Becoming a Princess

Chapter Fourteen

"I think I'll be going up to my room," I whisper to Emmeline. I excuse myself from dinner and head towards the stairs. I'm still in the pink dress that I wore to tea earlier.

I'm about to step onto the stairs when someone puts a hand on my mouth and drags me backward. The person pulls me back into a secluded hallway and turns me to face them. Fern David and Clementine Dove.

"What was that for?" I exclaim angrily.

"That was for Prince Liam. No one else has had a date with him and you've had two. And you've kissed him!" Fern says. You could almost see steam coming out of her ears she was so mad.

"Well, maybe you should stop being superficial. But," I stop, pretending to think, "you're probably wearing all that makeup to hide you acne and pimples, so maybe you should keep the makeup on."

Clementine looks like she is about to pull my hair out.

"Oh, I don't get me started on your personality," I say. "You're just a ray of sunshine. Can't imagine why the prince hasn't asked one of you on a date yet," I state sarcastically.

At that, Fern had had enough. She slapped me so hard, it drew blood. Clementine gagged me while Fern locks my arms in shackles like the ones criminals wear. I'm thrown into a closet. Fern takes an umbrella and whacks it onto my head. I hear snickers and the door being locked before I slip into unconsciousness.

__________ 

America's POV

Alarms start blaring and panic erupts in the dining hall. My family and all the selected that were in the dining hall are rushed to a secret door behind where Maxon and I were sitting. Most of the girls are screaming and sobbing.

The door opens and a guard ushers us in. We all walk down the stairs to the underground bunker. The girls pile in, still screaming hysterically.

"Are you alright, my dear?" asks Maxon.

I give him a nod and he goes to check on Liam and Celia. Liam is talking things over with the guards who are here. I walk over and hear that they are talking about where all the girls are at.

"Attention, please," calls Maxon. "It has been confirmed that this is indeed a rebel attack," he announces. The girls gasp and believe it or not, start to cry louder. "Ladies, please, don't cry," says Maxon, looking uncomfortable.

I push down my smile. He never was good around crying women.

"We are all safe, I promise," he says. "If your friend is not here, she is in one of the other bunkers located around the castle. I don't know how long we will be here, so try to get some rest," he finishes.

I see Emmeline and Annie crying together on a cot. I suddenly realize that Victoria isn't here. I turn back and listen to Liam's conversation with the guards.

"We have the Royal Family and twenty-one selected," a guard says into a walkie-talkie.

"I have Valerie Norman, Carol Parkington, and Seraphina Tompson," says a guard over the walkie-talkie.

"Fern David and Clementine Dove are with me," says another guard over the walkie-talkie.

"Wait, where's Victoria Waters?" Liam asks earnestly.

"Um, she is not here, sir," says someone over the walkie-talkie.

"She's not with me either," says another.

"No!" screams Liam. "Where is she? She has to be with someone!" exclaims Liam into the walkie-talkie.

"Um, sir, I can check with the guards in the maids' bunkers?" a guard asks from the walkie-talkie.

"Do it. Quickly!" huffs Liam.

He starts pacing back and forth. I walk over to Celia and sit down on the cot next to her.

"He really likes her," she says.

"Yes, I think he does," I reply.

After a few minutes, Annie and Emmeline walk up to me.

"Um, Queen America?" mumbles Emmeline. "Have you heard anything about Victoria?" she asks. Her tear-stained face looks pleading and desperate.

"I'm afraid not," I reply. "They are checking the other bunkers right now. You are welcome to stay here until they respond," I offer.

They nod and sit down on the cot across from us. They lean on each other and cry silently. A few minutes later, a guard on the walkie-talkie speaks.

"Sir, I checked with everyone in every bunker. Lady Victoria is in none of them," states a guard.

"No, that can't be!" exclaims Liam, tears spilling into his eyes. "You have to find her! Check again!" Liam orders.

A few hours pass, still no sign of Victoria. If the rebels have kidnapped her, that would not be good.

We are given the all clear and Liam is the first to reach the stairs. He runs up and disappears into a hallway, probably searching for Victoria.

Maxon and I head up to our bedroom. The hallways are a mess of debris and rubble. Thankfully, our room was untouched.

"They are sending out troops to look for Lady Victoria," says Maxon as we enter our room.

"How did this even happen?" I ask.

"I have no idea," he says, kissing my forehead before walking into the bathroom.

"I think he loves her," I state, looking at Maxon.

He looks back at me. "I think he does too," Maxon replies.

Two days have passed and there is no sign of Victoria. Liam has looked down every hallway, checked every bunker, and looked in every room.

He has also eliminated seven girls. Apart from meetings with advisors, he has spent all his time in his room, barely eating.

I'm walking to the kitchen, returning Liam's uneaten food, when I hear banging. I stop and look around.

"Hello?" I call, looking around.

The banging continues, accompanied by whimpers. I realize that the noise is coming from a hall closet door. I go to open the door only to find that it is locked. The banging becomes more urgent.

"Hello? Is anyone in there?" I call.

Just then, a guard walks down the hallway.

"Officer!" I call, running up to him. "Get the keys for the hall doors! Get Maxon and Liam as well!" I exclaim.

"Yes, your Majesty," he replies before running down the hallway.

A few minutes later Maxon, Liam, and the guard arrive at the door. The banging is faint, but it is still there. The guard pulls out the keys and opens the door.

A bloody, battered Victoria Waters is revealed.

__________

Ahhhh!!!! Sorry for the cliffhanger :)  Hope you enjoy!