Removed

36

 I'm not sure where I'm headed. I have no idea who took Eva or if Jared's been captured as well. I keep running until my lungs burn, yearning for air. My hair whacks me in the face as the harsh wind snips at my bare flesh.

My gun is still firmly held in my grasp. Night covers me like a blanket, faint streetlights illuminating the sidewalk. I hop over cracks and obstacles, praying to God that my friends are alright.

I hope Cody forgives me. However, if I stayed in that house any longer, him and Teresa would be taken too. I'm not sure what I have to do, but I have to do something.

Finally, I come to a panting halt. I'm not sure why my feet carried me here, to where it all began. The cemetery looms in front of me, gray headstones clashing against the darkness. I can hear the electric fence buzzing, ready to zap anyone who dares to enter. Or exit.

A scream escapes my lips. I don't care who hears me. I wish this stupid fence would have killed me. None of this would have happened. Everyone I care about would be safe. But no. Here I am, full of filth and clutching a gun.

Lights whirl behind me and I spin around, heart pounding in my ears. An Etcher steps out of the driver's side, gun pointed at my heart. Without a second thought, I flip off the safety and fire. The bullet slams into his stomach, far from his lungs, which is where I intended. Nonetheless, I sprint, leaving the bleeding corpse behind.

"Stop."

I freeze, slowly turning towards the voice. There stands Leane, good as new, with a gun pressed against Eva's temple. My best friend refuses to meet my gaze, eyes red and puffy.

"How? I-I thought-"

"You thought," Leane smirks, blue hair catching the orange of the nearest streetlight. "Autumn, I can make Chips into so much more than what they already are. But I can't tamper with those of a citizen. So tell me, how do you remove Chips?"

I rapidly shake my head back and forth. I won't tell this crazy woman the truth. "Let her go!"

"Yeah, let her go, Leane!"

I whip in the other direction, gasping at the sight of Jared with a gun pressed against his skull. A guy in his twenties holds the gun, hair buzz cut and eyes blazing. His dark skin contrasts Leane's, as does his darker features.

"Tell me the secret, Autumn."

I gulp, my palms beginning to sweet. I'm scared the gun will slip right out of my grasp. "Why should I? Who are you?"

"I'm the leader of The Others, Morales. Leane can't save this town! I broke away from her rebellion and started my own because she's a conceited little-"

"Shut up, Derek!" Leane hisses from behind me.

"I have better research. And, I'm not going to treat the world like my little doll house. I just want to remove Chips. That's all. No gimmicks."

My grip painfully tightens on the gun. My brain goes haywire, adrenaline taking the controls. "If you're the good guy, why are you holding my friend at gunpoint?" My voice quivers and I try to harden my gaze to even it out.

His laughter fills the open air. Stars faintly twinkle above, the moon no where in sight. I glance at the overgrown grass beneath my feet, which reside in my worn sneakers. Then, I snap my gaze back to Derek, taking deep breaths to calm myself. This is a life or death situation.

"I needed a little- vantage point. I won't hurt your friend, I promise."

"Well, I will. I'll hurt all of you."

I turn to my right to face the owner of the deep voice. Similar hazel eyes bore into my soul. His black hair is neatly cut, matching his crisp suit. It isn't him, the boy I care about. He's a much older version, a five o'clock shadow adorning his face.

"You're Cody's dad- and Ingrid's husband!" I gasp, the gears turning in my brain. This is why Cody's father is a taboo topic to him. He's the bigger threat I heard about.

"A clever one, aren't we?"

I yearn to step away from this crazy man, from everything around me. Yet, I stand my ground. "What are you going to do, kill me?"

"I can do much worse," he cackles. "Put down the gun, Autumn. You've lost."

"Hey, she's mine!" Leane screams.

"No, mine!" Derek counters.

"You wanna know the secret to removing Chips?" I ask, a solution formulating in my brain. I never thought it'd come to this. However, this is a dire situation. My friends are being held at gunpoint, and the other two could be on their way there.

Cody's dad nods. "Obviously I want to know how you managed it so I can stop it from ever happening again! But not around these filthy rebels!"

My whole body begins to shake, but I brush it off. I have to do this.

"Tell us!" Leane shrieks, pressing her gun tighter against Eva's skull. Tell me right now or I kill her!"

"No, I'll kill him!" Derek exclaims.

Suddenly, I remember the page of the cookbook talking about Master Chips.

"Autumn," Eva whispers, her voice hoarse.

"Let me handle this," I respond, biting into the inside of my cheek. I glance behind me at the buzzing fence, nerves tensing. If Cody's dad is who I think he is, he's the key.

"Well?"

"Hey, government guy, come here!"

He glares at me. "Why?"

"So I can show you all," I answer. "So everyone's happy."

"But-"

I allow my gun to clatter to the grass beneath me. "I'm not even armed."

He sighs, walking towards me. I turn and walk towards the fence, my muscles tensing. If he has it, if he has the Master Chip, then it's all over.

I look back at the two rebel leaders. "If you fire a bullet, no one learns anything."

They both reluctantly nod, so I turn back to the fence. Cody's father timidly approaches it, making sure to stand a way inches away. I come to a halt beside him, letting out a deep breath. Then, I turn to him, putting on my best pokerface.

"You see, you just have to touch it."

He furrows his eyebrows. "That's ridiculous. That will kill-"

I grab his wrist, which I pray contains the Chip, and slam it against the fence. Gasps sound all around me and I let go, standing back. Sure enough, a black Chip falls to the ground, so small and dark I'm not sure if I'll be able to find it. Then, I push him into the fence once again, turning away as it roasts him.

Ignoring the gasps around me, I bend to the ground, fingers fumbling for the Chip. I gasp as it illuminates, brightly glowing against the dark. Carefully, I place it in my grasp. Then, using all my strength, I tear it in half. Sparks fly and I hear screams around me.

I scream as fire invades my body, dropping the Chip like it's on fire itself. Which, I think it is. Next thing I know, my body hits the ground. I knew this could happen, but everyone else will be free. No one will be chasing me for the answer anymore.

I did it, guys. Now carry on without me.