It was hard to think while his blue eyes looked so intently into mine. “But after tonight…”
He held my gaze for what seemed like an eternity before he gave me a tight smile. “Oh.”
He stood and took my plate to the sink.
The air crackled with tension, momentarily paralyzing me. I tried to steal a glance at his face, but he was at the sink with his back turned to me.
I got up from the stool and gathered the dishes he’d used to prepare the meal. “After what you said, I thought this is what you wanted too.”
“I’m not sure what I said to give you that impression.” He filled the sink with hot water and detergent, even though I was pretty sure I was looking at a dishwasher.
I found a towel in a drawer. “That you have the skills and I don’t, and that’s why we need each other.”
He rinsed a dish and put it on the drain board, taking the opportunity to lean closer to me. “I’m sorry I said it. It came out wrong.”
“No, it wasn’t wrong. It just made me think that this will be a lot less complicated if we’re…” I thought about my next words. “Free to play our roles.”
He stopped washing the frying pan and turned his full attention on me. “Free to play our roles?”
“Look at us! We just found out what Holt has in store for the Pit and instead of figuring out a plan, we’re caught up in all this emotional…stuff.”
For a moment, he didn’t say anything. Just stared at me with a thoughtful expression that was guarded enough not to give me a clue about what he was thinking. Feeling uncomfortable, I took the frying pan out of his hand and dried it to keep myself busy.
“You’re right,” he finally said. He rinsed his cloth and started wiping the counter.
I shivered from the sudden chill in the room. “You’re mad at me.”
He stopped what he was doing to look at me. “No, I’m not mad at you. I’m just frustrated.” He threw the cloth into the sink. “Our situation isn’t going to get any better by staying here, but we need to stay in order to help the Pit. So if doing away with any…romance that was starting between us is going to keep us together, then I agree.”
“I think it’s for the best, Jack. We need to concentrate on what’s important.” He put away the dishes and I hung my towel to dry. It was hard to ignore the tension between us, but we needed to get over it. “Have you thought of a plan yet?”
He shrugged. “I don’t exactly know how things work out here, but my initial plan is to fix the comms and get a message to the Alliance and my family.”
“Sounds easy.” I took a couple of glasses out of the cupboard, filled them with water, and handed him one. “Can I ask you a question about something?”
“Why not? Since we’re being so honest with each other.” The sarcasm was unmistakable. It told me there had been enough truths spoken for one night.
“Never mind.”
He sighed, exasperated. “Ask the question, Sunny.”
I hesitated, but since it wasn’t a personal question, I decided it was a safe topic. “Do you think General Powell is right? Will Holt be able to convince the Families to kill everyone in the Pit?”
He sipped his water before he answered. “It’s possible. The survival instinct kicks in when you’re starving to death. The Pit has already reached that point, and if Holt keeps cutting back rations in the Dome, they’ll soon be just as desperate.”
“Why Jack? Why does he want us all dead?”
“Holt is obsessive about not letting the bloodlines get mixed.”
“I remember Crystal said that once, too. What exactly does it mean?”
“The Holt regime doesn’t want urchins and bourge to make babies together, so a law was made against interracial marriages. It’s one of the laws we broke.” He gave me a weak smile and leaned against the counter. “Officially the law exists for population control, even though it doesn’t make sense since it would be better to have a bigger gene pool. The real reason behind it is that the Holt regime doesn’t want the two bloodlines mixed. I overheard Holt discussing some kind of master race with Malcolm West. I didn’t catch the entire conversation, but now that I know he’s building this city, I’m starting to put it all together and Powell pretty much confirmed it. Holt’s plan is to repopulate the Earth with his master race, which only includes people from the Dome.”
“And no one from the Pit,” I added.
Jack gave me a direct look. “You and I will stop him. We won’t let him get away with it.”
“I hope we can.”
“We should get some rest. I don’t know about you, but I’m exhausted. And we have a long day ahead of us tomorrow.”
I was exhausted too, but I wasn’t sure I could sleep. We were living among the very people who would kill us if they found out we were wanted for treason.
Halfway through the living room I stopped, not sure where to go.
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
“Um…there’s only one room down here. Now that we’ve decided no romantic-stuff, maybe I should take the sofa. Or sleep upstairs.”
“You and I stick together.” He put his hands on the back of my shoulders and steered me toward the room. “If a maid finds out we’re not sharing a room, she’ll talk. Or if they do come for us, at least we can try and escape out the bedroom window together. Separated, we’re vulnerable.”
I noticed that even though the lights weren’t on, Jack didn’t have any trouble navigating his way to the bedroom. Even without sunlight, the house was still brighter than the Pit.
“We have a maid?” I asked, as he nudged me into the room.
“That’s how it works in the Dome. I’m not sure about out here.” He shut the door and engaged the lock while I closed the curtains. He turned on a lamp even though I didn’t think we needed one.
While Jack was taking his turn in the bathroom, I searched the suitcase for something to wear to bed. All of the pajamas in the case were nothing more than provocative scraps of silk. I chose a pair of shorts and a t-shirt.
