Hitting the end of the hall, I glance to my left and to my right. The walls have caved in one direction. I’ve hit the edge of the destruction. In the other direction dust is still settling from the blast.

One of the soldiers had said we were close, and this hall looks vaguely familiar. I might be able to find the exit on my own.

A moment later as I move down the remaining corridor, I spot the door to the king’s conference room. The king’s map room must be close by. Hope flares up in me. I hurry down the hall until I come across a door that looks like it leads to an important room. I try the door. Locked.

The footsteps are getting closer. No time to waste at this point. This is my only option. As soon as I step back to gun down the door, I hear voices on the other side.

I think I’ve found the map room. And here I thought I had the world’s worst luck.

“Help!” I scream and begin to pound on the door. “It’s the queen!”

I’ve got seconds left to get inside; otherwise, I’m as good as dead.

The door opens just as Resistance fighters turn down onto the hall. I level my gun and begin firing at them.

“Your Majesty!”

“Serenity!” The king’s voice rises above the fray. What is he still doing in the palace? He should be gone by now.

Someone grabs me around the waist and drags me inside the room, and I suck in air through my teeth as my injured arm is jostled. The door slams shut, and I’m surrounded by the king’s soldiers.

“Can you walk?” one asks.

I groan. “Yeah, but not quickly.”

The king pushes through his men and comes to my side. His hands don’t know where to touch me, so he settles on my face.

No words are exchanged. They’re not needed. I can see relief mingling with panic. And then he kisses me.

It’s cut short by banging on the door. The door shudders. Several of the king’s soldiers hang back to watch the room’s entrance. It won’t hold for long now that the Resistance saw me enter.

I’m assisted to a blast door propped open at the back of the room. I’ve seen these before, I know that once this door closes, there will be no getting it back open. Beyond it I can see a sleek passageway; I’m sure this is the escape route the soldier mentioned earlier.

Outside the room, the muffled pounding of footsteps lessens. Not a good sign.