Rebel Princess - Book 2 (The Hope Saga)

by Chrissy Peebles

  “Who was at the door earlier?” I asked.

  He looked away, clearly not wanting to deliver more bad news.

  “What’s wrong?” I asked.

  “It was one of Dante’s men, delivering a message. Sky, they say you have to go up to the surface next week.”

  My jaw dropped as I processed his words. “But I haven’t even had time to grieve the loss of my child.”

  “It’s official,” he said grimly.

  “I can’t! I can’t go through this without you,” I said. “It’ll kill me! Just like my mom. She couldn’t handle being away from my dad.”

  He gripped my hands. “You have to stay strong.”

  I closed my eyes and took a deep, steadying breath, trying to stay calm. “I’ll try everything to get them to let you come up sooner. I can’t wait five to ten years to see you again.”

  “I know, but what other choice do we have?”

  Rage poured through me. “Why do they get to decide? I hate Dante and his stupid, selfish rules. This is my life, not his.”

  “Don’t talk like that. You know how much trouble you can get in.”

  “Why don’t we just sneak away?”

  He blinked, contemplating it for a moment. “You mean…just leave? Without permission?”

  “Yeah.”

  “We can’t. If we get caught—”

  “So we won’t get caught. Why do we have to follow their rules? If the air is breathable, why can’t we just go up when we feel like it? We’re both adults now. We could easily overpower someone if they came down the chute and got in our way. Who needs Dante’s little sheep colony anyway? I know how to farm. We can take seeds with us and plant all the food we need. We can even looked for canned food. I’m sure there has to be some of that left in deserted houses and buildings.”

  “If there is, it’s gotta be spoiled or toxic by now.”

  “Then we’ll just be vegetarians. We can live on zucchini and lettuce and beans. We can’t let them separate us, Brett. We already lost our baby, and we can’t lose each other too.”

  He reflected on my words. “You’re talking about leaving everything and everyone we love and know. What about our friends and family?”

  I inclined my head. “It’ll be you and me taking on the world. How romantic would that be?”

  “I know we’ve talked about leaving before, but I also know you want to help rebuild the world. Don’t you want to be part of that anymore?”

  “I do, but I can’t stand that they want to tear us apart when we love each other so much, when we need each other the most. I want to be with you forever, no matter what it takes or what I have to give up.”

  “I love you, too, but I also love our world and our civilization. I’ve got family here, and I’m loyal to this place.”

  I blew out a long breath. “So you’re willing to let Dante and his goons tear us apart for ten years just because you’re loyal to them?”

  “We have to follow the rules,” he said calmly.

  “We don’t!” I insisted.

  His mouth pressed into a hard line. “How would we escape?”

  I shook my head. “Simple. We knock somebody out, then swim to land.”

  “We won’t ever be able to come back,” he said.

  “Maybe there are others living out in the world, hiding just like we’ll be. If there are other survivors out there, we’ll find them and—”

  His gaze narrowed, and he shook his head. “I can’t believe you’re talking like this.”

  “They’re making me talk like this. Dante is willing to rip apart a husband and wife who love each other dearly, a week after we lost a child! We need time to grieve our loss, yet they’re tearing me away from you.”

  Silence overtook the room, but Brett’s grim expression spoke volumes. Finally, he said, “I hate it, too, but I won’t go against our government and everything we believe in.”

  I placed my hands on my hips. “How very patriotic of you.”

  “I believe in this government. They’re only trying to rebuild the world in an organized, safe way. I want to be a part of that, and so should you.”

  “So you’re fine with them sending me away?” I asked.

  “Of course not! I love you, but I love our city too. Besides, you’ll get to see your father, Sherry, and Ben. They’ve been waiting for you for so long, and they love you so much. They’ll help you through this.”

  “I can’t believe you’re blinded by them,” I said. “Dante is controlling us. He has been since he took over, and it sucks.”

  “I know you feel that way, but bringing it up all the time is going to get you locked up,” he said. “Some people have even…disappeared.”

  “Do you plan to run to your superiors and report me or something?” I snapped.

  “No,” he said. “It’s just…well, you’ve gotta be more careful about what you say in front of others.”

  “Do you hear yourself? Do you really want to be part of a government who imprisons people or makes them disappear, like the freaking mafia?”

  “Sky!”

  “For all we know, they pushed me down those stairs!”

  “You didn’t see anybody.”

  “I suspect them.”

  “Why would anybody want to hurt you?”

  “You tell me.”

  “Everyone loves you down here.”

  “No, I don’t fit in. And you know it!”

  I got up and threw on some clothes and boots, then headed out the door.

  “Sky!” Brett called after me.

  “Don’t follow me. I need some time to think.”

  ***

  In the garden, I sat on a bench next to a statue of a cherub holding a heart. I wanted to punch the concrete cupid right in the face, because I’d married the love of my life, but now Dante and his rules were going to tear me away from him. What I hated most was that I had no say or control over what they did. Our government did provide for us, supplying us with food, oxygen, seeds, and whatever we needed to stay alive. They even gave us stuff they found when they raided the deserted lands, and brought us back thousands of books on every subject imaginable. Now, though, they were trying to rip me away from my husband when I needed him the most, and I could never forgive them for that—nor could I stand idly by and let them get away with it.

