“Just give your eyes a minute to adjust,” I cautioned.
“It’s pitch black in here. My eyes aren’t going to adjust,” he said.
“They will. What about cameras? I assume there aren’t any in the shafts?” I asked.
My eyes had already adjusted, but then again I was more comfortable in the dark. I searched for the rope I knew was here. Years ago, the shafts were used to transport coal and mining debris up to the Dome. But the system was prone to breaking down so they built a new one, closer to the place where debris was dumped.
“There aren’t many cameras in the Pit – only in the common rooms,” Jack answered. “It was going to be a lot of work to put them in and there didn’t seem to be much need anyway.”
“We were always told that there were cameras everywhere. That the walls have ears,” I said incredulously.
“That’s exactly why we didn’t bother putting cameras in. Rumour seems to be working just as well. That, and there are armed guards everywhere. Any of you get out of line and they can just shoot you,” he said jokingly.
“Oh, Jack. You’ll soon find out that was no joke,” I said in all seriousness.
I found the rope and gave it a good tug to make sure it was secure. “Here, use this to repel down. I’ll go first and guide you along as best I can,” I told him. I scrambled over the side and began my descent.
“Wait! Aren’t you going to use the rope too?” he asked in a terrified voice.
“I don’t need it. I’ve been doing this since I was five. And besides, I don’t think that old rope is going to take two of us,” I explained. I climbed down about ten feet and waited for him to start. I heard him double checking the rope.
“Come on,” I prompted him.
“I can’t even see!” he complained.
Finally he lowered himself over the side. Hanging onto the rope, he tentatively lowered one foot. I descended another ten feet and looked up. Jack hadn’t made any progress.
“Jack, you’re taking too long. Trust the rope,” I encouraged him.
“You mean this old rope?” he chided me. “Easy for you to say. You don’t even need it. I can’t see anything. How are you doing this?” he asked, absolutely terrified.
“Just lean out away from the rock, hang onto the rope and start walking backwards. You have the rope – you don’t need to find footholds,” I instructed him.
I heard him take a deep breath and watched him lean out. He lowered one foot, then the other, and then the next.
“Hey I’m doing it!” he said, excitedly.
He continued to repel in a slow and steady rhythm. I descended another ten feet. I probably shouldn’t be this close. If he fell, he would take us both down.
“How far do we have to go?” he asked.
“About a mile,” I said.
“Please tell me you’re taunting me,” he said in a flat voice.
“Nope. But we’re almost there,” I lied.
Down we descended, me staying ten feet below Jack encouraging him along. He was painfully slow, but I tried not to get frustrated. I remembered it was hard the first time I did it too. Of course I was only five. Finally, I arrived at the sixth level. I reached over and pulled myself onto the landing.
“Almost there Jack,” I cheered him on.
His feet came down within reaching distance and I give him a little tug to help him along.
“Stop!” Jack almost screamed. “I’ll do it myself.”
I took my hand away from him. Finally he came down enough to reach over to the landing. I grabbed him by the elbow and helped pull him in. He hugged the side of the shaft, testing to make sure his feet were firmly on the ground.
“That was the scariest thing I’ve ever done in my life,” he breathed, his face covered in sheen of sweat.
I left him alone to collect himself and walked over to the door. I pressed my ear against it but I didn’t hear anything. There was usually traffic in the halls, but right now everything was quiet. Then I remembered again that the Pit was on lockdown and everyone would be in their homes.
“We have a problem – I forgot about the lockdown. The only people in the halls right now are the guards,” I said.
“We can pretend we got lost or something. Took a wrong turn and we’re trying to get back to our home. Make something up,” he naively suggested.
“What?” I asked in disbelief. “The guards will shoot us on sight. They’re not going to stop and ask us anything.”
“They don’t fool around down here, do they?” he asked.
“Nope,” I said.
“What if we climb back up and…” Jack said as he is walked toward the shaft. I realized he couldn’t see the edge.
