My hands grip the arms of the chair, my fingers white.

"Why so tense Alison?" President White smiles wickedly.

My grip tightens. "What do you want? Why are you here?"

He goes right to it. "Earlier today Jeremy Sussman had a nervous breakdown, a pure sign of true weakness. He was announced as a Fragile Heart Syndrome victim and was brought to the clinic to be treated." He leans forward and my pulse quickens. This is going to get worse. I know it. "I need you to be honest with me Alison. Tell me if the others are showing any signs of being weak because I do not want to wait until one of them has a nervous breakdown too. Shouldn't we avoid all that?"

I stare back at him, my gaze full of hatred. Oh, President White I really can't wait to take you down for good. "I'm not sure who is. I'll give you an answer tomorrow," I tell him.

His eyes go dark. "And why not now?"

"Come back tomorrow." Is all I say. I'm not afraid of him. That dark look in those forget-me-not blue eyes does not frighten me.

He doesn't look that happy with my answer and I really don't care.

"Okay Alice, I'll give you one more day but that's all. Now you're dismissed."

I stand up, my hands curled into fists. "Thank you, sir." I leave the room with my back straight and head held high.

I can't wait to see President White dead with a bullet right through his jet-black heart. Actually, make that one thousand bullets for all the innocent souls he took.

Derek is waiting outside for me and I fall into his waiting arms.

"I can't do this anymore." My voice quivers. "I just want to go home."

"It will all be over real soon." He ensures me and then presses his fiery hot lips to my temple.

"I hope you're right," I whisper, burying my face in his shirt.

...

"Is this supposed to be a party, or what?" Joseph looks confused, taking in the living room which shows no signs of a party happening.

"Take a seat." I gesture to the boring brown couch.

He sits down cautiously.

"Alice, what's going on?" Demi asks, perching herself on the armrest of the couch.

I pull out the DSS that she stole for me.

"I have a story to tell and I'll really appreciate it if there'll be no interruptions." I look at those in the room.

1. Skyler

2. Demi

3. Robin

4. Joseph

5. And last Derek who gives me an encouraging nod.

So I continue. "Last year on my seventeenth birthday, I was told that I had Fragile Heart Syndrome. I've been at the clinic for eight months and do you know what I figured out about the cure?" I pause leaving the question out there for a moment.

"What I figured out was that the cure isn't real. It's an experiment to kill out the weak and leave the strong to thrive."

Skyler gasps. "That's impossible."

"I thought so too at first. But as you see, what they do is implant the heart pains into you a few months before your birthday at your checkup. All the pills and shots that they claim are 'the cure' are just more things that cause you pain, more things to make you believe that you really have a fragile heart. It's all fake. They test you there for your strengths to see if you'll be an asset to the government." My voice comes out bitterly. "If not, if you show them any weaknesses---they kill you."

I turn on the DSS. "Back at the clinic, I joined a rebel group in a revolution. We tried to stop President White but failed. President White ended up making a deal with me instead of killing me for all I know." I turn the DSS around so they could all see the screen. "The deal was to come here and make acquaintances with you all, since you may possibly be weak. This isn't my uncle's apartment. Derek and I are actually staying here at President White's bidding. I have the proof right here in White's files..." I pass the DSS around.

"This is insane," Robin breathes, eyes glued to the screen.

"It's the truth." Brandon and Noah enter the room.

I smile. "Thank you for coming."

Brandon dips his head in a nod.

"What's happening now?"

I glance over at Demi. "You remember the rebel group I just mentioned. Well, meet Brandon, the leader of them."

"Noah's part of the group too?"

"Yup," Noah grins. "I was with Alice back at the clinic."

"So if all of this is true, how do you plan on stopping President White?" Skylar asks.

I allow Brandon to explain the masquerade ball, and then after he does I continue. "Jeremy had a nervous breakdown and was taken to the clinic. President White asked me earlier today to tell him who else may be weak. At first, I thought, it's all over I'm dead, but then it occurred to me that this might be just what we need. Inside people." My voice rises with the last few words, "So who's ready to volunteer to be on the inside, and who's ready to join the revolution?"

