Sorry for taking so long to update! I've been kind of busy these last few days. But here's an update (finally)!
Warning: this chapter is also kinda sad.

~Emily Believes xoxo


Ashley ran into the den, seeing her friends sitting in silence. The family part of the mysterious room really took it's toll. "Guys," Ashley spoke, causing them to turn to her, "I have an idea." No one uttered a word, so she simply continued as she saw David run up beside her, "We're going to take a trip to Oregon."

"And that's going to help our current situation how?" Lenny asked, raising an eyebrow.

"We're going to see our families again! Explain everything to them. Think - it'll help out everyone!" she said excitedly. Just the thought of seeing her parents again brightened her mood.

"We can tell them why we haven't aged, where we were, what happened, everything!" David exclaimed. His grip tightened on his sister's diary.

Usually, this would be the point where someone (usually David or Bruce) would point out flaws in the plan or how insane it was, but the idea put everyone at ease, and it definitely lifted the mood. Almost immediately, everyone loaded into a new and improved Sector Z jet.

"Alright, my flying skills are a little rusty… This may be a rough take off!" Constance exclaimed. Just as the jet went airborne, there was a mild turbulence that shook the entire contraption. In a matter of minutes, however, Constance had managed to gain control of the jet, and they were flying steadily towards Oregon.

"So, we have about five hours to kill," Ashley stated, relaxing in her chair. She had taken this flight before to visit her aunt and uncle (Rachel's parents) before. "What're we going to do?"

David looked at Jennifer's diary with a thoughtful (or "dazed off") look. The thought suddenly dawned on him how old his sister would be now - almost 17. Absentmindedly, he opened to a random page in the diary.

Just his luck. It was the first entry Jennifer wrote when he "ran away."

Dear Diary,

I overheard Mom and Dad saying that David hadn't come home. I thought they picked him up from school early! He wasn't on the bus!
Maybe he's staying at Bruce's house or something, but then again I don't think they'd sound THAT worried if he was.
David's the good one. He'll be home soon. I know it. So I have no reason to worry, right?

Jen~

David furrowed his eyebrows. This is what was going through her mind. Curiosity getting the better of him, he turned the page.

Dear Diary,

It's been hours. David still hasn't come home. He wasn't over at Bruce's, or even Lenny's, Ashley's, or Connie's. In fact, they're all missing too! Something's up, I just know it!
David wouldn't run away. That's totally unlike him. COMPLETELY unlike him. But… he still hasn't come home. I don't understand. He couldn't have. He wouldn't!
That's exactly it! He wouldn't run away! He'll be home soon. I know it. I don't need to worry yet.

Jen~

He turned the page again, only to the the handwriting was more hurried.

Dear Diary,

It's been a day. Mom invited David's best friend's families over to our house. Nick, Andrew, and Zach are playing make-believe in the backyard. It's horrible that they can't understand the gravity of this situation.
Then again, it's probably for the better.
Mr. Kemp said the police haven't even had the slightest glimpse of any of them. He looked almost panicked.
Belle thinks they've run away. It was hard for her to say, I could tell. She and Connie are close.
I still refuse to believe it. They wouldn't do that. At all. They'll be home soon. I know it.

Jen~

David was sensing a pattern of denial. It was understandable; he wouldn't have just run away, and his sister knew him well enough to know that. Once more turning the page, he found the same shaky handwriting.

Dear Diary,

It's been weeks. He still hasn't come home… Victoria will not stop crying! We couldn't figure out why until Dad remembered that David could always make her laugh, no matter what mood she was in.
Maybe this is just a dream, because this can't be real. David didn't run away. Victoria is happy and laughing and not crying her eyes out. Mom and Dad are worry-free. Mr. Kemp calls in a happy tone, and not one where he's on the verge of tears. Mrs. Fairchild comes over to simply talk, not just because it's too quiet at her house without Ashley around. Belle will stop calling me, crying because her sister's gone.
It's just a sick nightmare… right?

Jen~

David looked up from the diary. Ashley and Lenny were arm wrestling while Bruce was tracking their journey to their old suburban neighborhood in Oregon. They still had just under four hours left. Constance, of course, was still flying the jet. He returned to reading Jennifer's diary, flipping to the next page.

