AN: I have to apologize a million times, guys. I know this story is probably the worst I've written, but I can't help it. It's just not going in the direction I was hoping for, so I'm sorry! Anyhoo, I'm gonna try and finish this within the next four months, so bear with me. Thanks!

CHAPTER SEVEN

"You're not going to believe it!"

Josie and Ms. Sletzki looked up with surprise as a girl ran into the library. "What's going on?" Josie asked, standing.

"The army's taking over the school is what's going on," The girl said. "We have an hour to get all our stuff together and get out of here."

"What?" Ms. Sletzki demanded.

"The army?" Josie asked. She and Ms. Sletzki exchanged uncertain looks.

"It's true!" The girls said. "I saw them pull up fifteen minutes ago."

"Move out of the way!" Someone called in a commanding voice. Two army guys marched into the room. "Out, all of you."

"What's going on?" Ms. Sletzki asked.

"We're taking over the school for human safety," The cadet said.

"Human safety?" Josie demanded. "That's bull."

"Josie," Ms. Sletzki said disapprovingly.

"This isn't about human safety. It's about controlling the wormhole!" Josie accused.

All the students backed out of the room, leaving just Josie, Ms. Sletzki, and the two soldiers. One of the soldiers looked at Josie with amusement.

"What exactly do you know about the wormhole?" He asked.

"Only what I've seen on the TV," Josie said quickly.

"Isn't that the girl that said she'd traveled through it?" The other asked.

The amused one smirked. "Well isn't that just fine. Looks like we can tell commander we found her."

"What are you talking about?" Asked Ms. Sletzki.

"Our commander has a special interest in anyone who's had direct contact with the wormhole," The one explained.

"Well you've got the wrong girl," Josie said quickly. "I told you, I just know what they've talked about on the television."

"Get her!"

"Run!" Ms. Sletzki exclaimed.

"You don't have to tell me," Josie hissed, ducking around the cadet and skidding past the other, managing to make it into the hallway.

"Come back here!" She heard one of the soldiers call after her. She ignored them, obviously, and ran down into the basement, hoping to lose them in the maze that was Blake Holsey's ground floor. After a few moments she managed to escape into a room, closing the door quietly behind her and locking it into place. Then she closed her eyes and leaned against the door, letting out a relieved sigh.

"Having a little trouble?"

Josie practically jumped out of her skin. She looked up to see the janitor sitting on his bed. "Understatement of the century. In case you haven't noticed, the school is falling to pieces."

"What did you expect, Josie?" The janitor asked. "That this would just be ignored? It's too late for that now."

"So what do I do?" Josie asked, taking a seat across from him where sixteen years in the past Corrine and Marshall discovered a strange rock. "Corrine and Marshall are missing, everyone knows about the wormhole, and now the army is taking over Blake Holsey."

"Sometimes the answers to our most difficult questions are the most obvious," The janitor said.

"Did you get that from a fortune cookie?" Josie asked accusingly. The janitor (wisely) did not respond. Josie sighed. "I just want things to go back to normal."

"You're going to have to find a way to move forward despite this situation. If you can't, then all hope is lost."

"I know," Josie said. "I just don't know if I want that responsibility. This is all just happening so fast."

"There's more at stake than just what you know, Josie," The janitor said, standing up. "And there's more going on then you know. There's someone who's out to sabotage Victor Pearson's experiments in anyway he can."

"Can't say I blame him," Josie said with a grunt.

"Victor's not the enemy you're looking for," The janitor said. "He's much closer than that."

"Who?" Josie asked.

"You should return to your friends," The janitor suggested. "While you can."

Josie looked the janitor over, before standing also, pressing her ear to the window. "Thanks," She said quietly.

The janitor nodded and then gestured for her to go.

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"Commander Holt?"

The man looked up from Principal Durst's desk, eyes darkening. "What is it, Cadet?"

"Commander, we found the girl, but she escaped. However, we did manage to capture the woman with her," The cadet said quickly.

Commander Holt looked at him with some confusion, but then nodded. "Alright, bring her in. She may have the information we're looking for," He said.

"I can let myself in, dammit," Ms. Sletzki snapped, pushing the soldiers aside. She looked the commander over, before smirking. "Lyle Holt. It's been a while."

Commander Holt looked slightly surprised. "Molly," He said. "What an interesting turn of events. So you're working with the traveler."

