The Chosen [COMPLETED]

Chapter 18

"Where is it?" The rebel repeated. His voice was muffled and I could not drag my eyes off of the pin. It was the same small red pin, with the same small cardinal that August had. I gave up fighting the man and pointed to my the underneath of my bed. I felt the release of the gun from my head, but I didn't move. 

I watched as the rebel searched under my bed until he grabbed the diary. He faced the barrel of the gun at me until he left the room. I didn't know what to make with everything. I wanted to scream and cry all together. I felt my heart racing and I was breathing heavily. I tried to tell myself that the pin was a symbol that all nine's wore. 

An officer came running into my room, making me jump. He escorted me to the chamber with the other chosen girls and Farley came running up to me.

"Are you alright? You are as white as a ghost" She said. I could not tell her the real reason I looked stunned. 

"I'm fine. I just saw some things I didn't want to see." I lied.

"I'm sorry." She hugged me tightly. I overheard a few girls arguing with Harper about one of their friends. I could not hear the whole conversation, but I did hear that there was still one girl who was missing. 

I waited impatiently for the attack to be done. I kept rehearsing my next conversation with August. I was ready to scream every time I thought him. I tried to calm myself down before we were able to leave, but once I realized I was going to face August, I started to tense up again. 

The palace was not such a mess anymore when I got back to my room. August was standing there and skilled when he saw me. I never smiled back. I grabbed the collar of his jacket and dragged him into my room. I took a deep breath before I let myself start. 

"When were you going to tell me you are a rebel?" I asked. I watched August's face become concerned. 

"I'm sorry." He took a step closer to me, and I took one step back. 

"How could you." I cried. I started to feel warm tears rising close to the edge of my eyelids. "I trusted you." 

"I was going to tell you when I felt like it was right to." I shook my head.

"Was this a joke to you?" I asked. "Was I a joke to you?" I felt tears starting to roll down my cheeks. August shook his head.

"I loved you," I said in between tears. 

"We don't have to be over," August said. 

"There is no more we. I can't look at you the same way." 

"I'm sorry I hurt you like this." 

"How do I know I can believe that? How do I know I can believe anything we did was real?" I started to cry harder. 

"Because I love you. The rebels aren't bad." August said. I was sobbing too hard to interrupt him.

"We are trying to fix things, and overthrow the royal family and the whole system."

"But you kill innocent people," I commented. 

"Yes, but only when we have to." I shook my head again. What kind of excuse was that?

"I am turning you in," I said quietly. 

"What?" 

"I can't trust you anymore." 

"You don't have to do that." August looked like he was could start crying. 

"Yes, I do." I cried. "And I think you should leave." August started rapidly shaking his head. 

"We can fix this, just please don't do this." 

"I don't think we can." We both stood there processing what was happening. 

"I think it would be best for both of us if you leave," I said. August hesitated before responding. 

"I will always love you." I stood there while August waited for me to respond. I had no words for him, I no longer loved him. 

Once August realized I was not going to say anything he turned around and started walking towards the door. I watched him open the door and glance back at me one last time before I would never have to see him again. 

He shut the door behind him, and I let out the tears I had been holding back. I let myself cry for a long time. There was a tight pain in my chest that made it feel harder to breathe. I stayed in my room for the rest of the morning until it was time for lunch. 

I walked in and sat next to Farley. She gave me a small smile. I looked around and noticed that the room was quiet. There were still three more chairs that needed to be filled, but Harper walked in and started talking before they could arrive. That could only mean that three more girls went home, leaving thirteen girls left. 

"Good afternoon ladies," Harper said softly. 

"I am sure that most of you have heard the news, but in case you have not," Harper hesitated before continuing. "Scarlett was shot and killed in the rebel attack early this morning." I heard a few girls start crying. I felt anger rising in me. I had told August that he killed innocent people, and this was what I meant. I didn't know Scarlett that well, but I knew that she was sweet and would never do anything to get herself killed. 

"There will be a funeral for her tomorrow afternoon, your maids are getting dresses made for each of you." The rest of our lunch was quiet. I learned that two of Scarlett's friends went home after they learned she was killed. 

I was brought back to my room, by a new officer. August had switched roles with another officer to give me space. Everything felt different without August right outside my room. I started thinking about him, but I did not feel the same love for him anymore. I felt empty inside.

I tried to get my mind away from August by deciding to go to the lounge. I opened my door, ready to ask my new officer to take me down, but Easton was standing there, talking to the officer. 

"Megan," Easton said, noticing me. I smiled. 

"Would you like to go for a walk?" He asked. I nodded my head and started following Easton. 

"Did you hear about Scarlett?" He asked me. I nodded.

"You seem very quiet. Is everything alright?" He asked. I was not alright, but for some reason, I could not get myself to talk about August. 

"Just a little spooked by the attack." I lied. 

"It was scary. I overheard my father arguing with my mother. He wants to call off the rest of the Queenstrial." I should have been fine if the Queenstrial ended. Before, I was only staying to be with August. But now that he was gone I could have gone home. But I no longer wanted to go home. I had become friends with Farley and gotten closer with my maids. But there was something else. I could not figure out what it was until I looked at Easton.