“I won’t ever let that happen to you! Do you hear me? They will never do that to you!” he yelled above the din of the chaos that had erupted all around us.
I became vaguely aware that everyone in the room was on their feet. Some people were throwing their tables over in a fit of rage. The President’s face came back on the screen, but few people were paying attention now. The crowd pulsed with outrage.
“Let this be a warning to anyone caught cooperating with Jack Kenner. I do not tolerate traitors and I will kill every last one of you,” the President continued his tirade with spittle running down one side of his chin. “I know where you are Jack Kenner and I’m coming for you.”
I wanted to reach through the screen and beat the President to death with my bare hands. How could such an evil being exist? How could he take such a sweet girl with the voice of an angel and kill her! He was the epitome of evil and he had to be stopped.
Domers were coming into the room now threatening to use tear gas, but instead of compliance they were met with fists and chairs being broken over their heads. Jack released me and flew at two Domers. I got up to join the fight, but stopped when I heard a moan somewhere beside me and looked down to see Terra gripping her stomach. David’s chair was empty. She was alone.
“I have to get you out of here,” I said decisively.
“When they shot her…” Terra began, but broke down in tears. “When they shot her, the shock was too great.”
“I know,” I said, tears streaming from my own eyes. I needed to get myself together.
I took Terra’s arm and wrapped it around my neck and helped her stand up. I noticed her pants were soaking wet. Her water had broken and she was in labour. The room was in total chaos and it was going to be a challenge to get to the door. I followed along the wall, putting myself between her and the fighting. I saw two Domers on the ground, people still kicking them. A few were still valiantly fighting, but losing quickly.
I reached the door and went out into the hall. It was just as chaotic as the room we had left. Terra was gripped by a contraction and we had to stop. I was getting worried about them using tear gas again. I wondered if I should take off my shirt now and put it over Terra’s mouth, like Jack had done for me. But it looked like the Domers were losing. Holt had underestimated our reaction.
“Okay,” Terra said when the contraction had stopped.
We resumed our trek down the hall, dodging falling bodies and fists that seem to be flying everywhere. Up ahead, I heard people beginning to scream and I knew something was coming our way. I didn’t have to wonder for very long. Soldiers were beating their way into the hall and we were in their path. I looked behind me and saw people scatter in every direction when they saw the approaching army. I saw the tear gas canisters clipped to their belts and knew if they used it, Terra would be dead. There was no way she could give birth while struggling to breathe.
“Flatten yourself to the wall,” I told her. We would have to make room for the soldiers and hoped they passed us by without incident.
They marched past us followed by a group of Domers. We were almost in the clear when two of the Domers came walking back to us. My heart was in my throat. Was it too much to wish that they just wanted to help a pregnant woman in distress?
“Give me your hand,” one of them demanded of me. When I failed to give it to him, he grabbed it. He waved a scanner over it. “Autumn Jones… aka Sunset O’Donnell. We got you.”
My mouth dropped open in shock. How did they know it was me? Then I remembered Gina. She must have reported me. They would have all the information about Autumn Jones, including the floor I lived on. They knew to come looking for me here.
The guards grabbed me by my arms, forcing me to let go of Terra. I gave her a terrified look.
“She needs help. She’s in labour,” I screamed at them.
“That doesn’t concern us,” one of the Domers responded unemotionally.
I threw a punch at him, aiming for his exposed torso and made contact. I saw the look of surprise on his face and was already bringing my knee up when the other guard grabbed me from behind and lifted me off the floor. I kicked my legs wildly to get out of his grasp, but the other guard took a baton from his belt and touched me with it. An electric jolt went through me and I went limp. The guard holding me grabbed my arms and twisted them behind my back and secured my wrists with cuffs. They forced me down the hall and up the stairs.
There were still a lot of people on the stairs even though soldiers were using their fists and the butts of their rifles to beat them into submission. I heard someone scream my name, but I couldn’t identify the source. I didn’t think it was Jack. I heard a commotion behind me, and then a gunshot rang out. My entire body jerked in response to the sound. How many people would be shot today? How many would die?
They opened the door and marched me out of the Pit. As the door shut behind us, the sounds of gunfire and screaming were replaced with softly playing music piped in through the speaker system. The Dome was bright and I had to shut my eyes against the glare. When I worked in the kitchen, I always took a few minutes to let my eyes adjust to the brighter light. But the guards marched on and I stumbled blindly with them. They stopped at the Reception Desk and scanned in.
The big steel door was opened and we crossed the threshold into the Dome. I peeked out from my narrowed eyelids and looked at the room. It was a stark contrast to the battleground I had just left. People were lounging by the fire, a drink in hand and deep in conversation. Another person was curled up on a chair reading a book. All were oblivious to the war being fought right beneath their feet.
The guards dragged me to an elevator and marched me in when the doors opened. I saw one of the guards press a button for the tenth floor. That was the Presidential floor. Were they taking me straight to the President? Maybe I wouldn’t have to face a firing squad like Crystal had. The image of her dying was still burned into my brain and it terrified me. Maybe the President would kill me with his bare hands. I think that would be preferable to everyone watching me die.
