Removed

27

 Fear claws at my stomach as each of my friends become frozen in their spots. All that runs through my mind is 'not now'! We've been through so much. We've worked so incredibly hard to figure out the truth behind Chips. Eva and Jared finally kissed, for crying out loud! However, if Harper's words are true, it's over for me. They're going to take me away and possibly kill me.

"No," Cody growls, anger and denial alive in his hazel eyes. "They can't be. They can't take Autumn!" His voice slightly cracks at the end and my heart breaks for him. I can't leave him behind, nor the others. They've become so incredibly important to me.

Harper's gaze focuses solely on me, her expression pleading. "Autumn, come with me. Hurry!"

"No!" Eva shouts, a single tear tracing her cheek. "Why should she trust you? I don't want to lose my best friend." She wraps her arms around herself as a chilly wind swipes through the air, matching the direness of the situation.

I glance at Jared, yet his gaze is focused on the concrete below his sneakers. He automatically scoots closer to Eva, almost as if he longs to comfort her, but is scared to wrap an arm around her shoulders. Instead, his posture becomes slouched and he looks the most defeated I've ever seen him. Finally, his gaze meets mine, and I realize he doesn't want to lose me, either.

"It's my decision," I sigh, taking a step towards the bruised and battered girl. "How did you escape the AntiChips? Why are you helping me?"

Harper blows out a breath, kicking at a loose pebble with the worn tip of her shoe. "Someone let me out. I'd rather not discuss the details," she mutters, her cheeks taking on a pinkish hue. "However, during my time being beaten and tortured for information about The Others, I realized this has just become a game, a competition.

"I'm not really doing this because I like you, to be completely honest. I just don't want the government to extinguish the glimmer of hope we have left, the one untarnished resolution. Plus, I don't want The Others or The AntiChips to get to you first."

Cody opens his mouth to speak, yet I cut him off, my heart hammering inside my chest.

"If you have no one backing you, Harper, how can you help me? Given, you're not exactly in the shape to do so."

She shrugs, her gaze seeming to pierce into my soul as word's are transmitted through the school's speakers.

"Attention all students! Please report to the gym. I repeat, please report to the gym at this time!"

Harper shouts over the echoing words. "I'm telling you that you don't have much of a choice! I know some of The Other's empty bases and such. I can help you."

Suddenly, a man in a deep black uniform steps behind Harper and her shoulders tense. My eyes widen at the gun in his hand, which is pointed in the general direction of all of us. An Etcher.

"Did you not here the announcement?" He scowls, dark eyes narrowing. "This is mandatory, not something you can choose not to do. To the gym, all of you!"

Harper slowly turns. "What's the harm done, sir? We're on our way right now." She points to the lunches now resting on the floor. "We're just picking up the remains of our lunch."

"I don't care!" The man bellows, pointing the gun at her chest. "Come on! All of you!"

I feel like at any moment, my heart will explode from the rate it's pumping. My legs feel weak and my mind like a blank slate. What am I supposed to do? I still have on the gaze, not even the faux skin! They'll know for sure!

My friends begin walking, and I force myself to follow. All I have to stare at is the back of Eva's head, at her slightly knotted chocolate locks. Will any of them be penalized for associating with me? What will the Etchers do to me? Shoot me on the spot as an example?

The Etcher walks behind us, a gun pointed at our backs. Cody's behind me, which causing me to worry even more. If the man behind us decided to pull the trigger, Cody would be the first to go. I don't want to loose him. I don't want to loose anyone.

We enter the school and keep walking. The hallways seem too quiet, too bare. There are no longer students chatting idly or prolonging heading to their next class. No more laughter or sounds of locker doors slamming shut.

I peer into a classroom and find it bare. That would have been my next class. The desks are empty and papers are scattered along the surface of the teacher's. What if I never get to experience these things again? What if it's all over?

Tears prick the back of my eyes as noise greets my ears. We're herded into the large gym, which is just for the lower high school grades, and forced to wait in a line. Finally, the Etcher leaves, exiting the building once again to search for more stray students.

We aren't, however, completely free of Etchers. They line the walls, watching us with overly-scrutinizing gazes. It causes a shiver to run down my spine. What's worse is the feeling of fear in the air; it's nearly tangible. Not many people speak, and if they do, it's by whispering.

People I have grown up with and complete strangers wait in several different lines. They all lead to multiple Etchers behind those cheap, plastic tables from the school's cafeteria. The most terrifying part is Ingrid standing behind the row of tables, watching to make sure everything runs smoothly.

"Autumn?" Cody shakily whispers from behind me.

"Yeah?" I respond, my voice wobbling.

"You're going to be okay."

"Not if the Etcher's get her," Harper hisses, coming to stand in front of me.

I glance back at Cody and notice his eyes are narrowed. "Well, get her out of this then, genius."

My palms begin to sweat and it feels like sand has filled my lungs. The line moves swiftly as Cody, Eva, Jared, and Harper all bicker about my wellbeing. I keep silent, ending up in front of them all in the line. They're all so busy fighting over how to get out of this, none of them console me. I'm left to my own, horrifying thoughts. Various scenarios run through my head, and none of them are good.

"Next?" A sharp voice barks.

I snap out of my thoughts, realizing I'm next.