“Stop!” I yelled out too loudly. He froze. I went and stood next to him and saw the toe of his shoe hanging over the edge. “Back up,” I said. I had a tight grip on his arm pulling him back with me.
The door opened and a dim shaft of light fell on us. Someone heard us. Slowly we turned around. There was no escape except to go back into the shaft and we would be nothing but target practice for the guard in there.
“Sunny? Is that you?” a familiar voice asked. I squinted at the guard.
“Bron?” I ask tentatively.
“It’s me,” she came in and shut the door. “Mr. Kenner, sir. It’s an honor,” she said acknowledging Jack. “What are you two doing here? I thought you were in the Dome waiting for your… trial.”
“Are you going to turn us in?” I asked. I needed to know. I had come so close to getting home.
“I could get in a lot of trouble if I don’t,” she warned me.
“I know you can, which is why I won’t ask you to help. I just wanted to get home and see my Dad before… you know…” I said.
“That was quite a wedding. Everyone is talking about it. Everyone’s talking about you, Sunny,” Bron said with a smile.
“The whole thing was an accident Bron. Leisel betrayed us. It’s a long story,” I said wearily.
“Then keep your story to yourself. Right now you’re a hero down here. You were sent upstairs to be a plaything at a bachelor party, but instead you married the groom and made the President’s daughter a laughing stock. Don’t tell them it was an accident,” she said.
“Don’t tell them?” I echoed. “Does that mean you’ll let me go and see my father?”
“I can take you to him, but you can’t stay there for very long. There’ll be more guards down here soon for the check-in,” she warned.
“Check-in?” Jack asked.
“When we’re on lockdown we have to return to our apartments and stay there. We can’t visit anyone or go to the common rooms. The guards frequently carry out check-ins to make sure everyone is where they’re supposed to be,” I explained.
“Divide and conquer,” Jack commented. I gave him a confused look. “Riots happen out of anger, so if you’re left to stew together, you might just talk and come up with a plan to revolt. If you’re separated, you can’t talk.”
“I always thought we were just being punished,” I said. It never occurred to me that the bourge would ever see us as a threat.
“You’re correct, sir. We are under strict orders not to let them fraternize during a lockdown,” Bron confirmed. “What will you do after you see your father? Do you have a place to go to?”
“I secured an apartment for us. It’s on the fourth level,” Jack told her.
“Well, come on then. I’ll take you to see your Dad,” Bron said.
“Thank you Bron.” I said, giving her a hug.
“I’m doing this for your mother. I know she’d be very proud of you right now. And I’m doing this for the Kenners. I’ve been a loyal member of Liberty all of my life,” Bron confessed.
I was shocked to hear Bron say that. She knew about Liberty?
“I appreciate it,” Jack said. He held out his hand to her and they shook.
Bron looked pleased beyond words. I had no idea what was going on between them, so I dec
ided to say nothing. Bron opened the door and we walked out. I had walked these halls since the day I was able to take my first step. This was my home. When I was up in the Dome it felt like it had been an eternity since I had been here. But now it feels like I never left.
We managed not to pass any other guards by the time we reached my home. It was an exact replica of all the other homes down here; square box houses made from replicated wood and all attached to each other in a long row, backing onto the stonewall. Each box had a narrow door that led into a two room apartment. I opened the door and turned on the light. My father was probably still in bed, right where I left him.
“Stay here,” I told Jack.
I saw my father’s slight form under the thin blanket with his back turned to the door. I went in and sat down beside him on the bed. I placed my hand on his back, looking for his heartbeat. It had been almost three days since I saw him and he hadn’t eaten that last day either. Four days.
“Dad?” I said softly. No answer. “Dad. DAD,” I was starting to panic, but then he stirred slightly. “Dad! It’s me, Sunny. I’m back.”
“Sunny?” he asked and rolled over to look at me. I was shocked by how pale he was. “Is that you? Where have you been?”
