How It All Goes Down
- The next morning, America is assaulted with questions about her date, but she's saved by a sudden ruckus of shouting.
- The royal family springs into action, telling the girls to go to the back of the room and pulling large, metal shades down over the windows. Guards start rushing in and lining the door.
- It quickly becomes clear that the rebels are attacking the palace, which seems to happen a lot. America tries to keep her cool and help out, but the other girls are clearly panicked.
- Eventually, Maxon comes over and checks up on America. She asks about her maids, and he explains that they have their own hiding spots.
- America explains her actions yesterday, telling Maxon about the dude who said that she had to do anything the prince wanted. Maxon is horrified.
- Based on the clanging noises coming from outside, the attack is intensifying. Maxon explains that there are two groups of rebels: Northern and Southern.
- The main difference is that the Southerners tend to kill people, while the Northerners simply tie them up, which makes it seem like "they're looking for something" (13.111).
- So what does this all mean? Well, Maxon thinks that their current assailants are Northerners, which means that they shouldn't be too concerned.
- After an hour or so, the attack ends, and the girls are released to their rooms. Marlee proudly announces that Maxon asked her on a date during the chaos.
- The maids are already in America's room when she arrives. Anne and Mary are huddled around Lucy, who's hysterically crying. They try to cover it up, but America immediately helps out, even tucking Lucy into her own bed. As she rests, Anne pulls America aside and gives her some context.
- Anne had been hired at the palace because she was an orphan, and Mary was born there, but Lucy had been sold to the royal family. For real.
- Lucy's mom had gotten sick, and her family got a loan from a family of Threes. Her mom passed away, and they were unable to pay it back, so she and her father became the family's indentured servants.
- Lucy had sparked a romance with the family's son, but the mother sold Lucy and her father to the palace as soon as she found out.
- Lucy's dad works in the stable, which is one reason why the attacks freak her out. Another reason is that she had been nabbed by a rebel a few years back, though a guard saved her before it was too late.
- Moved by this story, America promises herself that "Lucy wouldn't have to go through that again" (13.178).