Sorry this is short, but the one before was quite long.

Simon

The music stopped. It stopped abruptly. It stopped as if the music thought that having music at a ball was not fair; not fair at all.

Deidre gripped his hand harder and Simon winced.

"Sorry," she muttered but was hardly heard over the loud voice that replaced the music.

"Rebels have been found on the estate. Evacuate immediately." The voice continued on urgently.

"Rebels?" Deidre repeated wonderingly. He knew instantly that she wanted to go find them.

Colton and Vienna had already left and Simon realized half the people were already disappeared inside the walls on the other side of the ballroom.

"Deidre wait!" Simon's hand suddenly felt cold as he turned and watched a small, dark flurry sprint for the exit, but not through th paintings. "Why am I friends with you?" He muttered as he ran after her.

He ran across the room until he reached the dark hallway. He saw a personage run around a corner and he hoped it was Deidre as he rounded the corner after her.

Then the footsteps became silent.

He stopped at seeing Deidre staring at a tall man in a black suit - his features indistinguishable.

One thing was for sure. The man is staring back.