"It would figure you would be behind this," Ms. Sletzki said, shaking her head. "Always going after things that were better left alone. That was always your problem."

"Do you two … know each other?" a soldier asked.

"She's my ex fiancée," Commander Holt said, not looking away from Ms. Sletzki. "Left me standing at the alter."

"With good reason," She snapped. "Because you couldn't stop doing stupid things like this! What are you doing here, anyways? This isn't any of your business."

"Isn't it? The discovery of a lifetime and you say it's none of my business? How convenient that you would be a part of this." He chuckled. Then he looked at the cadets. "Leave. Ms. Sletzki and I have much discussing to do."

"What?" The woman suddenly paled as the door closed shut. Commander Holt leaned over the desk, grinning madly.

"So … tell me what you know about the wormhole."

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As the two cadets stepped away from the door, one chuckled quietly to himself. The other looked at him with confusion.

"What's so funny?" He asked.

"A lot of things, really," The soldier replied. "Look, I'll meet up with you in a few minutes, okay? I've got something to take care of."

"Alright," The other replied hesitantly. He turned around he corner bumping into a group of kids. The cadet stared after him, and then strolled leisurely down the hall, stopping at a door. He glanced around, before stepping inside, stretching back into Tyler. Avenir and Collin looked up.

"Where is she?" Avenir asked.

"She ran off," Tyler replied. "But I've got some news for you. The reporter, Ms. Sletzki, she knows about the wormhole. I suspect she's somehow a part of it. The army commander is pretty much holding her hostage. There's no sign of the science club, and the science room is deserted."

"Excellent," Collin said.

"Or as excellent as the situation might allow," Avenir corrected. "The army getting involved has altered my plans slightly, but no matter. Are you up for your next job, Tyler?"

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Josie cautiously closed the door behind her, before finally turning around. "Lucas?" She called hesitantly.

"Ah!" Someone cried. Two some ones, to be more specific. They jumped out from behind the closet. They were hidden by sports equipment and wielding baseball bats and a hockey stick. After a moment they stopped.

"Josie?" One asked. They pulled up their hockey mask to reveal Professor Z. The other took off the football helmet to reveal Lucas.

"Sorry," He said. "We thought you were one of those army guys."

"We can't stay here," Josie announced.

Lucas scoffed. "You think we don't know that? We've been waiting for you."

"Well I'm sorry," Josie replied. "Things were a little … complicated. The armies here, you know that, right? And they're looking for me!" She sighed. "I've been thinking, and maybe we should head over to Pearson manor."

"Josie, your speaking crazy-talk. Head over to Victor's? That's just hat he wants!" Lucas exclaimed.

"No, no," Professor Zachary interrupted. "Josie might have a good point. The army can take over this school, but they wouldn't dare intrude on Pearson's property."

"Thanks," Josie said.

"I'm going to see if we can head out through here," Zachary said, going to the window.

Josie nodded, and then looked nervously at Lucas. "I think … look, there's something else. Something about Victor."

"What?" Lucas asked, straightening up.

"Don't ask me how or why, but I think he's actually the good guy," Josie said.

"… I know you said don't ask, but how and why do you think this?" Lucas inquired.

"The janitor told me." Lucas' eyes widened. "You mean, he just … came out and told you Victor's the good guy?"

"I know it's hard to believe, but it has to be true!" Josie said. "He said there's someone else."

"The army?" Lucas demanded.

"Not exactly. I think there's someone else, someone even closer to all this than just the army. And the janitor says he's already here," Josie explained.

"Are you sure?" Lucas asked with concern.

"I don't know," Josie replied. "I just – I just get this feeling, you know? I'm a little scared, Lucas."

"Well don't be," Lucas said comfortingly. "We're going to get through this. And together. No running off to do your own thing."

Josie laughed. "I don't think I could if I wanted to," She replied. "We're in too deep, now."

"Haven't we always been?" Lucas asked. Josie nodded despite herself.

"Look," Professor Zachary said, coming to their sides. "If we climb out that window, we could get to the Pearson's house without anyone noticing."

"Why can't we just use the side door or something?" Josie asked with confusion.

"The army has all doors covered," Zachary replied. "We wouldn't be able to get you out of here."

"Right," Josie said. "Well then, who's going first?"

Lucas and Zachary shared a look, and Josie sighed. "Why is it always me?"