A/N: This chapter was supposed to be for chapter two, but other ideas filled my head and I thought it would be too fast . THANK YOU FOR BEING PATIENT WITH ME DEAR READERS -3- YOU DESERVE ALL THE LOVE YOU CAN GETTTT~ I WENT TO MY 2 DAY SEMINAR SO YEAH BUT STILL :( There's a not at the end so please read it :)

This is now Maxon's POV, just in case you don't know that the POVs are in a two chapter pattern...

As soon as all of us went back to our respective rooms, I decided to roam around the halls.

It was probably passed 11 and Father might get mad at me for being out at this hour, but I needed a little refreshing.

After the little scene, well not little exactly, at the dinner table, Father ordered all camera crews and reporters to stop roaming the palace until the final preparations for the wedding.

What General Titania said was true. Reporters were annoying, taking in any information they could get their hands to, sometimes if not interesting, making up quirky headlines and adding false but controversial information to each article. Ever since the Selection has ended with Kriss, there was nothing interesting going around in the palace, except for occasional rebel attacks of course. The article where Kriss was playing crochet was true. It was in the front spread, which greatly maddened the lower castes.

And speaking of the lower castes, there was another change that happened after the Selection. Fours, Fives, occasional Sixes and Sevens began to create riots, but peaceful ones. They said they're called rallies. They hold up signs and one-by-one, tell something about the life they live in. They've been doing this for a long time.

Especially the Fives...

The Fives were more aggressive than the others. Somehow they found ways to interrupt television shows and send videos of whippings, or them preaching about change.

No damage occurred, but it scared the hell out of the Twos and Father as well. More guards were sent to the lower castes because of this.

"It's all the Five's fault," Father would occasionally mumble. "Telling them to fight, nonsense..."

I found myself walking by the floor where the soldiers from Creta were staying. There were no guards around the hall, and no maids roaming around too. It must be the general's request.

I heard a crash from the staircase. Must be a maid ordered to stay for the night to clean the kitchen. I followed where the sound came from but stopped at the corner when I heard another voice.

"Are you okay? Are you hurt?"

I peaked and saw General Titania crouching down, picking up several silver trays and towels as the maid tries to stand-up.

"Oh my, General, I'm so sorry, I interrupted your slumber-"

She laughed. Softly, but genuine. It was a sound I wouldn't have expected to come out of her.

"I wasn't sleepy anyway. It's unfair you know, the palace should have shifts with maids. Some should sleep at day and take charge at night while some do the opposite. You've been working all day without any rest. Tell me where to put these, you should get some shut eye."

"But General-"

"No buts, General's orders,"

The maid smiled a little and made a shy salute, "Yes ma'am, the trays are supposed to be placed back at the kitchen along with the towels. Thank you so much..."

"Your welcome..."

It hit me.

The maid went the other way, back to their quarters where she'll finally sleep peacefully. As for the General I followed her down to the kitchen.

When she finally placed the trays properly by the counter and hung the towels, I decided to pretend to bump into her by the next hallway.

It was supposed to be a gentle bump, or maybe just see each other and pass by, but my feet decided to trip on her instead.

I hit my knee on the floor and winced, closing my eyes until the pain didn't feel to surreal. I opened them though, only to see me above her shocked form.

And for a second, I thought I was looking at someone else. Someone I knew, someone I thought who was gone.

Before i could say anything she punched me.

After that, the whole world turned black.

Surprisingly, I woke up in my room, tucked in the sheets.

I woke up later than usual. I sighed and went on to my morning routine. I got dressed and I was ready to go.

The first thing I heard was loud shouts form the back garden. I peaked through my window and saw the Cretan soldiers screaming several commands, some which are probably army jargon, since I couldn't understand.

The guards were all running around. They must have been at this early in the morning because they looked tired as hell, or the Cretans are just really good trainers.

I went out, hoping that I wasn't that late for breakfast when I bumped into a smaller figure.

General Titania was quick enough to ignore me and speed walk to the staircase going down.

For a woman, she was a fast walker.

I couldn't believe it, couldn't believe myself. How come I was so blind? How come I only see this now? I didn't even know what to believe in anymore. I feel like everything around me was just a dream. Like I would wake up anytime feeling empty again, in pain. Stupid Maxon, so stupid.

Everything made so much sense. Her structure might be different, her attitude, the way she carries her self, but those eyes.

The way those eyes looked at me for two seconds, I was certain.

"America," I ran to her. I held both of her hands tightly and brought them to my chest. She struggles, trying to break my hold.

"What the hell are you talking about? Who the hell is that? You're highness you must have mistaken me for someone else."

"Drop the whole general act," I exclaimed. I haven't heard my voice turn to that in a while. Strong, strict, authoritative.

She kneed my crotch and I let go of her immediately. I clasped both of my legs in pain but a smirk was able to cover my face.

"This isn't the first time you've hit me like this."

She tensed up a little, but was able to keep her calm state, "Your majesty, stop this nonsense. If you'll excuse me, I have some soldiers to train..."

Just as she was about to walk out of the door, I asked on last question.

"Why do you deny things so much."

Without looking back at me she stated,

"Because, I am an alloy. I am built up from the thinnest, purest sheets of metal. I am made to be strong inside and out. I am made to resist. I am meant to be tainted."

Okay, so about the Fives hacking into cameras and stuff, we all know that America's dad is a Northern rebel right? (if not well; SPOILER!) The Northern rebels want America to win, nut if not, the choice was Kriss. Kriss won but seemingly became more attached to Maxon than changing the caste system, so they endorsed rallies to the lower castes. Yes, most of the rallyist are Northern rebels alongside other people. The rebels help people get into cameras, sometimes interrupt daily Reports something like that... so yeah, I hope you understand where the idea came from .