The elevator doors opened and they dragged me to the doors with the Holt family name printed over it. I had been here before when Leisel had invited me to pretend to be her on her wedding day, so I knew this was where the President’s living quarters were located. I wondered why they were taking me here instead of the President’s office. I hoped Summer wasn’t going to be there. She wouldn’t be very happy to see me die.
I was shocked when the guards stopped in front of Leisel’s apartment. Why here? I forced my eyes to open wider and looked at their faces through their visors. Then I recognized him - Leisel’s boyfriend Desmond. Why hadn’t I recognized him before? He knocked on the door and Leisel answered it.
“I brought you a present,” he said, taking off his helmet. He gave her a big smile. Leisel almost jumped into his arms, knocking me out of the way.
“Oh Dezzi, do you know how much I love you?” Leisel exclaimed, kissing him on the mouth.
“You better, considering all the things I do for you,” he kissed her back.
“But this is the best thing!” Leisel removed herself from his embrace to take a look at me. “Well, well. The elusive Sunny O’Donnell. Get her inside,” she instructed.
The guards pulled me into the apartment and forced me down into a chair. She walked over to me and pulled the hat off my head. My hair spilled down around my shoulders.
“I recognize this. It’s Jack’s,” she said looking at the hat. Then she looked at my hair. “Black?” She curled a few strands around her finger and rubbed it. “It’s coal! That’s ingenious Sunny. And have you put on weight or…” she felt my shoulders and chest. “You’re still wearing that thing,” she laughed at the bulletproof vest. “Well you certainly are a master of disguise. I mean, even on my wedding day you were absolutely brilliant. No one suspected a thing.”
She looked at me with laughter in her eyes. I realized she was every bit as deranged as her father. Maybe
more.
“What? You have nothing to say for yourself?” she questioned me.
“What would I have to say to a conniving little bitch like you?” I responded.
“You might want to be a little nicer to your captor. I can do whatever I please with you,” she sneered.
“Do what you like. I’m dead anyway,” I said matter-of-factly.
“Brave words,” she laughed. “But if you don’t willingly tell me where Jack is, let’s just say you’ll be begging me to kill you.”
I knew she was threatening me with torture.
“I don’t know where he is,” I said truthfully. At this precise moment, I didn’t have a clue where Jack Kenner was.
“Really?” Leisel raised an eyebrow at my response. “Do you want to know how I found you?” Leisel inquired. She continued despite my disinterested expression. “I intercepted a tip from someone named Gina who was hoping to collect the reward. She said a tall girl by the name of Autumn Jones was working in laundry. I checked the name and found out Autumn and Benjamin Jones are living on the fourth level. So I sent Desmond to see if Autumn might be Sunny O’Donnell and you are. Now I’d like to know where your husband is.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I said flatly.
“I assume Benjamin Jones is Jack Kenner,” she said, scrutinizing my face to see my reaction. I turned my eyes away, refusing to look at her. “Or maybe you’re living with that handsome boyfriend you told me all about. What did you say his name was?”
“I didn’t,” I snapped at her.
“Oh, touchy subject. Here I thought you’ve been living happily ever after with Jack, but now I think maybe you weren’t,” she said thoughtfully. I could almost see the wheels working in her head. “I’m sure Summer knows his name. I’ll have a chat with her while I’m at my father’s for dinner tonight. So here’s the deal. You tell me where Jack is and I’ll let your boyfriend live. You don’t and I’ll have him brought here and shot in the head in front of you.”
Crystal’s execution replayed in my head again and I could feel hot tears stinging my eyes at the thought of Reyes being killed in front of me. I knew she would do it, but there was no way I would tell her where Jack was. My only hope was that Summer wouldn’t tell her Reyes’s name, even though Leisel was a master manipulator and she could easily trick that kind of information out of her.
“Change your mind yet?” Leisel prompted. I remained silent. “I will get my way, Sunny. I want Jack so I can give my father the matching set. He’ll be so proud of me. He might even make me President right there and then,” she laughed with glee. “But now I have to meet him for dinner, so I’ll be nice and give you a few hours to think about our little deal. When I come back, I’ll have your boyfriend’s name. The choice will be yours.” She turned to Desmond. “Tie her up.”
“Do you want me to stay and guard her?” he asked.
“Obviously!” she admonished him. “But stay inside the apartment. You’ll arouse suspicion standing around outside.”
Leisel watched Desmond tie me to a chair and pulled the rope to make sure it was secure. Then she gave him a passionate kiss and told him again how good he was to her.
I got the impression she was manipulating him too.
Chapter Thirty-One
Desmond eyed me warily then turned his back on me. He stripped off the rifle that was slung across his back and took off the belt that held the tear gas canister and knives. He went into the kitchen and I heard the tap running. He came back out with a glass of water and sat down heavily on the sofa.
“It seems like Leisel really loves you,” I said hesitantly.
“Did I tell you to talk?” he glared at me.
“I was just making conversation,” I explained. “I mean it’s going to be a long night sitting here in silence.”
“Well, if you want to talk so much how about you tell me where Kenner is?” he responded.