“Dad you scared me. I thought you were... Have you eaten since the last time I saw you?” I asked.
“I’m not hungry. I missed you though. I wondered if you were coming back or if you had run off and married Reyes,” he said.
Obviously my father had not been out of bed today or he would know that I did indeed get married, but not to Reyes. Jack came into the room with a glass of water in his hand. I was annoyed that he didn’t listen to my simple request for him to stay out in the living room, but thankful he brought the water.
“I wouldn’t run off and leave you on purpose Dad. I love you too much,” I said softly.
I took the glass of water from Jack and put it to my father’s lips. He drank.
“Who is this young man?” he asked looking at Jack.
“I’m Jack Kenner, sir. I’m pleased to meet you,” Jack said, bending down and extending his hand out to my father. He took it and gave it a weak shake.
“I’ve never met you before. Why are you here with my daughter?” my father asked in confusion.
He rarely watched television so he probably had no idea who Jack Kenner was.
“I’ll let your daughter explain that, sir. Sunny, I’ll be out in the living room. Bron’s gone to get some food,” Jack excused himself.
I was surprised by the respect Jack was showing my father. I never expected that from a bourge.
“Sunny?” my father prompted me.
“Well… I guess maybe I did run off and get married Dad. I didn’t mean to. It’s complicated. Jack Kenner was supposed to marry the President’s daughter today, but instead he and I got married. It was kind of an accident,” I stumbled, searching for an explanation he could understand.
How could I explain all this to him without telling him I had been forced into going to Jack’s bachelor party? I didn’t want him to think badly of me.
“An accident? You got married by accident? To a bourge?” he asked. My father was smiling now, almost laughing. It had been a long time since I saw him look happy.
“It’s not funny Dad!” I said, although I couldn’t help but laugh too. It all sounded so ridiculous. “Don’t ask me how I got involved in this, but I met the President’s daughter Leisel and she convinced me to take her place at her wedding today.” I decided to leave out the part where Leisel thought she might be assassinated, so I played the role of decoy for her. “We were supposed to change places before the bride and groom were registered, but she didn’t show up. So I had to scan in myself and, well, the scanner worked. It shouldn’t have. It should only have worked for Leisel, but she betrayed us Dad. Jack and I are in a lot of trouble.”
“So President Holt didn’t know it wasn’t his daughter getting married?” my father asked, still laughing.
“Not until Jack’s mother ripped off my veil and wig,” I told him.
My father was laughing so hard now he started to cough. I realized laughing was using up what little energy he had left.
“I bet you caused quite a ruckus up there. The President must be red-in-the-face spitting mad,” he said with pride.
“He is Dad. Spit was flying everywhere. I’ve never seen him that mad,” I agreed.
No one in the Pit liked the President. He was known for his rages. Whenever something went wrong in the Pit, or we didn’t produce enough coal or diamonds, he would televise a lecture and we would be forced to go into the common rooms and watch him. When we were all stuck there like that, what else could we do but make fun of him?
“Oh my daughter, you make me proud. But now you’re in a lot of trouble. How much trouble?” he asked.
“How much trouble do you think an urchin would be in for humiliating the President’s daughter and marrying her fiancé?” I asked.
My father sadly nodded his head in understanding.
“Are they going to make it a public execution?” he asked painfully.
“The only reason I’m here with you right now is that I escaped. I don’t know if they know we’re gone yet or not, but when they do, they’ll come looking for us. I don’t intend to go back into the Dome alive. I won’t give them the satisfaction of a public execution,” I said with conviction.
My father sat up and looked me in the eyes. “Then you stay hidden. Do you hear me? You don’t let them find you,” he said desperately.
“I’ll do my best Dad. Jack and I have new identities. Maybe we can live down here for a while,” I said, giving him hope.
“You do everything you can to stay alive Sunny. Get more coal and cover up that hair of yours. Stay out of sight,” he advised.
