The man raps on the door, and a deep voice rumbles from the other side. “Enter,” President Sullivan orders.
The man twists the handle and pushes the door inward.
President Sullivan is seated behind his enormous wooden desk, his mostly gray hair and tailored suit impeccable despite the late hour.
“Sit down,” he commands and points to a mahogany-hued chair with overstuffed padding the second I step inside. Then to the three men, he says, “Leave.”
The two men gripping my arms release me and do as they’re told. I sink into the chair and watch as the thin man does a half-bow then turns and exits in a slightly more theatrical fashion than his cohorts did.
Once they are gone and the door is shut, President Sullivan’s frosty gaze falls on me. “What did I tell you about my expectations regarding your behavior?”
I part my lips to speak but close them at once when he leans forward, boring a hole in my head with harsh eyes.
“You were told to behave as all citizens of New Washington behave. Those were Presidential orders, clear and concise.”
“I’m sorry.” The words spring from my mouth unexpectedly. “But that teacher was abusing—”
President Sullivan strikes his desk with the palm of his hand. “He is a respected teacher and resident of Washington Central! He’s allowed to use any methods he sees fit to teach the children to defend themselves!” High color stains his cheeks and veins near his temples bulge.
“But he wasn’t teaching them,” I mumble meekly.
“That’s not for you to decide!” he screams, his complexion deepening to an unhealthy purple. Every tense cord in his throat is visible. He looks as though he’s about to erupt lava like a volcano.
“I’m sorry,” I say. And while I’m not sorry for what I did to Mr. Derrick, I am sorry for what it’s leading to. All I can think of is June.
President Sullivan closes his eyes and pinches the bridge of his long, aquiline nose. He inhales then sighs heavily. When he opens his eyes, he forms a steeple with his fingers, holding them in front of him. “At first, I was going to just have my guards throw you out into the desert tonight and be done with it,” he says in a measured voice. He pauses for a moment, pursing his thin lips and studying his hands. “But then I reconsidered.” He leans back and interlaces his fingers across his chest, looking at me with incomparable smugness. “I decided to have your sister removed and lock you in the city’s detention center.”
My stomach plummets to my feet, fear bleeding me of my breath. I rocket to my feet. “What have you done?” My voice is raw and feral, foreign to my ears. If he tells me June has been returned to the desert alone I will kill him where he stands. My eyes land on a sharp, bladelike object with an ornate gold handle. I’ll swipe it and plunge it into his heart to its hilt if he has. I’m already envisioning how it will take place when his voice snaps me from my vengeful thoughts.
“Relax. She’s safe, for now,” he threatens and stresses the words “for now.” He speaks with the calculated deliberateness of a man accustomed to power, to getting exactly what he wants when he wants it. I find him contemptible. “But the only reason she is, is because you are going to do something for me. And if you don’t, I will throw her out alone.”
Biting back the tempestuous rise of bile burning through me, I ask, “What do you want me to do?”
“I want you to get my son to move back home to Washington Central and get on board with his destiny. He should be the future leader of New Washington.”
“I thought Presidents are elected,” I say levelly.
“Don’t be naive, Avery. I’m sure he told you how things work here.” He shrugs unapologetically. “It’s for the good of the people.”
“You don’t have any other children?”
“No, Sully was born just before illness claimed my wife, and I have no intention of suffering through another marriage.” President Sullivan waves his hand as if fanning an offensive odor at the notion of starting a new relationship and additional children.
“You don’t have to be married to have children,” I shrug and add.
He huffs self-righteously, scoffing at what I’ve said. “No, you don’t. But if you want the children to be recognized as legitimate you do.” He narrows his eyes and shakes his head at me as though I’m too foolish to even bother wasting his breath. I mirror his expression and he leans back. Smoothing his hands down the front of his dark coat, he draws in a breath then releases it. “Sully is my heir, and I can tell he listens to you, that he respects your opinion.”
Folding my arms across my chest, I tip my chin and ask, “What makes you so sure about that?”
