For the first time, I found my thoughts not of Ellie or John. My mind was wrapped around the mystery girl.

                What was her name? And why did she think it was so important to keep it from me?

                But more importantly, I wondered what the favor would be.

                It could be anything. Without thinking properly, I had volunteered myself for virtually anything in the world.

                I didn’t like the fact that she held so many secrets when I had opened up to her. Maybe Ellie really was the only exception to the female race.

                I shook my head, clearing my thoughts.

                I took notice how the girl didn’t come downstairs for quite a while, leaving me to ponder over what she could possibly be named.

                I had no idea where I was located, so I wasn’t sure what culture it would be from. Of course, I didn’t know how the Girls Side worked very well. I had been a drop-out, never finding it necessary to continue the last year of schooling.

                It was based on the study of females to males. All the classes were directed at understanding why we were in a war to begin with, and why it was necessary to win. It went into further detail on what life was like before the war, and it gave you a glimpse at life on the other side.

                At the time, I had no interest in going the front line military, the only men who saw any action in this war. I dropped out, knowing they wouldn’t use someone like me until absolutely necessary.

                Only now did I start to regret my decision. I had always had Ellie or John to rely on for answers. I never had too many questions in my head that couldn’t be answered.

                I didn’t know if I could trust this mystery girl.

                She hadn’t given me her name. That couldn’t have been a good sign.

                Of course, she didn’t know my name either as far as I was aware. I didn’t know the technology they had, and could only hope it wouldn’t give it away.

                I stood up, walking about my prison. I didn’t know how many days I’d been here. It couldn’t have been more than a week, I hoped.

                The walls were indented where the cement held the bricks together. This was an old house, clearly. I ran my fingers gently along the cold walls.

                I leaned my forehead against it, bracing a hand on either side. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. Thinking about school had brought up unwanted memories of John. We had been friends for as long as I could remember and now all I wanted to do was kill him.

                Maybe he had been right.

                Maybe Ellie wasn’t good for me.

                I slammed my hand against the wall, feeling the sting. My wrist shot up in pain as I struck it, causing me to hiss out in pain.

                I was wrong. Ellie was perfect for me. She brought feelings I had never felt before. They felt too good to be wrong.

                John was wrong.

                He was the reason I was here, after all. Friends don’t let friends end up on enemy sides.

                “What are you doing?” The soft voice surprised me. I jumped slightly before turning my head in the direction of the sound. The petite girl leaned against the wall, the light just outlining her body. She pushed herself off, taking a few hesitant steps towards me.

                I sighed angrily. I didn’t want her to know that I had been up and walking.

                “Are you ok?” She asked, stopping when she was only a few feet away.

                I nodded, my eyes focusing on where her body had previously stood.

                She cleared her throat, gaining my attention once again. “I know I’ve been gone longer than a few minutes”

                I grunted, still angry from my thoughts.

                She ignored the hostility “It’s because I had found myself absorbed in the readings from the Speed”

                She must’ve known that would grab my interest. I raised an eyebrow, urging her to continue. A small victory smirk crossed her lips.

                “Before entering the Speed, did you live on the edge of a small town called Paces?” She asked.

                I nodded hesitantly. Did the data give away that much?

                “Good, good.” She muttered “Well, you traveled from Paces to New Barcelona.”

                My mouth fell open in shock. “I’m in Las Luces?”

                She nodded. “Good job on your geography”

                “Oh, this is only the capital of the Girl’s Side” I snarled at her sarcastically. “How have I not been found yet? There should be police everywhere! Perfect. Not only will I be tortured for information, I’ll be ridiculed in the process.”

                She rolled her eyes. “Calm down. Yes, this is the capital. I can’t help that you landed here! And don’t worry about the authorities. They’re not as intelligent as you’d think.”

                “It doesn’t matter if they’re complete idiots or geniuses!” I said loudly, throwing my arms in the air. “When I get caught—”

                She clamped a hand over my mouth, glaring at me “How many times do I have to tell you to shut the hell up before you realize you have to shut the hell up?”

                I narrowed my eyes, pulling her hand away “It won’t matter if I talk loudly. I’m still screwed either way”

                “If you get caught”

                “When I get caught”

                “If” She insisted. “You may not believe it, but I have no intention of turning you over. If I did, I would’ve done that by now, don’t you think?”

                I glared at her for a moment before looking away, defeated.

