PART 3

I narrowed my eyes. What could he possibly mean by that?

Master King waved his hand and the guards untied me. Then they left, back down the marble stairway.

"Come," Master King said. "Sit." He said it like an order.

I followed him into the office. The office was just as grand as the rest of the building, if not grander. Along one of the walls was photographed by the previous leaders of our city. The Master gestured to a plush purple chair with a gold throw pillow. I sat on the very edge, remembering perfect posture.

"Juno- may I call you that?" I actually didn't want him to use my first name, but I nodded; I couldn't tell him no. "I'd like to have a little chat; hear your opinions."

I nodded, still unsure of what he wanted from me.

"You see, Juno, I think it's very important to hear from my subjects. I want to know what they think. So, I'd like to hear your opinions."

"I'm not sure what you mean Master King," I said.

"Oh! Um… let's start with your opinions on…" he laughed once, "The assignment process."

I opened my mouth to begin, but then The Master spoke.

"Now, Juno, I want you to be completely honest. You will not be punished for the opinions you have." He smiled. "So speak freely."

"My opinion on the assignment process, sir, is that it is, well, inefficient. It does not make good matches."

"Now, now, Juno! Are you sure? Master Swan works very hard on matching couples carefully. Matching their personalities, interests, things like that."

"Well, for example, my friend, Rosie, was matched to a boy named Theodore. Rosie's opinion and mine too is that Theodore isn't very nice at all, sir. In fact, he's quite unkind to her. Rosie, on the other hand, is very sweet. I do not think they were matched well, sir."

"I see. Well, it's a good thing that there are re-assignments available. They applied, didn't they?"

"Well, if I may continue to be candid…"

He nodded.

"Rosie was frustrated that not very many re-assignments are approved. Also, she couldn't convince Theodore to agree. And she had no way to voice her concerns without Theodore's approval, sir; they were not able to be re-assigned. They will be Joined soon."

"I see. So young Rosie is not pleased with her rights. I will see to that." he typed a few notes onto his desktop.

"Thank you for your opinions, Juno. Now, before you go, there is just one more little thing that I do not understand. I was wondering if you could explain it to me?" he said sweetly.

"Yes, of course, Master King." I bowed my head.

"This."

He pressed a button on the desk-screen and an image popped up on the wall. An image I recognized immediately.

It was a view of the gardens where Rosie and I had gone to before that one history class. It seemed to be taken from across the street, about where the Male Training Center was. I gasped when I saw it.

First, I saw the red hair. Then I saw the rest of my face, then the rest of me, wearing only the leggings/tights underclothes. I was running, glancing across the street. Beside me, Rosie was also running. This must've been taken just before I noticed Finn and Teddy watching us run.

I could feel my face turn bright red.

"So, Madame Juno, would you care to explain."

I was so shocked, I disregarded his authority. "It's not fair! Why can't I do that? There isn't a rule against it, is there? This place has become a cage, a prison!" I spat.

Master King stared down at his feet for a moment; he seemed to be collecting himself. Then he smiled and gazed back up at me. "Don't you think there should be one?"

I scowled at him.

"Come now, Juno. Everyone must remain in their place. If girls like you are misbehaving… well! Just imagine the trouble that would cause. No, we can't have that. Starting now, it is a rule that no female of any age shall remove any form of attire in a public place. Now, I had hoped this was something that shouldn't have to be said… but apparently not. I am disappointed in you, Madame, to say the least. Very disappointed."

"That will be all!" Master King said loudly. A pair of red-clad guards walked up and escorted me out of the room. We walked back down the marble staircase, and through the grand entryway. Then back out through the fancy, gold-trimmed door, and down the elegant pathway to the hovercraft. Inside the car, two new street guards were waiting to escort me home. The ride was silent. In the background, I could hear some music playing, but that was the only thing I could hear.

. . .

When we finally arrived back home, the very first thing that happened was my father silently opening the door, his face sullen and set. I knew then that something had happened while I was with the Master. I knew better than to ask, but I could barely contain myself as I ascended the steps into the house. My father gave nothing more than a nod to the guards and followed me inside, gently closing the door behind him.

"Father, what's wrong? What happened? Is everyone ok?" The questions burst out of me like bullets, the words barely making sense to me as my emotions flooded my conscience. Father finally held up his hand to prevent more questions.

"Everyone's fine, Juno… that is, everyone in the family." I could feel myself calming for a second before I realized what he meant.

"Wait… what do you mean by 'everyone in the family?'" Father hesitated, but I had to know what he was talking about.

"I'm so sorry, Juno. Rosie and Finn were caught… together while you were out. They have both been arrested and charged with treason…" I couldn't hear anything else he said after that. I barely felt myself starting to sway, and then everything went black.