AMERICA'S POV

I've been in countless interviews where I've been shouted at for not knowing enough. I get told bits and pieces about the outside world. I'm told how the planning for Kriss and Maxon's wedding is going. They think that it'll make me want to tell them how to break into the palace but what they don't seem to understand is that I don't care. I love Maxon so much that I just want him to be happy, and if that means marrying Kriss then I hope she can make him as happy as I could.

"Where are the safe room entrances?" The man demanded of me every time I saw him.

"I don't know." I answered looking around the room. I could see the annoyed faces of about ten rebels. I'd become almost friends with the one that escorts me, called James, so I stick my tongue out at him. "When can I go home?" I ask.

"Never, unless you start taking this seriously and answer my questions."

"Fine. Ok, I am taking this seriously." I breathe slowly twice. "No. Still don't know. Can I go home yet?" The man sighed at me again, as he did most days.

"Fine, take her back to her cell. I'm fed up of her. Tonight, we attack the palace."

MAXON'S POV

It's been almost a month since I lost America. It's been two weeks of meetings, plans and shouting matches between Aspen and I. I would have spent even more time in these meetings but I still have to meet with advisors to discuss the war in New Asia and the general running of the country. I know that America wouldn't want me to neglect the country because of her, but it's hard when she's all I'm thinking about, even when I should be thinking of something else. Everything in the palace felt wrong without her. I couldn't go outside, I couldn't hear music, everything reminded me of the fact that she wasn't here. Even the other day, we managed to make some progress towards a peace treaty with New Asia and we were all smiling and laughing, so happy that we were finally getting somewhere, when I had to excuse myself because I was about to burst into tears because she wasn't here to enjoy it with us.

I kept myself busy, if I wasn't I a meeting with advisors then I was in one with Aspen and Marlee, we were getting close to finding her we think. Since Marlee's breakthrough in asking the driver of the other car we have managed to determine a rough location. However, we still don't know how to attack to get her back. There haven't been any rebel attacks lately, so whatever she's doing, she's doing a good job of it.

I was eating dinner with Aspen and Lucy, and Marlee and Carter, we weren't discussing rescue missions for once, in fact we were just talking about their lives. We were half way through desert when I just couldn't take it anymore and had to leave, I said I was tired and had to sleep. Honestly though, it was the first time I'd spent time with two couples that were probably only really friends with me because of my other half who wasn't there.

I was just outside my suite when the alarm rang. I dove into my room and then through the secret corridor towards the safe room. When I got there it was empty, there was no one else to fill it anyway. I sat on the edge of the bed that was down there and prayed for everyone's safety.

AMERICA'S POV

I sat in my room alone after the meeting. I wasn't doing anything in particular, just sat daydreaming. I would have been staring out the window but there wasn't one. After a little while James knocked on my door and came in.

"Hey!" I smiled, it was the first time someone had actually spoken to me.

"Hey, everyone else is gone and I'm here to make sure you don't escape so I figured I might as well come down here."

"James, what day is it? How long have I been here? Is it day or night? I need some grounding, I haven't seen light in god knows how long!" I complained.

"I can't tell you. It's all part of the plan and if they find out that I broke it then they'd kill me."

"Fine."

"I like you, America. I would tell you if I could."

"Sure." I was cross with him because he didn't seem to like me at all, if he did surely he'd let me go.

"Honestly, America. I like you much more than they want me to, that's why it has to be a secret." I turned to look at him but couldn't as his lips crashed into mine.

That kiss was enough to wake me up and before I knew what was happening, I felt my fist against his jaw and a distinct click sound. I jumped up and ran towards the door.

"No. America no. Where are you going to go? He doesn't love you anymore!"

"I'm getting away from you, this place. There's a lot more out there for me than just Maxon. I have a family, I have a life, and I'll be fine." I scream as I slam the door shut on his face and sprint towards the stairs.