                She crossed her arms “Now look, you’re in New Barcelona, Luces. Stick with me, and I’ll get you out alive”

                “Where are we even going, do you know?”

                She sighed angrily, “Well, I’m still trying to work that out.”

                “What do you mean?”

                “It’s quite a process to follow all the digits that travel through the Speed. I have a faint idea, though, and it’s a start”

                “Where?”

                “Well, it was formally known as England.” She said. “But as of three years ago, it’s now Tatiana.”

                I frowned. England had been named England for nearly one millennia. It was a powerful country all through-out history, managing to fight through thick and thin. What could possibly have possessed the girls to change the name of one of the most powerful countries ever?

                The girl must’ve known what I had been thinking. “It had been taken over by Queen Tatiana. She’s a self-absorbed bitch, barely liked. But her way of rule goes.”

                “She named an entire country after herself?”

                The girl nodded “Truly one of the worst girls ever”

                Aren’t they all? I held back that comment.

                “Anyways, I suggest we leave as soon as possible. I’m going to plan on getting out of here around noon tomorrow.”

                I raised an eyebrow “Why so quickly?”

                “Don’t you want to get this man as soon as possible?”

                “Yes but—”

                “We leave at noon tomorrow” She growled, turning around. “I’m going to work on getting an exact location of where this boy is located”

                “Wait a minute” I said, roughly grabbing her upper arm. She tensed, curling her fingers into fists. “You need to tell me your name.”

                “I don’t ‘need’ to tell you anything.” She hissed, pulling her arm out of my grasp.

                I sighed, cursing under my breath “Right, can you tell me your name?”

                “About time you started showing some damn manners” She mumbled. Nonetheless, she held her hand out politely. “Sofia”

                I grabbed her hand, giving her a firm grip which, surprisingly, she returned “Clayton”

                “Well, Clayton” She said, testing my name on her lips “I’ll be back soon with food.”

                “Promise?” I asked after a moment, my stomach growling at the thought of food. It had been quite a while since I had last eaten.

                She smirked “I promise”

                “I’m holding you too that”

                She laughed, walking away.

                “Sofia” I whispered to myself, trying to remember her name.

                ~*~

                When Sofia said tomorrow at noon, she meant tomorrow at noon. I had been asleep, not yet accustomed to the time changes, when she walked downstairs, awakening me.

                “Come on, Boy” She said, nudging me with her foot “We have to leave now while no one’s home”

                I groaned, rolling away from her touch. She groaned, not giving up.

                After a few more nudges, I pried my eyes open, looking at her tiredly. She reached out a hand to help me up, which I gladly accepted.

                “Don’t touch anything” she hissed, leading me up the stairs. “The Craft is ready outside, packed with everything we’ll need. We should only have to make one pit stop, so I’ll let you use the bathroom before we leave”

                I muttered thanks as she led me to a room. It took me a while to realize how to work their toilet, but I eventually figured it out.

                Five minutes later I walked out, rubbing the extra water on my pants. Sofia raised an eyebrow slightly, but said nothing. I ignored it and followed her out to the Craft.

                It was by far, much nice than any I had ever seen. It shimmered as the light reflected off of it, a faint ring of red around the bottom. I had seen Craft’s like these on TV with famous men. How had a girl come to get one of these?

                “What are you looking at?” Sofia asked, hands on her hips “Don’t you have these on your side?”

                “This is beautiful” I whispered “I’ve never seen one designed like this in person”

                She blushed slightly, obviously flattered. “This old thing? I’m surprised it’s still moving after all the damage it’s been through”

                “Please, this beauty is absolutely amazing” I said, admiring the machine.

                “Whatever” She brushed off my comment, climbing in “You coming or not?”

                Quickly, I climbed in after her, gasping at the inside.

                They clearly had much nicer Crafts than we did.

                “Close your mouth, it’s nothing fancy” Sofia muttered, blushing furiously. She started up the Craft, lifting off smoothly. I sat back against the leather bench, still in shock at how amazing something like this could be. 

***Yes, her name's Sofia. I tried to pick a popular one that fit with the background. Also, I don't speak fluent Spanish so I googled the name of the country they live in. Google says Las Luces is The Lights. That's where they live. New Barcelona, Luces. 

Also, the winner for the poll for the cover was Club22478. That's the new cover ^.^ Thanks to the other two that entered. I really do love them all :D SO MUCH. More than you can imagine!

And for my American readers, here's the question: Packers or Steelers?****