Dear Diary,

Mom and Dad keep telling me that I need to come out of my room. They don't understand. They don't know how it feels to lose your brother!
What am I saying? He's their son! Of course they know.
Mom has taken the liberty to bring food and place it outside my door, something which I have to saw I'm thankful for.
And poor little Victoria won't stop crying either. Sometimes when Andrew and Zach come over she'll stop, or when there's a picture of David nearby, but I just hear the same screams almost 24/7. I think reality is starting to catch up to both of us.
There's still a small part of me denying this. David wouldn't run away. He'll come home. I know it…
I hate to say it, I really do, but even I'm beginning to doubt that statement.

Jen~

David tried turning the page, but they were practically stuck together. When he had finally ripped them apart, he saw that the next page was stained with tears. He almost didn't want to read it, given the last one, but seeing as he had nothing else to do…

Dear Diary,

If it weren't for the pictures, I don't think I'd remember what David looked like. His voice has already faded from my mind.
Sorry for not writing lately, you know I've been through some troubles. It's just…
We finally gave up. We gave up searching for David, Bruce, Lenny, Connie, and Ashley. In fact, we gave up weeks ago. I just didn't have the heart to do anything. After two years of searching, they just gave it all up.
We had a sort of tribute in Belle's backyard. No one could hold back tears. Not even Mr. Fairchild, who I've never seen cry before.
So now we all have pictures of all five of them in our houses with the words "Dearly Missed" under them. I can't stand to look at it. It just brings back too many memories that have been horribly tainted.
Oh, my thirteenth birthday is also tomorrow. I'm going to have to suck it up for everyone, because I don't want them to pity me because I'm sad on my birthday.
I can't believe it. He did. They did. They ran away.
I was wrong.

Jen~

David looked at the tracker. Two hours, forty-three minutes. His "day dreaming" problem really passed the time. Though this wasn't exactly enjoyable.

Dear Diary,

Was it me? Did I do something wrong? Tease him one too many times? I mean, it was practically OBVIOUS that he liked Ashley, but I didn't know stuff like that would stick to him!
Oh, geez, what if he died?! No. He couldn't have. He's alive. He's trying to find his way home! I know it! He has to be alive!
Diary, was I a good sister? Was it me that caused him to run away? Did I cause all this suffering?

Jen~

David furrowed his eyebrows. She was a good sister, when he thought about it. They never resented each other, and any arguments they had were about something stupid. It pained him to know that she actually thought that. Even so, he read on.

Dear Diary,

I've finally moved on with my life. At fourteen, turning fifteen, I can finally say that life's good. Instead of crying at the pictures, I smile at them. Bruce always had a funny sense of humor, and David was the best little bro anyone could've asked for. Ashley and Lenny were always fun to be around, and Connie just lit up every room she walked in. She didn't even have to say anything (even though she talked a lot). Of course I miss them. But life goes on, and I didn't want to be left behind.
It's just a shame that Victoria will never get to meet David. He would've been the best big brother ever. I hope I get to be the one to tell her about him.
There still feels like there's something missing though. I highly doubt anyone else can fill that hole but David, wherever he is.

Jen~

He smiled. At least she moved on.

He turned the page to read the next entry, but it was rather sloppy and hard to read. He could only make out a few letters.

Suddenly, turbulence hit the jet again. Both Ashley and Bruce fell over, as Bruce was standing up and Ashley was trying to sleep in her chair. David gripped onto the diary as well as the side of his chair, just to make sure nothing went flying.

The violent shaking stopped, but a rough landing soon followed. Once the jet had finally stopped, the members of Sector Z made their way out of the jet and scattered to their old houses.

Nerves and adrenaline fueled everyone. Surprisingly, all the doors were unlocked. And they were all met with an identical note.

Sector Z -

I see you have finally decided to visit your families. Too little, too late. I have them in my clutches, and you will turn yourself in if you want to see them again, you're going to have to come back to a special place in Arizona. Don't worry, Numbuh 0.3 should know where it is.

Delightfulization coming your way,

Father

They all stared at the note in shock, and David felt a sickening pain in his stomach as he finally stitched together what Jennifer's last diary entry said.

Dear Diary,

I've met this man who calls himself Father. He says he knows where David, Bruce, Lenny, Ashley, and Connie are. We're going to Arizona to see them again!
It's about time, too. I've almost forgotten what they look like. I haven't looked at the pictures in ages.
I can't wait to see them again.

Jen~