Shelia's POV:

"Kamden! Shelia." A boy named Dillion puffed down the hallway towards us. "You've got to come back to the gym."

"Why?" Kamden demanded. 

I frantically tried to reduce the redness of my face. 

"There's a broadcast."

Kamden jumped to his feet immediately. "What?" 

"Yeah," Dillion nodded. "It's the President too."

"Shelia, get up," Kamden said grabbing my arm. "Shit!" 

He pulled me down the hallway quickly.

"What's going on?" I asked extremely confused. "They broadcast peoples names every meal."

"No, this is an announcement!" Kamden explained frantically. "It's more important than names could ever be!"

We crashed into the now dimly lit gym. There was a sickly pale woman, who I recognized as Molly Cumberfield is projected onto the white wall. People we are standing transfixed at the screen.

"They haven't made a broadcast in three years," Kamden explained hastily. "This could mean that the war is over."

The hope quickly faded from Kamden's face when the caption below the President flashed. 

WORLD-WIDE DEATH TOLL REACHES NEW HIGH

Then she spoke.

"I felt the deflation of hope when they flashed that caption." Her voice was unnaturally low for such a small petite woman. "It is with great sadness that I announce to my fellow Americans that the World as a whole has lost four billion people."

The caption below her changed the instant the words came out of her mouth. 

FOUR BILLION PEOPLE DEAD FROM INTERNATIONAL WAR

"The populations back to seven billion," Erin muttered beside me. She had appeared out of thin air. 

"How could you say something like that?" I ask enraged turning to her.

"It- it was just an observation," Erin muttered, looking at me with her brow furrowed.

"Each of those people was living. Each of those dead people had a life, goals, a family. It wouldn't kill anybody to think about people as humans and not statics." I rant. 

Before anyone could answer me the screen cut out with a sharp whine of static, and then silence.

"Class dismissed," Cantor grunted. 

We all went to change back into our regular clothes. The locker room was filled with hushed conversations as I pulled my shirt back on. Once dressed we all drifted out into the hall to await lunch. 

I saw Kamden down the hall and made no move to catch up to him. I almost told him about the deal I made. That cannot happen. 

"Everyone is to return to their dorms immediately. Change into your finest uniforms and assemble on the staircase." A shrill voice commanded over the loudspeaker. 

A grumble went through the crowd as we redirected our footing towards the dorms instead of the cafeteria. 

Minutes later every girl is wearing her finest evergreen blouse and white skirt. Whereas every boy has on tan khakis and white dress shirt and dark green ties. Hair was haphazardly styled into buns or braids. The boys each have gel gooped into their greasy hair. We look absolutely ridiculous. 

Even the adults have dressed up. Ms. Vent comes sweeping down the staircase in a white floral dress and Mr. Nelson is wearing a suit. Children are readjusted to look presentable. Adults stand in a uniform line in front of us. 

"Posture children!" A woman chimes. "Stand up straight!"

The doors open and I strenuously swallow my scoff. 

Soldiers.

We're all dressed up and fancy for soldiers. We're missing lunch for a couple of adults in camouflage uniforms. 

The girls around me start to squirm. That's when I realize. I curse myself for being so naive. Those aren't the French soldiers I see patrolling everywhere. Those are American soldiers. Four of them. Three men and one woman. They share a quick whispered conversation with Ms. Vent before she turns to face us. Then, a soldier locks eyes with me.

"Everyone is excused for lunch," She smiles cheerfully. "Everyone except Miss Koen."

"Now you've fucking done it," I muttered to myself.

People around me dart their eyes in my direction before quickly averting their gaze. They lightly shove their way back down towards the enticing smell of lunch. Everyone but Kamden that is. He stands defiantly at the bottom of the stairs waiting for me.

I shoot him my most threatening look. A warning. If he's smart enough to take it. I begin to walk towards the soldiers. They follow me with their eyes. Features cool, set in stone.  

Just before I reach them I stamp on Kamden's foot. "Go, you idiot."

He twitches his lip before turning and following the rest of our peers. Only Ms. Vent remains with the soldiers once I reach them. They dismiss her with a sharp glance. She scampers away quickly.

"Where are Alice and Nicki?" I demand as soon as she is out of earshot. 

"Fiesty as ever." The tallest guard chuckles. 

"Why are you here?" I say choosing to ignore Solider Matthews' remark. "I haven't gone back on my deal with Cumberfield. I haven't breathed a word about what I saw. What do you want?"

The only soldier I do not know is the stout man with a very red face. "Miss Koen. I am Leiuntent Trelgod. We would like to speak with you privately." His voice is harsh and raspy. 

"Oh, I see." I smile bitterly towards the woman. Captin Amber. "I'm being taken to join my dear sister."

"Keep up this attitude that could be arranged." The final man snaps. Major Locktwat. I find the fact that twat is right there in his name, matches his personality. 

"Then, by all means, lead the way." I snap sarcastically folding my arms. 

We walk into the front office. A dusty room with a large table waits for us. The four sit down on the left side of the table facing the window. Leaving me to sit on the other side and stare at their harshly lit faces.

"Now, Shelia," Trelgos smiles. "Please make this easy for us. Where is your sister?"

"Where ever you monsters are holding her until the next week." I spit.

"I'm going to ask you again? Where is Caitlyn?" Trelgod grumbles his polite demeanor fading.

"I don't know?" I scoff. "Can't keep track of your own prisoners?" 