I was brushing my hair when he came back into the room. He was wearing pajama bottoms slung low around his bare hips and nothing else except the outline of his sunburn.
He looked mildly surprised at the way I was dressed. “Just making sure you’re ready for work in the morning?”
“It was either this,” I said, pointing to my outfit, “or this.” I held up a slinky nightie.
“Good choice.” He walked past me and flopped down on the bed. “Ow. Does your skin hurt?”
I nodded. It felt tight and sting-y. “Don’t you have a top to go with those bottoms?”
“Guy pajamas don’t come with tops.” He gave me a look that said I should know that. “I usually don’t wear anything. The bottoms are for you.”
“Thanks,” I said, a little too appreciatively.
I approached the bed feeling awkward. I knew it was stupid. Jack and I had been sharing a bed for quite a while now. But after everything we said tonight, sleeping together just got complicated. Stiffly, I lay down, cringing as the sheet scraped against my tender skin. I looked over at Jack. The gulf of empty space between us could’ve accommodated a small family. “I’ve never seen a bed this big.”
He had a smirk on his face. “Sunny, this isn’t the first time we’ve shared a bed, and we both know it’s not me who has a problem staying on my own side.” He turned off the lamp.
“I’ll stay over here,” I said with more confidence than I had.
Rolling onto my side, I gripped the mattress and threw my leg over the edge in an attempt to anchor myself. Even though I was sure I wouldn’t sleep, I wanted to be prepared, just in case.
Chapter Six
With a start I woke, sensing something different. Disoriented, I looked around the room. It was dimly lit in a foreign way—as if someone turned half a light on. In the Pit, the lights were either on or off. There was no in-between. A sliver of yellow filtered through the slit in the curtains and fell across the bed. I put my hand into the stream of light. It was warm.
After a night spent clinging to the side of the mattress, my muscles were stiff. Slowly I stretched out my limbs and felt Jack beside me. At least I had stayed on my side.
Quietly, I rolled off the bed and padded to the window to look outside. The top of the sun was barely visible above the mountains, but already its fingers were reaching out and stealing the darkness from night. It was already too bright to tolerate and I reached for my sunglasses on the bedside table. Jack was awake, his blue eyes quietly regarding me.
“Want to see your first sunrise?” I asked.
He left the bed and came to stand behind me and I pulled the curtains open wider. In the backyard a bird was singing, heralding the arrival of a new day. I searched the trees for the creature but couldn’t see it. Then it flew to another tree, flashing its red wings. Another bird joined it and together they chirped, their throats pulsating.
Jack’s arms circled my waist. “Amazing,” he whispered against my ear.
I relaxed into him, resting my head against the side of his. As the rising sun caressed my face, the warmth of his bare chest gently pressed against me. It probably wasn’t a good idea considering our no-romance agreement. But it was the single most beautiful moment of my entire existence and I was loath to give it up. I put my hands over his, holding him there.
I’m not sure how long we stood together at the window, but our fragile bond was broken when a guard stood up and stretched. We hadn’t noticed him leaning against the back of the house. Jack dropped his arms and stepped away from me. I shivered from the cool air that rushed in to take the place of his body heat.
“We better get ready for work. You can have the bathroom first.”
Work. The thought made my stomach knot. I should’ve thought to ask Gaia about work life out here. But I had been too overwhelmed by the news of what Holt had planned for everyone in the Pit to be concerned with my own predicament.
I shut the bathroom door and turned on the tap to let the water run tepid. Before I met Jack, I never would’ve wasted water like this. It had become a guilty pleasure for me. Then I thought of the river we saw before we came to this city and my guilt eased. Out here there was an endless supply.
I scrubbed my face, cleaned my teeth and brushed my hair into a ponytail. Securing the elastic was more problematic since I found it impossible to stop my hands from shaking. Biting the inside of my cheeks, I gave my reflection a hard look, willing myself to calm down. There was no way I could get through today if I allowed my fears to take over. I reminded myself that I had posed as Leisel at her wedding. I had walked down the aisle in front of the entire Dome, pretending to be someone important, knowing I could be killed at any moment. I made it through that ordeal. Today was no different.
With greater determination, I smoothed my hair back and forced my fingers to perform the familiar task. This time I was successful. I gave my reflection an encouraging smile, took a deep breath and went in search of Jack.
“Have you ever had coffee?” he asked as I entered the kitchen.
“No. But I remember serving it at your bachelor party.”
He picked up a steaming mug and handed it to me. I took a sip. It was hot and bitter. I pasted a smile on my face and made an “mmmm” sound. He gave me a satisfied grin and sipped his own beverage. I didn’t really like it, but he looked so happy to share it with me.
He had toast and cut-up fruit already prepared and we sat down together at the table. Although my stomach was a fluttering mass of nerves, I forced myself to eat a slice of toast.
“Nervous?” he asked.
I shook my head. “I’m okay.”
“Really?” He reached under the table and grabbed my leg. I hadn’t realized I was swinging it back forth. I uncrossed my legs and put both feet firmly on the floor. “I’m nervous too.”
