A small girl lay sprawled on the ground. She was not, in any way, a captive in some treacherous place. She was tracing her scar on her forehead. A scar that happened just about the same time as the Population Police's downfall some eight or so years ago. She was overjoyed that she no longer had to stay in hiding for she was an illegal. Invalid. A third child in a world that only allowed two or less. Shortage on food led the government to exile and kill all who protected, supported, helped, or even was a third child. Of course, it is impossible to control how many babies you will have so many children were abandoned. Forced to live on the streets and in the shadows of other people. That is; if the streets and people didn't kill them first.

Not all wanted third children dead. Some took the illegals in and cared for them. Secret men and women who believed that third children or not, it was wrong to throw away, abandon, or kill them just because they can't help who they are. Many died in the end. Many more died so long ago at a certain rally to stop the massacre of invalids. The rally started by a third child herself.

Using fake IDs to get by in life was a dangerous thing that also came with the unpleasant lives of third children. Especially when the Population Police; a somewhat type of self proclaiming heroes who work only in order to kill third children and not to long ago they devised a way to find the invalids faster and easier, found a way to test out who was using fake ones and who wasn't. The end of all third children seemed so near then, but somehow they had won. They had managed to save all the illegal, invalid, third children. Somehow brought back food and rain. Unfortunately, that freedom cost something to Alia. It cost her, her most dearest friend.

Oh sure, she still has Percy. Still can hang out with Nina, Trey, Lee and the others, but she wanted to spend time with him also.

He, was Matthias. After the fall of the Population Police he had stayed behind and made sure that the new government was running smoothly by being their leader. He vowed he'd never leave either Percy or herself in a million years. Or, wouldn't have if not for the fact that they had a fight on that same day he was going to ask if he should go or not.

Her eyes drawing tears again. Like the last eight or so years without him. Growing up was not as much fun if someone you missed dearly was no longer with you. He gave her a present for every birthday to show that he had not forgotten her, but what she really wanted was for him to be there with her. She had never said that he was forgiven to the many times that he apologized. Not once. She felt that it was her fault and he should not say sorry for something she did. She was sure he was happy wherever he was anyways. He was revered as a hero. With the help of the Population Police destruction, fixing of the food shortage, and many had already liked him from when he first came to the former headquarters of the Police. He was the most eligible for the leader position anyways. He had, after all, spent some time with the former commander. On the days he wasn't listening in on him on those afternoons so far, far away, he attended his classes for many things.

Was she selfish for wanting him to come back and let the whole world fall into chaos? She had always wondered this. Had always played out the scene of the fight that made him leave and played out what might have happened if she just closed her mouth. But most importantly she always wondered if he ever still cared or remembered her.

A\N: I did not read the last book yet.

Disclaimer: You know what I mean