I adjust my gown as the photographers leave. The other Elite and I just finished up our Halloween dress selection photo shoot with Hunter, leaving me sweaty and tired. I straighten up my dress, slightly skewed to the right and sigh deeply. It hit me suddenly. If I don't win this, I am truly alone.

I let everyone leave the large space and follow behind, still with the group, but far enough away that if I slip into a window nook, no one would notice. So that's exactly what I do. I stare out at the green fields and contemplate my realization. If I lose, I have no home. I can't go back to Mother after finally standing up to her abuse. And Father would never leave her. I don't understand why, but I think he's too attached to the young, lovely woman Mother was and can't see the cruelty she wields now. If Jasmine quits, she'll never get another job. I could stay with London maybe... but she's so entranced with Zac; I recently saw a picture of the pair on a beach in a magazine. I can't rely on Bianca, she could easily win this. And as wonderful of a best friend as Gracelyn is, it would be terrible to stay here with Hunter and his soon to be wife. I wouldn't be able to bare it. I love him.

My heart beats quicken and it's weird to admit it. I already confessed that I was falling for him, but being in love... it's more.

"Corrine?" A tiny voice asks. Raymie rushes over, noting my silver lining eyes.

"Hello." I reply meepishly, as I brush away the forming tears.

"What's going on? Do you want to talk about it?" She questioned, grasping my hands.

"No." I reply quickly and she looks taken aback. She folds her hands in her lap and she sits in a more proper manner. Guilt rings through me as I realize that I brushed aside her kindness. "Well, I was just thinking about the future. The different paths and all. There's only one that I particularly love and it seems that every other girl here does too. If someone other than me travels down that path, I am lost. I have no home, no family, no friends other than you all, and you all have loved ones to see." I can't help the flow of tears now.

"Oh, Corinne, I'm here for you. If this doesn't..." she stops talking and I stop listening to her as loud bells sound.

We both look at each other in question, brows furrowing. It seems that the annoyingly loud bell is the least of our concerns as a rock smashes through the nearest window down the hall. Raymie let's put a cry as a man plunges through. I yank her arm and run in the other direction, looking for anywhere to hide.

I notice a small closet and I rip the door open, shoving Raymie inside. She tries to pull me in, but the tiny linen closet only fits one. She might have said something, but the pounding in my ears and the flash of color of a rebel's clothes as he turns the corner makes me shut the door, hiding her. I sprint to find something... anything, to slow my enemies, but this deserted hallway only is a home to paintings and the occasional flower vase that is too large for me to move.

Another window shatters and glass shards cut my skins, some stick and droplets of blood form. I cry out in pain and try to scramble away. A large hand yanks on my arm and just the smell of liquor has me knowing that I am in the arms of Manny, the drunken beast that whacked me with a frying pan. Fear drills into me as I try to wiggle out of his grip.

"Help me boys! I found her!" Manny shouted to the other men who snuck into the Palace.

I lift up my heel with all the force I can muster and kick Manny where the sun don't shine. His hold on me loosens and I fall back into the glass shards. My hands sting but I try to ignore it as I race to the nearest door.

The sight inside the room is worse than back out in the hall.

Victor, the leader of the rebel group, holds Megan to his chest with a knife along her throat with one hand and in the other is a gun pointed at Hunter, who lies, panting against the wall. All eyes turn to me as I try to reach for a lamp.

"Why isn't it my dearest Corrine! Why, would you look at what you made us do now." Victor smiles wickedly.

"Let them go." I say, my voice barely above a whisper.

"Why would I do that? I told you my terms and you ran off. Did you not understand? Would you tell Your Highness over here that all I need is a bit of land and freedom for any citizen of his that wants to leave him?"

"You just did." I sassily say to the lunatic with a gun.

"Oh shut up, Corrine! Stop being such a smart aleck bitch!" Megan whines as she takes the knife from Victor and points the blade at me.

Both Hunter and my faces drop at the act we just saw.

"You're the mole?" I ask breathlessly.

"No, I'm the helpless little girl who came to rescue her true love. Wait a minute, that's you." She stalks towards me, leading me into the same corner as Hunter is in.

"Why you?" I wonder, trying to buy some time.

"My father has tried for years to be successful in this country, but has failed spectacularly because of your father's business and you're father's National government system." She points to each of us as she blames our fathers. "It was pure luck that I got into the Selection, unlike you, Corrine, who's mother talked your way into the competition. I want justice. I want a nation that has equal opportunities for all. And my Victor and I will rule this country." She smiles sweetly at Victor and I hold in a gag.

"What you talk about isn't democracy. It's communism. Everyone has different backgrounds, some are poor, others are rich. If you take all money and split it up evenly, if you take all jobs and make them the same wage, if you make everyone where the same quality clothing, it's communism. You'll have a failed nation, and I refuse to put my people at that risk." Hunter spits out at the couple, the information he spills is more than I have ever learned. I never new such terms: democracy and communism. Not a single one of my tutors taught me those words, that history. I suppose that wealth doesn't guarantee information.

"It will last longer than Illea, I promise you that!" Victor growls as he cocks his gun.

I reach for Hunter's hand and mouth the words 'I love you' as he swallows harshly and nods.

"Me too." He whispers, rubbing his thumb along the back of my hand.

"If you won't cooperate, I guess you'll just be a thorn in my side. Say your last words, Princeling." Victor chuckles harshly

"Watch out." He said in soft, calming words.

Victor's bushy brows knit together at the Prince's statement as Raymie raises a heavy looking vase and smashes it atop his head. He crumbles to the ground like a puppet and Megan lunges for Raymie, knocking her down on top of Victor's body. Screams echo and nails fly before Hunter or I got our senses together and pull the two apart.

"Victor!" She yelps, yanking at Hunter's unyielding hold on her.

Fear nibbles at me as thundering footsteps approach. Raymie picks up the vase, ready for another go-round, but discards it as Officer Birming and some of his soldiers come into view.

"Your Highness!" One of the dozen men shouts as half the men rush to aid him and cuff Megan.

The other half hurry over to Raymie and me. Only now do I look at my exterior and I cringe at my torn dress. Sweat and odd stains litter the satin fabric, even though the whole attack lasted no more than fifteen minutes. Raymie exhales an out of breath chuckle, and leans over, hurling into her weapon of choice. Two men linger near her, but she wipes her mouth and signals for them to leave her alone.

"I'm flabbergasted that you had that in you." I say with awe, thinking back to her heroic rescue.

"I'm flabbergasted too." She smiles through the grime still soiling her face, but she never looked so queenly. Her back straight, determination pumping through her veins, eyes welled with pride. She is every inch of what Hunter should have in a wife.

I'm good for the cameras; I'm picture perfect. She's got the heart and mind that a queen needs. She saved us. If she didn't, Hunter and I would be nothing but bodies where a people once lived.

She deserves him and most especially the crown.

I slink out of the room right as Hunter embraces Raymie. Her eyes shine brighter than the sun as he whispers something in her ear. I don't belong in this picture.

I set off down the ramshackled hall. A tear slides down my face as I force myself to commit to withdrawing from the Selection. It is clear that Raymie will win. She'll have Hunter all to herself, and then they can finally be happy together.

"Corrine?" Hunter's lumbering step sound as he makes his way to me. "Stop, love."

I can't help the tear that slides down my cheek.

"I quit."

Thanks for reading! So sorry it's taking forever for updates! What all do you think is going to happen now that Corrine has quit?

Please vote and comment❤️