What's your favorite thing to do in the snow? - Snowboard, obviously! and I like to play with my dogs. they're so cute right now because we have about a foot and a half of snow on the ground still and it comes up to their necks because they're so small. it's funny to see them run.

"You're gonna win or you're gonna lose. either way the sun is going to rise the next day." - Tami Taylor, Friday Night Lights

The men standing outside of the cabin Aspen was staying in let America in without a hint of a question. Inside the cabin was sparsely decorated; just a couch, a small dining table, a kitchenette and a bed. On the table was a lavishly decorated meal, with Aspen putting the finishing touches on the feast awaiting them.

For a moment her breath was taken away but then she remembered why she was there and reverted back to being stoic and unmoving. She cleared her throat lightly, delicately, playing the part of the innocent little girl. In truth, she felt naked and vulnerable without any defensive weapons on her body.

Aspen smiled at her, not concealing the crazy glare in his eyes completely. "America, please come sit," he waved to a chair waiting.

She sighed and sat down, allowing him to push her chair in. She instantly started brainstorming how she could use the candlesticks in front of her as weapons. "Let us not waste time with simple flattery, Aspen. I have come here for one purpose, and one purpose only." Men dressed in shabby suits started spooning food onto her plate but she had little appetite. All she could think about was the burning on her finger where her wedding ring should be. But she removed it, more out of respect for Maxon than for her own self-preservation.

"And what would that be, my dear?" His platitude almost made her vomit. She was Maxon's dear, not Aspen's.

She folded her hands in front of her face and batted her eyelashes. "I need an escape route Aspen. Maxon has me as his prisoner and I have no way of getting away from him. I don't want to work with this secret group anymore. There are too many secrets between us and I find…now I find that I just cannot love him anymore." She kept her tone light with a twinge of regret as she recited the script she and Maxon had written out earlier.

Aspen sat back as he digested this, narrowing his gaze on her. "And, what exactly, are you looking to pay me with?"

"I thought we'd discussed that already," she whispered coyly, slipping one of the straps of her dress over her shoulder.

His tongue slipped over his lips slightly as he blushed. He nodded vigorously and then stood, motioning her forward with his finger. A butler approached with a small box and opened it, revealing a less-than-subtle emerald necklace.

Aspen picked it up gently and put it around the neck. She studied her reflection in the mirror as he said, "I saw this and immediately thought of how lovely it would look with your hair and skin…skin like vanilla ice cream," he paused. "You see, I also have strong connections America. I can make you successful, powerful, ruler of everything. You name it, you can have it. That's what I can offer you."

She allowed him to draw her toward his body harshly. She gulped and nodded, keeping her eyes level as she answered, "I've told you what I will give you. What will you give me to ensure that you will keep your word?"

He smirked. "We'll let Maxon follow his pipe dream to the depths of hell. He will bring his own demise upon himself, no need to rush that. I'd rather like to see him self-combust."

"We should still blow those caves," she suggested in a quiet voice. This was it. This was the part where she would need insurmountable bravery and faith in her husband's ability to evacuate those caves in such limited time should she fail.

Aspen left her and went to a small cupboard, pulling out a small remote. He passed it to her. As expected, he challenged her, "You do it."

She nodded and took the remote. "Gladly." She looked down at the remote and recalled all of the information Maxon had drilled into her head that afternoon about how to dismantle it without Aspen realizing. Her thumb shook and hovered over the green button. Was it the green or blue button she was supposed to push? One wrong choice could end hundreds of lives.

She hesitated far too long. Aspen charged at her and flicked the remote out of her hand. "You liar!" he screamed in her face, holding her wrists tight. She was sure she'd have bruises to match his hands on her skin. "You made me believe you love me!"

Sobbing quietly, she looked away, terrified of the insane gleam in his eyes. She didn't have the nerve to discuss this outcome with Maxon earlier. She was so confident in her ability to carry out the plan. Aspen then grabbed her shoulders and pushed her to the bed. She whimpered as he climbed on top of her.

This is actually going to happen, she thought. I can feel everything. This is happening. Make it stop. He pulled at her dress, tearing the zipper but not in the sensual way Maxon sometimes did. His lips came down hard on her face, the turning of her face forcing his lips to collide at a strange angle on her cheekbone. She was down to nothing but the lingerie she'd had on underneath the dress. This is happening. Why is this happening?

Maxon stood on a hill, watching through is binoculars the entrance to the cave. He frowned and checked his watch. America should have stopped Aspen by now. Everyone was out. What was left for him to do? Obviously the plan worked but he still had a dreadful feeling in his gut.

He checked his watch again even though only a minute had passed and climbed down the hill to the line of cars waiting on the dirt road. He nodded to Marcus, one of the leaders he'd appointed for their small army. "Go on now. I'll be right behind you."

Marcus grabbed Maxon's arm as he passed. "What about America?" he asked gruffly.

Maxon debated for several seconds before shrugging. "She's okay. She knows the plan and obviously followed though. She'll return to the White House where Sawyer will make sure no harm comes to her until we've finished our mission." He felt a pang of guilt for his deception and duplicity but this was war; he could hardly be held accountable for his actions.

Marcus nodded and went to his Jeep, leading a group of six or so Jeeps out. As Maxon climbed in his, he pulled out his cell phone and called Sawyer. He answered after the first ring. "Sawyer, any sign of America?" he asked, trying to sound casual over his crushing fear that something had gone wrong.

"We haven't gotten anything as of yet but I'm sure she's okay. Your girl is tough," Sawyer said confidently.

"I know, I just…" Maxon was cut off by a loud bang. He hung his head out of the window and saw the mouths of the caves starting to collapse in an avalanche of rocks and earth. "Drive, drive, drive!" he shouted to the man in the driver's seat of the Jeep. He motioned out the window the Jeeps lined up behind him as he saw a Jeep in the very back of the line get crushed by a boulder.

They broke ranks as the Jeeps just scattered, trying to clear the area before anyone else got hurt. Maxon looked in the back and saw that only two guards were sitting back there, scared out of their wits. "Get to Aspen's, now!" he order on the walkie-talkie.

Marcus was the first to respond. "You'll be following?"

"No, I'll convene with the men and figure out who we're missing. You all go rescue America." His heart started pounding in his ears as he looked out at the wooded landscape flying by. "Dammit!" he cursed, pounding a fist on the windowsill painfully.

Aspen's hand swept over America's face and she waited for the perfect moment. She had to time this exactly right. His hand was poised over his mouth and just as she opened her mouth to bite down on his hand, the door to the cabin burst open.

Guards dressed in camouflage rushed in, one of them punching Aspen and knocking him out cold. She threw him off of her and onto the floor as she stared in horror at her rescuers. She searched all of her faces, hoping one of them would be her husband. One pulled his mask off and approached her, putting a hand on her shoulder. "You're safe now," Kota assured her. "Sister."

what what? again, I was inspired by Moulin Rouge for this direction in the story. I am really going to try to update ASAP from now on because I just wrote one of the last chapters of the book and it is so good! I literally cannot wait for you to read it! This must be how Kiera Cass feels with the One, lol. Review and send me more questions por favor! I've loved your guys' reviews so far!