A sly, self-satisfied smile carves his face. “I’ve been watching; that’s what makes me so sure.”
“Watching? When? Where?” I lean forward in my seat and demand.
“This is my city. Don’t ever forget that, young lady.” He curls his fingers and glances at the nails on one hand. “You needn’t worry yourself over when and where I watch you. Just know I’m always doing it.” He scowls at me. “Focus on convincing my son instead, because if you don’t you know what’s going to happen.” His gaze lifts from his fingernails and settles on me.
I lower my chin to my chest and close my eyes, contemplating a choice given to me for which a decision does not need to be made. I’ll die before seeing my sister banished from New Washington, despite the many misgivings I have about manipulating Sully, if he can be manipulated. I doubt he can be. Either way, I will do as his father has asked to spare June, at least until I can come up with another option, a solution that safeguards all of us and involves me telling Sully the truth. It’ll be a challenge now, knowing that there are eyes on me at all times. But I will find a way to inform Sully of his father’s intentions.
Licking my lips, I start to raise my head. It feels heavy, as if weighted by the world itself. I stare into the eyes of a man I deem a detestable bug I long to squash beneath my booted foot. “I’ll do whatever you want,” I tell him. “Just please, leave my sister alone.”
A calculating smile lifts one side of his mouth, the expression so painfully familiar I touch my hand to my heart. Only President Sullivan’s smile is not filled with playful mirth as his son’s is. His is cruel, sinister. Wordlessly, he depresses a button that emits a buzzing sound. The henchmen who escorted me to the castle enter the room and yank me from my chair. They whisk me out of President Sullivan’s sight and out of Washington Central, returning me to my room and leaving before my mind can fully process all that’s happened.
I move to June’s bed and watch over her. She’s still sleeping, her deep, even breaths a welcome sound. Her eyelids flutter. I can only hope she’s dreaming of the life she’ll have here, safe and sound in New Washington.
Turning, I stand before the foot of my bed. My knees give way from beneath me, and I collapse to the mattress. I’m exhausted in every possible sense of the word. Leaning forward, I rest my elbows on my knees and rake my hands through my hair, massaging my scalp. A sob unexpectedly racks my body, then another, and another, until tears stream from my eyes. Twisting and grabbing the pillow at the head of the bed, I shove my face into it and try to purge myself of the trauma of being ripped from a deep sleep, and then from my bed, by strangers and dragged to President Sullivan’s office to have my sister’s well-being threatened one tear at a time. But it doesn’t work. Crying doesn’t help. The fact still remains that June’s happiness, her security, her welfare—all are in jeopardy. And I’m the only person standing between her and that threat.
Chapter 17
June is in the shower when a soft knock at the door sets my nerves on edge. After my middle of the night visitors apprehended me, I no longer feel safe in the confines of my own room. Cautiously, I spring from my bed and move to the door. “Who is it?” I demand.
“It’s Sully. Can I come in?”
Relief washes over me. After shoving a thick curl out of my eyes, I immediately twist the handle and
pull the door toward me. “Hey. What’s going on? Is everything okay?” I look past him, out into the hallway. He’s alone and there doesn’t appear to be a commotion anywhere in sight.
“Sheesh, Avery. Relax. Everything’s fine.” Teasing laughter glints in the depths of his molten brown eyes before he brushes past me and steps into my room.
I want more than anything else to tell him about last night, about his father’s threat, but I can’t; not yet at least. Fire churns in my gut, the memory of the President’s smug assurance still fresh in my mind.
“Avery? Hey, you okay?”
I’m vaguely aware that he’s called my name and that I’ve failed to acknowledge him. Exhaustion has collided with supreme annoyance and rendered me unresponsive for a fleeting moment.
“Hey, what’s wrong?” Sully brushes a wayward tendril from my forehead then lightly grips my upper arms. He’s close, so close I smell the scent of his soap, but his proximity is welcome.
“Oh, uh nothing,” I fumble. “I didn’t sleep well last night.” And that’s the truth. An understatement, yes, but still the truth.
