters. My heart begins to race in excitement. We both stick our fingers into the hollow cave behind the wall, clawing away the thin, excess plaster. Once there is a hole large enough to stick his whole hand inside, Matthew removes a small hand gun. My stomach twists and drops: I don't want to see another one of these again, not after what happened to Josh and Matthew and my grandmother and my brother... But I can't deny the advantage we might gain by having a weapon on our side.