Sunset Rising

“You scared me. I thought maybe you found a way to get out of here. Leisel would’ve killed me.”

“I’m still here.”

“Come on. They delivered a protein drink to me this morning in case I had a hangover. You have it.” He rolled off the bed and threw a bathrobe at me. “Wear this. Your dress needs to be washed.”

Tentatively, I stood up. Not as bad as last night, but I was still a little shaky. I slipped into the bathrobe, grateful to have something to wear.

Jack was sitting on the sofa reading something on a computer tablet when I came into the living room. He looked up at me and held out a glass. Hesitantly, I accepted it. I was suspicious of why he and Leisel were being so good to me. Despite her threat to turn in Summer, Leisel didn’t have to feed me or share her wine last night. And Jack had been kind to help me when I was sick and he was sharing his food. It was all so confusing.

I sat down on one of the chairs across from the sofa and took a sip of the thick liquid. It tasted like the food in the Pit. I gulped it down.

“Slowly or you’re going to get sick again,” Jack said. “Do you remember everything from last night?”

I thought for a moment. “I think so. You and Leisel want me to pose as the bride because you’re afraid someone is trying to kill her.”

“Well, you’re almost right. It’s what Leisel wants, not me.”

“Right.”

“I’m going to marry Leisel no matter what. I just prefer she’s the one standing beside me at the altar. So how are you and I going to make that happen?” He took his blue eyes off his tablet to give me a piercing look.

“What can I do? I’m powerless.”

“I disagree. She seems to really like you. You might be able to influence her.”

I laughed. “Me? Have influence over Leisel Holt?” Even the thought was absurd.

“Just convince her that no one is trying to assassinate her!”

My eyes opened a little wider at his angry tone. For a moment I’d forgotten exactly who I was addressing. My situation was impossible. I was caught between two of the most powerful people under the Dome. And I was no one. If I didn’t help Leisel, she would report Summer to the authorities and have her punished for stealing food. If I did help Leisel, then I could only imagine what Jack would do to me. Either way, I was in trouble.

I wished Summer were there to show me the bright side of the situation. I tried to think like my friend, to see what good I could find in all of this. Maybe I could find my answer in Leisel and Jack. Perhaps it wasn’t too far-fetched to believe that they were good people who did want to change things in the Pit for the better. If that was true, then I would be helping my own people by ensuring these two came into power one day.

“I might get myself in trouble with you for saying this,” I said, “but she told me about your plans together. She told me that you both want to… change the way things are.” I paused for a moment to gauge his reaction, but his expression hadn’t changed. “I know this is completely unimportant and doesn’t have anything to do with your wedding, but recently my mom was Culled and my dad lost his job. I know it was his own fault, but he’s just so sad right now, and I am, too. I miss my mom so much. But if I don’t keep my job, my dad and I are going to lose our home. Do you know what that means where I come from? To lose your source of credit?”

“Look, I know you probably have issues in your life, and I’m really sorry for you. But I can’t change anything. I don’t have that kind of power.”

“I know you don’t have that kind of power yet. And I know my situation isn’t important to you. But what is important to me is that when you become president, you can change things.”

He studied me silently for what seemed an eternity. No longer able to meet his gaze, I looked at the floor. With growing apprehension, I wondered if I had just pushed him too far.

“I don’t know what my fiancée has discussed with you, but any plans she and I make for our future together are private. And if our private plans were ever made public, well, let’s just say I would never be given the leadership role.” He glared at me, and his lips were drawn into a tight line.

It took a moment before I realized he thought I was trying to blackmail him, which was the furthest thing from my mind. Who would listen to an urchin anyway?

“Please don’t misunderstand me. All I’m trying to say is that if you and Leisel want to make life better for us in the Pit, then I owe it to everyone I love to make sure you become president one day. So if someone is really trying to kill her, then I’ll do whatever it takes to protect her.” For a moment I wondered if I was being brave or just plain stupid. I decided to go with brave. It sounded better.

Something in his expression changed when I said that. He almost seemed surprised. His intense blue eyes narrowed. He seemed to want to look inside me, see right into my soul. Maybe he thought I was lying.

“So you’re saying you’ll pose as the bride and risk taking a bullet for her in order to save your people?”

“Yes.”

What I was saying could be considered treason. Jack could call in the guards and have me arrested right now. But I was going on the hope that what Leisel had told me was true—that they really did have plans together to change the Dome.

“So, you’re not going to talk her out of this?”

“Look, I don’t want to be the bride any more than you want me to be, but I think we both know I really don’t have a choice.”

The doorbell rang, and Jack set his computer down to go answer it. Leisel swept into the room wearing a big smile and carrying a large garment bag.

She kissed him. “Good morning, Jack.”

“Darling.”

“Look what I brought you, Su

“Leisel, I’m not supposed to see it!” Jack said, suddenly turning into the playful bridegroom.

“Then go away.” She watched as he went into the bedroom. “He behaved himself with you last night, right?”

“He was very nice. He slept on the sofa and gave me his bed. He loves you very much. I don’t think you should worry.” I suddenly felt very self-conscious in his robe.

“You need some clothes, don’t you?” It was almost as if Leisel read my mind again. “I’ll bring some later. But right now, maybe you wouldn’t mind trying this on.”

She produced her wedding dress with a dramatic flourish. I knew I should feel honored. There were thousands of people excitedly anticipating seeing her wedding dress the next day, and here I was about to try it on. But I was all too aware of what it would mean for me to wear this dress and walk down the aisle. I could be caught. I could be shot.

The dress was beyond beautiful. The top was silk with a high collar. The bodice was form fitting to mid-hip, and then the silk seamlessly dropped away into a waterfall of chiffon. The back of the dress was just as stu

“It’s beautiful, Leisel.”

“Isn’t it? I had it replicated from a picture in an old magazine. I saw it years ago and thought if I ever got married, this would be my dress.”

“I can see why. You’ll look beautiful in it.”

“No, you’ll look beautiful in it. Try it on, but first this.” She produced a thick vest. “You’ll be bulletproof.”

I took off the robe and pulled the vest over my head. It felt heavy and hung from my slight frame, but Leisel adjusted the Velcro fasteners and pulled the vest snug to fit my form. Then she slipped the dress over my head. Even with the bulletproof vest, the dress was too big. It looked horrible. I tried to hide my relief.

“I don’t think it’s going to work,” I said, a little too happily. I bit my lip.