I gasped as another sharp pain stabbed through my side when the cool air hit it. Jay had pulled open my dress, exposing nothing more than thin, peach tights and my white, lacy bra. If under different circumstances, I would've felt self-conscious, confused, and exposed. But all I could focus on was the increasing burning sensation filling up my body. The knife must have pierced farther than I had originally imagined, because the floor beside me, including my dress, was soaked in my bright red blood.

Jay carefully lifted my limp body until I was sitting upright, my head rested against his shoulder. I didn't like the way he held me, in fact, I felt so uncomfortable in that moment. But I had more pressing matters to pay more attention to. Jay slowly wrapped my waist with the translucent gauze a few times, slowly laid me back down, and stood up admiring his work. He turned away, putting the gauze and scissors back into his bag.

My eyes caught a glimpse of the red-tipped knife that had been dropped on the floor. It was about five feet away from me. If only I could move a little farther… I reached my hand out and slowly crept across the floor until my hand grasped the handle of the knife. I slowly stood, shaking out of fear and cold. Every step I took towards Jay was filled with excruciating pain that wracked my whole body. But I kept myself silent as I approached him. Jay stood up, his back still facing me.

I drew back the knife, ready to do whatever it takes to save May. But Jay turned around all too soon, causing me to jump at the sudden movement… and drop the knife. I heard the painful song of the knife hitting the floor as Jay's ocean blue eyes turned a fiery red, full of hurt. I swallowed back a scream as he took a step towards me.

"So you want to play that way, huh, princess? Well, two can play at that game." He breathed into my ear. Chills ran down my spine again as Jay took my hair into his hands, twisting in it into little knots as he spoke. "But I think we both know that for every game we play…" he chuckled darkly, "there can only be one winner." At with that, he grasped a large handful of my hair, pulling me towards him until his lips crashed onto mine. I tried to pull away, but I remembered that only full cooperation would get May and I out of this.

I groaned as Jay smacked me up against the wall, his lips beginning to travel to my neck and collarbone. He kissed his way down to my stomach, then followed the same trail on his way up, finishing off with a swift kiss on my lips. He brought himself back, still only a few inches away from my lips. He took a deep breath, "Wow. No wonder Maxon likes you so much." He whispered. I could taste his breath and lips in my mouth, a vibrant taste of alcohol and smoke. I balled it up into spit and spit it onto Jay's shoulder.

He looked down at his shoulder in surprise, then backed away a few steps, shocked that I would take such a daring move. He seemed deep in thought, but all I could think was how stupid I was. I reprimanded myself over and over. America! What were you thinking? He said cooperation! Whatever happens to May is all your fault now.

I stood there, terrified. But it wasn't until I looked over at May that something changed in my body. May was huddled up in the corner in fear, softly crying. I balled up my fists, and fire burned inside me. I silently daggers into Jay's chest. Whatever he did to my sister and what he just did to me he was going to pay for. And at that, despite my burning side, I screamed and lunged myself at him.

(Maxon's POV)

I awoke, lying on the cold, hard floor with Aspen still unconscious next to me. I jumped up, wracking my brain to remember what had just came to pass. It all flooded in my mind; the memories of Jay taking America right under my nose, the scented rag covering my mouth, the blackness that overcame me. It was pitch black, lit with only a dim candle, which was at the end of it's life. I would only have a few more minutes of light before I couldn't see anymore. Better make it count. I started feeling up and down the walls for a handle of some sort. Finally, my hand twisted around a solid, grey doorknob.

I held in my breath as I attempted to open it and to my surprise, the door clicked and I pushed it open a few inches. I took a step out into a dark corridor, then turned back to look at Aspen. He was still out cold. I made up my mind to leave him behind. He's smart. I told myself. He'll just follow where I've been. I nodded, reassuring myself, and took another few steps out into the hallway.

I held my hands out ahead of me, making sure I didn't run into anything as I walked down the hall. It was surprisingly warm; not what I'd expect if we were in the palace basements. It took a few minutes before my hands touched something. Something that shrieked as soon as my hands made contact. It wasn't something. It was someone.