“I really don’t know,” I said. “I’ve always been honest with Leisel. I don’t know why she doesn’t trust me now.”
“She doesn’t trust you because you’re protecting Kenner,” he said flatly.
“Why would I protect him? He’s just another no-good bourge who thinks he’s better than everyone else. The only reason I’m married to him is because Leisel tricked me into it,” I said bitterly. Desmond laughed.
“Leisel thinks you two are hiding together,” Desmond said suspiciously.
“If he’s down there, then someone else is hiding him,” I tried to convince him.
“What are you doing with his hat then?” he asked, eyeing the ball cap that sat on the table.
“I took it from his closet before I left his apartment,” I said truthfully.
“Yeah, and I suppose you’re the one who knocked out the guards assigned to his apartment. You’re lying,” he accused.
“Of course he was the one that took out the guards. I told him I would get him down to the Pit if he could get us out of there. And that’s what I did. I got him to the Pit and said goodbye. I don’t know if he stayed or if he left. But one thing I can tell you, bourge are not welcome down there. It wouldn’t surprise me if he’s up here somewhere,” I lied.
“I don’t trust you,” Desmond dismissed me.
“You don’t trust me?” I asked in a mocking voice. “You’re in love with a woman who betrayed her fiancé and used me to do it. Don’t forget, Jack Kenner thought she was in love with him too.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Desmond said angrily.
“Nothing,” I shrugged nonchalantly. “It’s just… I can’t help but think if she could do it to one man…” I let him finish my thought.
“Leisel is in love with me. She trusts me,” he almost yelled.
“I’m sure she does trust you,” I said in a calm voice. “You’ve been very useful to her. Did I say useful? I meant helpful. You’ve been very helpful.”
“I think its time for you to shut-up.” He slammed his fist down on the arm of the sofa.
I could tell by how angry he was that it was time to leave him alone. Now I just hoped the seeds of distrust I had planted would take root. If Desmond stopped working for Leisel, there would be no one to do her dirty work. No one to bother Reyes. It was a weak plan I knew, but the only one I could think of.
After a few minutes of silence, Desmond got up and paced the room. He was obviously deep in thought. I had never manipulated anyone like that before and was surprised at how easy it was. Leisel was a good teacher.
I kept my gaze on the floor, glancing at Desmond every so often. The look of confusion and anger on his face told me that my plan was working. I wasn’t sure how much time had passed, but I knew she would be back soon. Of course I had to keep in mind that Leisel really was the master of manipulation and she could easily calm all of his fears and have him wrapped around her finger again.
I nearly jumped when there was a sharp knock at the door. Desmond was immediately alert and went quickly to the door.
“Who is it?” he demanded.
“Leisel sent me to pick up the prisoner,” a male voice said from the other side of the door.
Desmond gave me a sharp look, obviously confused. I gave him my best I told you so look. Angrily, he pulled open the door and was met by the butt end of a rifle smashing into his face. He dropped to the floor. A Domer walked in, kicking Desmond’s limp body out of the way. He raised his visor and gave me a roguish grin.
“Miss me?” Jack asked as he crossed the room and untied my binds.
“How did you find me?” I asked in shock.
“I saw them take you. I recognized Leisel’s pet,” he motioned with his head in the direction of Desmond.
“Did you find Terra?” I asked anxiously.
“She’s fine. Or I think she is. She was giving birth when I left to come up here,” Jack said.
“Thank God!” I breathed. “Leisel will be back any minute,” I warned.
“Then let’s get out of here,
” Jack said. He returned to Desmond and stripped the uniform off his limp body.
“Leisel is going to go after Reyes,” I informed him.
He handed me Desmond’s uniform and I put it on. It was too big for me, but with a few tucks and the added weight of the bulletproof jacket, I could pass.
“What does she want with Reyes?” he asked.
“She wanted to know where you were and I told her we went our separate ways after we escaped. But she knew that Autumn Jones has been living with someone and wanted to know who that someone was. When I wouldn’t tell her, she guessed it might be my boyfriend that I told her about when we were drinking wine in your apartment that night.”
“Does she know his name? What other information did you give her that night?” he questioned.
“No I didn’t give her his name, but she’s going to try and weasel it out of Summer tonight. And I don’t know what else I told her. I was drunk. I don’t remember.”
“Yeah, you were pretty drunk,” Jack chuckled.
Once I had the uniform looking like it fit, I put the heavy belt with the tear gas and knives around my waist, but even when I cinched it tighter it was falling off from all the weight.
“Leave it. Maybe no one will notice,” Jack said.
I dropped it on the floor and slung the rifle across my back. The final piece of the uniform was the helmet and I took a moment to tuck my hair up inside it. Jack opened the door, looked both ways and then motioned for me to follow him.
“Are the cameras off?” I asked nervously.
“They were already off when I got up here. Leisel must have done it so no one would see you,” he informed me.
It took every bit of my will power not to sprint down the hall and out of view of Leisel’s apartment. I breathed a sigh of relief when we made it into the stairwell and closed the door silently behind us.
“We can’t go back. She knows where we live,” I said.
“I figured as much,” he responded. He started heading down the stairs.
Sunset Rising Page 31