The One Fanfiction

Chapter 17

         "Correct!" Aspen exclaimed with fake enthusiasm. He sounded like a freaking game show host. "Now that you've answered the question correctly, you can get your prize! It's time for you and your fiancé to be reunited at last." What did he mean?

        Aspen pulled something out of his pocket. I couldn't see what it was, but I started to struggle when he grabbed my arm. "Stay still," he grunted and I felt a small prick in my forearm. Great, a needle. Immediately, I felt my head get fuzzy. My eyes got heavy. I caught small glimpses of men walking up to us. Finally, my eyes closed, but I didn't blackout just yet.

        "What took you three so long? The guards will be here any second!" Aspen half shout- half whispered.

        "Sorry, but it's kinda hard to see out here," a man grumbled. Aspen sighed.

        "Just hurry, okay?" The man grunted. Strong hands grabbed me and threw me over their shoulder.
The sedative finally kicked in and I fell into a deep, dreamless sleep.

        I woke up in a dark, wooden box. Considering how much I was moving, I was probably being pulled by horses. The smell of rotten meat made me crinkle my nose in disgust. I put my hands out to see if there was anything or anyone in here with me. I felt a plate sitting right next to me and on it was- rotten meat. Ugh. If they thought I was going eat that, they were highly mistaken.

        I sat there for hours, listening to the sound of rain splatter and hooves. Finally, we pulled to a stop. The door swung open and I saw a large, muscled man standing there. As quick as a cobra, he pulled a hood over my head. He grabbed me and yanked me out of the box.

        My feet landed on squishy mud. The man nudged me and ordered, "Walk." So, I walked. He marched me into a building that felt like a freezer. We went down hallway after hallway, made turn after turn. Eventually, we stopped.

        I heard the jingle of keys. He must've found the right one because there was a click from him turning the lock. The man shoved me into a room. I fell to my knees and the door slammed shut. I ripped the hood off and looked around. I thought I was alone until my eyes adjusted. He was sitting against the far wall, mouth wide open.

        Maxon.

        I felt tears form in my eyes as we stared at each other in awe. Maxon's blonde hair looked brown from the layer of dirt that covered it. The cuts on his cheek were mostly healed. His jawline was purple from bruising where Aspen had punched him. Those things weren't what I noticed most, though. His eyes were sad. Drained of hope.

        I got to my feet. I wiped off my sundress and went to sit next to him. Maxon pulled me close and murmured, "What are you doing here, love?" His voice was heartbreaking. I wanted to cry, but it would only make him feel worse.

        "Trying to decide if this is a nightmare or not." Maxon turned so he was facing me. He placed a warm hand on my cheek and I leaned into it. My eyes closed, savoring the feel of his skin touching mine. I'd almost forgotten how good it felt to be near him. "I missed you, Maxon."

        It was nice to finally say it out loud. I had missed him. So much, I didn't realize how intense it had become.

        I leaned in slowly. Maxon placed his lips on mine. I was afraid that after all this time our feelings had faded. I've never been so wrong. What had started out as a slow kiss, became rough and passionate, filled with the longing we'd felt over the past seven weeks. Tears streamed down our cheeks in unison.

        I've never felt this way before. Being so happy, you want to scream, but also being so unbelievably sad that you think you might die of heartache. I was overjoyed to have Maxon back, but what had we done to deserve to be kidnapped, or tortured, or whatever else the rebels had planned for us?

        I pulled reluctantly away fro his kiss and rested my forehead against his. Maxon had his hands on my waist and his fingertips were sending sparks through my thin dress to my lower back. Maxon's brow furrowed and his hands tightened on my hips. He looked at me, confusion written all over his face.

        "America, why are you so thin?"

        Crap. I was wondering when he'd notice that I'd dropped more than just a few pounds while he was gone. Maxon's eyes skimmed over my whole body, noticing every detail. The limp hair, the pale skin, the bags under my eyes; every single thing was seen. An expression of utter worry crossed his face. "What happened to you, America?"

        A sudden flash of anger came over me. I stood up and shouted, "Damn it, Maxon! What do you think happened to me? Try having the love of your life ripped away. All I had was a letter telling me to 'stay strong'. That is almost impossible when you're going out of your mind with worry! Then, try having your ex- boyfriend send you a video of him torturing your fiancé! He asks for one stupid diary and your fiancé's father refuses! Also, try having to go through the night, hoping to get some sleep, but your mind makes up the worst scenarios and you end up crying yourself to sleep."
        

        I put my back to the wall and slid down next to a stunned Maxon. I wasn't mad at him, not really. I was angry with our whole situation. With the unfairness of it all. I rested my head on his shoulder. I continued on in a much softer voice this time.

        "I didn't want to eat. Not if you were here, probably starving. Sometimes picturing you here, made me lose my appetite. I never went out to the garden. Not once. It felt wrong going without you. The only time I ever slept was when I was in your room. Your mom told me I could go in. It made me feel close to you. It was the only place we'd never made a memory in, so none came flooding back as I closed my eyes. Sleep never brought comfort, though. I haven't had a real dream in almost two months. All I get are nightmares. So that, Maxon, is what happened to me."

        My hands were trembling- well my whole body was. I pulled my knees to my chest and put my head down. My hair fell around me like a curtain, blocking my face from Maxon. But he wouldn't have that.

        He pushed my hair to the side and put a gentle hand on my bare leg. He traced words on my skin: I'M SORRY.