-America-

I stood before a brilliant brick façade, there was a thick layer of bright green ivy willfully climbing up the front of the house. Actually, the term 'house' didn't really do it justice; it was more like a mansion.

The lawn and landscaping were pristine. There was an array of colorful flowers and flourishing trees dispersed throughout the property. The grass was so green and lush that I was afraid to step on it, for fear that I would ruin it, instead I made my way to the massive wooden front doors on the light gray stone paved path, and even then I was careful not to move even a pebble.

Although it was nowhere near as big as the palace, the lodge was still one of the largest houses I'd ever seen – let alone had the chance to stay in. The windows seemed to look at you with a deep longing as if were sad to have been left alone for so long.

I was halfway to the door, when it suddenly swung open with a loud crash, and a wild flurry of blonde hair and tanned skin flew towards me, nearly knocking me down.

"There's hot water Mer!" she screeched happily.

"Shh, keep it down Kel," I hissed at her. "We have no idea who's around here."

At that, Kel sobered up a little and frowned, a crease forming in between her elegant eyebrows. "Oh, come on Mer, you said it yourself, the prince needs us. He wouldn't try to hurt us," she said placing her hands on her hips.

I rolled my eyes, and began to move towards the lodge again. "You're more naïve than I thought possible if you really think that," My words took on a hushed tone. "The royal a–," Kel glared at me, and I tried to restrain my tongue, "–jerk, could have us killed at any time, since you just had to come here."

I was at the threshold now. One of the doors, the one Kel had so gracelessly exited, was hanging open like the maw of some great beast looking to swallow me whole.

"Oh come on America! You seriously think I'd give up an opportunity for food, or a shower?" She called after me as I walked off into the awaiting lodge.

It was impossibly dark. A few stray beams of light filtered in from behind thick curtains, but other than that, the only light came from under a door, which is likely where Kel had been before she had ran out to me.

Kel had caught up with me by then. "Mer, I'm sorry," she whispered so low I almost thought I'd imagined it.

"Look, Kel, you're all that I have now," I said crossing my arms. "And, trying to keep everything together is a fight, ok? It's a battle that I can't help but feel that I'm losing."

I could feel the tears coming down my cheeks, I'd managed to keep myself from crying for almost two weeks, but the memories of Aspen being shot, the soldiers spreading through the camp like a plague, and the fact that I wasn't even sure if my father was alive, all were cracks in the dam I had carefully built, cracks that had grown deeper all the time until now I was crying and it seemed like I couldn't stop.

It almost felt I back there that night, the smell of burning canvas, and the screams blended together to attacked my senses.

"America!" I heard Kel call, but she sounded distant like she was yelling from another room.

There were arms around me, but I didn't know who they belonged to. Was it a soldier? Was it Aspen?

"Let go of me!" I yelled, thrashing around until I felt weak. My stomach was churning, I thought I was going to throw up. The distant sound of fabric ripping echoed around in my head.

Then came the sound of a door slamming, and heavy footfalls. And then another set of arms was around me.

"What's wrong with her?" asked an unfamiliar voice, it was a man.

Oh, this had to be a soldier. I mustered up what little strength I had and threw a punch at him. It connected, with what, I wasn't sure, but after I hit him I heard a grunt of pain and a sharp intake of air, before a thud, like a body hitting the ground.

"Your Highness?!" Kel exclaimed, but she sounded farther away.

"Upstairs… soldiers…my father…on their way," the man practically grunted.

I felt myself being lifted, but couldn't find the will or the strength to fight. I seemed toe float through the camp's fiery remains, but it was hazy and blackening around the edges.

"Will you be ok?" Kel asked the unidentified man, this time her voice was nothing more than a distant echo.

I didn't hear the man's reply because by then the darkness had nearly filled my vision and in mere seconds, there was nothing.

The forest was a dark blur around me as I ran, the soldier was close behind me. I could hear his labored breathing, and the crunch of branches. I tried to run faster but no matter how hard I tried it, it always seemed like I was running in place.

Then I felt his fingers twine in my hair and pull me back. I landed on the ground with a thud, and I looked up at the soldier expecting to see his hard features, but instead, I saw–

"–Aspen?"

"Why didn't you help me America?"

I froze under his gaze, his pupils had spread to make his eyes black.

"America, you could have saved me."

"A – Aspen?"

"You killed me," He murmured. "You killed me!" He screamed this time, and the winds picked up to gale force.

"Aspen I'm sorry." I yelled over the howling winds.

"You killed me," He repeated.

A tree branch broke off and was headed right for us. It was inches from cracking my skull, and I tried to raise my hands up to protect myself.

The last thing I heard was Aspen whisper "why?

I woke up with the words 'I'm sorry' on my lips, and my head throbbed lightly, as I tried to cling on to what remained of my memory of the dream, but the more awake I became, the faster it slipped away, like water between my fingers.

Frowning deeply, I curled into the sheets, which much to my dismay, I found to be covered in sweat. I laid there for a few moments before I realized something: I was laying on sheets.

I sat up, and realized immediately that I was in a luxuriant bed. The mattress and pillows were so soft, that I barely registered feeling them. I was swathed in silky white sheets and practically drowning in a thick down comforter.

"You're awake," a voice said sounding concerned.

I recognized it as the man I'd heard talking to Kel before I'd blacked out, and almost recoiled before I noticed Maxon standing in the corner with his back to me riffling through a bag.

"You had us worried for a minute there, America," he said, over his shoulder.

"Mhmm" I said, and then: "Where's Kel?"

"Down the hall. I believe she's taking a shower, or a bath; I can't quite remember. You wouldn't believe how hard I had to fight with her to get her to leave your side," He replied before pulling something out of his bag, inspecting it, and then tossing it into an awaiting chair.

Maxon turned around to look me over for a moment, and it was then that I noticed the scab on his lip and that he wasn't wearing a shirt. Normally, such a thing wasn't a problem, I'd seen more than my fair share of shirtless men – and women for that matter – living out with the rebels, but this felt different somehow, like he was sharing something intimate with me.

His stance had been rigid even as he was doing something as menial as digging through a bag, I couldn't quite put my finger on it. But there was something wrong.

"I had to give you my shirt," he finally said, placing his hands on his hips. "You ripped yours."

I frowned at him, "what are you–." And then I noticed the dark blue polo I wore that I hadn't been wearing before. I plucked at the fabric.

"So, yeah," Maxon said slowly; he was likely unsure what to say.

"I'm hungry," I said filling the gap in the conversation.

He raised his eyebrows. "I figured that," he said, and started off towards the door, "I brought some food with me."

"Thank god," I muttered.

Maxon chuckled at me as exited the room, still shirtless. He seemed to stop outside the door.

I was just about to ask him what was wrong when I heard a stern voice say, "Hello, son."

And, there you go, chapter 10. It had been accomplished. Anyway I hope y'all are having a nice Wednesday, and as always, please review.

-FF