Evalynn opened her eyes slowly, eyelids fluttering. She was tied to a chair in front of a panel covered in a variety of buttons and switches. Immediately, she began to pull against her restraints, trying to get free.

'I said stop resisting.'

She obeyed, though still unable to see anywhere else in the room besides the panel in front of her.

'Why-'

'Hush. Don't speak or think. Just listen and obey.'

There were footsteps behind her and somebody put their hands on the back of her chair, leaning down to whisper in her ear.

"It's easy, remember?"

Evalynn swallowed, biting her lip hard. She felt the bonds around her wrists loosen just enough that she could touch the panel in front of her, but not untie herself.

'Now when I tell you, you're going to press a series of buttons and switches that I'll specify for you. Understand?'

Evalynn nodded, unable to respond any other way.

'Good. Now let's get to work.'

"Where do you think he took them?"

"No idea."

"Do you think he'll hurt them?"

"No idea."

"What if-"

"Both of you shut up!" Jared shouted.

Immediately Zoe and Evan went silent.

"Why can't we have one year of high school where those things don't take over our lives?" Jeremy muttered.

"None of us have ever been SQUIPed," Zoe pointed out.

"Yeah, but Connor got his freshman year and didn't get rid of it until last year after Evalynn joined him and almost died because of it. Now hers is back for more, and we're sitting in a small room at SQUIP Headquarters because of it."

"Okay, I see your point."

"Where even is SQUIP Headquarters? I mean, are we even in New Jersey still?" Evan asked.

"How are we supposed to know that?" Jared shot back.

Before any more could be said, the door opened and a woman entered the room, shutting the door behind her.

"Who the Hell are you?" Jared asked her.

"I'm the Creator. Perhaps you've heard of me."

"You're the Creator? You're the reason we're in this mess in the first place?" Zoe glared at the woman.

"I'll take that as a yes. I've come to let you four go."

"Let us go? Why the fuck would you do that?"

"Language, Mr. Kleinman. And I'm doing that because you four hold no significance for me. I have the three I want, so there's no reason for me to keep you, too."

"The three…What did you do to them?"

"Oh, I assure you, your brother is fine, Miss Murphy. He and your friend are locked away in a secure location where they won't cause any more trouble to me or my product."

"What about my sister?"

"Evlaynn? Oh, the dear girl is doing splendidly. Jason's taking good care of her, I promise."

"Wait. She's here?" Zoe said in realization.

"Oh, yes. And doing exactly what she does best, too," the Creator's voice remained sickly sweet and peppy.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Jeremy inquired.

"I thought that would be obvious. She's blocked all of you out of her life and is doing exactly as she's told. Listen and obey. It's what she does best."

"Blocked all of us…you made her reactivate it!"

"I didn't make her do anything. Jason, however, has a particularly strong hold over her."

"Where are they?"

"I can't tell you that. Now, I do believe it is time for you four to leave."

"We're not going anywhere without our friends. All three of them."

"Yes, you are."

The Creator reached into her pocket and brought out a remote, pressing a button in the middle of it. Immediately, all four of the other occupants of the room dropped to the floor unconscious.

"Have a fun trip home," she said, stepping aside to let some more people into the room.