I thrashed against the guards holding me back from running after America.
"Let. Me. GO!" I could barely make out her face as she was carried off into the darkness. What did they want with her?
"I'm sorry, Your Majesty, but it's not safe. We can't let you leave the palace," a guard said apologetically. I glared at him.
"Well if I can't go after her, send a troop of soldiers. That is a direct order." I told him. I couldn't just let America get captured without even attempting to save her.
One guard quickly volunteered. "I'll go, Your Majesty." I recognized him as one of the guards on America's rotation. Officer Leger.
"You're the guard from Carolina, yes?" I asked suspiciously.
"Yes, sir. We knew each other quite well back home." He said, looking straight into my eyes with an unwavering expression.
"You must really be pulling for your Province to win the Selection," I stated, "To be willing to risk your life."
"Well, I am willing to risk my life, no matter what the costs, Your Majesty." He didn't answer to the part about America winning the Selection, and he spoke my title with a trace of sarcasm. There was definitely something off about him, but I couldn't tell what.
"Off you go then, Officer Leger." I said, watching the troops march out in search of America.
I woke up on a cold, hard stone floor. My muscles were sore and my throat was scratchy, as if I hadn't drunk anything in days. I probably hadn't.
I tried to pull myself into a sitting position, but my head rushed in pain. I gasped and lowered myself shakily back to the floor.
Better to observe things from down here, I guess, I thought to myself. I was in a dark cell with no windows. I tried to remember what had happened and why I was here but it was all fuzzy. I didn't know what they wanted with me. It wasn't like Maxon and I were on great terms when they attacked… Oh, Maxon.
Where was he now? What was he doing? Did he even care I was missing? Well, he sure has Celeste, I thought angrily. I was still pondering when a key clicked into the lock on the door, and someone kicked it open.
America had now been gone for almost a week, and I was going absolutely insane. I couldn't stand the thought that someone might hurt her, or that she could already be… No. I refused to think that way.
"Maxon, dear, shouldn't you be out with one of the ladies?" my mother asked gently, appearing at my bedroom door. She meant either Kriss and Elise. I had eliminated Celeste the night that America was captured. I had called her to the gardens to tell her the news.
I sat down on a bench next to her, trying to figure out how to say it. Eventually I just said, "Celeste, I'm sorry but I'm going to have to let you go." I said gently. She looked at me like I was joking, and actually laughed.
"Good one, Maxon. Now what were you really going to tell me?" She was so self-centered, I couldn't even believe it.
"No, Celeste, I don't think you get it. You're being eliminated," I told her with more conviction. She stared at me with a blank expression. She was deep in thought about something, and I could tell, but she didn't say a word. After about a minute, she finally shook her head and said, "You may be eliminating me now, Maxon, but this is not the last time you will see me." And with that she spun around quickly and stalked off into the palace.
I sighed. "I suppose I should, but I'm sure I would just bring either of them down."
She laughed, a musical, happy sound. "Oh, darling. Not one of those girls could ever feel down around you. I know they're all waiting for you to call on them." When I didn't answer she spoke again, softly. "Is this about America?"
I didn't look up as I mumbled, "Yes." She came over and sat next to me on my bed, pushing a stray piece of hair off my forehead. "Maxon, we're doing everything we can to get her back, I promise. There have been no reports of a... a body," she coughed. "She's out there somewhere, sweetie. We'll find her."
I tried to muster some hope. "Thanks mother." My voice still sounded flat to me, but my mother appeared satisfied. She kissed my cheek and stood up gracefully.
"Anytime, honey. Be sure to be downstairs for the Report in an hour."
A rebel entered my small cell.
"Get. Up." He said shortly. I shakily tried to stand but fell back down, my legs still too weak to hold me up. The rebel yanked my arm so hard I could've sworn it was torn out of its socket. Once I was upright, leaning against the wall for support, the rebel said, "Follow me."
I dragged myself along the empty hallways, cradling my arm. From the dirt and stone walls, I assumed we were underground. We followed a series of twists and turns, and finally came to a steel door. The rebel pressed a code into the padlock on the door. It was strange, I never would have imagined that the rebels had enough money for such advanced equipment. I wondered where they got it from.
The door swung open and the rebel pushed me into a lavish office. He sat me in a chair that was so comfortable compared to my cell that I actually sighed in happiness.
"Sir, she's ready." The rebel called out yet again, and a smartly dressed man in a business suit entered the room.