Normally I would've struggled in one of Mary's dresses up the stairs but I'd had this one on for so long now that it was ragged along the bottom anyway and the colour was now much browner than before. I managed to sprint up the stairs with no issue. I knew I had to be quick, who knows when James would figure out a way out of there or the other rebels would return.

At the top of the stairs I pushed through a little old door and came out into the corridor that my first cell had been on, after the next door was the room that Maxon and I had been first taken into and just after that would be the exit. This made me run even faster and before I knew it I had burst out of the main door and I was out in the cold air of the night.

The air woke my soul further and I remembered everything that had happened. I remembered that Maxon had proposed to Kriss.

"Where do I go? What do I do?" I whispered to no one. I couldn't stay here, it wasn't safe, I wasn't sure that Maxon would want me back in the palace with Kriss, even if he wouldn't mind could I really stand being there with the two of them? I was cross with him, though. I mean here I was doing so much to keep this country safe and there he was wasting no time before finding his next bride. I needed to see him, see if it was true. It could just be something I was told to try and break me.

I wandered the woods for a long time, so long that it was almost light by the time that I finally found the road that I'd been able to hear for a while. I stayed in the tree line but followed the road, just in case the rebels came and spotted me walking along the side of the road. Eventually, I realised the only chance I had of not having to walk from here, where ever here was, and find my way to the palace, was to hitch a lift off of someone. Almost as soon as I emerged someone stopped and shouted.

"Are you Lady America?" I whipped round at the sound of my name and saw a happy looking woman leaning out of her car. I walked towards her.

"Yes, could you do me a favour and take me to the palace? If it isn't too much bother." I asked, she nodded and opened the passenger seat door for me. I jumped in and sat down in the seat. The car was much smaller than those used by the palace but I suppose that was to be expected. We set off and I stared out the window, watching the sun rise over the city. I could see the palace in the centre as it came ever closer.

"So, what's been going on?" asked the woman who was driving.

"What do you mean?"

"Well, last I heard, the King and you were taken by rebels who later released him and not you."

"Yep. And then I managed to escape whilst there was an attack on the palace."

"Oh God. Really?" I nodded. "I hope that everything's alright for when we get there."

"I'm sure everyone got to safety, it's no secret that these attacks aren't exactly uncommon."

"Yeah, but. Won't the palace be in a bit of a mess?"

"Probably, but it'll be ok."

"Because you'll be reunited with your love." She stated, smiling.

"Everyone really does watch the Selection, don't they?"

"Yes. And we wanted you for our Queen. Especially after what you said about the castes!"

"I thought that only the lower castes liked me for that. You must be at least a three!"

"I'm a two. But I fell in love with a four and my parents would never allow me to marry him. We're thinking of running away together but…I think he would feel guilty, making me move down to four when I could be a two."

"I get that. Just remind him that you love him and that's all that really matters. I'm sure your parents will love you no matter what." She laughs.

"My parents think that because I didn't get into the selection and marry Maxon myself I'm worthless. How do you think they'll react to me marrying a four?"

"My mother was the same. She thought that I should marry a three. That's a lot to live up to when you're a five."

"Yeah, but you did better, you're going to marry the King."

"Isn't he marrying Kriss?" I ask. Was all the rebels told me a lie?

"No. He's spent the last month searching for you." I'm gobsmacked, and I can't stop smiling. It was just a lie. I do still get to marry my love.

"I'm sorry, I'm so rude. What's your name?" I ask and she laughs.

"Julie, who just realised that she shared more with you about her hopes and dreams than anyone, without telling you her name." We both laugh. We chat for the rest of the journey about nothing in particular until we get to the palace gates.

"Silence. That's not a good sign." I whisper. "Hey, write to me and tell me how it's going with you and that boy. I'll be waiting and I expect an invite to the Wedding."

"Maybe my mother will come too if I get the King and Queen of Illèa to come!" She laughs.

"Well, hope to hear from you soon!"

"You will." She says as she drives off, leaving me at the gates of a very quiet palace. I press the buzzer on the gates and wait for the reply.