The front door of the apartment opened and I immediately smelled the food Bron had brought. She came into the bedroom and handed me the container.
“I promise to stay alive if you promise Dad. You eat this,” I ordered. I opened the container of stew and started spooning it into his mouth. I could tell it was making him feel sick, but he swallowed it. I managed to get a few more mouthfuls into him before he collapsed back on the bed. I put the glass of water to his lips and he drank more.
“You’re running out of time, Sunny. I need to get you upstairs,” Bron said quietly.
“Can’t I stay here with him? I don’t want to leave him like this,” I pleaded.
“I’ll be fine Sunny. I promise I’ll eat and drink. You try and come to see me tomorrow,” he tried to reassure me.
“I’ll check in on him,” Bron promised. “Right now, we have to go.”
I kissed my father good-bye and went back out into the living room. Then I remembered the coal I always kept in my cupboard and put it in my pocket. Jack gave me a questioning look but didn’t say anything.
“The place is filling up with guards now so I want the two of you to march in front of me. It will look like I caught you out during curfew,” Bron instructed.
“Let’s go,” I said.
It pained me to leave my father, but I risked everyone’s safety if I stayed. If I were discovered here, my father would be in trouble for hiding a criminal. And if I sent Jack on to the apartment that Benjamin and Autumn were supposed to share and Autumn was absent during the check in, then he would be questioned about my whereabouts, which would probably blow our cover. I had no choice but to go. I silently cursed Jack for giving me an identity that prevented me from looking after my father.
We marched toward the stairs, Bron behind us with her gun. We only had two levels to climb, so it would be a short walk. As we began climbing the stairs, two guards coming down stopped us.
“A couple of troublemakers?” one of the guards asked Bron.
“Nothing I can’t handle,” Bron replied. She motioned for us to keep moving.
“Why are you even bothering to take them upstairs? Just shoot them,” the other guard sugge
sted.
“That’s against regulations,” Bron informed him. She prodded us with the barrel of her gun. “Keep moving,” she ordered.
“Since when do we worry about regulations down here?” one of the guards said. They both laughed. “Listen, if you want to get your exercise climbing up and down those stairs, be my guest. But I see anyone out and I’m shootin’ them.”
We continued to climb the stairs and made it to the fourth level without further incident. Bron led us to our apartment. I passed my hand over the scanner and the door unlocked.
“I have to go back down, so you’re on your own. I’ll keep an eye on your Dad,” Bron said.
“Thank you for everything,” I said. I wanted to give her another hug to show how much I appreciated her help, but if a guard came around the corner and saw it, we would both be in a lot of trouble.
“Thanks,” Jack said, giving her a big smile.
“It’s been a real privilege, sir. I’ll help out any way I can,” she promised. Then she left to go back to the sixth level.
We went in and checked out our new home. The place looked tidy. I wondered about the previous occupants and where they might be now. Culled? Shot during the lockdown? How long had it been empty?
“Why was Bron acting that way with you?” I asked.
“I told you Liberty has supporters and I guess she’s one of them. Why did you take the coal?” Jack asked, changing the subject.
“My hair,” I said. I took off my cap and threw it on the table. My hair was still in the tight bun I wore under Leisel’s wig and I took out the elastic and shook it loose. It felt good. I picked up the coal and rubbed it against a lock of hair. “See? No more red. You should use it too. No one has light hair down here.”
I finished rubbing it through my hair and handed it to him. He took it, looking at it dubiously. Then he took off his cap and started rubbing his head with it.
“Not like that. You’re making a mess,” I said. I sat him in the chair and rubbed the coal just against his short hair staying away from his scalp. “There,” I said when I was done. Dark hair didn’t suit him at all, but I decided to keep that to myself.
I walked over to the sink and turned on the faucet hoping the previous occupants didn’t use up all their water rations. It worked. I took a glass down from the cupboard and filled it.
Sunset Rising Page 12
