POV: Maxon
The announcer started his count off .
"One."
I want to close my eyes. I don't want to watch. Yet I'm forced too. As my father has kindly reminded me many times, it is my duty to set the example for others. And since she broke the law, she must be punished, or, at least, that's what dad says. Now don't get me wrong, but whatever anger I've felt toward this person, I don't think that they truly deserved....deserved...ah...something so severe. I sigh. And shut my eyes fro a brief second, composing myself. America sure wouldn't want this.
"Two"
No sooner than the counter let these words leave his mouth then I heard it. Croaky and grieve filled, as if the vocalist was chocking back tears themselves. The voice spoke out in an bittersweet soulful way, as if a lullaby to a young child.
"She left her father's castle gate,
She left her own fine lover."
Something about that voice. It feels...right.
"She left her servants and estate."
It's on the tip of my tung. Searching, I look around frantically for the source. I pinpoint where I think it's coming from, but that's absurd.
If I'm correct, it's coming from the center of the stage. It's coming from the figure suspended by its arms, and tied in a painful looking O shape. Straining my eyes I try to make sense of what's going on.
It is then that I see it. A strand of hair, sticking out from underneath the black hood. And not just any hair. It's red.
In a split second, hundreds of images flash through me.
Thank goodness she was looking at the ground, so as she not see my checks catch fire as I caught true sight of her for the first real time in the moonlight as the clouds cleared for a second.,She was, well, stunning. Her face was centered by crystal blue eyes, eyes that where clear than ice....yet they held a hidden warmth to them. Her red hair adorned her face, a flaming crown. Her hair and eyes where such a stark contrast, fire and ice, but somehow it not only complemented her, but made dues for her fiery soul. For I could see it now that she would not be an easy one to win over. I smile unconsciously. I'm up for a challenge.
"Are you going to keep crying, my dear?"

          Clutching the package uncomfortably in my grasp, I shift it hoping to find a better grip but, alas, with no avail. I walk as crisply as possible, extending my legs like a racehorse to cover more distance. I was already late, and I needed to hurry. Kriss would be very disappointed if I didn't make it. It was, after all, her big moment. That, and I had to get to a meeting soon, and if I didn't make it on time, dad would have a fit.
Right, left,left,...and right. Ah here I was. I Gently open the door slowly, not wanting to disturb anything. My entrance would make enough distraction, I didn't need to add fuel to that fire.
Much to my surprise, for once I was unnoticed. All the remaining girls where facing forward, towards the source of a very sweet melody. Looking closer, I see America playing at the head, with a small quartet backing her up. I almost drop my present. She sang with her eyes closed, and leaned into each stroke of her violin, effortlessly striking each note perfectly. This was her life. This was what she was born to do. Her words where so beautiful, I didn't even have to focus on their meaning to find the melody to them. It was magical. It was art. Truthfully, she stunned me. She had causally mentioned her music before, but I hadn't expected this. Captivated, my eyes didn't move from her face until the final stroke was strung. She opens her eyes again, and they fill with absolute pleasure as they meet my shocked ones. Her face lights up at my off-guardness.
"Your Majesty."
I gasp. It couldn't be. Could it? But she's dead. But even if there was the slightest chance she was alive..? I had to at least try.
"Sto-"
"Three."
"WAIT!"
I get up from my chair, but it's too late. The guards arm shakes a little because of my distraction, but his finger still pulls. BANG! The figure hangs even more limply then before.
"America! America!?!" I start to run to her side, but am immediately blocked by two guards.
" Sir, please return to your seat."
"Let me through!"
"But.....sir...."
"Step aside, NOW!"
And they do, if reluctantly. I run to the figure's side. Ever so gently, I pull off the hood, inch by inch. My heartbeats throughout my entire body in anticipation. And when I pulled the last bit off, my heart was treated by a joyful sorrow.          

            Yes, it was her. But, Her face was pale and gaunt, her cheekbones sticking out and deep circles under her closed eyelids. Her hair was tangled and smeared with dirt. Her whole body looked frail. But what worried me most was the limp way her head dangled onto her chest. Reaching to untie her arms, I didn't pause to wonder how she had gotten in this position. This was life or death.
"Medics! Medics!"
In the background, I hear dad screaming, the public's confused mutterings and shouts, one horrified gasp, and the bustle of guards hopefully running to get medics. But it could all be on another planet for all I cared. I barely heard them. They where just distractions. To me, it was just her and I. Fiddling the final knot lose, I, as gently as possible, lift her bridal style up, and onto the ground, her head resting on my lap. Her bones dig into my arms, and she's just so..so...light. Like she hasn't eaten in a while. Her shoulder, connecting to her neck, on her left side was where she was hit. It was bleeding profusely, and I could see that it struck a main vein. No! I couldn't lose her again! But all my time on the battlefield has taught me one thing: people usually don't recover from shots like that. I can't help it, tears start to stream down my face. Taking in a deep breath to compose myself as best I can, i swallow my tears, and lean in for the moment of truth.
Nothing.
Nothing.
Nothing.
Then, like the tiny thump of a broken drum, I hear it. "Thump." I intake a sharp breath and listen again. Afraid it would disappear completely.
Nothing.
Nothing
Nothing
Nothing
"Tum" Her beat is getting slower and more spread apart every time. She...her heart will stop any beat now.
Suddenly, she jolts, blue electricity sprouting in forks from the two irons on her chest. Her whole body spasms, her legs and arms jerking up sharply before thudding lifelessly back to the ground, now wet in a layer of her own blood. One her left shoulder, someone reaches over frantically trying to patch her up. They were helping her, yet it was a nightmare. I watch in horror as she jerks again, this time small pieces of smoke rising from her clothes. And then it happens again. Every time, her lifeless head pops up, imitating her moving in a gruesome, monstrous way. Then it would thump back down onto the cold floor, for I had been forced back by one of the guards. I now stood five feet away from where the paramedics where working on her.
"......We'll have to preform surgery immediately."
"You got a beat?"
"No"
"CLEAR!"
Over and over again. It all turned into a sick kind of soundtrack. And the only thing I could do was watch. That is, until I heard one joyous word, one so beautiful, so precious, that my whole body quivered.
"Positive."
She was breathing again.
With an surprising amount of efficiency, she was hoisted up into a stretcher, and rolled up and into the castle. I went to follow, not wanting to lose her from my sight again, not ever again. But I only got so far as the infirmary doors, then a nurse halted me.
" Your Majesty, you might not want to go in their."
My heart skips a beat and my whole body tenses.
"Why?"
"They're doing open surgery."
"Oh.......is she......going to...?"
I can't bring myself to say it out loud, but the nurse seems to understand perfectly fine. Her tone is cheery, but her words are anything but.
"We don't know."
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I'm so sorry I haven't been updating to those few of you who read my story! I've just been so busy with school and after school activities, and extra classes lately. I hope this story is going well so far! I did just realize something though, the song, by the Dubliners fits in much better than I thought at first. Just think of it:
She left her father's castle gates,
She left her own fine lover,
She left her servants and estate,
To find her Gypsy Rover.
Here is my 'Selection' version. Lol😄!

She left her father and her slate,
She left her once true lover,
She left her family and her May,
To stay from Aspen Ledger.

Idk if you found this boring or not, I'm just being weird I guess! Thxs for reading!!! I'll try to update as soon as possible, but it may be a while!😄😄😄
P.S. Would anyone want me to actually make the whole song 'selectionzized ' if so, please say. I think it could be fun!😅😄😅😄