The Elite (Where the King is Nice)

Chapter 7

A/N: I recently saw that someone is copying some ideas of my book (The Elite: Where the King is Nice) into their book. So please don't copy my stuff. Everything is mine except for anything original to Kiera Cass' books!!!!!!

(America's POV)

I stare at the long gash going down Maxon's back. It was all swollen and whenever I touched it to put medicine on, Maxon would wince. The wound was slowly oozing out blood and pus.

"Maxon. This.. It's.. Infected?" I squeak out at the end so it sounds like a question. He opens his mouth as if to object, but I cut him off.

"It's not any old infection, Maxon. This is a really, really bad infection. This. Is. Really. Bad!" I stage whisper at the end. Then, outside of the room, there's a shatter and a scream.

"TELL US WHERE THEY ARE!" A rebel screams at a guard. Maxon and I fall dead silent and we don't move a muscle.

"W-Who are you talking about?" The guard asks. He's obviously trying to buy some time.

"The prince, you idiot!"

"That's only one person. You said they," the guard said slowly. Wow, it took guts to talk back to a rebel like that.

"Oh hmmm..The prince and the favorite!" He spits out. As quietly as I can, I murmur to Maxon,

"Who's the favorite?" He pales slightly and I wonder if I'm missing something.

"TELL ME!" The rebel shrieks. But before the guard can even respond, it sounds like the rebel throws him against the door of the safe room. Since the personal safe room doors are disguised, it's unlikely the rebel will find us. But still, it was more than a little nerve-wrecking.

"Ummm, I'll tell you later," Maxon responds to my previous question. He then turns back to me with a strange look on his face. It seems as I'd he's trying to say with his face,

You can't figure out who my favorite is? Really?

Am I really missing something here?? Is it that obvious?? Now I want to know who it is!

Soon, it sounds like the rebel moves on, and I continue to put medicine on Maxon's back. I know this won't treat the infection, but hopefully it'll prevent it from spreading. After awhile, we lapse into silence. When I'm done medicating Maxon's back, I move on to bandaging it. When I finish that, I lean on Maxon's shoulder and start to fall asleep. Just as I am about to lose conscious and go into sleep-world, Maxon says,

"It's you." I look up tiredly and confusedly at him.

"What am I?" I ask.

"My favorite." Now I'm really, really confused.

"B-But why? All the other girls are so much more prettier than me and more-" But now Maxon cuts me off and says,

"You're the most perfect girl in the Selection, America. And you're the one I want to marry."

Oh.

My.

God.

He said he wants to marry me and that I'm perfect to him! That is honestly the nicest thing anybody has ever told me in my entire life. I'm about to respond when I'm interrupted by a loud bang.

And then another.

Bang!

Maxon holds me in his arms and I bury my face into his shoulder.

"Maxon!" Someone yells roughly. Maxon pales and turns to me.

"It's my father," he whispers. I look back at him and say,

"Does that mean the attack is over?" He shrugs his shoulders and throws a shirt over his head. Then he motions for me to get in a corner where I'll be unseen just in case it's not his father. Slowly, Maxon opens the door and then he falls into someone's arms.

"Son! I'm so glad you're safe!" Normally, I would come out now, but I'm still too terrified. Everything Maxon said about his father... Well, it scares me. A lot. Just then, I decide to stand up but slam my head on some shelf in the process. Maxon's father gasps.

"Who's there?!" He yells.

"Chill, dad, it's just America." I groan slightly and rub the now sore spot on my head.

"Hi.. King Clarkson." I say, trying to keep the scared tone out of my voice. He laughs his booming laugh and says,

"Don't worry, the rebel attack is over now." I nod and we walk back to the Ladies' Room. The queen is there with a bunch of other girls. Queen Amberly then starts to take role.

"Kriss?"

"Here."

"America?"

"Here."

"Elise?"

"Here."

"Natalie?"

"Here."

"Marlee?"

"Here."

"Ok good, everybody is safe!" The queen says. Then, she tells everyone to just stay in their room for the rest of the night. When I get back to my room, my maids are there, but Mary and Anne surround Lucy.

"Shhh, shh.. It'll be ok." Mary says. Lucy hears me come in and says,

"I'm sorry.. I-" But I cut her off.

"Lucy, shh, it's fine. We're all safe now."

"I-I'm just.." But Lucy stops talking and just sobs. After awhile, we manage to comfort her, but just then, there's a knock at the door.

"W-What if it's a rebel?" Lucy stutters.

"Ummm.."