  Back at home again, I slowly walked inside.

  Brett glanced up at me from where he was still sitting on the couch. It looked as if he hadn’t moved an inch in all the time I’d been gone.

  I hated fighting with him. I missed his touch, his smile, and the sweet nothings he always whispered in my ear, his soft voice telling me how much he loved me. I took in his perfect features, from his sharp, smooth jawline to his pretty brown eyes.

  His shoulders slumped as I approached.

  “I don’t think anybody pushed me,” I said. “I thought about it long and hard. I didn’t get much sleep last night because I was up all night throwing up. I caught the stairs wrong and stumbled. It was all my fault.”

  “No, don’t you ever blame yourself.”

  He hugged me for a few long moments.

  “Are you mad at me?” I whispered.

  His lips set into a firm, thin line. “I’m sorry.” He caressed my cheek with his hand. “My life is better because you’re in it. If you wanna leave, we’ll do it. I just have no idea how to get to the surface without being discovered. I’m not some kind of spy like 007 in all those old movies you made me watch.”

  I cupped his face. “No, I’m the one who’s sorry. You’re right. I can’t abandon my family. My dad has waited so long for me to turn eighteen so I can join him. He already lost Mom, and I can’t force him to lose me too.”

  “I don’t wanna leave my friends and family either. They’re my world, and Vita means everything to me, even if I hate the person who runs it. I plan to give this new world everything I have.”

  “Me too.”

  His hand grasped the back of my head, and he pulle
d me close. All the nerves in my body danced in celebration as my blood thumped through my veins. My heart raced at the thought of being captured in one of his amazing kisses. He kissed me gently, then softer and softer, till his lips were barely touching mine. His slow, gentle affections only heightened my desire, and when his lips suddenly crashed against mine in a powerful, intense collision of passion, it was so intense. His mouth was greedy and hungry, but I loved every second of it. Our tongues swirled in perfect unison, and my heartbeat spiked as he tangled his fingers in my long hair.

  “I love you so much,” he whispered.

  I intertwined my fingers with his as he pulled me against his strong chest and lowered his luscious lips onto mine again. “And I love you. I can’t stand fighting with you.” I stared into his eyes. Sometimes when he looked at me like that, I could barely breathe. Brett was my dream come true, and I couldn’t believe he was still as smitten with me as I was with him. After all we’d been through, my heart still melted at the sight of him.

  “I just want to belong somewhere, to have a place to call home. We can do that in Vita…eventually,” I said, kissing his hands. “I‘ll obediently go next week, and I’ll wait for you. Just don’t take too long.”

  “I’ll do everything I can to talk my term down to five years instead of ten, baby. I’ll be counting the days till we can be together again.”

  “If we love each other, what’s a mere five years?”

  He softly captured my lips in another sweet kiss.

  “By the time you get there, I’ll have everything ready, a beautiful home filled with furniture and supplies and a full pantry. You’re gonna love our new place.”

  “I’m sure I will.”

  Craving his touch, I leaned in for a hug. “And then we’ll start our family again,” I said. “I can’t wait to have your children.”

  “I want that too. I swear we’ll get through this. Laws or not, nobody can take our love away. We’ve fought too hard for it, and I’m never going to give up on us.”

  I embraced him tightly. “Me neither.”

  Chapter 40

  The next morning, I met Rachel in the garden. “I’m leaving next week,” I said.

  She cocked a brow. “What? Why?”

  “I have to. They’re sending me away since I lost the baby,” I said in a sad voice.

  Shock and confusion swept over her face. “That’s crazy! How can they do that?”

  “They can do whatever they want. You oughtta know that by now. Maybe when I get up there, I can do something to change that.”

  “Love your spunk.”

  “I cried for hours after Brett left for work. It’s hard enough to get over the loss of my precious baby, and now I’m gonna lose Brett for a long time too.”

  She hugged me tight, and we just held each other for a long time.

  “I’m here for you, Sky…always.”

  Tears slipped down my face. “I know.”

  “You can always talk to me about anything, you know.”

  “I know. I just wanted to start a family, and I loved that baby so much. I was going to be the best mother ever.”

  “You will…someday.”

  “Yeah, in ten years,” I said sadly. “Brett is stuck down here, and I have to go to the surface. The only good thing is that I’ll see my dad, brother, and sister, and you’ll be up there with me after three months.”

  “Won’t we be a force to be reckoned with? Dante will never know what hit him. But seriously, I might be facing the same thing, if Sean is chosen as a diamond.”

  “I hope he isn’t. Then he’ll be going up right behind you, and you guys can build a home and live happily ever after on the surface.”

  “You too.”

  “I know I will. It’ll just take a little longer than I planned.”

  Rachel nudged me. “Maybe we can kiss up to the boss and get him to send Brett up earlier than planned.”

  “When I get up there, I’ll start working on city officials, and I’ll beg if I have to.”

  “Sounds like a plan.”

  “But no matter what I do, nothing will ever fill the hole in my heart from losing our baby. I don’t even know if my child was a boy or a girl.”

