America's PoV

I sent my maids away early tonight. I didn't really feel like talking. I start removing pins from my hair and pulling of my jewelry, which doesn't take long since I don't like to wear much.

I haven't talked to Maxon since last night. He hasn't tried to talk to me either. I don't know if it's because he's done playing with me and is looking for a good reason to make me leave or because he knows I need space and time. I'm hoping the latter.

I sigh and look down at my dress. It's a light blue with a tight, criss-cross top that ends at my natural waist and the puffs out. (I pictured it kind of like the dress on the cover just without so many ruffles) I usually don't like puffy dresses but I don't mind this one.

Just as I'm about to pull the dress off I hear a loud crash and the lights go out.

Then the alarm starts.

A guard rushes into my room and ushers me out. We start running down the dark hallway when I hear a bang and the guard falls, dead, at my feet. I look back without stopping and see three men in black chasing me. They must be southerners because they're killing people.

Safe room. Safe room. I almost yell out in frustration. In the back of my head I know that the chances of me getting lucky enough to find a safe room are slim. All the walls look the same, there is no way I could stumble upon someone who knows where one is in time.

I decide my best bet is the forest behind the gardens. It worked before so I'll just have to hope.

Maxon's PoV

The electricity's gone. That's never happened before. The rebels must have gotten pretty far into the castle. I look around and see Celeste, Elise, My mother and my Father along with a couple of other people.

I don't see America.

"Has anyone seen America," I ask. We've been down here for at least ten minutes and there's still no sign of her.

"Son," My father says. "I understand you're worried but we can't go out there. It's too dangerous."

I'm tempted to lash at him because I know that if it was his wife he would refuse to sit and wait.

"She's a selected," I insist. "We have to send a team out. Please."

My father purses his lips but nods. "Fine." Signaling to a guard he puts together a small team to search for America.

And than all we can do is wait.

About an hour later everyone's asleep, even the king, and there's still no sign of America. I decide I can't wait anymore. I climb off the bed and slip into the hall.

The hallways are strangely empty though I can hear the sounds of fighting from around corners.

First I check her room. It's trashed but there's no sign of a fight. The next place I can think she would go is the garden. I race down the stairs, grabbing a gun from a fallen guard and open the doors to the gardens. That's when I hear her scream.

America's PoV

I run as fast as I can into the forest. The bottom of my dress is completely torn up and my legs are scratched and bloody. I can hear the rebels still close behind as I run.

I try to run in zig-zags and eventually the sound of their footsteps fade away. I sink against a tree and try, but fail, to stay awake.

What feels like seconds after I've closed my eyes I'm being dragged to my feet.

"I found her!" someone yells. I open my eyes and see one of the rebels that had been chasing me. Two more come out of who knows where and come over to me.

"Aye! Nice job," One of them says. "Tie her to the tree." The man holding me forces me against the tree and ties me to it.

"Now," The man who was speaking before says. "I'm Jack. This," He motions to the guy on his left, "Is Mike. And this," He motions to the one who found me, "Is Mack."

Breathing heavily I glare at him.

"Hey now," He says. "All we want is for you to tell us where the entrance to the safe room is. That is or you get a whole lot of pain."

I press my lips together in refusal.

"Fine," He says. "Have it your way."