Hey, guess who's back? I don't really know if anyone is still going to read this, but I really hope so. I'm very sorry for abandoning it for so long, but I'm really excited to be working on it again! Thank you so much to everyone who submitted a character, write reviews, or just read this at all.

Edit: Okay so originally I posted this as chapter 7, but I skipped over what should have been chapter 7. It's kind of important to the plot so I went back and added it in. If you haven't already, please go back and read the real chapter 7, and I'm sorry again for the confusion.

Valarie

The day before my official sendoff, I throw a massive party. Practically everyone in the whole city tries to get in, but I turn away anyone below a Three. After all, there's simply not enough space for everyone here. Besides that, I'm going to be Queen soon, and I can't be expected to associate with the lower classes.

On the official day of my departure, there is a huge crowd gathered in the town square, waiting to see me off. I deliver a speech I prepared last night, about how honored I am to have been chosen and how I'll do my best to make them proud. "If I am chosen to rule this nation, I guarantee I will stop at nothing to make sure each and every one of you is taken care of." I may be stretching the truth a little, but that's the point of politics, isn't it?

Alison

I'm bubbling with excitement and nerves on the day of my sendoff. I wasn't expecting to make a speech, so when a microphone is shoved in my hand and I'm instructed to say something, I'm caught a little off-guard.

"Um . . . hi," I say, giving a little wave. "I'm really, really excited to have this opportunity to be in the Selection." I pause because I have no idea what else to say. "You're all lovely people." I blush and hand to microphone back to the woman who gave it to me.

After that, I have only a few minutes to hug my friends and family goodbye. My little sister, Meredith, is the hardest to say goodbye to. I hug her hard and whisper, "write me letters, okay? I love you." She promises me she will, and then I'm rushed off to the airport in a limousine.

At the airport, two other girls are already there waiting. One of them I recognize from the Selection announcements as Valarie Cross. The other one I can't remember. She looks up at me from a book and smiles. Valarie does not smile.

I extend a hand to the girl whose name I can't remember. "I'm Alison."

"Amber," she says. "Nice to meet you."

Valarie is somewhat intimidating, but I figure it'd be rude to just ignore her, so I turn to her and smile.

"Valarie Cross," she says, her tone making it clear that it is not nice to meet me.

I generally try not to judge people, but I seriously do not like this girl right now. At least Amber seems nice.

Amber

The entire plane ride is awkward. It's overwhelmingly clear that Alison and Valarie do not like each other, and the tension in the air is palpable.

Thinking about the Selection is making me anxious. I can't believe I was chosen. Everything for the next few days, or weeks, or months, depending on how long I last, is going to be insane. There's the competition itself, plus learning how to properly be a leader, plus getting used to Palace life, plus the possibility of rebel attacks . . . it's enough to make anyone overwhelmed.

I choose to ignore all of this and write. Lately, I've been working on a story about a time traveler and an immortal whose paths keep crossing. This plane ride is going to last at least three hours, so I should be able to get a lot of writing done. I'm glad for the opportunity to escape reality and live in my own world for a little while.