The Fighter - A Maxerica The Selection Fanfiction

The Unexpected

A/N: Thank you so much for everyone who is reading this series. I can't believe that there's almost 70 views in only four chapters. I want to make a shout-out to @daugular01 for always commenting and the incredible support you have given for this series. Seriously, this series has seriously been so much fun to write. Please continue to read, write, comment, vote and like!

James rushes up to me, alarm written all over his face. "You really need to see this."

"What is it, James?" worry seeping in my voice.

He hands me a portable tablet. The screen shows a live surveillance footage down in the palace cells. My team must have set it up for the time being that we are here.

"What am I looking at here?" confused at the empty screen. All I see is a metal table with a bar and a chair behind it.

"Just wait. They're bringing him in the make shift interrogation room that we set up," he informs me to be patient.

Sure enough, in a matter of seconds, I see Liam pushing a man into the room, chaining his legs to the chair and his hands to the table. When Liam finally exits, I see a clear view of the man and fear and seething anger rushes through my veins.

It's a man that still frequents my nightmares. A man that I thought I had killed many years ago. Clearly, I didn't do a good job. This man is middle-aged at best, black hair. He had the darkest, cruelest eyes. His heart even darker. The most alerting feature about him is the burn scar that spans half of his face. One that I gave him.

"How the hell is this possible?" my voice cracks from nervousness and I quickly clear my throat. I collapse on the base of the massive stairs near the Hall and lean forward resting my elbows on my knees with my head in my heads, my fingers tracing circles on my temples to try to calm my nerves.

"I don't know, Scar. I really don't. You and I both thought he was dead, but here he is," he recalls. "Just when I thought this trip couldn't have been a more terrible idea."

"I get it, James, ok. You don't need to keep reminding me about it. We're already here and we can't turn back now," I look up at him.

He sits beside me and wraps his arm around my shoulders. "I'm sorry, Scar. After so many years of looking out for each other, I just can't turn it off anymore. But you know, I support and will always have your back, through death and hell. So, whatever you choose to do, I'll be with you."

I listen to him assure me and I knew without a shadow of a doubt that every word is true. I would do the same for him. How we never ended up together is mind-blowing, but it was a decision we both decided to make together. We had too many baggage, too many things we were trying to run away from. But even with that, we always knew we would always have each other's backs. He reminds me a lot of Aspen's bravery and Maxon's heart.

I squeeze his hand with mine and nod. I didn't need to say anything else. I conveyed what I meant with the simple gesture. We are interrupted by Jake approaching us.

"Director," annoyance flash in my eyes and he catches it. He corrects himself, "Scarlet, my team has secured the inside of the palace as best as we can. Some of the servants couldn't handle just sitting around and insisted that they help after calling their families, so they are cleaning up some of the debris that is still left. We moved the casualties in the sizeable cells, as well. I wanted to let you know our progress. I think the royals are safe to go back to their rooms."

"Thank you, Jake. You and your team did well. I won't forget it. Your next task is to post up defenses. Disperse your team to guard the inside and outside. Find the way up to the roof and post a watchman from above. Some of these rebels can be very cunning and we never know when the next attack can happen. And now that we have one of them, I know they'll do anything to get him back." I give him directions and watch him run off and once he disappears around the corner, I release a deep sigh.