I've updated a lot in the past few days, so make sure you'e read the previous updates!

The following Monday, I am confronted by Yoongi.

"You're supposed to come to HQ tonight at 6 sharp," he informs me disdainfully. "I'm picking you up."

"Why not Jungkook?" I question.

"Because he has other things to do," Yoongi replies crossly. Without another word,  he stomps off.

I wrinkle my nose in irritation. What's up his ?

Great. I have a pile of homework to complete tonight, and on top of that, I have to go to HQ.  

Jungkook is absent today. So are Jin and Hoseok. Since my link to the popular group isn't present today, everyone goes back to ignoring me (except for Christina, Sherry, and Tanisha, who enthusiastically greet me and engage in a casual conversation about how my weekend was.) I can pretty much get away with not talking to anyone and eating lunch by myself. Pure bliss.

My heart yearns for the days when I could do this everyday- before I joined the damn Anime Club and the 4 Flames.

Sadly, this period of isolated bliss ends before Chemistry, when Emma Carter marches up to me and asks in a snide voice, "Where's your boyfriend?"    

"Dunno," I shrug, tossing my things down at my old seat in the back of the classroom.

"Are you two even dating?" Emma sneers, crossing her arms. I freeze. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Namjoon slowly approach us, a look of worry in his eyes.

"Excuse me?"

"You two are so awkward around each other. It's like I'm seeing a pair of robots force themselves to hold hands." A vicious look lights up her eyes. "Let me guess. You won't put out, so he's getting tired of you."

It is at that point when I start laughing so hard I collapse on the floor.

The entire class gawks at me as I clutch my stomach as my entire body shakes with mirth.

"Is she having a seizure?" Mrs. Wringer asks Namjoon apathetically.

But I can't help myself. It's all just so stupid. A month ago, I never would've dreamed that Emma Carter was accusing me of not having with Jungkook Jeon. What has my life even come to?

I finally get a hold of myself and straighten up. "Emma, that is exactly what is happening," I say in a somber voice. "Your intuition is spot on. Thank you so, so much for understanding."

And I fling myself in my seat.

Long story short, Wringer gave me detention tomorrow afternoon for "disrupting the class". I really don't care. I’m still grinning widely. The whole class is currently looking at me like I’m a crazy person.

Afterward, Namjoon tentatively approaches me. "Are you okay?" he questions.

I snort. "That's a great question."  

Yoongi doesn’t say a word to me the entire drive there. It’s obvious that he has some kind of problem with me. What it is, I don’t know.

After a tense ride, he abruptly parks in front of the Yohan building and exits the car without another glance back at me. I shake my head and follow him inside.

“You’re here,” Marge says. She is rapidly typing on her laptop, a half-lit cigarette is sitting between her lips.

“In the flesh.”

“I need you to erase.”

I furrow my eyebrows. “What?”

Marge hands me a thin manila folder. Inside are several pieces of paper. 3 of the papers contain profiles of 3 individuals, with names, pictures, and basic information. Madeleine Charron is a pretty, kindly-faced woman; Caleb Charron is a stocky man- presumably Madeline’s husband; and Haley Charron is a chubby-faced elementary school girl, their daughter. Images of the three of them posing together and going about their daily life are included in the folder as well.

“You need to erase all traces that they ever existed,” Marge says dully. “Social media profiles, bank accounts, articles where they’re mentioned... anything else.”

I am silent for a good minute. “Why?” I finally utter.

“Don’t ask questions. Just do it.”

I press my lips together. Without another word, I stride over to my computer and begin erasing.

It’s strange, I think, as I edit out the name “Haley Charron” from the Primrose Elementary School’s Gold Honor Roll. Our lives are all contained online. Everything that we do is documented in some way or another, whether it be through Instagram photos or work email accounts or anonymous blog posts that betray our true identities. And those who can control this code, manipulate it and twist it to serve their own purpose... they wield ultimate power in this world.

3 hours later, I have finished deleting Haley Charron from the world. I start on Madeline Charron...

Something soft is pressing up against my cheek. I sigh, burying my face in whatever it is. In response, a smooth hand my hair back from my face.

“She did well for her first time,” a voice says quietly. Marge.

    “Hm,” someone else grunts.

    “How was it?” Marge asks the person.

    “Normal,” the person says in a low voice. I drowsily identify the voice as Jungkook’s.

