“No.”
“You’re favoring your left side. Why?” He got up from his chair and walked toward me. Instinctively, I shielded my bruised back with my arm. Gently, he turned me around and opened the back of my gown.
“How did you get that?”
“I made my owner angry and he punched me.” I felt guilty just saying it. Jack would never hurt me.
“You’re lying,” he said to my surprise. He pushed the gown off my shoulders and examined me. “The pattern of the bruise radiates outwards from the center of a small impact and the chafing on top of your shoulders tells me you’ve been wearing something heavy. My guess is that you’ve been wearing a bulletproof vest and someone has been using you for target practice.”
I looked at him with wide-eyed shock. “How do you know that?”
As soon as the words escaped my mouth, I wanted to call them back. I had just admitted he was right.
“Because I used to see this kind of injury all the time in the Dome. There’s a hazing ritual at the beginning of every school year at the Academy that has seniors hunting freshmen in the hangar. The morons wear bulletproof vests thinking that will save them. Sometimes it does, sometimes it doesn’t. Anyway, you’ll live. I can give you some pain medication if you want.”
I shook my head, too stunned to speak. Would he tell General Powell or someone else in a position of authority?
“So that’s two lies you’ve told me. Why?” he asked.
His directness caught me off guard. For one thing, I wasn’t sure which two lies he had clued in to, and for another, I didn’t have a good-enough lie ready to cover up the ones I had already told. The silence stretched and he gave me a reproachful look.
“Your skin is already turning pink, see?” he said. He held up one of my arms for inspection. “It’s called a sunburn. Why didn’t you use the lotion they gave you in your survival pack?”
“We lost our survival packs back at the river,” I said, repeating Jack’s lie. It was a relief not to have to think of a new one myself.
Doc went to the door and opened it slightly. “Jeffrey,” he called. Delicate Man appeared at the door. “This young lady needs a survival pack.”
I tried to appear uninterested that he just ordered a soldier to do his bidding. I had to try even harder when Jeffrey did as he was told. Were things different out here for our kind? If they were, then why was I here to be tagged? Why were troublemakers sent to the range to be hunted?
Doc walked across the room to a cabinet. I took the opportunity to straighten my gown and pull the back shut again.
“Like everyone else from the Pit, you’re malnourished. There will be special vitamins in your pack that you need to take every day.” He took a few items out of the cabinet and arranged them on a silver tray.
“What’s that?” I asked nervously, backing away as he walked toward me. I didn’t want to be tagged.
“Birth control.” He wiped my arm and plunged the needle in. It stung. “Come back in three months for another shot.”
“I thought birth control was illegal.”
“It is inside the Dome, but we don’t need to worry about polluting the water out here.” He pulled the needle out. “I don’t agree with much of what President Holt has to say, but I do approve of not mixing the bloodlines. There are far too many bourge in the world already.”
He tied a tourniquet tightly around my arm and stuck me with another needle. I watched my blood drain into a vial.
“What’s that for?”
The right side of his mouth curved into a knowing smile. “Looks like I have my secrets, too.” He pulled the needle out. A drop of blood welled up and spilled onto my skin. He pressed a cotton swab against it and taped it into place. “You can get dressed now.”
He hadn’t tagged me, unless I missed it. But General Powell had said the tag was placed behind the jugular and Doc hadn’t touched my neck. I decided it was in my best interest not to bring it to his attention and quietly went behind the screen to change back into my clothes. When I came out, Doc was sitting at his microscope again. Keeping my head down, I quickly walked past him and headed for the door.
“I almost forgot,” he said, halting my escape. My heart sank. He remembered after all. He opened a drawer in his desk and took something out. “I’m not going to tag you,” he said as he walked toward me, “but at least act like I did. Before you go through a door or a gate, wait until someone presses a button and tells you it’s clear.” He affixed a bandage to my neck in the place the tag would have been inserted.
He baffled me. Not just because he didn’t tag me, but also because he was a doctor, an urchin and had authority.
“Why?”
“You mean why didn’t I tag you?” he asked. My question was more complicated than that, but I would be happy to have even that one mystery solved. I nodded. “Tagging my own kind doesn’t sit well with me, but when I have soldiers in the room threatening to kill those spared from the Cull if I don’t, I have no choice. But every so often one gets sent to me without a military escort—or perhaps a soldier turns his head at that crucial moment—and I’m allowed a small victory.”
I studied Doc for a moment, taking in his quiet, serious demeanor. There was no doubt his loyalties were with the Pit, but he was still an enigma.
“What happens if I forget? What if I cross a barrier and someone finds out I’m not tagged? Won’t you get in trouble?”
Doc shrugged. “It’s happened a few times. I’ve told the general that some tags turn out to be duds and I need to replace them.”
“Thank you.” I wanted to say so much to him, to ask him so many more questions, but those were the only two words that came to me.
“You’re welcome, Miss…?” He raised his eyebrows in question.
“O’Donnell. Sunny O’Donnell.”
