The Sun Dwellers

Due to the much thi

“We’re heading that way, right?” I say to Tristan.

“Yes. Once we get in the tu

Roc adds, “This is called the Capital Cluster. It’s four subchapters—one through four—number one being in the center and the other three surrounding it. Subchapter one is co

“Which is why we’re heading into Spoke 3 when we’re in subchapter four,” I say to confirm my understanding.

“Exactly,” Roc says.

“So if the trains aren’t ru

“Through the tu

My heart sinks. In other words: once the alarms sound, the tu

Chapter Sixteen

Tristan

I hate seeing the look on Adele’s face when she realizes we don’t have an escape plan, when and if we complete our mission. But it only lasts a second before being replaced by narrow eyes and tight lips and a proud incline to her chin. I have the urge to kiss her right here, but the others are watching and now’s not really the time.

She understands the situation, so I don’t say anything more. Instead, I start down the road that leads to the tu

The road runs right up to the cavern wall, which rises hundreds of feet above us, all the way to the diamond-studded roof. Cut into the rock is a massive tu

As we enter the gaping tu

“If we do we can just blend in anyway,” Trevor says. “In these digs I fit right in.”

“It’s unlikely we’ll see anyone,” I say. “As Roc said earlier, most people will stay in their own city for the Sun Festival. It’s kind of a tradition, like people are proud of the celebration their subchapter comes up with. They’re always trying to outdo each other.”

Nodding, Roc motions to the wide expanse of the tu

“I’m glad it’s not any other day,” Adele says. “I’ve had about enough of large crowds for my entire life.”

“I don’t know,” Tawni says. “I kind of enjoyed it.”

“Me, too,” Trevor says. “Although I had the urge to smack most of ’em around.”

I laugh, my voice echoing through the empty tu

We walk in silence for a few minutes, the orange tu

“Where should we stop?” Roc says.

“Stop?” I echo.

“To tell your BIG secret,” Trevor says, over-exaggerating his words. “Or have you chickened out?”

Ugh. Yes. I might feel more comfortable if I had any clue how they would react. Especially Adele—her reaction worries me the most. It doesn’t help that I’ve kept it from her this long. I swallow a thick gulp of spittle, which only adds to my nervousness.

“Uh, yeah. I mean no. I mean I’m going to tell you. I have to.”

“Where?” Roc repeats, glancing to the side as we pass the doors to a rest stop meant for the oldies, who can’t make it the whole way through the tu

“Maybe at the next stop,” I say, trying to delay as long as possible.

“I think there’s only one left,” Roc says.

“That’ll do,” I say, my mind whirling through what I want to say, how I want to say it. It’s like all the information is there, but is broken into a million pieces, none of which I can make sense of, or which fit together. As I desperately try to co

“Last rest stop is just ahead,” Roc says, and my head jerks to the side, my eyes locking in on the doors I dread opening, the doors that might change my relationship with Adele forever. Where did the last few minutes go? It’s like I blinked and we were a quarter mile further along the track, some trick of time and distance. My face is hot and my chest tight, my breathing short and shallow. What is wrong with me? Step up and be a man. I’ve faced much graver dangers than this—dangers that threatened my life and the lives of those I care about—and yet I’m much more scared now.

“I’m ready,” I say, not to them, but to myself, trying to convince myself that I am.

We reach the doors and I stop, just stare at them. They’re the exact opposite of how I’m feeling: bright pink and blue striped with ornate carvings of a city—the Capital, the presidential buildings, a statue of the first Nailin president. A happy and light scene leading the way to a tale of darkness and the unfairness of the world my father controls.

“Are we…going in?” Trevor says from behind, a verbal kick in the butt.

I want to move aside, to let Roc or Adele or anyone else open the door, but I know I have to do this myself; by opening these doors I’m metaphorically opening the door to what Roc and I know. The door to the truth.

I take a deep breath. Take a step forward. Place a hand on the door.

Then I’m in, having pushed the door open without even really realizing it, holding it for the others behind me.

Once everyone’s inside, I let the door swing shut behind me. We’re in a sanctuary of sorts. A sanctuary from the sun dwellers, from the tu

“This is the nicest room I’ve ever seen,” Trevor a

“You should all sit down for this,” I say, motioning to the couches. I wonder how the seating positions will end up. Naturally, Roc and Tawni sit together on a black two-seater, Trevor grabs a solo lounge chair, immediately resting his feet on a cushioned ottoman, and Adele snags the end of a large couch, clearly inviting me to join her.

I sit down next to her, but keep a space between us, leaving it up to her whether to eventually fill the gap. I take in the four faces watching mine. Tawni looks interested, Roc serious, Trevor amused, and Adele uncertain, her expression neutral, with clear eyes, her brows raised slightly, her lips as straight as a sword.