Peanut Butter Fingerprints

Chapter Ten

America's POV

I WOKE UP IN FEAR.

My heart jumped into my throat as Maxon yelled my name. He pounded furiously on the door, demanding for Anne to let him in. Anne, who was curled up in a ball sleeping next to me, jolted awake. Her eyes were stretched wide and full of fear. I whispered her name into the dark.

"Yes, miss?" she finally said, realizing where she was and that she was safe. Her time spent as a prisoner in the Southern rebel camps still haunted her.

My breaths hitched in my throat. My heart was thudding against my chest like a bird beating it's wings against cage bars; it was so loud, I could have sworn Maxon could hear it. Immediately, I threw my arms around Anne and hugged her tightly. She sucked in a shaky breath.

"ANNE, I COMMAND YOU TO OPEN THIS DOOR NOW," Maxon hollered, and a loud crack on the door made us both squeal. 

I froze. I just told Maxon where I am. I'm done for. I'm totally done for.

"Don't do it," I whispered, and took a shaky breath. "Please, Anne. He's going to kill me," I finished with a trembling sob.

She wriggled out of my grasp with a choking sob. "I'm sorry, miss."

"Anne, if you open that door-" I began in a threatening voice.

She jumped as there was another loud crack on the door. Maxon was trying to kick it in. What worried me was he'd kicked in doors effortlessly before when I locked myself away from him. If I could just make it out of the Maid's Quarters alive, I could scream for some guards to get him off of me. It'd happened before, where Avery and Markson had to peel his hands off my throat. It took two weeks for the bruises on my neck to fade.

Maybe, I reasoned with myself. Maybe if I reminded him about the baby, he'd come to his senses. If only he would let me get a few words in before he slammed me against the nearest object or clasped his hands around my throat.

It was risky, I knew, but I had no other option. Anne gave me one last glance; tears slid down her cheeks, and her hands trembled as she unlocked the door, and turned the doorknob. I'd hoped Maxon, in his drunken stupor, would forget what he was doing, and eventually leave or pass out. I was so wrong.

I didn't even have time to gasp; he crossed the room in two strides. His eyes flashed menacingly as I threw my hands in front of me in an attempt to block him for a split second. Maxon grabbed my hands-I yelped as he grabbed my broken one roughly-and pinned them behind my back. The last breath I let out was the one that flew out of my mouth when he slammed me against the wall. As soon as his fingers buried themselves deep into my neck, it became a race for time.

Dear, God. I can't breathe. I can't breathe. Maxon is choking me. He's going to kill me. I'm not going to make it this time. 

The guards are going to come too late. I'm going to die right here, right now. My vision blacked; spots twinkled before my eyes. The last thing I remembered as I was taking my last breath was Aspen screaming my name from the doorway, and me mouthing it's over before the room disappeared, and I fell into a quiet blackness.

ASPEN'S POV

I WAS THE FIRST ONE to see her. The doctors told me she's still recovering and might have some brain trauma from the loss of oxygen, but she will eventually recover. They warned me that she isn't supposed to be under any stress right now, but I was certain the news I was obligated to tell her would crush her.

Quietly and quickly, I walked across the room to sit by her and hold her pale, frigid hand in mine. Her eyelashes parted a bit, and she stared at me hazily. I whispered her name tenderly, but she continued to gaze past me, almost as if someone was behind me.