“Sunny O’Donnell,” he repeated. “I’ll remember. And thank you. You’ve been very helpful,” he said as he held up the vial of my blood. I wasn’t sure what he meant. I wasn’t sure I wanted to know, either.
He returned to his microscope and I took this as a sign of dismissal. I walked out into the other room where Jeffrey was waiting for me. There was a backpack on the desk in front of him. He opened it and took out two items.
“Put the sunscreen on before you go back outside,” he said, handing me a tube. I squeezed the lotion into my hand and rubbed it on my arms. “On your face too. Especially your nose.” When I was done, he handed me a pair of dark glasses. “They’re made especially for urchins. They’ll help you see outside.” He zipped up the pack and pushed it across the desk toward me. I took it. “You’re tagged now. If you wander across a barrier, you’ll die. If your tag ever starts vibrating, it means you’re close to a barrier and you should back up.”
I nodded, not sure if I should actually speak to him. No matter how different things appeared to be, I was pretty sure the protocols we followed in the Dome were expected out here too. An urchin simply didn’t speak in the presence of the bourge unless given permission.
“Let’s go,” said the soldier who brought me here.
Before I went back outside, I heeded Jeffrey’s advice and put on the glasses. It was like someone put a shade over the blinding glare of the sun, enabling me to open my eyes wide and take in my surroundings. The smooth man-made road we drove into the city on ran down the center of two rows of buildings, all built closely together. Some buildings were only one or two levels high, while others were taller and reached almost a four level height. They looked almost exactly like the ones I saw in movies, except these structures all had the same gray, molded, plastic look that only came from replicated materials.
The street was nowhere near as busy as the Pit after the bong bongs rang, but I was still surprised
by just how many bourge there were out here. An open-topped military vehicle with the word “Jeep” written on the back drove past carrying four soldiers, all heavily armed. Why were they all carrying weapons? Who were they defending themselves against?
My escort led me back to where Jack was deep in conversation with General Powell and Alex. He saluted the officers. “Sirs. She’s tagged.” Then he sharply turned on his heel and left.
Another soldier had joined the group—a female. The first female I had seen out here. She looked from me to Jack suspiciously. I couldn’t see her face very well because she was wearing a military cap. She was shorter than me and I stood up even taller under her scrutiny. There were times I appreciated my height.
“Well, it’s already five o’clock—quitting time. Alex, find some accommodations for Jack. I meant to ask you, Jack, why are you out here wearing civvies?”
“Don’t tell Damien, but I was hoping for a little vacation before I made my way here. You know, enjoy some sunshine and fresh air,” he said, casting a glance at me. Everyone snickered, except the woman. “Unfortunately, I lost everything when my backpack floated downriver.”
General Powell gave Jack a thoughtful look. Although Jack maintained a cool expression, his hand moved to rest casually on the handle of his rifle.
“In just a few hours, you lost your survival pack?” Alex laughed, oblivious to the tension. “Dirk lasted a year out here before he broke his damn neck. I give you a week.”
“Laugh all you want, Alex, but as I recall it was you who almost flunked out of survival training at the Academy. I made straight As. I don’t need a pack,” Jack said.
“Excuse me,” the woman said, looking at Alex. “Even I remember saving your butt a few times.”
“Alright, alright,” Alex said, holding his hands up in defeat. “Sorry I brought it up.”
“Alex, you better get Jack squared away,” the general interrupted. He turned to Jack. “And I’ll get a security detail on you ASAP. I’m surprised Damien sent you out here without an entourage. Or did you lose them in the river too?”
For a split second, I saw a wary look on Jack’s face before he regained his self-confident air. Even I was in awe of the power lurking behind those blue eyes. “That isn’t necessary, General. I can take care of myself.”
“I’m sure you can. Nevertheless, you are the heir and we need to make sure you’re safe. I’ll see you tonight at dinner.” Powell gave him a curt nod and left.
“Come on, I’ll find you a place to live,” Alex said.
“Bye Hayley,” Jack said.
Hayley smiled brightly. “I’ll see you tonight too.” Her smile faded into a sneer when she looked at me.
Jack and Alex began walking down the street and I followed.
“Wow, looks like Hayley still has a thing for you,” Alex said.
I couldn’t help but wonder if Hayley was the high school girlfriend Jack had told me about.
“No she doesn’t.”
“You didn’t see how she was looking at you? What are you, blind?”
“Well, I’m married now.”
“Yeah, and happily I see,” Alex said, casting a backward glance at me.
“Would it surprise you to know that Leisel practically picked her out for me?”
I almost shook my head at his comment, but caught myself. It really wasn’t the time to be a smartass.
“Okay, that’s just too much information. Whatever you and Leisel have going on, keep it to yourself,” Alex said in dramatic disgust. “I asked Hayley out a couple of times, but she’s not interested.”
“Is Hayley the only female officer out here?”
“What do you mean out here? Hayley is the only female officer period.” Alex laughed. “Powell tried to assign her to a secretarial position and you should have heard her! It didn’t take him long to give in to her demands.”
