Sorry for the short chapter, but i needed to get something out. ive been really lazy. school has been out for 2 weeks and i havent started any new chapters. so i really am sorry and i will try to update more. this is the first time ive been on the computer in a very long time but i hope to be on a lot more frequently, writing new chapters. hope u enjoy

I walked slowly to the Dining Hall as my mind was processing my scattered thoughts. I sat down with what I assume was a vacant expression on my face, because my friends began to launch their questions almost instantaneously.

"Are you okay?"

"Where have you been?"

"Do you want me to punch Tina for you?"

"Guys, what I really need is some quiet. Actually, I take that back; tell me what happened after I left." I decided that if it was quiet, my mind would conjure up more thoughts, so it was probably best to distract myself for a little while.

"Well, it was really weird. Solomon just shrugged and moved on with class." Macey seemed kind of intrigued by this, which is surprising (it is not easy trying to get that girl's attention, believe me).

"Yeah," Bex breathed. "He didn't act anything like what you described to us."

"Maybe you dreamed him being nice or something," Liz suggested. The atmosphere became..awkward, shall we say, when she uttered these words. "Well you never know," she defended. We just shook our heads. I had a small smile. "Okay, you know what? I am really getting tired of you guys treating me like I'm just some stupid Southern Belle!" Liz had recently taken a trip to visit her parents over the break, so her accent was thicker than ever, so my small smile turned into full-on, teeth-flaunting laughter. She just huffed, because we were all laughing and crossed her arms. That was exactly what I needed; a good laugh with the girls.

Once everyone was finished with dinner, I put my serious face back on, and we all headed back to the room early. Normally, Macey would've gone to the library, but after I gave her the "It's urgent" look, and since she knew something was going on, she decided to skip the research for a night. Us four girls entered the room, and immediately, we locked the door and checked for bugs.

"What's going on, Cammie?" Bex asked. I put my fingers to my lips, signaling her to be quiet. I looked at Liz and pointed to her laptop. She picked it up and laid it on my cot. I took a piece of Evapopaper (A/N: Spelling?) and wrote her a message and put it in her hands.

We need to get help. Now.

She quickly put the paper in her mouth and began tapping away on the keyboard. I kept seeing the same words pop onto the screen in bold, capitalized, red letters. ACCESS DENIED. ACCESS DENIED. ACCESS DENIED.

"Cammie, I can't get through. I just," she sighed and leaned back. "I just don't know what to do."

"Liz, I need you to do this," I said to her, staring at her solemnly.

"I don't know..." It was obvious that she was frustrated and frantic and confused. Her eyes let on more than she knows. "I can't."

I took Liz's shoulders and faced her towards me. "Look, I know that if there is anyone in this world that can get through that firewall, it's you." She just looked up at me with her big, innocent eyes and nodded. Suddenly, those innocent eyes became powerful, and she turned back to the laptop with a fervent passion. Finally, I saw those beautiful words.

ACCESS GRANTED.

I exhaled and closed my eyes, feeling the smile spread across my face. "I knew you could do it," I whispered, staring at the screen. I pointed to the tab that said "Student Info." Liz quickly clicked on it and began scrolling. I gasped when she stopped scrolling. The list jumped from Gonzales, Eduardo to Gray, Tyler. Where's Zach? I thought.

"You must have the wrong site, Liz," I said shakily, straightening myself.

"Cam, I-" Liz began meekly.

"It's the wrong site." Something was wrong. Why wasn't Zach in the Blackthorne database? It just wasn't possible.

"Okay, obviously something is up," Macey said, entering the conversation. Then, she looked as if something urgent just occurred to her. "I have to go, Cammie." She was already leaving the room.

"Macey!" I yelled, chasing after her. As soon as I ran into the hall I continued, "Where are yo-" Suddenly, I felt a strong arm roughly cover my mouth and the hard body tackle me to the ground. I began using moves I had sworn never to use, but it was of no use. I was slipping away. Slipping into a solemn slumber.

~ZC~

I was drowsy as I awoke in an old wooden chair in an unfamiliar place. "Ugh," I groaned groggily. I looked down to see that my arms were tied behind me, but I couldn't feel them. The room had an odor that reminded me of burning hair. As I looked around, I noticed I was in a cell.

"Cammie?" I heard a soft voice ask from a distance. I gasped softly. It was the voice I had been waiting months to hear. It was the voice I had longed to hear comfort me. It was Zach.