The Divide (The Divide Series Book 1) by Kaitlyn Kroner

back stealthily. Warm air pushed against my face as I crept inside the house, and I quietly shut and locked the door behind me. No one was around. I wanted to run up the stairs, but I knew it would be better if I went up as quietly as possible, so I took one step at a time. My heart pounded in my ears, beating faster than my legs could run. I cringed when each step I took created a loud squeak in the stairs; I didn’t think I’d ever heard the stairs creak before. I looked down at the steps and glared, and then looked up; I had five steps to go. Chewing on my lip, I contemplated my plan: running the last bit of the stairs would probably make too much noise but might just be for the best. I took a deep breath and ran, and didn't let it out until I was safely in my room with my door shut firmly behind me. My bed was empty: the duffel bags, my purse, and my boots were gone. Hmm . Either Agathy needed me out of the house so she could steal my stuff, or I imagined the entire scene this morning and was now going completely nuts. 
    “Mia.” I jumped and stifled a scream as Agathy came out of my bathroom. I was pretty sure if she were any sneakier, I might have had to change my pants.
    “You scared me,” I accused, my hand planted on my chest. My heart thumped hard against it.
    Agathy gave me a small smile. “Did you get it?”
    I pulled out the box and handed it over to her. I watched as she took the roll of money out of the box and went over to the side of my bed. She bent down, and when she stood back up, she was holding my purse. As she opened it, she pulled my wallet out and slid the money into it; she placed the wallet back and closed the purse, setting it on the bed. “Good, good.”
    I peered at her. “I still don’t understand what’s going on.” Placing my hands on my hips, I tried to stare her down; I wanted answers. 
    “I have everything packed and ready for you to go,” she said as she smoothed down my already smooth comforter.
    “Where am I going?” I said slowly, making sure even a deaf person could understand the words.
    “Somewhere safe,” she said. “Things are getting out of hand, and people are getting angry. They’re coming, and they won’t stop until everyone is dead.”
    “I’m sorry, what?” What was she talking about? Who were coming? Who did they want dead? Was it the rebels? Did she know about them?
    She waved her hand in front of her. “You won’t understand. You’re still too young to understand.”
    “Hey! I’m seventeen. I’ll be eighteen in just a few months. I’m pretty sure I can comprehend anything you have to say to me.”
    Agathy sighed and started pacing back and forth. “People are angry with your father. Some are changing sides. There are people who are talking about getting rid of everyone who comes from the council, starting with Lorburn’s Leader and family. They want a new ruler. And the man who started this all is such a cruel person. He will turn Lorburn upside down if he gets to rule. We'd be living in terror. No one would be safe. It's important to get you out of here before they arrive. Otherwise, you'll end up dead.”
    I stared at her. Silence sliced through the room. Maybe I couldn’t comprehend anything she was saying. Could I go back and say I didn’t want to hear any of it? “Why kill me?” It had to be the rebels.
    Agathy gave me a sad smile. “Because once your father’s dead, you’re to rule Lorburn.”
    “And this man who wants to rule would have to kill me first?” Maybe getting me out of here was a good thing. “I can’t leave my family behind.”
    Agathy scowled. “Mia, I have always felt like you were a daughter to me. I watched you grow up into the beautiful woman you are today. And I have had to watch your parents beat you one too many times. You need to think of yourself if you want to survive.”
    “Bu—” My bedroom door opened. 
    My father walked in. He looked me up and down and glowered. “Where are you