"Where is she hiding?" Trelgod snaps slamming his fists on the table. 

I feel my features slacken. "You mean she's escaped?" 

"I told you, she doesn't know anything," Matthews says, leaning back in his seat.

"Clearly you didn't pay attention the last time we saw her," Amber grumbles, eyeing me suspiciously. "She is gifted in the art of deception."

"Is this really a good use of four US soldiers?" I ask lightly. "Using them to interrogate one fourteen-year-old girl."

"Don't change the subject." Trelgod grits, his face turning a delicate shade of marron. "One more time Ms. Koen. Do you know where your sister, Caitlyn Koen, is hiding."

I stay silent for a moment. "Nope."

He leans over the table so I can smell his sour breath. "Don't lie to me."

I lean my head forward causing him to jerk back. " I don't know where she is."

"That's it." He says impatiently. "Major, hook her up."

"To what?" I ask. Genuine fear pounding in my chest. "To what?"

Locktwat pulls a shiny silver briefcase from underneath the table. It snaps open to reveal a large machine with knobs and a sheet of paper spilling out. He straps pieces to my chest, wrist, and fingers. 

A government-grade lie detector machine. 

Relife courses through my veins as they power up the machine. Lights blink and the thin rod against the paper begins to quiver.

"Captin," Trelgod says, he is now pacing back and forth behind me. "Begin."

Amber looks at me with her murky green eyes. "What is your full name?"

"Shelia Aiyla Koen," I answered blandly. 

The machine whirs and spits red into out of the silver rod onto the paper in thin red lines. 

"When were you born?" 

"January twenty seventh of two thousand eighty-nine."

"What were your first dog's names?"

"How would you know that?" I ask pursing my lips.

"Answer the question!" Trelgod shouts.

"I didn't have any pets before they were banned," I say keeping my voice bored.

"Start with the important ones." Trelgod murmurs. 

"When were you detained by the US Government?" Amber asked looking a small slip of paper in her hand.

"Four months ago."

They all watch the whirring lines with great intensity. 

Then Trelgod leans down right next to my ear. "Where is Caitlyn?"

"I don't know." I drag out every syllable. 

The tension inside the small conference room could have been cut with a knife. But I wasn't lying. Because I truly don't know.

They flip off the machine but make no move to disconnect me from it. 

"Do you remember the deal you made with the President?" Amber asked cooly.

"Yes," I bite back. 

"Explain it to me."

I sigh heavily. "In four years I will be taken to the Whitehouse. If at that time, the worldwide population has reached three billion, I will publically assassinate the Chinese leader. Hence ending the war with a more than controllable population. If everything goes to plan, I will be reunited with Nicki and Alice and the government will let us live in peace."

"Good girl." Trelgod smiles. "We will have a letter sent to you if your sister is apprehended. Plus a video of her death. If you're lucky."

"That's sick," I say ripping off the detector. 

"Any questions before we leave?" Amber asked as they put away the machine.

"Where am I?" The childish question slips out before I can stop it. 

"Colorado." Mathews grunts.

"And what about the twins?" I demand. "Where are they?"

"My dear," Trelgod chortles. "That's classified information."

But as he speaks Locktwat talks over him. "The sunshine state."

"You idiot!" Amber yells slapping him over the head.

"What?" He shouts back defensively. "It's not like she knows which state that is!"

They leave the room bickering until only Trelgod remains. "Not a word Miss Koen, not a word to anyone." 

I nod in reply, my stomach churning. He waltzes out of the room. As soon as his shadow disappears I scream in frustration and kick the chair I was sitting in across the room. I straighten my shirt before walking out myself to go work out my emotions in the gym. I'm halfway down the hall when I hear him speak.

"I should have just gone to lunch."

It's Kamden, of course, its always Kamden. He crawls out from under a desk. His eyes wide and his hair disheveled. 

"Kamden!" I whispered loudly. "You absolute idiot! How much did you hear?"

"All of it." He replies. 

"We have to get out of here!" I say grabbing his arm. "There are cameras everywhere! What were you thinking?"

"I thought you were in trouble." He answers, still dazed.

"You're going to get yourself killed. Sticking your nose where it has no place being! For the love of God!" I say marching him down towards the courtyard. 

"Shelia! What has gotten into you?" He says dragging his heels into the tile floors. 

"Kamden, you heard everything. My only goal is to see my sisters again! That's it! I can't do that if you're caught spying on me and the US government!" I say. We've reached the frozen courtyard. 

"I thought- I thought you were being taken away." Kamden meekly whispered, sinking down into a nearby picnic table.

"No!" I shoot back. "Only interrogated for the whereabouts of my sister who is going to be dead within the week!"

Kamden runs his fingers through his hair. "This is bad. Really bad. I know too much."

"Damn straight you know too much." I tower over him. "You cannot breathe a word about this to anyone!"

"I should just go." He says. 

I slap him before I can stop myself. I slapped him hard, on the cheek.

"You are not going anywhere until we figure out what to do!" I snap.

"Sorry," He says rubbing his cheek. He looks out towards the brown grass and weak fences. Kamden's eyes widen and his hand falls limp to his lap. "There's someone out there."

"Where?" I gasp searching the rooftops for guards. 

"No," Kamden whispers grabbing my wrist. "Look."

He points towards the tree grove behind the baseball fields. There she is. Half tucked behind a leafless tree.

Caitlyn.