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Chapter 5:
I was halfway up the stairs to the third floor when I heard a scream. For a second I paused in case I was hallucinating but then I heard it again. "MAXON!"
Her voice is clear to me anywhere. America. Immediately I dashed down the stairs and into the girl's hall. Elise and Marlee were frantically trying to open the door. Inside we could hear America screaming and a lot of muffled movement. Why wasn't a guard here? Were they between rounds?
"Move!" I ordered them as I drew a sword off a suit of armor. Without hesitation I tried beating down the door. But I should've realized that we made them thick for a reason.
"MA-" she began screaming but then everything was silent.
There was no movement on the other side and everything was quiet. Marlee stifled a sob tried and to open the door again. But it was no use. The guards wouldn't be around for another few minutes and on the other side of the door the woman I adored was probably dead.
I was jostled out of sleep when I nailed something hard. Where am I? I tried sitting up but my head was spinning a mile a minute. Judging by all the rough travel I had to be in the back of a van. It was windowless so I didn't exactly know where we were. But I knew with whom: the Southern rebels.
I remember them vividly when I closed my eyes. All of their faces were covered in dirt and mud, so were their clothes. Each one had a gun attached to their hips and I didn't know what to do. So I screamed, and screamed, and screamed. I thought I heard someone at the door but wasn't sure. Before I could yell again they hit me on the head. I placed a hand on the tender spot beside my left temple and was thankful they hadn't killed me. But did they get anyone else? Marlee? Maxon? Aspen?
I moaned at the thought of anyone of them being captured. "Hey be quiet back there!" someone snapped from the front seat.
A metal grate opened and a pair of eyes peeped into the back. The light from outside was blinding and I had to shield my eyes. The pair of eyes danced with laughter at seeing me so weak. I wish I wasn't so dizzy or I'd lunge at him and knock that smile right off his face. "Don't worry sweetheart we'll be there soon." he laughed and slammed the grate shut.
Sweetheart? Who the hell did he think he was calling me sweetheart? I am nobody's sweetheart!
I attempted to stand but the van came to an abrupt halt. Two doors slammed and then the opens in the back we swung open. The pale morning light blinded me temporarily and they dragged me off without a fight. I just stayed limp and trudged my way to a large, metal structure. Inside it gave me this eerie feeling that something bad was going to happen. Two doors were on either side and I was moved through the one on the left. Inside were rows upon rows of tiny jail cells. But these weren't ones I was allowed to freely move around in. Four separate chains were connected to the wall.
"Put this on." one of the lady guards snapped.
She handed me a dull gray jumpsuit that was a little baggy but was probably the smallest size they carried. Obediently I pulled on the outfit and as soon as I was done I was restrained to the wall.
"Why are you doing this?" I croaked to the guards.
"Oh you'll find out soon enough." one of them snickered.
"Maxon there's just no way we can find her." my Father said after one of the meetings the next day.
"But we have to!" I exclaimed for the millionth time.
He rolled his eyes. "Son, you're left with two other beautiful candidates. Let's just get this over with." he said.
"And what are we suppose to explain to her family? Without a body-" I shuddered just thinking of it. She couldn't be dead right? I would've felt something. "It would look suspicious."
My Father thought for a moment. I couldn't tell him the real reason because he wouldn't be happy with me falling in love with a Five. It would only anger him. But what other alternative did I have?
"Father I-I-" I stuttered fearing one of his rages, "I love her."
He stopped pacing and stood still. Slowly he turned to face me, his face like stone. "You what?" he asked.
I stood a little taller, my confidence boosting. "I love her." I said proudly, "Every part of her, her laugh, her smile, her attitude, her."
His face was unreadable but I knew he was trying to come up with a way to convince me to let her go. We stood there silently both as tense as snare. Luckily my Mother chose the perfect moment to walk in.
"Clarkson I wanted to talk to you about-" she paused when she noticed us staring daggers at each other. "What's going on here?"
My Father turned to her. "Your son has just told me the most distressing news." he said.
"Our son," she said, "and would this have to do with Lady America?"
"You knew about her?" my Father asked, a little hurt.
"Clarkson you married me for how sharp I was and I can tell our son's feelings." she replied smoothly.
"But did he tell you?" he asked.
My mother studied his face for a moment but then nodded. "Yes he did tell me."
He let out a small exclamation and strode over to me. I cringed slightly in his presences but he only looked down on me. "All this time you didn't think to tell me?" I nodded, "Well I hope you enjoy finding her on your own. A girl who separates my own son from me is no daughter of mine."
He swiftly walks out of the room and leaves me and my Mother alone. Did I really just do that? For a moment I feel like I'm going to collapse and I have to hold onto the table for support.
"Maxon?" my Mother says softly. She strides over to me and places a hand on my shoulder. "Please don't let your Father get to you. This storm will blow over, I promise."
I look down into her matching brown eyes. Tears have formed around the rims just as I'm sure mine look. "I won't Mom. America feels more to me than any other girl. I love her. I'd do anything for her." I told her.
She gave me a sad smile. "Just go easy on your Father." she advises me. "He probably is very stunned right now."
Chapter 6:
The next two days were torturous. To make me talk they fed me only the bar minimum and would tease me with a knife here and there. I have a few scraps from some very annoyed officials and one deep wound on my lower arm. But I wouldn't crack. They keep asking me for the location of some secret room.
"We can tell you're his favorite." one of them said, "So he's had to show you some secrets. Codes perhaps? Rooms? Spill sweetheart!"
I only kept my mouth shut and muffled a scream when I felt the individual scraps of the knife on my arm. They would ask me over and over again until I talked. But I would not let one piece of information out. Not even about the room full of ancient books Maxon showed me. I would rather die than help out these menacing creatures.
"Oh this is hopeless." a woman exclaimed. Her voice was familiar but I couldn't quite place it. When she turned the corner I was instantly paralyzed.
"C-Celeste?" I gaped.
"Well hello there bitch!" she said happily, "Having fun?"
"Maxon we need to get ready for the Report." my Mother said opening my bedroom door.
I was leaning over a map of Illéa trying to find out where they could've taken her. "No, Mom." I told her, "I can't stop until I find her. Even if it takes me all night."
"But we need you to go on and tell everyone its alright." she said.
"BUT IT'S NOT!" I exclaim.
I turn to see my Mother's face. She is shocked that I'd burst out at her. I don't think I've ever done it before. "Alright Maxon." she said calmly, "We'll think of something."
"Mom?" I say desperately as she leaves the room. She pauses. "I'm sorry, okay? I just can't give up. Not yet."
She nods her understanding. "That's alright, son." she says, "But don't take your frustration out on us. I raised you better than that."
I nod and she leaves the room. She did raise me better. So did my Father by that matter. I may not have strong opinions by his judgment but I knew a thing or two.
I let my fingers trail over the map and realized we had an uncharted area that was probably too small to notice. It was located near the edge of the palace walls on the far west side. Did we even have a west gate? All the territory to the west was where we expected most attacks. ATTACKS! Oh Maxon you are such an idiot!
I flung open my door and told my guard to fetch the Master of Arms. He and I had a long night ahead of us.