  “Well, you said you felt like it was a boy, right?”

  “Yeah. Why?”

  “So call him whatever name you would have called him.”

  “Only me and Brett know the name.”

  “Don’t keep it a secret. This was a human being. Let’s remember him.”

  “Christopher,” I said. “We were going to name him Christopher.”

  “Then little Christopher will be in our hearts forever.”

  A tear slipped down my face, and I pulled my friend into another hug. “I loved Christopher so much,” I said.

  “I know you did,” she replied. “We all did, and our beautiful Christopher will never be forgotten.”

  Chapter 41

  The day finally arrived. I’d officially be allowed to go to the surface.

  To see the stars. To see the sky. To hear birds sing. To walk along the ocean.

  Freedom at last!

  Finally!

  My dad would be waiting for me. So would Sherry and Ben. I missed my brother and sister so much! I couldn’t wait to see them and tell them how sorely they were missed.

  We’d be united once again. And we’d have a lot of catching up to do.

  My aunt wouldn’t let me go, holding me tight in her arms.

  “Remember everything I taught you,” she said.

  “I’ll be fine,” I reassured her.

  “I don’t doubt that for a minute. You’re a survivor.”

  “Thanks for everything. I love you so much.”

  “I love you too. And I’ll see you when they let me come up.”

  “I’ll be anxiously counting down the days.”

  “Do me a favor.”

  “Sure, anything.”

  “Watch Brett, keep him out of trouble.”

  She laughed. “Okay, will do. And don’t you drive any cars without me.”

  “If I find gas, I can’t promise anything.”

  She laughed again. “And absolutely no swimming with sharks.”

  I chuckled. “I can’t promise that one either.”

  After one last hug, we said a tearful goodbye and headed off to the ceremony. My aunt and my cousins found seats in the front row next to Rachel and Brett. Brett’s dad pulled some strings and I was allowed to have all my friends and family there without any questions. I guess he wanted to make up for treating me so badly in the past. I didn’t know if he accepted me completely, but we were heading in the right direction, trying to heal our broken relationship.

  “Here,” I said, handing my drawings to Rachel.

  She glanced down and burst out in tears. “You drew these?”

  I smiled. “Yeah. It’s us.”

  “I know! They’re beautiful.”

  I pointed down. “I also wrote down a whole bunch of my corny jokes. Whenever you feel sad, just read them. Hopefully, it’ll cheer you up.”

  “I promised I wouldn’t cry,” Rachel said, “but I can’t stop. It’s just like your wedding day.”

  Tears welled up in my eyes, but I fought the urge to sob. “I also wrote you a long, heartfelt letter. I left it on your bed. I know we’ll see each other soon, but I wanted you to have something to remember me by in the meantime.”

  “You’re the best friend ever,” she said, sobbing and hugging me again.

  “I’ll try to make sure to be there when your ship comes in,” I said.

  “I’d love that, and I’ll hold you to it. Knowing you, if Dante won’t let you be there, you’ll still find a way to sneak in.”

  I pointed to myself. “Who, moi? Me, break the rules and risk getting in trouble? Why, that doesn’t sound like me at all.”

  “You’re always getting in trouble down here, so try to behave while you’re up there. Be on your best behavior. Can’t have you getting k
icked out, locked up, or turned into shark food before I get there.”

  I laughed.

  “Just be good, okay?”

  “I promise.”

  She glanced down at the basket I was holding. “What are those?”

  “I made friendship bracelets to give away,” I said. “Just some silly mementos, I guess.”

  “When did you do that?” She shook her head. “I thought you couldn’t hide anything from me.”

  I shrugged. “I wanted to surprise you. I found some embroidery thread in the craft room, then braided it into a colorful pattern I thought you’d like. This one’s yours.” I handed her a light blue and pink bracelet. “The pink means you’re sweet, and the blue is because you’re loyal.”

  “Aw! I’ll treasure it forever,” she squealed.

  I could see Brett weaving through the crowd.

  “I gotta go,” Rachel said and gave me one last hug. “Good luck, and I’ll see you up there soon.”

  I smiled. “See you soon.”

  Tanya tapped my shoulder. “It’s almost time to go. Are you nervous?”

  “I’m definitely on edge.”

  “Don’t worry. We’ve got each other’s backs.”

  “Hey, I made you a friendship bracelet too.”

  “What for? I’m coming with you.”

  “I still want you to have one. I made one for Collin too.”

  I explained what the colors meant, and she grinned.

  She hugged me. “You are the sweetest.”

  “Here,” I said when he walked over.

  “Sky!” Brett called.

  “I’ll talk to you guys later,” I told Collin and Tanya.

  “I can’t believe I have to go,” I said.

  Brett gripped my hands. “Just think of it as…warming up our house.”

  “I promise it’ll be all warm and toasty when you come up.”

  “I’m counting on it, baby.”

  “When I get to the surface,” I said, “I’m gonna plant a tree in Christopher’s honor. By the time you get there, it should be big and strong.”

  I stared into Brett’s tear-filled eyes, and he held my gaze for a long moment. “I don’t want to leave you,” I whispered, barely holding it together.