I WALK OUTSIDE, LOOKING AT THE MAP CHUBS HAD GIVEN ME TO PUT IN THE CAR. "Hey I haven't used in a map in awhile but-" I look up, seeing Liam and Ruby looking past me.

I look and see two tracers, the female tugging at the taser on the left side of her leg. Liam and Ruby couldn't see because her left leg was blocked by the man in front of her. I drop the map, boosting myself as my eyes glow blue. But suddenly I was suspended in the air and I wasn't the one doing it. I watch the two get in their car and leave, I was pulled back and set down by Liam.

His eyes stopped glowing but mine did not. I forced him against the car, my hand close to his chest as I leave him about a foot off the air. "Why'd you stop me? They know what car we are in, they know what we look like! What if Zu or Chubs was out here?" I shout at him, before dropping him and I go back, using my power to shove the map towards him.

I go back into the hotel room, going to slam the door but it never hits it. I feel myself stop, I turn to Liam. "Zu, Chubs get the van ready please." Liam tells them, they hurry to leave.

"Liam let me go." I glare at him, my lip curling as I feel him holding me in place without ever putting a hand on me.

He shakes his head "You know I don't get you. You act like you have the world on your shoulders, like you're some kind of monster that's afraid of getting close to people. But last night, you show me you're not." He gestured to the floor, the spot where we had slept. "You haven't told us anything about you and you act like everything's a joke or that you're alone." He points to me, his eyes glowing blue.

I look away, crossing my arms as he yells at me. "One minute you're running away so you don't have to hurt anyone and then you're attacking tracers. And you're asking me 'what if Chubs or Zu were out there?'. Seriously? How'd you even jump like that?" his voice slowly got quieter, and I try to blink away the tears that were appearing.

I still hated getting yelled at, something that has been with me since I was little. I barely survived the camps, it toughened me on the outside but when I was alone it was different.

But it was different with him, I felt like he was different, I sensed it. "Well since you care so much-" I stop, thinking about what I was about to admit.

I didn't care anymore, I was too tired "I trained for two years, I helped trained other kids to control their powers but not to kill, but defend. I wasn't allowed to leave the League after they taught me. I wasn't trained to break an arm, well I was, but I was trained to kill.".

My voice cracks as I keep going "I hated it. I hated myself. I was 15 I shouldn't know how to kill someone wearing bullet-proof vests!" I pause, taking a deep breath so I wouldn't start sobbing.

I continue shakily "So instead I taught myself to boost myself, because I didn't want to be here. I wanted to give them a chance to fight back, so I would be beat one day. But first I got the kids out, I'd waste my energy lifting them out of the camp when things went wrong, but I used too much energy and i'd pass out, the league would recover me after." I tell him, finally my eyes glowing blue as tears came out of my eyes.

I twisted my hand, shattering the lights in my room, forcing him to release me as he dodged glass. "So yeah, for the time being, I will protect you. After we drop off Ruby, i'm leaving. I don't want to join the Slip kids group, because he will have to fight to keep them safe and I don't want to fight anymore." I tell him as I let go, I wipe my face furiously. Running my hand through my hair as I turn away from him, clutching the strands.

"Emma." he murmurs, I feel his hand on my arm twisting me around. He brings me into a hug that we stay in for a few minutes, but it feels like hours.

I let him go and he pulls away while I wipe at my face. "I'm gonna wash my face, i'll be out in a few minutes." I tell him, afraid to look at him. I hadn't broke down in front of someone since I was little, a kid in the camps.

"Okay." he says, I walk away and into the bathroom. I shut the door behind me and put my hands on the sink. I look into the mirror before cleaning my face. I let my eyes glow blue as I use my power to crack the sink, I felt my energy slipping again but it was manageable.

I head back outside, seeing Liam leaning on the outside of the car. The door was closed behind him, I stick my hands in my pockets and walk over to him. "Feel better?" he questions, I nod, feeling awkward now. Well more than I had been.

"Are we good?" I ask, a smile appears on his lips and he nods, chuckling. He wraps an arm around my shoulder and gives me a noogie.

"Yeah we're good. Get in. They left the passenger free for you." he nods towards the van, I separate from him and head towards the passenger seat.

I curl up in my seat as we leave the motel. I lean my head back as I try to take a nap. I was tired, I spent a lot of energy today. I feel bad they had to see it though. Zu and Ruby saw some of it when I jumped into the van but Liam and Chubs haven't. Well Liam has. Guess it was just Chubs.

"And now the president's son Clancy Gray with his message of hope;" the radio says before another voice comes on "If I can be cured, you can be cured.". It was total bullshit in my opinion.

"Winder clean, Clancy Green. If I can be cured, you can be cured." Chubs mocks, making Ruby laugh.

"You had those posters too?" she questions, this was the first time she really opened up. I wasn't sure if it was because she was going home or because Zu gave her the fancy red dress, she did look great in it.

