Chapter 6:

Hey everyone, I've finally had some free time so I am going to give you the next chapter. I really feel bad about not updating in a while and I'm going to try to do better over the summer with updating and stuff like that. This chapter is the beginning of the castle, because I know a lot of you think that I need to get to the castle faster. I'm still not sure of some things that are going to happen in the castle though, so review or Pm me any ideas for something that might happen.

Disclaimer: All rights to Kiera Cass

During Porter's funeral was a complete mess. I sat up front since Porter was my twin. Even my adorable little brother, who could make almost and situation cheerful, couldn't muster up anything to be happy about. I spent the whole funeral with Dawson leaning on my shoulder, trying not to cry. All the memories of him came flooding into my mind, and in the back of my head I knew that no more memories would have Porter by my side which made me cry even harder. I remember when we were little, he would always take me to a cabin in the woods near our house, and I'll never forget the first time he took me to that clearing in the forest.

"C'mon, c'mon, c'mon, Portia" Porter whined in his squeaky five year old voice.

"Where are you dragging me and when can I open my eyes?" I said in an equally high and whiny voice. "I've tripped over to many tree roots and I'm getting tired"

My mom knew where the cabin was and she was helping Porter get to it safely. "It's just a little longer Portia" she said patiently.

"Okay, open your eyes" Porter said excitedly, his voice rising another octave.

I lifted my small hands from my face and gasped. It was beautiful, a field of vibrant color wildflowers surrounding a small cabin and a clear water creek running nearby creating soothing noises in the background.

"Porter, thanks so much" I said, running to him and giving him a hug that almost knocked him off his feet.

Soon I was hauled up to the front of the room with my remaining family (only my dad and Dawson) so the other few people who came could pay their respects and try to make us feel better (not working by the way). I mostly got sympathetic hugs, which were pretty awkward and kind of weird. I never really was much of a hugger anyway so it made the situation so much more awkward. It felt like no one would talk to or look in my eyes. One disturbing thought crossed my mind. Now that Porter is gone, am I still a twin? A lot of the time I took having a twin for granted. With Porter around I was never lonely and he was really the only person who really ever understood me, I was going to miss that. I got lost in thought about this for almost an hour, and shortly my dad was taking me home so that he could get me prepared to leave for the palace. I lived in Angeles, so I didn't have very far to go to get to the castle.

I'd requested not to have a send off and I didn't get one, thankfully the palace understood why, I didn't want the public to know everything about me, but I guess I will have to get used to it for a while if I wanted to take part in the Selection.

The train ride was silent; I was the only one on besides the conductor and a couple scary looking guards. I received files about the girl so I would at least try to learn everyone's name. I kept getting distracted by thinking about the only part of the rebel that killed Porter that I saw. The eyes. Those icy blue eyes that had a look of pure hatred in them that I couldn't comprehend, and looked as if a glare from this person alone had the ability to kill.

I arrived a short time later at the palace and was ushered into a room so they could take before and after pictures of me, just as they had done for the other 34 girls.

I was thrown into a bath then was scrubbed intensely until my skin was raw, and stripped of any hair that wasn't on my head with painful waxing. I had to bite the inside of my cheek to keep from crying out in pain. Then a lilac scented lotion was rubbed into my raw skin, which soothed the pain of the waxing and made any dry skin feel immediately silky smooth. All the people who were doing this to me mostly stayed pretty quiet while concentrating on getting me ready in an hour, because I would be eating lunch with the other girls. I enjoyed the peace because since Porter's death three days ago, on our eighteenth birthday, everything has been loud and hurried.

The dress the put on me was sunset orange, one of my favorite colors, how did they know that? Anyway, it was sunset orange with a formfitting top and a flowing, slightly poufy bottom. The dress had a sweetheart neckline and a belt of silver jewels accenting my hips.

Mt wavy, dirty blond hair that went down to my waist was straightened before Marlee came in.

"Portia, you look great but can we speed this up please, lunch is in a half an hour and honey, your hair isn't even done yet." She said hurriedly.

I had a girl working on my finger and toenails, while another was working on my makeup while yet another was working on my hair.

My hair was gathered into three loose buns at the back of my head down near my neck. All three buns ran together and looked like an oval donut with out a hole. My bangs were cut so they famed my face and were left wavy.

I didn't use too much make up because I didn't want to look like a clown. Orangish-pink blush was applied to my tan cheeks, and light pink lipstick was put on my lips. On my eyelids they put a cat eye in light silver eye liner that faded into pale orange eye shadow. Despite the way I described it, it looked really good. Looking in the mirror I barely recognized myself. I didn't look like a five. I looked like a princess.