Author's Note: hi everyone, sorry last chapter was a short one – I don't like math homework. Thanks to Leaning Leon, The Book Queen and the Guest for reviewing. YAYAYAY - We crossed 4000 views last chapter! I'm extremely, amazingly happy (:D) thanks soo much for the support and views!

My new side project is up, it's called: I Am Number Five – please, please, please be awesome and check it out! so Sarah is a no go so far by two votes!

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Marina/Seven POV

After pizza and 21 Jump Street, Britney, Emily and John went home – they said something about training, even though we've just played Capture the Flag. Right now Maren, Joe, Stan and I are completing… well starting our Loric Lifestyles project.

"So you're telling me, you guys did nothing when I was away?" I say, getting a bit frustrated. Stan nods proudly but then gets elbowed by Maren who mutters something. Joe looks at me, turning his head to the side and giving a goofy grin. I can't help but smile and slightly blush. He has that effect on me.

"We chose the Legacies we're going to present on" Joe says, but it comes out as a question. Stan laughs and Joe's weird face and Maren just face-palms. She looks up and rolls her eyes,

"See what I had to deal with when you were away?" she says, exaggerating a groan. Joe laughs and gets up to go get the laptop and textbooks. I get out my laptop and start making a slideshow. Stan… grabs some more pizza and Joe… joins him. I sigh in frustration and stalk over to them. They had to leave it till the last minute, didn't they?

"Joe! Come on, we've-" he cuts me off with a kiss, which I melt into. Stan makes a gagging noise and I think Maren clears her throat a few times. I would pull away, but Joe is just-

"Hey Marina, Joe! Get your tongues out of each other's mouths and lets get to work!" she says, smirking widely, I go tomato red and Joe reflects a similar colour as we pull back – Stan just howls with laughter and brings the pizza box to our project area. I walk over with Joe and sit down on the bean bags Stan has laid out. I bring my laptop to me and begin typing. I glance at the ring on my finger; Joe gave it to me after our first date, it was really sweet.

"OK what Legacies did you guys chose?" I ask, Joe opens a textbook on powers while Maren opens an encyclopaedia on it,

"Um, Night Vision, Teleportation, Supersonic Speed and Invisibility" Stan says, I type down headings for each. That's pretty cool, I've got Night Vision and Joe can teleport. But who has Supersonic Speed and Invisibility.

"Anything else you guys did?" I ask, hoping there's at least one of them done. They all look to me and shake their heads. Joe bites his lip, which does make him look incredibly hot, I mean, we must get started! Out of the corner of my eye I see a flicker on Maren. For some reason I think I see her hand come slightly opaque – I shake my head and blink rapidly. I'm pretty tired.

Emily/Five POV

As I make my way home, I feel great. Uniting with the others was an amazing experience, I hope they enjoyed the experience as well. But the best part was hanging out with them – I've never felt more comfortable and happy. Although something looked like it was bothering Marina, she's usually very happy like Joe, but this time she looked scared… Britney's coming over to my place. She's very talkative.

"So how was Stan?" she asks, I go a light red immediately. She laughs and swings her arm around my shoulders,

"You have much to learn young Padawan" she says smirking. I frown,

"Isn't that from a movie?" I ask, she shrugs,

"I dunno, maybe. I think it's from that Star fight, wars thingy" she says, actually looking curious, I face-palm,

"Maren was right, movies with aliens in them are really offensive. Are humans really that stupid?" I ask, she laughs,

"Speaking of Maren, it looks like you to a friends again" I say wiggling my eyebrows, she rolls her eyes and softly pushes me.

"Yeah… I don't know. Hopefully, this b*tchy attitude I have with her is so not me" she says. I raise my eyebrow, she looks and gives in,

"OK fine, but not me all the time. I like being cheerful – like Joe. He's always cheerful" she says, I nod in agreement; Joe some how always finds the good in everyone and in any situation. It's a nice trait. We approach my house, Britney skips ahead and rings the door bell – she's clueless, I even told her no one was home. I walk up the stone stairs and to the door, unlocking it with my keys. I open the door to my house… Kate's house, and walk in, shock instantly fills me and I'm frozen in the doorway.

"Em, come on, what's up?" she says, drawing her eyes to what I'm looking at. Fear is struck through me and I drop the keys. Britney mutters something like,

"Holy crap"

Before me is a destroyed living room. It's completely trashed, tables are turned over, the couch has been flipped and everything is either broken or on the floor. I feel Britney's hand on my shoulder,

"W-what happened?" I ask, but then quickly remember. My chest. I bolt into the house, almost, accidentally taking flight, Britney bounds after me,

"Em! Wait up, we should call someone!" she says, trying to get past all the mess and furniture that's been thrown everywhere. I race up the stairs, Britney on my heels, probably still wondering why we haven't called my Cepan or the police. I burst into my room, frantic and worried out of my mind. It's not trashed. Britney comes running down the hall and almost knocks me over when I suddenly come to a halt. I quickly hover over to my desk and open the bottom drawer; I breathe a huge sigh of relief when I see my Loric Chest safely tucked away. Britney comes over and leans in looking at the chest,

"Hey I've got one of those too!" she says – I would resist the urge to face-palm, but it's Britney. Sometimes I think she tries to act dumb – I dunno, typical cheerleader status and personality.

"Why would someone want to trash this place if they didn't come for the chest" I mutter quietly to myself, unfortunately Britney hears me,

"What do you mean they?" she asks, as I turn around, she's got her hands on her hips, and she looks like she isn't gonna let me pass anytime soon. I sigh,

"It's nothing just-"

"Em, what's going on? We're both Elder children." She says; she makes a very valid point, I'm actually surprised; but the situation I'm in snaps me out of my thought. I sigh in defeat and sit down on the edge of my bed, Britney sits on my study desk chair and spins around like a kid for a second before facing me,

"Last week I received a letter and a photograph. It was of me and Stan-"

"So?"

"Of my Legacy developing and Stan helping me" I say, she nods looking a tiny bit scared,

"I was pretty freaked out, but the photo had some writing at the bottom… the person who wrote it… knows my Number" I say, her eyes widen and the air turns cold and filled with dread.

"A-are you sure? Maybe it was a prank?" she says, I shake my head, already considering the option,

"It said something like, fifth from the first and fifth from the last… wouldn't want your numbers reduced to Eight now would we" chanting the words I read that dreadful day. Britney's eyes flutter down and she plays with the end of her shirt. She suddenly looks up,

"Wait, the letter specifically mentioned Eight right?" she asks, I nod, the slightest bit of fear creeping in again,

"Yeah, Joe's Number Eight" I say quietly, her mouth drops open,

"I don't know, but I have a really bad feeling about this. Have you told Joe yet?"

"No, Kate was there when I read it, she said she'd contact the other Cepans, but info like this is dangerous Britney" I say, fear in my voice – for once Britney nods in agreement.

"What are we gonna do?" she asks, there's a long pause and then I look up and boldly say,

"We're going to get to the bottom of this"

Author's Note: Thanks for reading! Please review!

And also please check out my new story, I Am Number Five!

Thanks Again :)

Paragon 8