At once, Nicholas and I scrambled to our feet. Nicholas blocked Julian’s view as I readjusted myself, fixing my bra. When I was put together enough, Nicholas checked me over once before standing aside. Out lips were red from kissing. Our clothes were wrinkled, and our hair disheveled. But there

The wait for midnight was nearly unbearable, but when it finally arrived, I left Elva sleeping in the bed, and sneaked out into the hallway. Mark was standing there with two other guards. He typically wore a serious expression, but today he seemed especially grim. He must have shared Nicholas’s

“Maybe we should turn back,” Nicholas said. “Too late now,” Julian said. “We’ve got to be sure.” “I see light up there, Julian,” Nicholas said. “Dim the flashlight.” Julian turned to the flashlight to the dimmest setting, and aimed it down at the ground. We had to move slower than before

My adrenaline was spiked, but had nowhere to go. I felt like I was buzzing out of my skin. I was shaking, but didn’t know how to calm down. At once, Julian and Nicholas moved toward me. They each took one of my hands. Nicholas placed my hand over his heart. “Breathe with me,” he said, an

They wanted abilities. They wanted people. They had Terry involved, and my sister, and who knew how many others. How could we ever hope to stand up to something so large and powerful? But I knew we had to try. To not even try to fight them was how they would win. Even if it seemed hopeless.

I stood very still, confused and surprised both by the very presence of Julian’s lips on my cheek as well as the tenderness of the affection he was showing me. Julian had always struck me as something of a playboy, and while I understood that much of how he acted was an act, he never seemed to c

I was exhausted but I complied, changing into a simple dress and then heading downstairs. When I saw Susie standing in the back of the room, I immediately went to her side. Most of the girls assumed Nathan was soon to announce the next event for the competition, and so there was much speculation

“I’ve told the guards everything I know,” Lilliana said. “They’ll be watching you. Joseph himself just assured me of it.” I shook my head. I had no idea what she was up to this time, but I was tired of the schemes and lies. How many manipulative games would I have to endure during this competition

Julian and I were on a couch in a sitting room, looking at each other. Julian had made himself comfortable, bringing on knee up onto the cushion so he could more easily face me. I was sitting very still with my hands in my lap. I was still embarrassed about what had earlier happened with Nicholas.

I tried to get into the moment, imagining Terry saying something like that to me. The softness in Julian’s eyes kept me from falling to far into the fantasy. I cleared my throat. “Don’t you find the trends of modern fashion tiresome? Not to mention wasteful. Why should I throw away a perfectly goo