Chapter Thirty Four - When Your World Crashes Down

It was easy to slip back into the Palace. Almost too easy. The few remaining maids and butlers were scattered around, but everyone was too stressed to notice a rogue maid going in the opposite direction of traffic. No one noticed as I weaved and ducked through the halls, my mind racing.

My outfit was more appropriate for the task at hand; I had sturdy sneakers, light pants, and a waterproof jacket. I couldn't be spotted by my friends yet. I had to at least wait until the last evacuation party had left, so that they had no choice but to let me stay.

I finally reached a part of the Palace where it seemed the Rebel Attack was clearly present. The gunshots were close by, but there were enough guards and people around that I wasn't too scared. The increase in guards could only mean one thing - Maxon had returned to the Palace.

A few screams littered the air as my speed picked up until I was sprinting in the direction of the throne room. I had to find Maxon, I needed to find him.

I was running against the crowd, and eventually a guard grabbed me roughly and urged me to go the other way. I yanked my hand away and continued running. The danger did not occur to me, for my fear for my friends and Maxon was the only thing on my mind.

My father had once told me, "Courage is not the absence of fear. It is the belief that something else is more important than your fear." Right now, my friends were more important to me. I would do anything for them.

The gunshots were louder now, but I knew they had to be in the throne room, the home base. I made a turn, but at the end of the hall I saw a guard fall to his knees and then to the ground. My heart froze when I realized he had been shot from a rebel out of view.

I quickly ducked around a different corner, my maid knowledge of the palace aiding me more than I ever thought possible. It might have saved my life.

I arrived at the throne room to many guards, but they recognized me and were too focused on their task to refuse me entrance. I rushed in and almost crashed straight into Veronikka, who stares at me in shock.

"What are you doing?" She shrieked, but then shook her head before I can answer. "Nevermind, I can't say we aren't surprised." She grabbed my hand and I tried to catch my breath as she drags me to a corner where Chelsey was wrapping a bandage around a guard's hand. Valleree narrowed her eyes at me as we approach but didn't say anything.

"Where's Maxon?" I demanded, breathing heavily. "He has to be here!"

Veronikka scowled at me but kept her hand in mine tightly. I could tell she's exhausted just by looking at her. "We received message that he is arriving from the East Wing. He should be here any minute, Mer. Take a breather." She tried to force me to sit down, but I ripped my hand from her in a panic.

"East Wing?" My breath caught. "No. No no no no."

"What?" Chelsey asked.

I stare at her, my brain seeming to have frozen. East Wing. That's where I had seen that guard shot down. That's where the rebels were hiding in wait. They would be murdered.

"The rebels are there!" I shrieked. "They'll kill them!"

My friends' eyes widened but Veronikka still tried to make me sit. "We'll inform the guards and they can patrol the area," she assured. "There are plenty of guards. They'll be fine."

"NO!" I ripped my hand away again. I could feel tears forming. "I have to help," I murmured. "I can't lose him too!" Without a second thought, I sprint out of the throne room, my friends' panicked voices echoing after me.

My feet pounded as I ran faster than I ever had before. I reached the entrance hall in the East Wing, and I was grateful to see Maxon and his guards sprinting up the steps. A weight lifted from my shoulders to see Maxon, despite everything that had passed recently. Just seeing his face made me feel like everything was gonna be alright.

He and his guards entered the entrance hall, and I stood under the chandelier in the middle of the room, suddenly feeling embarrassed and out of place. The guards quickly went around to secure the perimeter of the room, but I only had eyes for Maxon.

He looked shocked to see me. "America?" he asked in confusion. "You were supposed to be evacuated."

I laughed loudly, crazily, because of the insaneness of everything. He stepped closer to me, but still at a safe difference. I couldn't respond, but my heart was warmed at the thought that maybe he had cared enough to ask Veronikka if I was going to be evacuated. Maybe he still cared just a little.

Just a little was enough for me. I grinned at him, but he still looked at me warily.

"Your Majesty, we need to move towards the throne room, where it's better protected," a guard ordered from one of the sides, but Maxon was still staring at me.

He nodded, his eyes locked on mine. "Of course," he said, and discreetly slipped his hand into mine. It was rough and I was sweaty, but it was still a perfect fit. My smile widened and I squeezed his hand.

Maxon didn't smile back, but his eyes weren't harsh anymore. They were warm like melted chocolate and sweet like honey, and I knew everything was gonna be okay.

And in one moment, everything fell apart.

"Let's head out," one of the guards barked. At that moment, a small movement near the corner of the entrance hall caught my eye. The door of a cleaning closet was slowly opening, and a pair of eyes stared at me. They were young eyes like my own, scared eyes. A girl, possibly a maid, held a gun as she hid in the closet.

My breath caught in that one second, but I realized she wasn't pointing the gun at Maxon, or me, or really anyone in the room. She was too afraid to shoot a person directly, though I suspected it was her job to do so.

She had pointed the gun up to the ceiling, at the top of the chandelier that Maxon and I were standing directly under.

At the same time I heard multiple guards yell out words of warning, I shoved Maxon as hard as I could so that he stumbled away from me. I heard a gunshot, a shattering sound, and then I was suddenly hit by an impact so hard that I slammed into the ground.

My vision blurred and my body burned with pain, but all of a sudden Maxon was above me, his face swimming in my blurred tears.

"Did I prove myself?" I whispered desperately as I faintly heard shouting and more gunshots around us. Was Maxon crying too or was it just me?

His lips moved as his hand caressed my face in a concerned panic as his voice faded with my vision.

"You never had to, my love."

And then I felt no pain, and everything went white.

END OF CHAPTER THIRTY FOUR