“Oh, sorry to hear that.” Sully takes a step backward. “Is it the bed?” He brushes past me and plops down on my bed.
“Come on in and make yourself at home,” I joke then shut the door.
“Can’t be the bed,” he continues with the conversation he seems to be having with just himself. “The mattress feels just like mine: lumpy and thin.” He turns on his side and props himself up on his elbow. Then promptly lowers his face and sniffs the cushiony surface. “Smells kind of musty, like mine too,” he adds and crinkles his nose.
“Enough with the bed, already!”
Sully’s head snaps up, and for a moment, his expression is inscrutable.
“Sorry.” I rub my forehead. “That was rude. I’m just really tired.” A recount of the entire scene that transpired with his father and the henchmen he sent for me is on my tongue, burning with need for release.
“No worries.” He shrugs one shoulder the sits upright. “Listen, I came here this morning to ask for a favor.”
“Sure. What is it?” I ask without hesitation.
“Some friends of mine that I grew up with from Washington Central want to get together with me tonight. They’re all excited that I’m back.”
“That’s nice.” I bob my head, happy for him, and wait for him to explain how a favor from me comes into play. When he doesn’t, I ask. “What do you want from me?”
“Oh, right, I forgot to ask. I want you to come with me. Will you come with me?”
“What do you need me for?” The words slip out before I have time to think them through. Of course I’ll go with him. Sully has saved me more than once. I owe him my life.
“It would just be easier for me if you’re there. The people we’re going to see, my old friends, they don’t understand why I left and why I think this place is wrong. Maybe you could help.”
“So you want me to help convince them they’re wrong? That might cause problems, don’t you think.”
Sully rakes his hand through his hair. Sandy blonde tufts are ruffled, leaving him appearing younger and more vulnerable looking than I’m used to seeing him. I smile reflexively.
“Fair enough,” he chuckles. “No, I guess not. But I want you with me.” His eyes lock on mine and a faint tremor skims the length of my spine.
“Sure, no problem.” I hear the patter of water from the shower come to a stop. June will be out soon. I’m sure she won’t appreciate Sully’s presence when her hair is wet and her skin is pink from scrubbing. I’m about to usher Sully to the door when a question pops into my mind. “Sully, am I allowed to go to Washington Central socially?” When we traveled through the tunnels, Opal was with us, but I vaguely remember people posted at various positions along the way. At the time, I’d gotten the impression that they were guards of some sort. Who or what they guarded was unclear at the time, especially since the only threat I could think of was above ground.
Sully holds my gaze. He looks equal parts surprised and impressed. “I got you a pass. I already have one.” He looks at his shoes sheepishly.
“A pass? I need a pass to visit Washington Central?” Suddenly, the men who were stationed at regular intervals make sense. They weren’t guarding the people of New Washington from threats from above. They were shielding the people of Washington Central from the General Population, or GenPop as Sully refers to us.
“Yeah,” Sully says apologetically. “It’s yet another aspect of this place that makes my skin crawl.”
“You and me both,” I agree and nod somberly. Comfortable silence stretches between us for several beats before I ask, “What time are we meeting your friends?”
“Uh, seven thirty I think. I’ll come by here and get you at seven. June can stay with Jericho. I already spoke to him about it.”
“Thanks. I’ll feel better knowing she’s with Jericho,” I think aloud.
“She’d be fine alone in her room, too. No night creatures and no Urthmen makes for a pretty safe stay here.”
That’s what you think, I want to tell him, but I do not dare. June’s life is on the line. Instead, I reply, “That’s true.”
“Great, so I’ll see you at seven?” His smile is wide and warm. I can’t help but smile in return.
“See you at seven,” I confirm.
I walk Sully to the door and he says good-bye to me as if he isn’t going to see me for the rest of the day. In reality, I’ll see him in about ten minutes. I giggle to myself after the door is shut. June steps out of the bathroom and sees me giggling.
“What’s gotten into you?” she asks.
“Oh nothing, just Sully,” I say.