“She’ll never change,” Jack said affectionately. A pang of jealousy hit me and I swallowed it, pushing it down to join all the other emotions vying for my attention.
“So what’s your cover story while you’re out here?”
“What do you mean?” Jack countered warily.
“You know, so no one misses you in the Dome,” Alex said. When Jack didn’t respond, he continued. “A lot of us out here are officially living inside a new environment in the Dome that exposes us to low levels of radiation to see how well the human body can tolerate it. And as you already know, Powell’s been quarantined in his bedroom with a mystery disease for the past two years. So what story did they give you?”
“Pffft. Leisel and I are locked away on an extended honeymoon, busy making the next heir.”
“Nice,” Alex chuckled. “So you don’t expect to be out here long.”
“Just as long as it takes to get the job done.”
Alex opened a door to a building and we went inside. A long counter ran the width of the room, and a few men stood behind it.
“Can I help you?” one of them asked.
“This is Captain Kenner. He’ll need accommodations, uniform, clothing—everything,” Alex told him.
“Captain Jack Kenner? The presidential heir?” the clerk stammered. Jack nodded, a self-assured smile playing around his mouth. “Right away, sir.” The man saluted before he hurried away to fill the order.
“So how does it feel to be so important?” Alex asked.
“I don’t know. I’m still getting used to it,” Jack replied. I almost laughed.
The clerk returned and stepped out from behind the counter to stand in front of Jack. “Sir, here is the address. The key will open the door, but you’ll need to reprogram with your own code.” Then he held out a pair of sunglasses. “I thought you could use these. The sun is bright after a lifetime in the Dome.”
Jack accepted them with an appreciative smile. “Thanks.”
“Now, with your permission, I’ll need to measure you for your uniform.”
Jack held his arms away from his sides as if he had done it a million times. The man passed a scanner over him and made a few calculations. Jack dropped his arms and motioned toward me. “She’ll need clothes too.”
The clerk looked me up and down. “Too tall for a small, too skinny for a medium. I’ll see what I can find. I’ll put a rush on having your uniforms replicated. Someone will deliver them within the hour and stock your refrigerator before the end of the day.”
“I’ll need my fatigues before dinner.”
“Yes sir.”
We all left the building and as soon as we were back outside Jack donned his sunglasses. Alex asked to see the address and Jack passed it to him.
“Yeah, I thought they would put you by Powell. The presidential compound isn’t finished yet. But maybe you’ll get to see the house they’re building for you and Leisel before you go back in the Dome. It’s right next door to the president’s mansion—the mansion you’ll get to live in one day.”
“Yeah, that would be great. I’ll take some pictures to bring back to Leisel.”
Alex led us away from the main drag of the city and down a street lined with houses. We were the only people here, save for the occasional military vehicle driving past. The windows of the dwellings were bare and I was able to look into the empty rooms. It was eerily quiet after the bustle of town.
The two men continued their banter, not paying any attention to their surroundings. I had never seen Jack so at ease with anyone before. But then again, the only place I ever really knew him was in the Pit.
As we walked, I noticed that the houses were getting bigger and spaced farther apart. Trees were strategically planted in front yards and bright flowers bloomed along paved pathways. Alex eventually stopped in front o
f one of the bigger homes.
“This street is where all the high-ranking officers and future presidents get to live. General Powell’s place is over there.” He pointed to a house across the street.
“Where do you live?”
“In the shacks with all the other captains, right where you would be if you weren’t the heir.”
“You mean you live on the party side of the base. You probably have more fun there.”
“Oh, I don’t know about that,” Alex said, flicking a glance at me.
“Well, I better get showered if I’m going to meet Powell for dinner on time,” Jack said.
“Do you want me to stop by and walk to the mess with you?” Alex offered.
“Sure,” Jack agreed with a smile. “See you then.”
Chapter Three
Jack took out the code the clerk had given him and unlocked the door to the house. He reprogrammed it with his own code and then held the door open for me. As soon as I heard the door shut, I turned to look at him. In one stride he was in front of me, examining my neck.
“Are you okay? What did they do? Did they hurt you? Until we get the tag out, don’t leave my side. The fences—”
“He didn’t tag me.” I perched my sunglasses on top of my head.
His face went blank. “You’re not tagged?” he asked, confused. I shook my head and he sighed with relief. “How did you get out of it?”
“You’re not going to believe this, but Doc is from the Pit. And he’s a lot older than thirty-five.”
“That was good luck—and we need it.” He walked to the window and looked through the sheer curtains.
“Did you hear me? The doctor is from the Pit!”
He shrugged. “Anyone in the Pit who scores as a genius on the IQ test is absorbed into the scientific community.”
“Really? And they don’t have to be Culled at thirty-five?”
He turned away from the window to look at me. “Right now, we have bigger issues than where the doctor comes from. The promised security detail is here.”
Worlds Collide: Sunset Rising, Book Two Page 2