"My lovely Miss America, how are you?" he smiled with sickeningly white teeth. I clamped my lips shut and refused to speak. That made him smile even wider.
"I've watched you from the beginning, Miss Singer. I always could tell you were a stubborn one." He said it with pride, as if I should award him for his impeccable sense of character. As if.
He got up from his desk and started pacing around the room. "It was quite obvious you stood out from the different girls. So much… stronger." I gulped as he leaned into my ear, whispering each word with a cock of his head. "Much, harder, to, break."
He laughed again. "Where are my manners? You must be wondering who I am. Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Geoffrey Hale, leader of the Southern rebel group."
"What do you want from me?" I whispered, trying not to sound breathy and terrified. He looked surprised as he walked around to face me.
"Oh no, my dear America. We don't want you. You are practically worthless to us. But you know who you're not worthless to…?" He raised his eyebrows above his piercing grey eyes.
"Not Maxon, please, please don't hurt him!" I gasped, tears blurring my vision.
He laughed sadistically. "No, no, no, pretty girl. We won't hurt him. But I cannot say the same for you."
The bright lights blared down on me, but I couldn't feel anything. I still couldn't stop thinking about America. Where she was, what had been done to her, if she was… No. I couldn't even think that. Not on national television.
"Your Majesty?" Gavril asked again, snapping me out of my daze. My father glared at me.
"Forgive me, my mind was… elsewhere." Gavril laughed and repeated his question.
"I asked how you and the Ladies of the Selections are all doing after the most rebel attack." Oh god, not now. I couldn't answer that question without breaking…
"Oh, well… um…" My eyes darted everywhere, and landed on the monitor. I looked completely panicked. Great.
Suddenly I saw the screen get fuzzy and choppy. That was unusual. I squinted and I could make out another program coming through. "Father," I whispered, "The monitors."
My father took one look at the spastic screen and his eyes widened in shock. He was about to yell something at the crew when another man showed up completely onscreen. And every citizen in Illéa's screens.
"Hello, people of Illéa. You probably don't know who I am. My name is Geoffrey Hale, and I am the leader of the Southern rebel group of Illéa." The whole room gasped. "But today, I'm not alone in this little broadcast. Some of you might know this lovely girl as America Singer, formerly one of the Selected."
I think I have died and gone to hell.
The camera cut to America, hanging from shackles in a cell. She was looking down at the ground and I couldn't see her face, only her mass of bright red hair. But there she was, her shoulder's lifting up and down with each tiny breath. Alive.
"Now, I speak directly to King Clarkson and Prince Maxon. Give me what I want. I don't want to have to do things you might… regret."
Two rebels showed up at America's sides, their faces emotionless as they took off her handcuffs and shoved her to the floor.
"NO!" I shouted, furious that I was unable to do anything. I could hear distant sobs from Kriss and Elise.
They began to beat her repeatedly in the sides. I couldn't watch and yet couldn't look away, and I felt tears silently rolling down my cheeks. I reached out as if I could help, but I was powerless.
The guards left as Geoffrey appeared again next to America. He pulled a knife to her throat, forcing her to look up. I made a small choking sound. I could see the absolute terror and pain in her eyes, and my heart cracked into a million pieces. Yet underneath the pain, I could see America's usual defiance and determination. She wasn't going to give in to anything the rebels were trying to get her to; stubborn as always. Geoffrey traced the knife against her cheeks and lips.
"It would be such a shame to lose such a pretty face, wouldn't it Maxon?" He taunted. I wanted to scream in frustration.
America's eyes widened and she looked straight through the camera into my eyes. "No, Maxon, don't –" she choked against the blade that had returned to her throat. "I'm… I'm fine don't give him anything I –" Geoffrey's hands tightened at her throat and her eyelids fluttered shut as he dropped her and let her collapse on the floor. My chest heaved up and down as I took in deep, panicked breaths.
"Your choice, men. The girl or the diaries. Thank you, Illéa." And with that, the monitor finally went black.
A/N: Yay for new chapters! I hope you guys like this, I've had it partially written for awhile but now it's finallyyy up! Read, Review, Follow, Favorite! Thank you to all of my readers, you guys are amazinggg :**
babysister1997: Thanks, that's what I was going for ;)
Smashleigh98: Thank you so much! It means a lot coming from my favorite fanfic author 3
Princess America: You'll just have to find out ;)
Julianna Rose: Oops, my bad :) and thanks, I'm glad you liked it!
Karen: Aww, thank you! You're too sweet :*
xoxo Lily 3
