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Lifting my skirts so I won’t trip, I run after him. It’s only after running around the corner that I hear people yelling. There’s a car parked on the street illegally, and the man throws in my bags in the back seat, motioning for me to get in.

“If you kill me, I’m haunting you forever,” I bite out, collapsing into the seat. My feet hate me so much right now. Shutting the door behind me, I’m careful not to lean back, knowing I’ll burst into tears. I’m already cursing up a storm in my head as I hold back a whimper. It’ll invite too many questions that I have no intention of answering. Kicking off my shoes, I hiss at the equal parts relief and pain that I feel.

“What the fuck is your problem?” another man asks as the fake soldier gets into the car.

“I believe I’m owed an explanation, but you may want to drive before we’re caught,” I warn as guards start to run around the corner.

“Fuck,” he curses, throwing the car into drive, which throws me against the seat. White hot pain travels through my body as I release a strangled scream.

“What, what?!” the driver asks, eyes searching for the danger.

“Nothing,” I whisper, my voice writhe with pain. “My back is a little sore is all.”

“Silla—”

“I don’t know who you are, which means you have an advantage I am uncomfortable with,” I say haughtily. Pain sometimes makes me a real bitch.

“Fuck, you even speak like a rich bitch,” the driver chuckles.

“I speak like someone who was severely beaten by a cane,” I grumble, forcing myself to sit up again.

“A… fuck. I’m Noa, and this asshole is Wilheim,” Noa says, turning to face me. “Why would the queen hurt you? Aren’t you her step-sister?”

“You’re clearly just as clueless as everyone else,” I tell him, blinking back tears from my eyes. “You said you’d get me where I’m supposed to be. Do you have any idea where that is?”

“Yeah, it’s an apartment on the other side of the city. I paid off the driver earlier today for the information. Everyone was distracted by a reported fire on the back side of the castle, which wasn’t at all true,” Noa explains with a shrug. “So we’re going to chat while we drive, maybe stop to get you some normal clothes? Why the fuck are you wearing that?”

It appears that there are some truths that will have to be discussed. I’m not at all loyal to my step-sister, but I didn’t expect to be having this conversation with Underground followers.

“Imagine that I have no choice over my entire life, and that would be why. I’m a prisoner of the Queen in all ways, even if I’m not in the castle currently,” I explain. “She will check to make sure that I arrived at my destination safely, but she also knows I wouldn’t run when I have people waiting for me.”

“Okay, fair enough, so why are you going to this apartment?” Wilheim asks.

So they have some information about me, but very little else. Relaxing slightly, I decide to just tell them the truth. Our original plan hinges on false identification, so that’s no longer a viable option.

“The Queen is tired of the Underground being a thorn in her side,” I tell them, my lips twitching when they snort. “She has executed every person that you’ve sent back to her, but hasn’t found out enough information to decimate your organization. Rebels don’t have a place in her kingdom, especially ones that wish to dethrone her.”

“Anyone in the right mind wants to get her off the throne,” Noa mutters. “Our leader had a feeling that he was sending them back to their deaths, but didn’t have any other options at the time. It shows how callous and inhumane she is.”

“There’s so much more to Cinder than you even know.” I sigh. “She’s unhinged, crazed, and I have a feeling currently in a bout of mania; which means I’m safer out of the castle right now. There are dignitaries currently at the castle as well for the next week, possibly longer, to reevaluate treaties and update them as needed.”

“You know an awful lot for a prisoner,” Wilheim grumbles, looking over his shoulder at me.

They don’t need to know that the guards talk when they fuck, and I don’t need to relive that for utter strangers.

“When you’re invisible, people talk. No one sees me in these clothes, and Cinder likes making me look like her twin,” I tell them, trying to get comfortable. I’m putting on pajamas when I get to the apartment and going to bed. I don’t fucking care what the others have to say about it.

“Outside of the hair, it’s remarkable how much you look like her,” Noa murmurs.

“Okay…? Spit it out,” I sass. I’ve run in heels today, I’m late, and I’m tired. I’m not taking shit from some snotty rebels too.

“What if we removed the current monarchy and replaced it with you?” Wilheim blurts out. “How much do you know about her treaties with other kingdoms, the laws of our land, and what we need?”

“I haven’t… Do you even know what my life has been like for the last year?” I sputter incredulously. The fucking gall. I know the world doesn’t revolve around me, but I should be allowed to wallow for just a little bit.

“You’ve been holed up with the queen, living the life of royalty,” Noa says, rolling his eyes.

“Take me to the apartment or I’m jumping out of this fucking car,” I rasp, forcing myself to breathe. Being holed up in a car with strangers is not my idea of a good time.