YOU SHOULD PROBABLY READ THIS: Hi, guys! I was just reading through the fanfics that I haven't updated in a while. I've been debating back and forth on what I should do with this story. I've read Marie Lu's "Prodigy" (and it was awesome sauce, she's a genius, I loved it!)but the fact that her Prodigy is so much different than mine makes me worry that I'll have more disappointed fans than satisfied ones. For one, I don't like writing my fanfics from a characters point of view that I haven't invented (Marie Lu created June, not me, so I really wouldn't know how to portray her correctly and it would probably just be a let down for all of us). That being said, I could potentially go on with this story if you, the readers, would like me to (and I'd love to, if you'll let me!). I would just want the readers to know that The Colonies that I have in my story are really nothing like The Colonies that Lu had portrayed for us in Prodigy (oh, and Anden is a pretty different guy in my story, too- though I do love the twist Lu put on him in her story). I would also like you guys to consider the fact that my story takes place a little while after Marie Lu's Prodigy takes place as well; I mean Eden is 17 in this story so that would put June and Day in their mid to late 20's. What I'm trying to say is that this story has the potential to be continued, you guys would just have to be more in my little world than you may (and I certainly don't (MarieMe)) like! But if you are interested in what I have to write, than please let me know! I'd love to continue this, but I don't want to get a lot of complaints that it doesn't exactly match up with Lu's version. Phew, sorry for the long tangent! Here's a new chapter for you! Enjoy!

I stare out the window of the bus as we slowly make our way into what I assume would be The Colonies. Distantly I notice that Paris-or Eden, whatever- has come to sit down next to me, but I am paying more attention into what we are driving into. From what I can see in my spot in the bus, The Colonies are a mass of disheveled looking buildings, looking decades out of use. We are stopped at a giant metal arc, about 700 feet into the air. I could tell from where I was sitting that there were bits of the metal that had fallen off and it was starting to rust after years of harsh weather conditions and no up-keeping. Even so, it was the most beautiful thing that I had ever seen. It seemed to resemble a sort of vestige of hope, conveying to everyone passing under it that they were in a very different territory than the Republic.

"Pretty impressive, huh?" Eden asks as he follows my gaze upward.

I remain silent, not cluing him in to how I really feel about The Colonies so far. I clench my fists in my lap to keep them from shaking as I see June hop out of the bus and talk to a few of the armed guards standing on duty. She motions vaguely to the car and I know that she is talking about me. They will take me to a trial and I will most likely be found guilty- though their territory was beautiful in it's own derelict way, I know that they must be just as vicious when dealing with the opposing side of the war.

Eden stares at my balled hands and smiles. "Ah," he remarks, "and her confidence is waning. Could the Republic's Prodigy not be as strong as we were led to believe?" he asks, feigning shock.

I want to hit him. I want to call him every bad name I can think of and storm off of this bus with what dignity I still have intact.

But instead I bite my lip and look at him. "What will they do when they find me guilty?" I ask quietly.

It must have been something in my voice, for he drops the charade for a moment and really looks at me, those piercing blue eyes looking into mine and holding them. "If," he corrects, "they find you guilty, you'll probably be imprisoned for the remainder of your long and not-so-prosperous life."

I nod as if that is exactly what I want to hear, even though it does absolutely nothing to calm my nerves. More than anything I wanted to be back in The Republic. There I wasn't a prisoner, I was the complete opposite. I wouldn't be racking my brain for defense mechanisms to hold me up in a court, and I certainly wouldn't be staring at this boy that seemed both utterly mad and pure genius at the same time with the lightest blue of irises I have ever seen.

And Eden wasn't looking at me as though what he saw was half bad, either. I took a deep breath and looked sharply to the door when I heard footsteps approaching.

June has returned to the bus along with two men each holding an assault rifle. I tried to make sense of the brand and type of semi-automatic that they were using, but everyone was right: they had kept me out of the military for a reason. Besides, the guns that they were holding didn't seem to be the same that those in The Republic used.

They sit themselves across from me as Day starts to drive us under the bridge. I look the men up and down as they situate themselves. They did not wear armor like those in The Republic- they didn't even have a uniform. They are both much larger than me and both hold weapons. Maybe they assume that I am as good as June was when it came to military training and they need the extra precaution. The dress should have given it away, I think, but who know what they think.

Out of the corner of my eye, I see Paris pull a large black sack out from behind him. "It's about to get really dark, Rose," he says quietly.

Of course I understand immediately: no one in this bus wants me figuring out how this city works just yet. They don't trust me and they don't see any reason not to tag me as a flight risk. I say nothing, just sit as still as I can in the jostling vehicle as Eden places the bag over my head. It smells of burlap and some type of wheat, but it does achieve the end result of impairing my vision completely. I sigh.

"Next stop," Day says from the front of the bus, "The Capitol's Court House."

Let the trial begin, I think as we roll forward.

AN: okay sorry it was so short, but my author's note in the beginning took up a lot of space. Just please let me know what you all think! I'm also going to change the title as well so as not to try and copy Lu's book title! So don't be confused if it's not called "Prodigy" anymore! Till next time!