Amell sets his forearms on the countertop adjacent to me and rests his head on them, obnubilating his face. "I thought I was too late."

I slip off of the counter as my hand hovers over his shoulder. What do I say? He is so vulnerable right now. I pull my hand away and lean over the counter next to him. My head rests on my arm, and my stare on his profile.

It's silent for a moment before he sighs, "I am the one who should be sorry. This is supposed to be a sanctuary for you, a place to let your guard down."

"Amell," I nudge his arm, but he refuses to look at me. "Amell, look at me."

Finally, his gaze meets mine, our noses only apart by a few inches of air. I blush at the proximity and tuck my head behind my arm. "You have done more for me in the past three days than anyone has in my entire life. I should've told you the truth, but I was worried you'd repudiate me."

"I would never, Elysia."

We share a tired smile, and I bump his arm once again. "I still see this as a sanctuary, and I have yet to properly thank you for all that you have done."

Amell, unphased by the propinquity of our faces and bumps me back. "I have a way you can make it up to me."

I raise a brow and ask, "How's that?"

Amell stands up and walks to the door leading outside. I follow him to the bunker. "You'll see. But for now, get some rest. Leila will explain things tomorrow morning."

₪ ₪ ₪

I rush into the kitchen with my ID tag hidden under my apron. The atmosphere vibrates with activity and frantic conversations. Winnie smiles and takes a plate of food for herself, and passes one to me.

"What's going on?" I ask as we sit at a little table.

"Huge news broke out this morning over the radio." Reniver pipes in as she sits beside me. "Everyone is freaking out."

"So I can see," Winnie scrunches her eyebrows and looks back to the staff in the kitchen who seem distracted.

"What news?" I pry and take a bite of my eggs.

"The Third Generation... they're starting revolts." Her gaze becomes distant as she rubs her chin. "What's worse is that the DEU officers are being attacked and killed."

"Wow, really?" Winnie gasps and grips her fork. "That's terrible."

Is it?

"I know," Reniver sighs and looks behind her as a few staff members give her a critical glare.

A maid approaches Reniver and smiles acidulously. "You're a Third Generation, right?"

Reniver stands up and matches her astringent smile, "No, I'm a Second Gen. In case you forgot, I earned my way here. Unlike some spoilt brats who are borne into it."

The maid gasps and takes a step forward, "You better watch your mouth, Third Gen trash. You started working here yesterday. Know your place."

Ren raises her chin and eliminates the gap between them as she takes a step forward. "You must've forgotten who makes your food."

"Is that a threat?" She spits as a crowd of people around us accumulates.

"It will be if you don't shut up."

I stand up and knock my chair back. There is nothing more I'd love than to smack this girl upside the head, but that won't solve anything. "Let's relax. Reniver has been chosen to join the Second Generation because she will bring something to our society as a citizen."

The maid scoffs, "You can take a girl out of the Third Generation, but you can't take the Third Generation out of the girl."

"That's it!" Reniver yells, "I'll give you the Third Generation beating of your life you—"

She lunges forward, her fist held high. I grab it and grapple her while Winnie drags the maid from the kitchen.

"Reniver," I whisper. "Don't prove her right."

Reniver yanks her grip from mine and sighs. "I deserve respect."

I frown at the crowd and shoo them away with my hand, "You do, but you won't get it by beating that girl."

Ren flops into a chair, her hands covering her face as she sighs in defeat. "I thought it would be easy when I got out of the slums... I thought I'd finally fit it."

I sit down and rest my hand on her shoulder, "I know what it's like to not fit in, but I think it's a blessing to not blend in with this crowd. If that's how they treat others, you should be proud you don't belong among them."

Reniver looks into my eyes softly and opens her mouth but is cut off by Winnie. "Elysia, we have to go, or you'll be late."

I pull away and sigh, "I'll talk to you later?"

She nods, and I leave with Winnie. We walk to Leila's room and knock on her door before we enter. Her room is large, filled with the colour violet, flowers, sheer curtains and artwork. She has a large bed, a desk, her own bathroom, a walk-in closet and a balcony leading outside.

Leila groans in her bed and rolls around, "Nooo, go away, Winnie."

"Sorry, Leila," Winnie walks over and opens the balcony doors, so the cool summer breeze rushes through the room. "It's time to get up."

I stand by the door and close it before putting my hands behind my back. "It's a beautiful morning, Leila."

Immediately she shoots up from her bed and smiles at me, "Not nearly as captivating as you, Elysia."

I roll my eyes and bow my head. My hands remain behind my back as I stumble to Winnie, "So, what's first?"

"First, take your hands from your back and walk normally."

Leila snickers, "You really have no idea of our etiquette."

I blush and look away, bringing my hands in front of me. "I am never going to get the hang of this..."

Winnie touches my shoulder, "No worries, you are well educated and have a lovely decorum. You can teach etiquette, but not kindness."

I return her smile half-heartedly and continue to pick up clothes off the floor. I can only hope that I will remain here long enough to learn.

₪ ₪ ₪

I follow Leila down the hallway as she requested that as her personal maid, I must be with her at all times to be of assistance if she may require it.

"You know all of the maids where makeup," Leila brushes her bronze hair from her eyes, "why don't you?"

"I could never afford it, so I never used it or know how to."

"We are changing that," Leila smirks as we descend a flight of stairs to the basement. She stops before a set of glass doors and turns around, "But before that, I promised Amell I would fill you in."

"On what?" I ask, unsure if I want to know.

Leila opens the doors and walks into a training area. There are large mats on the ground, weights, workout equipment, plenty of floor space and a hallway that leads elsewhere.

"First, you will train every evening because you must know how to take care of yourself since you are... you know." Leila gestures to my body and moves to the hallway. "Amell insisted that he be the one to train you since he has been trained by high-class trainers. As for me..."

Leila trails off and takes me down to the end of the hallway, unlocking and opening a steel door. Inside is a room filled with books, journals and a desk and chair that overlooks another room through a plexiglass wall.

"What is this?" I ask, following her into the room.

"This is where I will train you." Leila springs up and down. "I am in love with research and science. So this is where I will be training and helping you with your gift!"

"Gift," I reiterate, "I think you meant curse."

"No, I meant gift." Leila folds her arms and sighs, "Aside from that, I have good news about the guard who attacked you last night."

I raise a brown and cock my head. "And?"

"He doesn't remember anything except chasing a mysterious figure in the dark. You are in the clear."

I sigh in relief, a smile creeping onto my face as I tilt my head back. "Thank god."

"Also, Amell has arranged for you to meet him after dinner. He said you owe him a favour?" Leila squints at me but remains quiet about the subject. "Anyways, we will start training tomorrow because today is a day full of learning for you."

"Yay," I exasperate.

Leila snorts and nudges me, "I really like you, El. Maybe too much for your own good."

I don't see how being cherished is a bad thing, but I'll take it.