Thank you so much for the reviews! Not that confident about the second chapter but hope you guys like it :)

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Emptiness. This is all I can feel right now. I looked around the room and saw Officer Leger trying to evacuate America's family into one of the safe rooms. He doesn't know. I felt my stomach knot. This is all his fault. If he just hadn't tried to get in between me and America, this wouldn't have happened. America wouldn't be dying right now. Yes. This is perfectly HIS fault. I laughed darkly. Who am I kidding? I really am turning into my father. When did I start becoming like this? This isn't Officer Leger's fault. It's mine.

It's going to be fine, Maxon. I snapped back into reality. What the hell am I thinking about? I don't have time for self-pitying. I need to get America to the royal medics. She— I can't just lose her. I can't bear imagining a world without her.

I surveyed the room quickly and spotted a palace guard shouting orders. I walked towards him and grabbed his shoulder so that he was facing me. "I need to get America to the royal hospital." I said desperately. Our eyes locked but instead of moving towards America, he took a step back.

"Sir, we need to get you and Lady Kriss in one of the safe rooms." He replied. Didn't he understand what I just said?

"Didn't you hear me? Get her to the royal hospital NOW!" I said angrily.

"But sir—"

"Are you disobeying a royal order?" I hissed.

"No, sir." He lifted America carefully. "Hey, you there! Get the prince and Lady Kriss into a safe room." He shouted to another guard.

"Only Kriss." I said moving towards America's side. "I'm coming with you."

"But—" I glared. "Yes, sir."

"Prince Maxon, I am also coming with you." Kriss intervened.

I looked at her softly. "You can't, my dear. America is already injured really badly, I can't afford to put you into the same position." She pursed her lips and nodded. When I turned around and was about to start walking towards the opposite direction, she ran towards me and hugged me at my back.

"Promise me you'll be safe."

"Of course, my dear." I replied without looking back and started walking away.

-America's POV-

I opened my eyes into nothingness. I lifted my head to survey the area but all I could see was pitch black. I then stood up and started walking but as I was about to take my fifth step I suddenly felt a jolt of pain rip through my chest and abdomen. I fell down and gasped for air. Everything started to hurt. I curled into a ball, hugging my legs, trying to ease the excruciating pain I was feeling.

'Where am I?' I thought. I remember I was in a room when the rebels started flooding in. I was sitting next to Maxon and Kriss. We were about to leave the place when a rebel obstructed us and pointed a gun at Kriss and then Maxon shielded her, and I—my eyes widened into realization. I'm dead? Tears started to form and I tried to push it back. I wasn't even able to say goodbye to my family. I thought about how they would take in such news. May would probably be the one who'd be devastated the most.

As I was pondering, I saw a light flickering from a distant. I looked up and saw a tunnel materialize. Is this it? I stood up and walked towards the light. Every step that I took forward made a bit of the pain I was feeling, subside. I didn't feel anything anymore when I was almost at the end of the tunnel. I was about to cross the section that divided darkness and light when a voice started calling out to me.

'America, please stay.' The voice pleaded.

Who is that? Why should I? I thought angrily. If I stay here, there's nothing but pain and loneliness. I thought about the future I was never going to be in. My family would probably live a comfortable life as Threes. Aspen would probably have a family with Lucy while serving the royal family. Everyone was going to get their happy endings except for me.

'Don't go, please. I love you.' The voice whispered.

"Where is it coming from?" I asked myself.

I looked down at my feet and suddenly the ground started to crumble. Before I knew it I was pulled down into a small room. There were a lot of doctors and nurses inside the room. I saw Maxon pacing back and forth.

"Your Highness, we think it's better to leave the room." One of the doctors said.

"No. I am staying right here with America." Me? What does he mean? I'm right here.

"Alright, your highness but would you please move to the side?"

"Very well" Maxon said and scooted to a corner but still having full view of the person lying on the table.

Wanting to know who that person was, I started walking towards him/her. My eyes widened into shock as I realized who it was. There I was, lying in the steel table. I looked really pale. Well, I always looked pale but this was different. I looked like a corpse. My whole body was covered in blood. My beautiful white dress tainted in crimson.

I was about to touch my body when I was pulled back into the abyss. I was now inside a dark tunnel. One end leading towards the light and the other leading towards the medical room. I needed to make yet another choice. If I go back, things will still be complicated. I would still hurt. Maxon would probably still have chosen Kriss even after forgiving me… I just can't live in uncertainty anymore. I looked at the light and I knew it promised me peace and tranquility. I knew where I wanted to be. I sighed and started walking.

-Maxon's POV-

'I'm losing her.' was the only thing I could think of. I felt so hopeless and angry. I've always said I was going to make her happy and protect her but here she was dying. In the end, she was the one who protected me. What kind of a man am I? Princes' were supposed to save the day but here I am so helpless; not being able to do anything but pray.

"She's going into cardiac arrest!" One of the doctors said. "Get me the defibrillator!" Oh. God. NO!

"One, two, three!"

"Still nothing, doctor."

"Again."

"One, two, three!"

Beeeeeeeeeeeeeep.

"Let's try again."

"One, two, three!"

"Negative."

One of the nurses ran to me. "Sir, we are trying our best to revive her but her condition is just too—" before she could finish her sentence I ran towards America.

"You can't do this to me!" I cried out. "Are you going to break my heart once again?" I couldn't feel my legs anymore. I fell down leaning against a wall. I looked at one of the doctors desperately. I just can't give up. "Just one more time, Please? I'm begging you." I pleaded.

The doctor sighed and nodded. I stood up and looked at America. "Just one more try, America." I whispered, kissing her on her forehead.

I moved out of the doctor's way as he prepared the defibrillator once again.

I closed my eyes. My blood running cold. Please. Please. Just this once.

"Here we go. One, two, three!"

Beeeeeeeeeeeep. Beep. Beep. Beep.

"It worked." A nurse said.

"How is this possible? We were so sure… This is a miracle." The doctor sighed in relief.

"Is she going to be ok?" I asked.

"For now. We still have a lot to do but I assure you she's going to live, Prince Maxon." The doctor replied. "I would advise that you take your rest, prince. As much as we want you to be by her side, we can't have you here any longer."

"I understand." I took one last glance at America before I left the room. 'She's going to be ok' I smiled to myself. "I'll never let her go again."

-Meanwhile-

"Doctor, should we tell him about her condition?"

"No. It's not in our position to tell him but hers."