The stranger turned around. I could see a faint outline of this person who was, now that I got a clearer picture, was a girl about my age I assumed from her height. She giggled, "Is that you, Maxon?" At first, I thought it was America. But as soon as she spoke, I knew it wasn't her. This girl's voice was too high pitched and perfect. She bent over, took a match box out of her pocket, and struck a match against the cardboard, illuminating her face.

I had to keep myself from gasping. Her brown hair was all knotted, streaked with dirt, matching her dirty face. A cut resided by her upper life, and a gash on the side of her eye was trickling with blood. Yet, she still smiled as she saw me. And it caused me to smile back at her.

"Who are you?" I asked, reaching up to touch her cut lip, "and what in the world happened?" She blushed at my touch, slightly shying away.

"Oh, it's nothing. Just a little, um, parental love." I could hear the pain behind her voice all too well. Her voice cracked and she ran to me, digging her head into my shoulder, sobbing. I wrapped my arms around this strange girl and rubbed my hands up and down her back. This poor girl, abused by her parents, and forced to hide down here. I felt pity and rage for her. "I'm so sorry." I whispered into her ear. Even though I had gotten better over the past few months on comforting women, I still wasn't an expert. I felt completely out of place and uncomfortable.

It took her a good thirty seconds before she pulled back and calmed herself down. She smiled, "I'm just glad I found you." I squinted in confusion. Why was she looking for me? Suddenly, her hand clasped around mine and she broke into a run, laughing hysterically, "Come on!" She screamed in between laughs.

"Where are we going?" I asked, complete and utterly confused.

"You'll see."

After a few seconds of sprinting, we stopped in front of an old, broken down, wooden door. The mysterious girl twisted the doorknob and slowly pushed open the door. As we walked into the light of the room, I heard what must have been a thousand girls screaming and running towards me. One of them began to unbutton my shirt, and another trailed kisses along the back of my neck, while another ran her fingers through my hair. I pushed myself away from them, back against a pale, pink wall.

I caught a glimpse of myself in a nearby mirror. By now, my shirt was already fully unbuttoned, my bear chest having nowhere to hide underneath cloth. My hair was messy and half draped over my eyes, and small pink lipstick marks were trailed along the lower part of my neck and collarbone. I glared over at the initial girl, "What is going on? Where am I?"

One of the girls began to cry, "Jay got his soul mate! We just want ours! It's not fair!" I froze.

"Who?" I asked.

Another girl stepped forward, "Jay. He promised us that we would get you and... " she paused and looked around, disappointed and spoke to the main girl, "Where's the other one, Kate?" They were talking about Aspen. I shrugged, lying. I knew he was just a little ways behind me. The least I could do was protect him since he protected America so much. My eyes widened. America.

"Where's Lady America?" I stepped forward, grabbing the first girl I could see and pulling her close to me, "Where is she?"

She swallowed and shook her head, "She's with Jay, Your Majesty." I dropped her back onto the floor, filled with rage and stormed up to Kate who backed away a few steps, intimidated by me. "Bring me to her. NOW!" I yelled into her battered face.

She looked around at the other girls, then back at me. She ran up to me and pressed me back against the wall smiling. She brought her lips a few millimeters away from mine. "Nah. I think you're good right here." She giggled and pressed her lips onto mine, and I struggled to break the kiss. By now, a few girls had me held against the wall, giving me no choice but to stay there, smashed against the wall, with my lips on Kate's.

My body went limp, and I sighed in defeat. Maybe the only way out of this was to kiss her back. So I did, which made her face twist into a big smile. She paused, "Hold me," and she began kissing me again. A few of the girls let go of my arms, allowing me to reluctantly press them against her back, pulling her closer. It felt like this kiss was never going to end. Where was Aspen when I needed him?

In case you're a bit confused... These girls, along with Jay, are rebels who apparently never got their happily ever after and are taking it out on Maxon, Aspen, and America. They are angry that everyone got a soul mate, but they never got theirs. So Jay loves America, and all these girls are in love with Maxon or Aspen.