I apologise for the last two chapters which were REALLY short, but this one is a bit longer and there is a bit more going on. I had loads of ideas for this chapter so I've tried to use them all so it may be quite long. Please Review!

MAXON'S POV!

There were no signs in the palace as to where she might have been taken. It had been twenty-four hours since she had gone and there was still no sign. I sat out in the garden, alone, I didn't know what to do with myself. I had lost everyone in my world in the last week. First my parents and now the love of my life. I put my head in my hands, unable to contain the fear and upset at the recent events. I was so tired but I couldn't sleep.

"Your majesty." One of the guards was approaching, I sat up quickly.

"Any sign?" I prayed silently but he shook his head.

"You must sleep, sir. We can search more tomorrow, there is nothing we can do in the night. We will find her sir. But we need rest and light."

I moved towards the door and trudged up to my room, I knew I wouldn't sleep so I went to my study and decided to do some work. There were two pictures on my desk, the first was a picture of my parents and myself from a Christmas a long time ago, we all look so happy in it. I had just gotten my first camera so I was taking pictures, not even stopping for the photo being taken of me. Even my father looks happy in it. The second was the pho of America and I from the early days of the Selection, a portrait taken from a magazine, it seemed so long ago, she didn't love me back then, and we were simply friends. I needed the happiness from all of these pictures. What was I going to do if I couldn't bring her back or if something awful had happened to her?

I looked at the paperwork I had to do, I might as well do it since I would not be able to sleep when I was this worried and upset. One thing that my father has taught me is that when you feel upset and like you can't go on, you push and work and think of nothing but work. So that's what I did, I worked all through the night until it was breakfast time. Then I knew I could resume my search.

None of the guards had seen anyone leave or enter the palace since the rebel attack. This scared me more than anything as it meant that it was most likely that the rebels had my Darling America. But the thing that threw me was that no one had left, where was she? I sat, confused as ever for an hour until I realised how stupid I'd been.

"She's in the palace!" I shouted at the nearest guard who gave me a confused look. "No one at all has left so she must still be here, hidden away somewhere. We need to find her before they move her. No one can leave the palace without my written consent." The guard saluted, bowed then went off to deliver this message to the Gate Guards. I left to speak to the head guards about secret passages, of course I knew where they all were, but they were the only ones that I could talk and discuss these ideas to.

"Enter." I knocked on the head guard's door and let myself in. "Your Majesty, what can I help you with?" He asked, standing and bowing.

"I believe that Lady America is still in the palace as no one has entered or left since the rebel attack. I also have reason to believe that rebels have managed to hide in order to kidnap her." I explained to Officer Cunningham.

"Yes, that makes sense. Any ideas to where she might be in the palace?" I shook my head.

"I suspect she is in one of the secret chambers but I don't know where. That's where you come in. We need to figure out which one she is in." I flashed him a smile, he nodded and got a blueprint of the palace out of a drawer. We immediately sat, discussing certain places.

We decided that the secret 'Book Nook' (as I called it) was unlikely as there was a chance we may go up there for a book and discover what was going on. The woods were unlikely as the weather was poor at the moment and there would be no shelter for the rebels, plus, we would be able to hear shouts. Few places in the palace were thoroughly sound proof, so it narrowed it down substantially. The only places that no one could hear anything were the safe rooms and we were fairly sure that they would only use one safe room.

We both ran in realisation when we finished our discussion, we had to get to the royal safe room as fast as possible.

"No, you have to let me see him!" It was Kriss, I didn't have time so I just kept running, praying she wouldn't see me. "Maxon!" She shouted. She had spotted me and began to chase me. "Maxon, please, I need to talk to you…it's about America." I stopped dead.

"What about America?" I looked at her.

"I thought that would grab your attention. You know, I've known since day one you'd end up with her. I mean yes I do love you and I know you love me but-"

"Get to the point Kriss. I'm trying to save the life of my fiancé here!" I shouted. She bit her lip.

"The rebels want America…they have barricaded the door…and they won't let her out unless you allow them to run the country." She paused. "I know you love her and you want to save her, but they will ruin this country. We will find another way to get her out. But you can't give them control."

"OK." I paused, contemplating the next best move. "I am going to go and talk to them. Get a watch so that they don't leave. And don't worry Kriss, they will not take control or America." I stared into her eyes and walked off.

I had to get down to the safe room. That's where she was and so I needed to be there too. Even if I couldn't get her out right now, I could give her the hope she needed to survive.

"America!" I yelled banging on the door. I heard no reply, which could be because it was sound proof or because she has already been so hurt by them that she can no longer shout back. I hoped for the former because I was scared by the latter. I tried for about ten minutes, each with no reply. I decided to talk to Kriss some more, find out what she knew about America's position and what we could do. Before I left, I told Cunningham to station someone at each entrance and headed back upstairs.

"Kriss." I shouted, I could just see her dark hair from a few steps before the top. "Kriss, there was no answer." I was close to tears now and I could see in her face that she could see it. "What am I going to do?"

"Don't worry, we'll save her. I promise." She pulled me in and hugged me. I was glad, I needed her comfort right now.