    “Are you doing okay?”

    “Why wouldn’t I be?”

    Marge exhales. “Just wondering.”

    “She’s going to be pissed tomorrow morning,” Jungkook chuckles. “I’ll bet you she hasn’t finished her homework. She's gonna whine about that."

    “She can just skip school.”

    “Ami would never do that. She’s a workhorse.”

    “I can tell.” Marge laughs briefly, but then quiets again. “I’m sad that she got dragged into all this. She’s a nice girl.”

    Jungkook doesn’t respond. Instead, I hear the creak of bedsprings.

    “I should get going,” he says. “Good night, Marge.”

    I am about to say something, but that requires too much effort.

    Instead, I drift back to sleep.

    The following morning, someone shakes me awake.

    “Hey, are you feeling up to school today?” Marge questions. The sharp stench of cigarettes is emanating from her.

With a groan, I force myself to sit up.

    “What time is it?” I ask groggily. A glance around the room reveals that I am sitting in my suite on Floor 21. I must’ve fallen asleep after I finished erasing, I realize. “God, I didn’t do any of my schoolwork. I’m so screwed.”

   She gives me a strange, knowing smirk. “Then take the day off."

    My jaw drops in horror. “No way!” I screech, and Marge claps her hands on top of her ears.

    “Jeez, why’d you have to yell?” she groans. “Alright, get up then. You can hitch a ride with Jungkook.”

    “Jungkook’s still here?”

    “Yup. So are Hoseok and Jin. Now hurry up.”

    I suddenly notice that I am wearing a baggy pink t-shirt and a pair of white boxer shorts. “Marge, are these your clothes?”

    “Yeah, I changed you. I couldn’t let you sleep in those jeans the whole night.”

    “Thanks,” I say, rather touched.

    Marge rolls her eyes. “Don’t get all sappy on me. I’ll give you one of my shirts to wear. Now go take a shower!”

    Jungkook, Hoseok, and Jin are all waiting in the lobby already, chewing on breakfast bars. The three of them look uncharacteristically tired; Jungkook’s skin is ragged, and Hoseok’s eyes are bloodshot. Jin is half about to fall asleep on the stiff chair he is sitting on.

    “Are you all ready?” Jungkook asks me wearily. “We’ll stop by your house so you can pick up your bag.”

    “Thanks,” I respond. We trudge to Jungkook’s car, and somehow I get filed into the backseat with Jin, while Jungkook takes the wheel. My eyelids start to feel heavier and heavier, and before I know it, my head is resting against Jin’s shoulder and I am falling back asleep. I can hear him snoring softly- looks like he’s dozed off again, too...

Suddenly, the car jerks to the right. I fly to the far left edge of the seat and my head hits the window. Jin yelps as he falls in the other direction. “What the hell, man?” he shouts.

His eyes are fixated straight ahead of him. “We’re almost at Ami’s house.”

I glance out the window. “No we’re not!”

“Well, wake up anyway!” he snaps.

I straighten up, rubbing my eyes annoyedly. “God, fine. Where were you three yesterday anyway?”

“We had to-,” Hoseok begins, but Jungkook cuts him off. “None of your business.”

My mouth drops in indignation. “What crawled up your , Jungkook?”

“Just shut up,” he growls.

I exchange a pointed look with Jin. He throws me a skeptical look, and then goes back to pinching himself to stay awake.

After we arrive at school, Jungkook slams the car door shut and stomps into school without another look back at us. I turn to Hoseok in confusion.

“What happened yesterday?” I ask.

Hoseok stares after Jungkook, a cloudy expression on his face. “We had a mission yesterday.”

“And?”

He shakes his head. “Nothing. It was completed successfully.”

“It’s not nothing. Tell me.”

Hoseok gives me a long look. “There are some things that you’re better off not knowing, Ami.”

And before I can question him further, he strides away.

Jin is still in the car, sleeping. I kick the window next to his face and he jolts with shock.

“Wakey wakey,” I say.

“5 more minutes, Mommy,” he mumbles, burying his head in his hands.

My head pounds the entire day. The only thought pulsing through my head is my desire to sleep. That’s it.

I am stumbling to lunch when someone grabs my arm. “Ami!”

Preet is standing behind me. “We need to go to the library,” he says quietly. “We have a list of people who may have worked with Kyle at Yohan.”

“Got it.”