Sunset Rising

“Don’t despair. I’ve brought pins.”

My tiny spark of hope fizzled out quickly as she shook a box of pins. She set to work taking it in on either side, pulling it this way, tucking it that way. At least we were the same height so it didn’t need to be hemmed.

“There,” she said when she was finished.

She guided me to a mirror on the back of a closet door. I couldn’t believe it was me in the reflection. “This dress makes me look beautiful.” I wasn’t being modest. The dress was truly spectacular. As I admired how perfectly it fit, all hope of getting out of this plan faded.

“No, you make the dress beautiful. It never looked this good on me.”

“I’m sure that’s not true, Leisel. It was made for you and —”

She held her hand up to cut me off. “No argument. You look beautiful in it. In fact, when you get married—I mean for real—you can wear this dress, and I want to be there to see it!”

“What?”

Leisel laughed at my confusion. “I think it’s a shame that no one will actually get to see you in this dress. Everyone will think you’re me. You’re helping me out so much, Su

I had to think about what she was proposing: me in a big white wedding dress, down in the Pit, marrying Reyes, with bourge as guests. And not just any bourge, but the president’s daughter. Somehow, I just couldn’t see it happening, though the image was nice. I managed to stifle my laughter, but I still broke into a huge smile.

“See, I knew that would make you happy.”

“It’s not the dress that makes me happy. It’s the thought of living in a world where I could have a wedding with you there as my friend.” I spoke the truth, even though I knew it was a fantasy.

“That’s the world I want to live in, too. I’ve never had a best friend before, Su

Our eyes met in the mirror, and I searched her face for a hint of sincerity. With all my heart, I wanted to believe her.

“Well, don’t make me cry! My makeup is going to run, and Jack and I have a televised interview this morning. Do you believe people want to know about us?” Leisel shook her head in disbelief. “Why? We’re so boring.”

Too swept up in our plans, I had forgotten all about the excitement rippling through the Dome about the upcoming nuptials. They had been showing the young couple on television as often as possible, getting everyone excited. Although, down in the Pit, people were more excited about being treated to a feast than they were about watching the wedding. But that wasn’t something I would ever tell Leisel.

“I don’t think you’re boring. I think sharing your wedding day with everyone makes you closer to them.”

Leisel hugged me. “You’re so sweet. But speaking of the interview, I need to finish getting ready. I’ll just slip you out of the dress—careful of the pins. They need to stay exactly as they are. When we switch in the Registry room, I can just remove them and the dress will fit me again.”

I put Jack’s robe back on while she carefully tucked the dress away into the garment bag.

“I probably won’t see you again until tonight. But you look like you should get some sleep anyway. I didn’t want to say anything, Su

And then she was gone.

Jack peeked around the corner.

“All clear?”

I nodded. “Leisel’s gone to get ready for the interview.”

“About that,” Jack said, coming into the living room. “I’m not going to be here most of the day, so you’ll be on your own. Once I lock the door, I’m the only one who can unlock it, so you won’t be able to leave. Which is for the best, because if you’re caught walking around up here unescorted, it won’t be good for you. Do you understand?”

“Can’t I just go home, please? I promise to come right back. You don’t need to hold me prisoner.” I really needed to check on my dad.

“I’m sorry, but that’s just not possible. I want you to know that your loyalty to my fiancée won’t go unrewarded. Once we’re married, I’ll make sure you and your family are taken care of—it’s the least we can do.”

I was sickened when I realized he thought I was doing this for my own personal gain. I wanted to say something, but the doorbell rang again. Jack motioned for me to go into the bedroom. A few seconds later, he told me I could come back.

“Here’s your breakfast,” he said, setting a tray on the table.

There was a time when the Dome used replicators for meals, but someone discovered that processing the food that way resulted in lost vitamins and enzymes. Now the kitchens produced food the old-fashioned way and served it in cafeterias throughout the Dome. I shouldn’t be surprised that Jack Ke

“I can trust you alone here today, can’t I?”

Heat crept up from my neck to cover my cheeks.

“Yes, sir.” I looked at the floor. I was too humiliated to look him in the eyes. I heard the door open and close.

I was alone.

Chapter Seven

My feet seemed rooted to the spot where I was standing. I listened and waited. Waited for what, I wasn’t sure. A hand turning the doorknob? Guards to come crashing through and arrest me? But the only sound in the apartment was of my own breathing. I took a tentative step forward, heard the whisper of my foot sinking back into the carpet, and froze. Was anyone in the hallway? Could they have heard it too? I waited and listened again. No one was coming. I was being paranoid. Why would anyone come barging into Jack Ke

My focus turned to the tray of food sitting on the table, and my stomach growled. I put my hand over my tummy to muffle the sound. I was pretty sure they heard it all the way down in the Pit. I grabbed the tray, ran on my tiptoes into the bedroom, and sat down on the floor where I’d slept the night before. I felt safer here. If someone did come into the apartment, I could roll under the bed and hide.

I took the lid off the tray and savoured the smell of breakfast. Two eggs, a piece of ham, bread, and fruit. It was more food than I was given in the Pit in an entire day. I ate one egg and some of the bread, then replaced the lid and tucked the leftovers under the bed for later. Then I sat there on the floor with absolutely nothing to do.

After a moment, I tiptoed back out into the living room. I wanted to turn on the television to watch the interview when it aired, but I was afraid it would make too much noise. I had never been interested in the royal couple before, but now that they wanted me to dress up as a decoy bride for any would-be assassins, my interest in them had been piqued. Sure, I had seen them on television before, but they were just images on a screen then. Now I knew them personally.

Did they really want to change the Dome for the better?

Maybe I could find out more about Jack Ke

I opened the cabinet doors on either side of the television and was pleasantly surprised to discover shelves full of old books and magazines. Some of the magazines dated as far back as the 1990s. They looked original, not like the stiff and glossy replicated ones. A pair of white gloves sat on one shelf, and I assumed they were required before touching the antique paper.