"Yeah seven shades of bullshit." he rolls his eyes, and I look back at them, a smile on my face. Then I looked to Liam

Liam looked so serious, but he was pretty focused on driving. "You gotta stop drawing the cats all over the nines and sixes!" Chubs exclaims, talking to Zu since he was teaching her math.

It was silent for a total of three seconds as we all realized what he said. Then we burst out in laughter, even Liam who was oh so super serious. "You need to know this. You need to learn." he says as the rest of us keep laughing.

We pull into an abandoned mall, as we get out Ruby realizes where we are. "So why are we at the mall?" she questions, I was a bit confused too.

"Somebody's gotta get supplies right?" Chubs explained, Liam opened the sliding door manually and we headed in. We walk in, looking at the dark mall that only had lights were windows were.

The edges of the building were pitch black, it gradually got lighter where the sun was shining in from the glass roof. "Zu?" Liam asks, walking back over to us since he had travelled ahead just a bit, "Would you do the honors?" he motioned her to go forward to the strung-up lights that were on the thick pillars.

Zu moved forward, sliding her glove off before touching the lights. The ceiling lit up magically, lights were everywhere. "Let's go shopping." Chubs said, while Liam was nudging my side as I stared at the lights, making me laugh.

I head towards the clothes that were to the right. I needed something other than Liam's clothes, even though they were ridiculously comfortable and smelled like him. He smelled really good for a boy who spends all day in a Nissan van with two other people, well now four.

Ruby, Zu, and I check out clothes, picking out multiple shirts of all shapes and colors, lots of jeans and bags to carry them in. We go to shoes where Zu tries on sparkly heels, and I pick out a new pair of black converse. They were dusty but not beat up. I also spot a pair of black heels, well Zu did and she gave them to me.

Liam passes us, arms filled with stuff as he tries to carry it all. He stops by us, smiling and I smile back, feeling happy to not be so stressed, being able to have fun again. Eventually Zu goes to Chubs, Ruby goes to Liam and we all join together, carrying stuff for the van.

I didn't know how we'd make it all fit with us but i'm sure we'd manage. I head upstairs, separating from the group, I find a music section and look at the guitars. I sit down on a bench, looking down at the strings. I had taken piano and guitar lessons since I was nine, until I was taken away when I was 11. It had been six years, I try out the cords, adjusting them bit by bit.

I remembered most of Youth, but some pieces escaped me. I remember playing this song over and over until my parents forced me to go play it in my old tree house. It was hard getting up, I remember how worried I was that I would break it. It had been my most prized possession. This was a similar one but still different.

I head down to the middle level, the guitar on my back. I looked at the book section, I was a pretty rusty reader. I suddenly hear banging and Liam yell "Stop!". I run through the maze that was the book section, jumping over the edge with a boost and landing with a roll.

The light began to flicker and I look up to see four people with their backs to me, facing Liam, Ruby and Chubs. Zu was there too, her hands on the lights before I saw Chubs tackle her, saving her from herself.

I stood to my full height and stuck my hands out, twisting them and levitating the four hooded attackers into the air. This was going to exhaust me, boosting myself and lifting four people into the air. My hand was shaking from the effort.

One of them stuck their hand out, sending me flying backwards into a wall. I hit it before falling to the floor, they fell as well but caught each other, they were good i'll give them that. One of them had their hands out towards me, ready to send me flying again and I was still on the ground. They took off their masks and I got up shakily, glaring at them.

Liam stalked towards them but Ruby stopped them. I put my hands up, showing them I meant no harm. I walked around them, going to Liam and Ruby. I stood on his other sides as Liam exclaimed "Hey what the hell?".

"You could've been tracers." the redhead excused, he obviously wasn't a people person. None of them were by the looks of it. They had to have been living here.

"We're here for supplies, not for trouble." Liam tells them breathlessly, I didn't know what happened but I did know that they got hurt. Ruby and Liam looked a little roughed up, he sounded like it too.

The boy had a mocking fake smile on his face as he leaned forward "Look no hard feelings, we're sorry.". I curled my lip a bit, he was an ass.

"I'm not." I snap, glaring at him. I could take him. Liam put a hand on my arm, shaking his head. However I ignored him as I warned them "Touch me again, or any of us and I will send you flying right out of the ceiling.".

The boy with curly short brunette came towards me and I took a step forward too before Liam pulled me back, his hands tugging at my waist. The other kids pulled back their guy as well, "We'll give you some food and you can sleep here, tonight." The redhead said and the brunette hit his arm, protesting and Liam let go of my waist.

"What?" he snapped, obviously not happy about it. I crossed my arms, moving back to Liam's side.

The redhead looked back at us as he confirmed "But only tonight.". I shake my head as I walk over to Chubs and Zu. I crouch near them and hand Zu her glove, she tiredly puts it on and I plop onto the ground next to them.

