Sitting on the platform, I start to shake. Maxon tries to calm me, but I am so tense that I really don't hear his words.
Breathe Kriss, Breathe. In, and out, in and out.
I scan the crowd, looking for any stand outs. The guards look like plastic, ready to pounce on someone any minute. Celeste is looking at America confusingly, and then my gaze fixes on America. She's slouching, and looks weak and sad, just like a helpless Five. I try not to judge people by caste anymore, but America really looks like a Five at this very moment, maybe even lower. Seeing that Maxon and America are not talking or laughing or any other thing they do together, I realize something terrible must have happened last night between them. I look at Maxon, and he seems very worried and rigid, and has a cold look on his face. He definitely does not look like himself. Suddenly, I hear a gunshot and a scream, and I quickly scan the room to see Celeste on the ground, motionless. I try to scream but it doesn't come out. There is ultimate chaos in the room. People are screaming, running for their lives in tight dresses and suits.
"Kriss, get down! Now!"
Maxon yells at me. I duck under a nearby table, still trying to process what had happened. I pinch myself, telling myself that this is a dream and none of this is happening. I hear a gunshot near us, and a thump that sounds like someone falling to the ground. A guard lifts the tablecloth to my table, and looks at me. His name tag is labeled "LEDGER" and I immediately notice him as one of the handsome palace guards. There are tears in my eyes that are slowly falling down my cheeks, and I'm frozen in my uncomfortable sitting position. He slaps me, and I get knocked into my senses before getting dragged out of the room. I whimper, trying to get the officer to pity me, but he keeps dragging me down the hall while checking for open safe rooms. He finally reached an open one and said,
"Get in."
I silently obeyed, and he locked the safe room. I felt around the walls to find the light switch. I found it and a dim light flickered on. Still shocked and worried for my life, I collapse on the bed and drift off to sleep.