"This is breakfast?" Aria scowls at the metal plate in front of her, scoffing in disbelief. She pokes at her cold eggs, disgusted. 

"Something wrong, your Highness?" I say around a mouthful of toast. To be honest, this food is yards better than the microwave breakfasts I somehow ingested back in Ardmore.

"I'm just... not a huge fan of cold eggs and potatoes."

"Well, don't mind if I do." I reach over to her plate and take it, scraping her food onto my empty one. Her eyes bug out of her head as I set the plate down next to her with a clatter. Oliver hides his snort of laughter behind a glass of water. None of us could sleep last night so we basically just bickered the whole night. To my relief, I learned that Oliver has a sense of humor. After a few hours, even Lucas was beginning to tire of Aria's antics. Her moods switched from hyperventilating to snobby, both which I didn't enjoy whatsoever. 

"Are you always like this?"

I swallow before answering her. "What, normal?" 

Lucas and Oliver exchange a glance. A few hours into the night and they had already learned not to mess with either of us when we argue. It earned Lucas a well-earned punch.

"God, I feel bad for whoever had to live with you."

I slam my fork on the table and Aria jumps. Nobody says a word as I battle my rising anger. Tears prick but thankfully, I force them back. Crying won't help my case. 

"Don't ever talk about my family again, you hear?" I warn her. I'm not actively looking at them but the guys can tell I'm talking to them to. Aria looks down at her empty plate, not offering an apology. Honestly, her silence is apology enough. I glance up to see Oliver looking at me, understanding and pain shimmering in his dark green eyes. My curiosity piques. He's lost someone too; the grief in his eyes is familiar. But I know better than to press. 

We eat in awkward silence and I almost wish we could be arguing again. 

Janice chooses that time to prance into the room, this time dressed in a tight, figure-hugging black dress. She smiles at each of us and the two guards she came with position themselves by the entrance. 

"How was breakfast?" No one says a word but Janice doesn't seem to care. She claps her manicured hands together and I notice Aria observing her blood red nails with interest. 

"Come along now, children. We don't have any time to waste." She inflicts a hard edge in her voice and we dully stand, knowing better than to oppose her. Although Janice hasn't told us her job in the government, I know it's probably high-ranked. Her clothes and mannerisms alone say so. 

Guards close in around us and I gulp. The huge guards have trapped me between them like a cage. I gulp. I hate feeling claustrophobic. 

We walk past the bunks and the control room, to a see-through, glass lift. It takes some work to squeeze everyone in, but we do, god knows how. I try to nudge around and get more space but it's clear I have nowhere to go. I'm stuck behind a towering guard who offers no room for me. I guess when you're that big, small people like me are insignificant. I suppress the urge to pinch him, just so he'll startle and move. But I'll most likely end up being squished under him. I think this is what one calls a lose-lose situation. 

Aria, however, has enough space to sleep. When your father is a big shot who has tons of money, most people don't take any chances. Secret Security included. I grimace and press as far back into the railing as I can. In all honesty, I could get there faster if I just jumped. 

Finally, the elevator pings, hissing as the doors open. I don't think I've ever heard such a wonderful sound. I file out and gulp sweet, cold, fresh air. I don't know when that guard last took a bath, but it must not have been recently. I rest on my knees for a brief second.

"You good?" I look up over my shoulder to see Oliver standing next to me, brows knit with concern. I hold a hand up.

"Yeah, just give me a sec." He does as I say, taking a step back. Janice has already started leading Aria and Lucas to wherever we're going.

"Thanks." I say begrudgingly when I unfold myself. Oliver waves a hand.

"Don't mention it." We walk in silence, but it's not like the awkward silence there was before. It's more... peaceful.

"I lost someone too." He says out of the blue. 

"I guessed."

He half-smiles. "Who'd you lose?"

I stiffen. "I'll tell when you do." 

Oliver seems to accept that answer as the two of us catch up to the rest. Janice doesn't even bat an eye. 

"You'll be given food for months, water, blankets, a match, a pocket knife, a gun, and a map. And a note, for when you reach the bunker."

"Months?" Aria's voice rises up an octave.

I shake my head at her. "What did you expect? We step out, a day later we find it? The Wilds are massive, rich girl."

Aria worries at her lip. The Wilds are the homeland of the Creepers and are crawling with them. Based on what my father said, it used to be a beautiful country by the name of Canada. It was clean, healthy, with many cities. A popular tourist destination. However, they were too late in putting up their dome and the Creepers destroyed the country. Made a complete wreck of it. Now, it's called the Wilds. The only remnants of the old world are the city ruins, hidden deep in the heart of the Wilds. I doubt we'll get that far, though.

Two guards nod at us and open two double doors. The doors yawn to reveal more Secret Security- god, how many of these are there?- and the infuriating president. He lights up when he sees us and hurries us over to the center of the room. It's sort of like a balcony, with a large sitting area leading out to the woods beyond. I can see the shimmering surface of the border, a clear boundary. My eyes widen. I've only seen pictures of the border but they've always been poor quality. But this? This is real. This is truly happening. Right here, right now. 

I steel myself against my jittering nerves. I can do this, right? If I can escape the police, I can escape the Creepers. Feeling a bit more self-confident, I straighten my back and hold my head high. 

The border is clear enough so I can see the Wilds on the other side, though it has a blue tint from the border. It's dead silent, which I'm guessing isn't a good sign. 

It's waiting for us.

Wiping my slick palms on my shorts, I inhale deeply. 

President Harper spreads his arms. "Welcome, welcome! I take it you slept well."

"As well as one could sleep when they're about to walk to their death." Aria mutters. I don't say it aloud but I do agree with her.

"We've arranged a pack for each of you so you have everything you need to survive in the Wilds. Weapons, water, food, etc. When you get to the bunk, make sure to radio us that you arrived. Otherwise, we'll have to assume the worst." President Harper attempts to look grave but he clearly doesn't care. How did this man, of all people, become our president?

Four guards hold out hefty black bags and when I strap mine on, I almost bend backwards. 

"We have to carry this?" Aria manages to grit out as she gets her bearings.

"All essentials." The president replies cheerfully. 

Essentials my butt. 

"Are you ready, kids?" Before any of us can answer, the guards march us to the border. They stop right in front of it and I'm so close I can put my hand through it. It shimmers and shines, looking like millions of stars. The early morning sun winks down at me. 

"Good luck." President Harper nods, looking a bit more serious this time. The guards push us through, gently. I stumble to my feet, pivoting sharply. Clearly a bad decision, as the bag smacks painfully against my arm. Rubbing my sore bicep, I look back at the blurred president. The border has made his outline hazy. He raises a hand and waves. I don't find the strength to wave back, nor do I want to. 

We stand in a horizontal line, soaking in every detail about this unfamiliar place. It's like a darker version of the forests surrounding the border fort. I clutch my backpack straps, uncertainty surging through me. I've never done anything like this before. I shade my eyes and try to find sunlight. I come up emptyhanded, because the tree tops are so dense and covered it's blocked out all the sun. Or there is none in the first place. I shudder. 

Lucas turns to us. "What's our game plan?" I roll my eyes, remembering he's a jock. He squints at me but says nothing.

Oliver's lips twist in a grimace.

"Not die."