I was exhausted but I could see the broken guitar that had fallen off when I was shoved into the wall. The entire thing was smashed, I put my head into my hands as my fingers find their way to my hair, clutching onto it as if to keep me awake.

_______________________________

"Last night we scored five pallets of fresh produce off a delivery truck." the redhead bragged, I still didn't like them. I'd dealt with a lot of jerks who use their powers to hurt others, hell I was one of them but at least I didn't take pride in being a prick.

"What do you do with all of it, I mean it's only four of you guys." Chubs questioned as I sat away from the lights, away from all of them.

I was behind the group with Zu, she was showing me some of the stuff she had gathered and decided to bring with her on our little journey to freedom. "We do the work that has to be done." the redhead speaks, being insanely vague.

"We're the arms and legs for a greater cause." the brunette informed, they sure do like to show off. I take a sip of my bottled water that was warm but who was I to complain.

"Do you know him?" Liam's voice pops up, and I look up to see him lean forward, as if in a business deal and he was about to close it. I knew who he was talking about and I was not excited.

The kids leaned forward, as if they were sharing a scary story around a campfire, which in a mall with lanterns they were getting pretty close since they decided to talk about the ghost story that is the Slip kid.

"Know him?" the redhead mused, I rolled my eyes and turned back to Zu as she nudged my arm. Now she was showing me CD's, I look through them slowly, glancing at the songs in the back.

"Yeah the slip kid." Liam confirms, I glance up at him carefully, only for a few seconds. Why was he so interested in being in a community of kids, it's probably the most dangerous place of all considering the government and the league is looking everywhere for it.

The redhead shrugs as he again is completely vague "Eh no one really knows the slip kid.". So much for that, give up now Liam.

Liam gestures to all of us quickly "We're trying to find his camp.". Doesn't he sound so professional. But only they wanted to be in his camp, not Ruby and I. She's going home and I- had no idea what I was going to once they were gone.

My whole idea was to just stay away from any major groups. I could live in the forest, I doubt anyone would find me there. I could find an empty house on a beach, but i'd rather live in the mountains. Maybe that's where i'll go. Nobody would find me there. "East river." redhead tells him, he actually admitted it, I was thoroughly surprised.

Maybe it was good for Zu, and CHubs and Liam to interact with others. It could be safe there and they'd be safe. Even if the government came or the league, they'd have people to protect them. "So it's real?" Liam questions, finding a way to confirm it.

"Sure." the redhead says, shrugging. This was way too easy. Something was weird, there had to be some kind of test or loophole on how to get in.

There was a moment of silence before Liam asked "Well where is it?". All we needed was coordinates, after that Chubs could figure it out.

"Can't tell you." I knew it, I knew there was some kind of trick. We weren't going to search all of East river to find it, that was insane.

A scoff leaves me, "Oh come on you gotta be shitting me, come on man." Chubs tsked, annoyed by our new acquaintances.

The brunette got all cocky as he said "They call it a secret for a reason pal.". He was getting on my nerves, and was about to get tossed across the room.

"It's one of the slip kids rules. 100% secrecy, that way he can keep all of the kids safe." the redhead spoke, which he made a point but how the hell do kids find it then.

It was quiet for a few moments, I patted Zu's knee and got up. "I'm gonna change." I whisper, she nods and I walk away. I head to our stuff that was in the tent and I grab my new bag that held the stuff I had gathered. I leave the tent, zipping it up as I walk away. I wasn't about to have them take our stuff, they lived in a mall for heaven's sake.

I head to the bathrooms, changing in one of the larger stalls in the dark. I hear the door open and I call out "Someone there?". I felt like I was in a bad horror movie.

I was the girl who tripped on nothing. "It's just me." Liam's voice pierces the quiet.

"Oh good, I wasn't ready to die." I laugh, muffled as I pull on my white tank top. I put on the pair of slippers I found in the shoe section, they were still kinda fluffy.

"I doubt anyone here will kill you." Liam chuckles and I head out, pulling on a thin sweater as I do.

I set my bag on the bathroom sinks counter. "Tell that to Fearsome Four." I roll my eyes, turning and leaning on the counter as I look at him.

His face lights up a bit. "I mean the whole dark mall thing does give off a horror movie vibe." He shrugs, see that's what I was saying.

I nod, letting my teeth show as I smile. "Oh uh did you need something?" I ask, fumbling with my bag after a minute of just staring at him.

He shakes out of it too. "No just came to check on you." He excuses, clearing his throat softly, he looks at me again before finally saying "I'm gonna head back out. We all left, oh and uh they gave us a hint. EDO. We don't know what it means though." He informs, I didn't know what it meant. It was weird.

"Okay I'll be in the tent in a minute. Just gonna wash my face." I murmur, watching him back up and eventually leave. I wash my face and stare into the mirror for a minute, trying to recognize myself.