I'm sorry, really I am. A lot has been going on this week, very busy. With mother's day and my mother's birthday I'm sorry to say that I was distracted by cake. It's sad but true. That and I'm leaving school a week early to go to a writer's conference. Because of this I will not be posting a chapter on the 9th or the 16th. :P I'll try my best to give you guys as many chapters as possible before then but you know…

Ok everyone I'm giving fair warning to this chapter. It's nothing bad just a little on the weird side regarding June. It will change to Day later on so you guys can end with a note of sanity. :D

JUNE: Chapter 9

My thoughts ran around like dizzy children, bumping into each other and filling my head with screeches. Every image was hazy and every word was muddled. Sight had changed from sharp clarity to smudged oil. Faces that I knew could not exist in this place found their way before me, as though they were trying to prove their own existence.

There must have been pain at some point. Right, there must have been because there was red everywhere. The red was blood, that metal smell flooded me to the point of nausea. Or maybe I was nauseous because of the food? It had been filled with good smelling bread at some point but when I blinked the plate was filled with twisted centipedes crawling over pearl white maggots. The very thought of the meal still made my stomach turn. Since then I've refused to even look at my rations despite the gentle prodding from my guard.

The guard stood in the corner of the white walled room, still and straight as though he were a pillar holding up the ceiling. Though a pillar wouldn't talk half as much. He was always trying to get a reaction out of me. At first he started with words of silver. Trying to coax me out of whatever foggy shield I've created for myself. I could not surrender to this person whose face I could hardly see. Whenever my eyes sought him in the corners of sight red always blurred his person. It was an omen that I felt to my bones. I usually am never a person to listen to such things but then again I never used to listen to the voices that whisper to me in sleep

I'm supposed to be seen today. The woman with the bee hive for a head, nothing but buzzing words that slip through ears, I dislike her. She's been here a few times before. Always with lips aflame they burn my skin if I stray too close. The only way I can even tolerate her is if I sit in the far corner of the room, huddled with my head down. She doesn't seem bothered by this. Almost arrogant in her stance, she speaks and moves with an air I have seen only in those of the Republic's generals. Yet judging by shoes and the state of that hair, she was everything but put composed. If I could describe her in short: she was controlled chaos. We all know just how dangerous such a person could be.

"It has come to our attention that you have stopped eating Miss Iparis. As a prisoner of war we are required to give you rations. Usually if you people starve yourselves it is of no important to us." She sighed and a golden perfume flew from her mouth and I coughed despite my distance. "But you and Day are important to the war effort. Your deaths are things that we cannot be the cause of, even if it was in all honesty your own faults. You will eat or have the food forced down your throat." Her headache sweetened smile did little to hide the words. That is if I even heard them right. "It has also been discovered that your current guard may be too lenient when it comes to punishment. Your screeching is starting to upset the others. If the noise is not handled than you will be."

My guard who had done little more than that of an armchair moved at these words. It was a small difference, a shift of weight, but one all the same. He was uneasy. "Major Winston I will be sure to keep her quiet. I am afraid that a new guard will only put her more on edge." I opened my mouth to yell at him. It was a horribly disrespectful way he was speaking. She was a higher rank than him if I was counting the ropes correctly. Yet Major Winston gave only a searing glare. "You will stay to guard Miss Iparis until further notice." With that she turned on her heel and left.

This time and like every other time before, I stared at the door as it closed. There was an electronic lock that needed a number code to open and close. There was a cover that blocked me from seeing the pad that Mayor Winston typed the password on. But if I calmed my breathing and stayed very still I could hear the small beeps coming from the buttons. High than low than low again, I could only get a new note every time she came. My muddled mind was too strangled to remember more than one new number with every visit.

Despite everything that I'm sure I've forgotten I had yet to forget my goal. I needed to escape, escape and find Day. That was all that mattered. He was my shining light in this cloud of confusion.

DAY:

I was going to be briefed. Despite the obvious need for this I still dreaded it. I didn't really like the military all that much. Their need for everyone needing to know every little detail no matter how unimportant was not one of my favorite traits. If anything the only thing I liked about the military was June. She wasn't even here to laugh at my complaints.

Currently I am being dragged down a hallway by two very tall, intimidating men. I have no idea why these two are even needed. To they really think I'd make a break for it and leave June behind. Wasn't that the entire reason they'd brought her here too? Maybe June's being here had been the price Thomas had set for my capture?

That some woman from before, the one with dark brown hair and steely eyes, sat in the debriefing room. She apparently was the one who overlooked June and I's…stay here. The black uniform she wore was crisp and pressed but the hair that women here tend to wear in a tight bun, hung loose and lank as though it hadn't seen a brush in years. The military commissioned boots were scuffed and the laces were frayed at the ends. Either she was incredibly sloppy or lacked sleep. My money (If I had any) was on both.

"Have a seat Day. I have something of great importance to tell you." It's very hard to resist rolling your eyes when adults are so incredibly obvious. I was here to be spoken to. I think everyone in this damn facility knew that. "Due to the success of your recant surgery we are going to allow you to stay with June if you wish. Her mental and physical wellbeing is depleting rapidly. We believe that your being near will improve her health."

"That and curing her of the plague might help." Nothing in her posture changed. There was no tightening of the shoulders or intake of breath. The only way I knew I had affected her in any way was the slight narrowing of the eyes. They were a cold color that made me all too conscious of my lack of hair.

"It has already been explained why June cannot yet be cured. You should count yourself lucky that we are even allowing you to be near her. The main reason behind this is because she's making so much horrid noise." I smiled and nodded as though I was happy with the reasoning. The trembling fear in the pit of my stomach had to be shut down cold and fast. There were a hundred reasons June could be causing such a racket.

Maybe she was calling for help? Perhaps it was due to the hallucinations I knew she was having? The last choice was blood chilling. They were hurting her. It didn't matter how but it was happening. Was this a way to keep me in line? Did they think that if I saw what they did to June I'd sit idle like some kicked dog?

My fists tightened under the table, clinking the metal cuffs binding them. If they hurt one hair on her head they would regret putting me in that room. It was wrong to even imagine her so weak. She was strong through and through. Why else would I be so in love with her?

"Oh, I almost forgot, there is a message from home for you." The screen behind her lit up with life. It wasn't a letter but a video message. After the Republic's anthem and insignia Anden's face filled the screen. Of everyone that I wanted to see he was the last one…maybe ahead of Thomas but that was still pretty low on the list.

Anden's face was a mess. Dark heavy bags hung under his bloodshot eyes. The once healthy looking skin was pale and gaining a yellowish tinged. Had he lost weight? His clothes seemed to sway on his shoulders.

"Day and Miss Iparis I am sending this in hopes that it will reach you both or" his voice caught for a moment, "at least one of you. Upon your kidnaping we are raging full war against the Colonies I promise that we will reach you both and free you. I assure you that all members of your families are in good hands." His eyes softened at his next words, "Eden and Ollie are both safe and eagerly awaiting your return." Anden straightened his shoulders and a look overcame him. It was the look that I had often seen in his father and I felt goose bumps crawl up my neck. "To the Colonies this is for you. All and I mean all forces will be used against you. We are a new people and we are not yet ready to give this up after such a short time."

With those closing words the screen flickered out and my gaze returned to the woman before me.

"As you can see, we are not yet ready to give you both up. You are very important to the outcome of this massacre."

"I'm sure we are. But I think you're mistaken when it comes to just who it is that's going to win. You've given the Republic the one weapon they'd been lacking, complete desperation."

Woot! All done, hope you guys liked it. Once again, I'm sorry for the wait. Please leave a review, I love love love reviews! They make me happy :D