Trapped (Maxon and America Love Story)

Chapter 11

I don't show up to dinner. I take it in my room. Mary and Paige don't know what's happened. They just know to give me some space. I pick at the grilled chicken on my plate. I don't feel like eating. Tomorrow is the report. I have to act like I love Maxon. He's probably with his little mistress. If I see her again I'll rip her head off.

A knock comes to the door. Mary scurries over and opens it. "Lady Marlee. Always a pleasure."

"May I speak to America?"

"I don't know if she's up for visitors at the moment."

"May I ask why?"

"Just some events have happened."

"Please let her in," I say softly. Mary let's Marlee in and Paige hurries out the door. Marlee comes over and hugs me. She sits on the bed next to me. "You look like you needed a hug."

"I do," I say and tears rush out of my eyes. My tears fill her clothing on her shoulder. She hugs me and pats my back. "Just let it out," she says softly. "He," I choke out through the tears, "he- cheated on me," I cry out. When I say it, it seems so much more real. "Maxon?" She says. I nod. "How could he do this to you? You're nothing but amazing, beautiful and kind."

"He said it was when we were in fight. Then when I was in a some sort of coma and at the Halloween festival. He's probably with her now."

"Its okay," she says trying to sooth me. I wipe the tears off. Marlee looks heartbroken for me. My heart feels shattered and dropped, then blown into the wind. Lost forever into dust. I stare out my balcony doors. "What are you going do?"

"I don't know. I don't think Maxon is going to say anything to anyone about it. I don't think I am either."

"Always know, I'm always here for you," she says hugging me.

"You're the greatest friend anyone could ever have."

She gets up and heads for the door. "Just call if you need me. At anytime." I nod. She shuts the door and I go change. I put my hair into a bun for the night. Before I go to sleep I step out onto the balcony. It reminds me of Maxon and I's first kiss. Or I should say kisses. I chuckle at the thought. Then it makes me even more depressed.

The moon glows in the star filled sky. The garden has a few scattered lights. I wish I could go back. Just for a few minutes. The day Maxon and I got married. It was the perfect day. Then we went to Paris. We went on a desert little trip. We walked for miles helping the people in Africa. The dry air and radiating sun. Just thinking about it makes my throat parched.

I go out my room and head down the stairs. Everyone should be asleep. Except the guards of course. The lights are turned off. Before I flick the switch I hear giggling. My ear leads me to where the noise is coming from. Even though it's dark I reconigize the honey colored hair. He's pinned his mistress against the wall. His belt is on the floor and his suit jacket. Her dress has fallen to the floor. I'm too in shock to do anything but stare. They laugh through their kisses.

Her lips go to his ear. "Maybe we should go to your room," she whispers. He chuckles. He takes his clothes and she takes her's. Before they get up the stairs I tip toe up, then bolt to my room. I carefully shut the door. Quick footsteps run next door then shut the door. I can hear them laughing through the wall. It kills me. I sob into my pillow. I hear her moan his name.

If they get caught they can get killed, but nobody would do anything. People around the palace are probably putting some pieces together. Soon the word will get out, and all of Illea will be in an outrage. "Maxon I didn't know you could be this dirty," she says. "I hunt my prey," he says then laughs. It makes me gag through my weeping. I wonder if he knows he's doing this. Or how much he's hurting me.

I hear a door click open. I look to mine but it isn't. It's Maxon's. I hear a gasp and a scream. "My apologies your majesty," a maid says then shuts the door. I hear her run down the hall. "It's fine. She won't say anything," Maxon says. These walls are thinner than I thought. I wish they were thicker so I wouldn't have to listen to this.

After about an hour the noise dies down. I bet they're asleep. Sleeping in the bed I slept in. With Maxon. Our bed. Not theirs. Ours. I hear a door open then close. Then footsteps go down the hallway. My tears have turned into fury.

I march into his room. I might rip his head off. He lays on the messed up bed naked. Lipstick is on his face. "America," he says slurring his words. He's drunk. "Come join me."

"What the hell do you think you're doing? A maid caught you. What are going to do?"

He gets off the bed and steps towards me. "Listen America, I'm really sorry. Please forgive me. I broke it off. Please."

"You're drunk, naked and giving me empty apologies. What kind of person would do that? You don't understand how this effects everyone around you."

"Yes I do. I just want you back. I need to have you in my arms. Wake up to your smiling face. Your beautiful body next to mine. Please forgive me," he says pulling his pants on.

"This is a mistake you can never take back. I don't know if I can forgive you. I can't even take you seriously. And I know you didn't break it off."

"I did. Please America. Please. Take me back. I miss you," he pleads. I look away from him. "Please America. I need you."

I feel like I'm giving in. But to forgive him he has to do a lot more than that. "You're drunk. I can't even believe you right now."

"I'm not. Please America-"

"I can't forgive you!"

"Why?"

"You've betrayed everything we have together. How am I just supposed to forgive you?" His face is starting to get red with anger. I can feel the heat coming off of him. "America," he says softly. The scent of alcohol gets stronger the more he speaks.

"I don't even know why I came here in the first place." He clenches his fists. He yanks my hair. I fall to the floor. "I love you America. How could you do this?"

"I didn't do anything to you. You're the one whose at fault," I say. He looks furious when I said those words. He picks me up and smashes me in the wall. I fall to the floor again. His hands lifts me up by the hair and slams me back on the floor. The wind is knocked out of me, and I'm gasping for air. Once again he shoves me on the wall. His hands are around my neck. Squeezing the life out of me. When I think I have my last breath he let's go. I collapse on the floor. My vision goes black.

I feel a hand slap across my face. Then a pound to my cheek. He throws me on the bed. He walks off. My vision starts to clear up. He comes back with a long whip. "Ten lashes are granted to you. For disobeying orders and being unfaithful to your husband." He rolls me over on my stomach. I'm too weak to do anything about it. The whip slashes my back open. It stings everytime when the whip hits me. "Six!" He shouts. I cry out in pain and scream. "Maxon," I cry. Four more slice my back open. "May you forever remember your punishment," he grunts.

I feel blood pour out my back. The back of my night gown is drenched in blood and is shreaded to pieces. I lay on my stomach and sob. He lifts my head up by my hair. "Tell anyone about this, severe consequences are ahead." Then he pushes my head down.

Once he punches my stomach, he throws me into my room. I lay on the floor bleeding out. He slams the door then trudges back to his room. The pain eventually knocks me out.