Hey guys! Sorry again for posting late yesterday! Hope you enjoy this next chapter! Just some info, I've currently written thirty-one chapters, and am currently at a writer's block, so I apologize in advance if I miss a couple days. This isn't me saying I will, but don't think I'm gone forever if I disappear for a while. I promise this story means a lot to me, and I'm doing my best to keep the quality high.

- Silver

Apollo -

Dinner is more eventful tonight. It's not as quiet as normal because the quiet buzz of the selected never stops. Austin is talking idly with the girl next to him, but my eyes are on Dusk. Somehow, she doesn't notice me blatantly staring at her, but I don't want her to get the wrong idea anyway.

"So, what do you think about Dusk now?" I ask Austin when he finally ends his conversation.

He thinks for a moment. "I honestly don't know what to think at this point. I feel like she's being withdrawn on purpose, but then why would she enter the selection?"

"Maybe she had to. Wasn't she a Six before she came here?" I ask.

"You could be right. Maybe I should ask her." He says.

"No! You absolutely should not ask her that question. You could be picking a scab." I say.

He gives me a scathing look but nods. I stop looking at Dusk and focus on Berry instead. She doesn't look less healthy, but she's changing slowly. Her movements are slower, she's always tired, and she thinks we don't notice all the empty pain medication bottles she uses for her headaches.

"What's bothering you, Giggles?"

"What's been bothering all of us since the selection started." I tell Mom.

Her brows knit, and I hate seeing Mom like this. I know she loves all of us more than her own life.

"Please tell me you found a match among the selected girls." She whispers.

I hesitate, looking to Austin, but he's talking to the same girl again. I think her name is Sofia.

"Yes." I tell her.

Her eyes widen, but I go on before she can say anything.

"It's Dusk Willow. She's the one with silver hair sitting next to the brunette that looks like she might burst with excitement." I say.

Mom rolls her eyes.

"I know who she is." I raise my brows at her and she glares right back before looking at Dusk.

I look too, but this time, her gaze snags on mine. Quickly, I turn my head, but Mom still blatantly ogles her.

"Mom, what are you doing?"

"Shush, Giggles. I'm people watching." She holds up a finger to my face but makes it less obvious that she's watching Dusk.

Dad watches Mom with his head propped on his fist, and I chuckle to myself at how he always seems to be around her. He follows her around everywhere even though he's the king and she's the queen. Then I hear a scream. Mom and Dad throw their chairs back and look around, but the screams don't stop. It's an alarm. Dad's face is pale.

"Everyone, follow me!" He yells over the clamor of the girls standing up slowly, too slowly.

Mom and Dad have told us that alarm only rings out for one reason. The rebels have gotten into the palace.

Kyle -

All guards have been trained to recognize the sound of the rebel alarm, but many of them are slow to react because we thought we'd never hear it.

"Don't break formation!" I yell, but none of them listen.

I run to Officer Brown, the one other officer who isn't panicking.

"Is your gun loaded?" I ask him.

He nods, unholstering it and handing it to me without me even having to ask. I pat him on the back and give him my own. It's standard-issue, but it has more ammunition and will aim better.

"Stay safe." I tell him.

"Yes, Captain." He salutes, then runs toward the sounds of chaos.

A shout echoes through the hall I'm in, but all I can think of is getting Dawn to safety. I run to the royal dining room as fast as I can, but as soon as the king sees me, he orders me to get the queen to safety. She protests, but I have no choice but to follow his orders. I don't see Dawn anywhere.

"You will put me down right now, Officer!" She orders, but I don't stop running.

"I'm sorry, Your Majesty, but it's my duty to protect you." I tell her.

The queen looks furious, but I tell myself I'm doing the right thing.

"Please! Don't you have family somewhere? Would you run away if it meant there was a chance they could die?" Her words strike deep.

"I don't have a family, my queen." I say.

She looks at me, really looks at me, but the sorrow in my eyes doesn't betray me. I may as well not. They think I've been dead for a year now. She doesn't argue when I reach the safe room, walking inside and doing a head count of everyone who's already there. Then she turns to me.

"Go. Get. My. Family." She orders.

I nod, saluting her, and then I'm running again.

-o-

I find Princess Amber, and by the time I bring her to the safe room, the rest of the royal family and the selected girls are here too. I catch a flash of silver hair amidst the heads, and that's all I need to confirm Dawn is alive; that she made it. I turn around to leave.

"Wait!" Someone yells.

I look over my shoulder. The king is looking at me.

"You should stay." He tells me.

"Your Majesty-" I start, but he cuts me off.

"That's an order."

I bolt inside and seal the door, making sure every single lock is in place.

"Why?" I ask King Maxon.

"You saved my daughter. Besides, we need a guard in here in case things go south." He says.

I exhale. "Thank you, Your Majesty."

He gives me a gruff nod, then turns to Queen America, who is already berating him for making her leave. I chance another look at the selected, but they're on their cots and Dawn's head is turned. I hope it stays that way.

"Kyle?" Someone asks.

I turn around, starting to get pissed with how many times I'm turning.

"Mira!" I say, gathering her into my arms. "I'm so glad you're alright."

She smiles at my obvious concern, then looks pointedly at where my arms rest at her hips, then at where her parents, Marlee and Carter Woodwork, stand, speaking to the king and queen. Her younger sister, Kate, is talking to Princess June, and Princess Amber sits with them.

"Right. Sorry." I tell her.

"Dusk is your sister." Mira says.

It's not a question.

"Yes." I sigh.

"Why didn't you tell me?" She asks.

"I didn't get a chance. And I don't want her to know I'm here. If I know Dawn, she's not here for herself. She'll want to go home as soon as possible, and I can't risk her telling the others." I say.

"Wait. Did you say Dawn?"

God, this woman doesn't miss anything. It's one of the reasons why I love her.

"Yes. It's not Dusk. That's her twin, the one I've told you so much about." I say.

A small smile flickers across Mira's face.

"I'll keep an eye on her for you." She offers.

"Thank you. I love you." I tell her.

She smiles for real this time.

"I love you too. Now go away before someone sees us talking."

She smirks. I smile as I leave, making sure Dawn doesn't see me.