Wow. So it's been a month, I think. All I can say about that is that I was in Hawaii for two weeks, then as soon as I got back, Junior year started. They don't kid around when they say it's the hardest year of high school. Plus I've got that other story called 'The Fighting Four' up on my shared account with Academic Girl, Ilona18, and WaffleManaic. Let it be known that writing two stories absolutely takes a toll on your social and academic life...and soccer life. To be honest, soccer and school will always come first to me before these stories, but I promise I will update more frequently from now on. :)

heres the chapter that you've all been waiting for. It might stink because I had writers block when I wrote the first half.

Enjoy!

Chapter 21

(Mailey's POV)

Everything was blurry. Chaotic. Were guards really rushing over to my hospital bed to wheel me out? Were the rebels really attacking us a week into the competition? Why was my head spinning?

I groaned as we went over a bump in the floor and tears escaped my eyes.

'Dammit, why am I being so weak? I'm strong. I'm strong!' I thought, chiding myself.

"You're going to be okay, Lady Mailey. Just hold on and we'll get you to the safe room." A guard leaned over and held my hand. "Almost there. Don't worry." he squeezed it and let go.

"Jay, don't do that. She isn't healthy and she has no chance if we aren't focused. Keep pushing this thing. One corner to go." a demanding voice said and I shivered.

I tried to voice that I would be fine and they were doing well but to go on without me if it came down to it, but after the first word came out muffled and drool escaped my mouth, I decided not to finish the thought.

"Okay, now open the door. We'll need to carry her down. Good. Nice and easy now. Jay, go up and lock it. Yeah. That bolt. Good. Now twist the-yep. Great. Okay." he breathed a sigh of relief, "We're clear. Let's just get her down to the room now. Asher, you get the right side; Jay, get the left. I've got the back. Be careful." he said harshly. "For all we know, this could be the princess one day." he reminded the other soldiers.

"Yes sir." they chimed together.

I almost laughed. Justin always said that the most annoying thing he had to do in basic training was salute the commanding officers 24/7 and follow someone's orders even when he didn't like them.

"Alright." the commander said as we hit the bottom step. "Jay, get the door. You know the code."

I lazily watched as my new-favorite guard typed in a set of numbers on the screen to the left of the door, and pressed 'enter'.

The door unbolted immediately and I was rushed in and into a small curtained-off are by the guards. Medical unit? Did they have a doctor's office in the safe room?

As I was set down, people clamored over to me, bustling around, getting the IV fluid ready, fluffing up pillows on the new bed I assumed I would be moved to, connecting wires to the sides of my head so they could monitor brain activity. The commotion made me uncomfortable, but my mouth wouldn't open. I couldn't get the words out.

Arms grabbed my legs and supported my head and back and soon I was on the new bed. A lot more comfy than the old one.

"Mailey's condition is worsening, but I am certain there is a way to..." muffled voices trailed in and out.

Was I falling asleep? Seemed like it. Wow was this bed comfortable! I was dozing out when the crying started beyond the curtains.

'Are we being serious now? They're crying over something they all knew would happen!' I scoffed in my head.

"It's just...so hard!" a girl cried out, and I knew it had to be Fallon, trying to get the prince's attention.

Typical. She did this when we were little. It was her thing- she could make anyone feel bad for her, sympathize, and fall in love just by batting those eyelashes and looking like a hurt puppy.

I wrinkled my nose at her in disgust. 'Slut.' I thought, as Gerad made his way over to her and sat down by her side.

"I know this is a lot to take in, Lady Fallon, but please understand that this is part of living here."

She curled into his arms and sniffled. "I know. Thank you for being so kind, Prince Gerad."

When she giggled, I knew I didn't want to know what else he had done to comfort her. I pinched my eyes shut as hard as I could and let the tears fall out.

Was he giving up on me? Was I not good enough for him unless I was healthy like the others? Would I ever be able to get real help for my brother if I was sent home? Could I handle being away from this life- from this new family I had grown to love, even if it had only been a week?

I didn't know the answers, but I hoped that my guesses weren't true.

The alarms finally stopped blaring after what seemed like hours. All of the other girls were asleep and the two little princes were as well. I could see most of the room from my bed, but for some reason I didn't want to talk or distract anyone. Instead I played with my locket, thinking back to the last time I had seen my friend.

Would she laugh at the irony of me being extremely sick instead of her right now? Would we talk for hours and catch up and maybe even play the games we used to? Would we sing together, play music together, laugh together? Would she even remember me? Was she even alive?

I squirmed on my bed. She had to be alive. She just had to.

I feel like I stared at my locket for hours, remembering my days at that hospital. It gave me a meloncholy type of feeling, knowing that all of those great moments happened as my father died. It made me sad to think that I would never see my friend again. The odds of that happening were not in my favor.

A cry startled me out of my revere.

"Mailey?!"

No... It couldn't be.

"Mailey! Is it really you?"

Was it really her?

Someone ran to my bed and forced me upright. I groaned at the pain they caused me, but if it was who I thought it was, then I didn't care.

I looked at my best friend, standing there in front of me with the same fiery red hair and beautiful smile. I saw how she had grown. She spoke the same, but her features were matured now. She was a woman. I laughed to myself. She was the princess. I reached down and took hold of my locket, just as she did the same.

"So you'll never forget." I whispered, staring at her in awe.

"Morgana?"