The fact that he admitted that seemed a little surprising. Jack oozed self-confidence, although I was beginning to wonder how much of that belonged to his persona as heir.
“But you know how to fight. I suck, remember?”
He smiled broadly and shook his head. “I never said you sucked.” He leaned forward and took one of my shaking hands in his. I felt the tension in his grip. “We’ve done a pretty good job of hiding in plain sight up until now. We can do it a little longer, right?”
I nodded.
The sound of a vehicle pulling up in front of the house interrupted our conversation. We looked out the window. A shiny black car was parked in front of the house. An armed soldier exited the driver’s seat and walked around to the back passenger door to lean against it.
Jack snorted. “Great.”
“What?”
“It’s an escort to take me to work. Powell’s really laying it on thick.”
“You mean we’re late?” I felt the familiar tightening in my chest at the thought of reporting late for work. The bourge didn’t tolerate that.
“It’s okay. You’re with me—the next president,” Jack said. I regarded him apprehensively. How was that going to save me from a beating? “As far as they know, I’m the most powerful person next to Holt. No one is going to question me.”
“Well, we still better hurry up.”
Rushing into the bedroom, I donned a pair of socks and my work boots and slathered my exposed skin with sun block. Jack was sipping a second coffee when I came back into the kitchen. He wasn’t even trying to get ready.
“Hurry up or you’re going to get us in trouble,” I said.
“Let them wait.” He poured another steaming cup and handed it to me. “I’ll get ready, and you try to relax.”
When Jack left the kitchen, I poured the coffee down the drain and peeked out the window again. The soldier leaning against the car was chatting easily to one of Jack’s security guards. There was another black car parked in front of the general’s house. The driver of that car was leaning against his vehicle too, and I assumed he was waiting for Powell.
An open-top jeep joined the parked cars on the road, and shortly after its arrival, Powell and Gaia emerged. The general got into the black car and Gaia went to the open-top jeep. The black car pulled away from the curb and headed in the direction of town. The jeep remained. I wondered if they were waiting for me.
“See anything out there?” Jack asked as he came into the kitchen.
“The general just left,” I said, turning to look at him. He was dressed in combat clothes again today, the pistol strapped to his thigh.
“Believe me, I wish you had one too,” he said, noticing my eyes on the weapon. “You’re not tagged, so if you need to run, do it.”
I nodded. “If we get separated, we should meet at the slag heap.”
“Do you remember how to get back there?”
“I think so.”
“Slag heap it is.” He took a deep breath as he put on his military cap. “Ready to go?”
I nodded, but the trembling of my hands gave me away. Straightening my fingers, I swiped sweaty palms against my back pockets.
I followed him to the door. As his hand gripped the knob, he paused and turned to regard me for a moment. I thought I saw the barest hint of confusion cross his features before he put on his sunglasses.
“If anything happens…the slag heap,” he said.
“I’ll meet you there,” I promised.
He pulled open the door and our privacy vanished. His security guard snapped to attention, but Jack
didn’t even acknowledge the man. He just walked past, heading toward the shiny black vehicle as if he had done it a thousand times. His guard fell in step right behind him.
I pulled the door shut behind me as I stepped out onto the front porch. A warm breeze tickled my skin. I wasn’t sure I would ever get used to the sensation. Standing on the steps, I watched the driver open the car door for Jack and he slipped into the backseat. His head turned in my direction before the door was shut. The car pulled away and I watched it go until it was out of sight. Fear and loneliness mixed, leaving me feeling abandoned. It was an irrational feeling and I pushed it away.
Across the street, the driver of the jeep was looking at me, pointing toward the back seat. Steadying my nerves, I walked over to the vehicle and got in beside Gaia. I smiled. She acknowledged me with vague interest. I wondered if she was still upset about our conversation last night.
The jeep lurched forward and sped in the opposite direction from town. We drove through the neighborhood, passing plain houses surrounded by white picket fences. There was an eeriness to the desolate neighborhood as the houses stood empty, patiently waiting for their bourge families to claim them.
Abruptly the smooth pavement we were driving on ended and the road turned into rutted tracks in the earth. The houses were replaced with trees, which grew thicker as we drove. Eventually, the jeep broke out of the forest into a huge clearing and took a sharp left turn. Ahead of us I saw two large compounds. Each compound had four long buildings enclosed inside a tall wire fence. The front gates were wide open to allow vehicles in and out. We drove into the compound closest to us.
There were no flower gardens or green lawns in the urchin corral. Just muddy paths that ran between the rows of long, narrow buildings with pitched roofs. It was busy inside the fence. Sunglass-clad women were running in different directions, some carrying baskets of laundry, others rushing to join queues to get on large, open-backed trucks.
Our driver exited the jeep. There was a woman directing others, ensuring they were getting into the proper queues. He motioned for her to come over. “Got another one for you, Hazel,” he said, as the woman approached.
Worlds Collide: Sunset Rising, Book Two Page 6