Chapter 10

I woke up in Aspen's arms. It had been only a few minutes, by the sounds of it. I could still hear the rebel alarm. We were in a damp hallway.

When I finally came back to my senses, I yelled, "PUT ME DOWN!" He looked at me with fake sympathy.

"Sorry, Mer, I can't do that." He said.

"Why not?!" I said.

"Because, you don't see. I love you. I have to get you away from there." He replied.

"I LOVE Maxon! I hate you!" I screamed as loud as I could.

"You don't hate me," he said, "In fact, you're deeply in love with me." He pushed me up against the wall, "Now that we're alone…" he started kissing me, not letting me leave, I was struggling.

"Leave-Me-ALONE!" I screamed in between kisses. His hands started to wander. I slapped him, and he recoiled. Then I ran for my life.

I recognized this passageway; it was the one the rebels had used when they had captured Maxon and I. It was dark and dingy, the walls covered with what looked like stains of blood. Why would Aspen use the same tunnels as the rebels? I ran faster, but Aspen was slowly gaining up. When I reached the end of the hallway, I pulled the door open and ran into the castle.

"Help, HELP!" I screamed. I looked around, and there were no other people. Then I remembered one important detail that I had missed.

The rebels were attacking.

With Aspen catching up, I decided the best thing was to go to the safe room. I went past many corners and corridors until I found the entrance.

I banged on the door, "HELP! IT'S AMERICA!"

I heard muffled voices from inside, "Dad, it's her! I'm sure!"

"No son. It's probably the rebels trying to make us open the door."

I tried again, "HELP!"

My voice was drowned out by the sounds of rebels approaching. I banged on the door with all my might. It opened.

I ran into the only place I felt safe, Maxon's arms. He shut the door, and ran his fingers through my hair, muttering soft words of encouragement. I let all my tears flow.

He led me downstairs to the cots. I put my stuff on the empty one. Celeste was staring at me angrily, and though it was apparent that Kriss was trying to hide it, she was too. I wasn't surprised that Elise wasn't there; I assumed that the Christmas party was eliminated.

"America, you've had a rough night. I want you to get some rest. I will tell you, I would like to speak to you tomorrow." Maxon said. He gave me a light kiss on the cheek, and walked back to talk with his mother and father.

I fell asleep willingly.

The next morning, I found myself miraculously in my own bed. I was thinking about the rebels. Why were they attacking so frequently now? It didn't make any sense.

Was Aspen with them?

I was going to take a walk in the gardens when I realized something; It was Christmas.

It was not time for my maids to be up yet, but I rang just in case.

"You rang, miss?" Lucy said a few minutes later.

"Yes, Lucy, could you please take this up to the Prince's room?" I asked politely.

"Yes, miss." Lucy said. And with that, she was delivering the present to Maxon.

A few hours later, after we had breakfast, he came into my room.

"Hello, my darling." Maxon said as he entered. "I got your present, and may I say, it is very lovely. I hung it up in my room."

I smiled. "I'm glad you like it!" He kissed me.

"Now, I'm very curious, why were you late for the rebel attack last night?" he said.

I swallowed hard. We had agreed to be totally honest with each other. I needed to keep my end of the deal, even if I had to tell him.

"The truth is, Maxon, my old boyfriend is in the palace." He looked shocked. "I don't have feelings for him, anymore, I have you." Relief flooded his face. "He was trying to, capture me, I guess. Get me away from the palace."

"He- he was trying to capture you?" he said in utter disbelief. I nodded. He held me in his arms. "I won't let anything ever happen to you, okay?"

He left me with thoughts of safety and happiness.