“What about Sully?” Her sudden interest is sweet. I know she idolizes him, perhaps even has a crush on him. Either way, I don’t want to upset her, so I don’t tell her about going to Washington Central with him. I’ll tell her later, after classes.
“Oh, nothing really. He just stopped by to ask me a question.” It’s the truth. He did stop by just to ask a question.
June doesn’t probe, a fact I’m grateful for. I don’t want to lie to my sister. After the night I had, I’d prefer to start the day as calmly as possible, that’s all. She puts on her socks and shoes then kisses my cheek. “Riley and I need to get to class, and so do you. Let’s get going.”
I nod and gesture for her to lead the way. We meet up with the others. Will barely acknowledges me and stays close to Sarah as we walk down the long hallway. The sting of seeing them together has reduced to a dull ache. The low rumble of their chatter is interrupted by outbursts of laughter; mostly Sarah’s giggling fits that precede her pawing at his arm. The rest of the day progresses in the same manner. I attend my classes, listen intently and behave myself, and see with clarity that is nearly blinding that something more than friendship exists between Will and Sarah. Sully disappears before the last course begins. I wonder where he’s gone and envy him for getting away. I only hope his father’s men haven’t summoned him the way they summoned me. When he rejoins our group as we make our way back to our rooms, I suppress the urge to jump for joy. He seems unharmed and in remarkably good spirits. I’m left to assume that wherever he was, he was doing something he enjoyed.
“Hey, where’d you sneak off to?” I ask and lightly elbow him in the ribs.
Something about him looks different, his hair maybe. I can’t pinpoint what it is. I part my lips to ask but am distracted when he answers. “Where I’ve been is a surprise.” He tips his chin and looks as if he can barely contain the smile threatening to split his face.
“What’s a surprise? And why do you look so, I don’t know, happy, or maybe guilty is a better word?”
He presses his lips together tightly and makes a gesture as if he’s zipping them closed.
I want to smack him in the arm then shake him until he tells me, but seeing Sarah act similarly stops me dead in my tracks. I shrug and say, “Whatever. Keep your secr
et. I don’t care.”
Undaunted, Sully’s smile resumes, and my attempt to ignore him wavers. I mirror his expression until we reach the section of the hallway where our rooms are. “See you at seven,” Sully says before slipping into his room.
“What’s at seven?” June asks. “Where are we going?”
“Oh, um, well, I’m going out tonight,” I say as I slide my keycard into the slot. The handle turns and I push the door. June passes me and steps into our room.
“Where and with who?” June asks, though I’m relatively certain she’s already made the connection that Sully and I have plans.
“Come on, June, you heard what Sully said,” I say as I nearly trip over a large, rectangular box just inside the doorway. “What the heck?” I eye the package suspiciously.
“It’s a box, Avery, not a bomb,” June replies.
Don’t be so sure, I’m tempted to say. I look at her and shake my head.
“We’re in New Washington. Things are different here. Open it.”
In a way, I wish I shared her optimism. I’d love to know what it feels like to be unencumbered by constant worry, by the knowledge that most creatures, human or otherwise, would just as soon step on you rather than around you. Unfortunately, that much liberty would’ve likely gotten me killed long ago.
I lick my lips and kneel, placing my ear to the box before turning it. I do not hear any sounds coming from it, and it is light when I lift it.
“Oh, for crying out loud!” June stomps to the package and tears it open with ferocity that frightens me and makes me proud at the same time.
“Whoa, hold on.” I try to stop her, but her hands have left the box and are covering her mouth. “Oh my gosh,” she says from behind them.
“What? What is it?” I worry that a head is inside, or another gory limb. “Just don’t look at it. Back away,” I urge her, but she doesn’t listen. She thrusts both hands inside and yanks at the contents of the box. Flimsy, nearly transparent paper falls to the side, along with two, slipper-like shoes, as she pulls an item from it. Unfurling it, she holds a garment.
The Underground City (Book 3): Planet Urth, no. 3 Page 18