Robin raises his hand. "I'll go to the clinic."

"Me too," Skyler pipes up bravely.

I let out a sigh of relief, that was simple enough. "Thanks, guys."

"But you have to promise that you'll get us out of there before President White decides to kill us," Robin adds, his eyes on mine.

"I promise, just remember to prove to them how strong you really are and to recruit others for the revolution."

He nods.

"Good, then you could all go. I'll see you tomorrow." They all shuffle out.

"You did it."

I look up at Derek. He's been silent throughout the entire exchange. I forgot he was here.

"Yeah, I did." I give him one of my most flirtatious smiles, making him chuckle.

Grinning devilishly, he pushes me back onto the couch. "Oh did you just turn me on." His hand then slides up my leg, resting on my thigh. My whole body is heated up like a bonfire as he brings his lips to mine.

That's when the door flies open and we quickly pull apart. Noah stands there, his face crimson. "I'm sorry for interrupting but I, uh, left something behind."

I look away from his gaze, mortified as he goes to retrieve what he left.

"Have a good night." He leaves, locking the door behind him.

"Oookkaayy." Derek turns to me, "Ready to start our movie night?"

I rub at my tired eyes. "Sorry, not tonight. I think I'm going to go to bed."

He looks disappointed. "Okay, have a good night."

"Thanks, you too." I give him a peck on his cheek before residing in my bedroom.

...

"Alice, are you ready to tell me who you found weak?"

I'm sitting in Chief Adler's office. With confidence, I meet President White's forgot-me-not blue eyes. "Yeah, I am."

"Good, tell me."

I keep my voice steady as I say, "Skylar Sunset and Robin Devinsky."

He scribbles something onto his DSS. "Okay, thank you. You're dismissed."

I stay seated, my eyes on him.

"I said you're dismissed, Alice." He sounds irritated.

"I know sir. I heard you."

"Then why are you still here?"

I lean forward in my seat. "You're not going to kill them, are you?"

"No. I'll give them the chance to change my mind, to show me potential, and to prove to me that they may be strong after all. I'm not a monster Alison, I do give people a chance."

"Good." I stand up. "I hope they prove you wrong." And then I'm leaving the room, slamming the door behind me.

...

I'm exhausted, absolutely drained. Sinking into the couch, I release a sign. Now, this is the life. I smile, taking a sip from the glass of cool lemonade.

"Pizza?" Derek questions, plopping down beside me.

"Yeah, thanks." I take the slice from him and bite right into it. (Delicious.)

Derek turns on the DLS and chooses a movie. The one that I've watched so many times before, the one we already saw together weeks ago.

I now curl up bedside Derek, my hand on his chest, his heart racing under my palm. We watch the movie in silence occasionally pausing it after the sad parts so I could go to the bathroom to blow my nose.

The movie ends and Derek turns off the DLS, the room going dark. I wait for my eyes to adjust, making out his form. He gives me a wicked smile as he pulls his shirt over his head and tosses it to the side.

"What are you doing?"

He says nothing, picking me up and carrying me to my bed. I lie down, right before he presses his body up against mine. My stomach does summersaults as he murmurs, "You're killing me here Alison."

I run my fingers through his baby-soft hair. "Why is that?"

"Because I can't keep myself away from you," he admits, kissing me with those fiery hot lips.

My other hand that's not tangled in his hair rubs up and down over his abs and muscular chest. His skin is like a heated furnace, warming me up.

He then pushes my hair aside and kisses a trail from the arc of my neck to the base of my skull.

"Derek," I moan softly.

His beautiful dark eyes meet mine, full of thirst.

It kills me to push him away from me. "It's late." I'm also not ready for this... yet.

He nods, understanding. "Good night Alison."

"Good night."

He leaves the room, gently closing the door behind him.

Once he's completely gone, I gingerly touch my lips which are still burning from his kisses.

This makes me smile like a stupid teenage girl in love. Closing my eyes, I allow sleep to come for me.