A/N: Sorry that it took longer but it's been a busy winter. Filled with a lot of shopping, a white Christmas in a long time for Texas (really excited about that), and watching the new movie Sherlock Holmes. If you haven't seen it I'll just tell you that I loved it. Great comedy, action, plot set-up, and depending on reviews there a good chance for a sequel. Well on to the story.

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Chapter 8: Harper's Insight

Keira Goode's POV:

I wasn't sure what I expected would happen when we—my brother and I—told the Circle what had happened to Craig and Kendall. It wasn't that I was really afraid for my life or Zach's for that matter. Craig was the one who had gone against the set out rules. He had killed someone who was not threatening him nor was he was ordered to kill him. That already put a solid hit on him without even going to the part where our lives were threatened.

Still I expected to see some controversy over this. Some outrage from either of the parents or any type of emotion at least, but no. Everyone in the Circle acted like they didn't personally know them as if Craig and Kendall were outsiders this whole time.

Waiting for the orders to be sent out I kept my distance from Zach. When everything was straightened out (mainly the cover ups set-up) I was expected along with Harper to help in the moving of the bodies. Not something I was looking forward to do but I did it without complaint. Plus it kept me further away from Zach who, at the moment, I wanted to be the farthest away from.

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Days Later

Zachary Goode's POV:

Ever since the night I shot Craig and Kendall, Keira wouldn't even glance in my direction. She did everything she could to keep her distance away from me. It frustrated me more than I ever thought possible. I mean really how could she act like this after I saved her life!? And it certainly isn't the first time either.

It's not like I did anything wrong. Sure I killed two people, ended their lives, but was there really any other choice. They were going to kill Keira and they already killed Peter. So it was the right thing to do in order to save one life and maybe even my own.

Yet Keira was acting as if I committed the worst crime and that she no longer wanted anything to do with me. My own sister, who I saved and this is how she repays me!

My fist came down harder on the desk than I had intended. Jolting me almost immediately out of my thoughts. I rubbed my hand soothing trying to simmer down my anger and slight pain.

Listening trying to keep away from my thoughts I heard voices coming from the living room. Keira and Harper.

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Keira Goode's POV:

"You know it may not seem like it but I do miss my brother," Harper said next to me. She took a sip of her drink. Looking down at the bottle she laughed. "This was always his favorite, Marcus's."

It had been a long time since she had spoken a word about her brother who was known to everyone outside the group as William, everyone in the younger generation as West, and to Harper—and Harper only—as Marcus.

She stared straight ahead at the doorway with a look of being lost in thought as if replaying a memory. After a few moments she continued, "I warned him not to leave. That even if he went straight to the authorities and told them everything he would be dead in less than a week. That it would just be better off for him to stay in the group that no one outside could help him. That no outsider would help him!" Anger filled her tone as she turned the bottle around and around in her hand. "And what do you know." Harper paused lowing her voice she added, "And I was right, again. He didn't even last half the week."

There was a silence not an awkward one but the kind that seemed wrong to break, almost a solemn one. Everything Harper was telling me wasn't new information I had already known all about West's situation. Still it was strange hearing it since Harper never talked about her older brother, ever. Nor have I ever heard this much emotion in her voice in a long, long time.

Taking in a deep breath she told me a piece of information I had not heard. "I watched him die Kiera. I was eleven he was fourteen and I watched my own brother die." She shook her head, biting her lip deeply, and starring hard at the bottle. "But what does it matter to them we're just pawns. We're all just pawns."

That was when an enraged Zachary walked in and I knew Harper wouldn't say another word about this. Not for a long time most likely.

He was quiet for a moment but I could feel his harsh gaze on me. It might be best if I leave at that moment. "What is your problem, Kiera!? Why can't you look me in the eye just once? Why is it that almost every time I walk into a room you leave? What is it, tell me what is it I did that has upset you so much?" he shouted at me.

I didn't turn my head towards him. My eyes remained locked to the countertop in front of me. I could practically feel the waves of anger flowing off Zach. It sent an uncontrollable shiver down my spine. This was not a Zach I was used to, not a Zach I even knew. I mean Zach got angry, frustrated everyone does but this time was different this time was worse.

Zach sighed and I could hear him pacing across the floor. In the reflection of the clock I could see him running his fingers through his hair before he looked back over at me. "What is it Keira, why can't you tell me what it is?" His voice started to lower but still held just as much anger as before. "It can't be because of that shot that saved your life. You know just as well as I do that they could have killed you then, right then. They're certainly capable of it."

That was when I lost it. Bolting straight up from my seat I walked over to him and looked him straight in the eye. No longer seeing the same brother I had grown up with all these years, but instead an angrier, more distant one.

"It isn't the fact that you just shot Craig and Kendall, Zach," I stated trying to keep my voice as smooth and straight as possible. All my fears were coming out this moment and it might already be too late to stop them from coming true. "It's the fact that you didn't seem to feel sorry about it, about them. Even if you never liked them, it doesn't matter. The point is you didn't show remorse after killing them. You didn't act like they mattered. That they had a purpose, a life," I shouted at him my voice growing louder. I was frustrated and angry after everything that had happened. Nothing was the same anymore.

Zach only shook his head looking just as angry. He starred down at me in the coldest way possible his eyes growing darker by the minute. "You're accusing me of changing. Maybe you should take a look in the mirror. I'm sure the old Keira wouldn't just stand around waiting to be ordered around. I'm not the only one at fault here." He didn't say anything more but walked away literally fuming.

I stood there swallowing back tears. Everything was falling apart and it seemed too late to stop it from crumbling to pieces.

Harper who I had almost forgotten had been here listening and watching the whole episode walked up behind me. "Zach isn't the only one who's changed Keira," Harper said. Her voice held no accusation, no fear it was clear cut as if stating a well known fact. "You have to. We all have to. Adapt or die is the name of the game here."

I shook my head I didn't want to believe those words. Not just that I have changed but that we all had, did.

Harper's footsteps moved towards the doorway but she wasn't quite done here. "Kiera, this is what they want." I turned my head around watching as she stood there starring back intently. "They want you both at each other's throats. Together you both hold too much of a threat. You're stronger that way. But…but it's going to get much worse than this down the road. Everything will be changing, hurling towards you both in only a short period of time. If you stand a chance of not being too far sucked in you both need to pick up your act and fast." With that she left and I didn't doubt one single word.

There was a quick ring to my cell-phone and an even more distant ring down the hall. I didn't need to see caller id to know who it was. Looked down at the text I read:

At the airport, time travels quick. See you in the winter. –Riley D.

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Cameron Morgan's POV:

"Montez…Montez." I heard one professor whisper under her breath before I entered the room.

I walked in and saw Professor Davis holding a several week old newspaper. Two weeks, one days, and ten hours. The same newspaper Bex had read to me as soon as she had gotten hold of it.

"Professor Davis, I have a note for you from my mom."

She jumped faintly, only a spy would have seen. She set the paper down as if it meant nothing and tried to act calm, relaxed. It might have worked to had I not seen her earlier, had I not seen her jump.

I walked up to her and handed her the letter.

She smiled but it was off somehow. "Thank you dear," she said and looked at the letter. Only I could see that she was starring straight through it.

Leaving I knew something strange was going on but with finals coming I decided to put it in the back of my mind. The last thing I needed was to stir up more trouble.

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A/N: Sorry also if it's shorter than normal, but anyway review and I'll send you a sneak peak of the last chapter. Oh, and I'm not sure if you got this from the last scene so I'll just say this…Chapter 3: Merry's Choice…Ms. Cecilia Davis…goodnight, good morning, good afternoon