Jason's POV

Everything happens so fast. It's like they were waiting for us out there. Come to think of it, they probably were. We just got ambushed, and there's not a damn thing I can do about it.

Well, I can try. I pull out my handgun from my belt.

"You're not taking her away!" I shout, aiming at the first soldier I see. The bullet ricochets off the helmet and almost hits me.

I stare at him in confusion. The bullet didn't even leave a scratch! What the hell is this?

There isn't much time to react when I hear a click of a gun and its cold barrel pressed to the back of my head.

"DROP THE GUN!" A soldier screams.

I comply, dropping the weapon and holding my hands up. I glance to find Kat watching horrified, who struggles from the men that restrain her.

This wasn't the plan, I think, gritting my teeth.

I know I'm dead when Kat suddenly stops shouting and struggling, but clenches her eyes closed. As she does, tears stream down her face. I close my eyes too.

"Wait. New orders from the president, we're taking both of them alive," a gruff voice says.

This brings even more confusion. I'm already still recovering on how people like these can come out of The Walls. I thought they were all pampered little pets.

Kat and I are shoved into the back of a van. I try to punch a guy in the jaw, but he catches my wrist and twists it almost to the breaking point.

"What the hell!?" I yell, trying to writhe away from his grip. Since when did they have reflexes?

"Stop!" Kat protests, desperation coating every bit of her voice.

He releases, lifting his helmet and giving a mocking wink at her. "Whatever you say, princess."

He has a weird tattoo around the corner of his left eye. Intricate designs in black ink, something that has meaning. Something that explains what's different about these guys.

The van doors slam. I hit and smash my fists bloody against it, but the metal doesn't even rattle.

"Jason, it's no use. The doors are made out of the metal their armor is," Kat says. She's sitting in a corner, her knees hugged against her chest. She stares at the metal floor solemnly.

"Who were those guys? With the tattoos," I ask, giving up on escape. For now, at least.

"They're soldiers. Not the guards that we saw a while ago. They do all the serious things, this is the second time I've ever seen them. They're not allowed to live in the same place as commoners."

"And why is that?"

No answer. She presses harder against the wall, as if she wants to sink into it and disappear.

Kat let's out a sob. "I'm so, so sorry. Th- this is all my fault. I was too stupid to realize all this in the beginning."

At first, I sit next to her. It doesn't take long for my arms to wrap around her small body and pull her into my chest.

I kiss her on the head. "I love you."

"No you don't!" She shoves me away. "You shouldn't."

Kat buries her face in my shirt and begins to cry. Mournful sobs escape her throat and make her gasp for air. I just hold her, wanting to remember how it feels to have her cradled in my arms. I might never be able to feel it again.

At some point, the crying comes to an end. She lies there curled up in my arms, staring blankly at the floor.

"I love you too," Kat whispers.