“Don’t tell them? 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.”

“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 said.

“Divide and conquer,” Jack said.

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.” 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 said. “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 said.

“Well, come on then.” She held the door open for us. “I’ll take you to see your dad.”

I hugged her. “Thank you, Bron.”

“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.”

I was shocked to hear that Bron knew about Liberty.

“I appreciate it,” Jack said. He held out his hand and they shook.

Bron looked pleased beyond words. I had no idea what was going on between them, so I said 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 was like I had never left.

Luckily, we didn’t pass any other guards on the way. My home 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 stone wall. 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.

My father lay under the thin blanket with his back to the door. I went in and sat down beside him on the bed. I placed my hand on his back, feeling for his heartbeat. It had been almost three days since I’d seen 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 rolled over to look at me. I was shocked by how pale he was. “Is that you? Where have you been?”

“You scared me. I thought you were… Have you eaten since the last time I saw you?”

“I’m not hungry. I missed you, though. I wondered if you were coming back or if you had run off and married Reyes.”

Obviously my father had not been out of bed that day or he would know that I did indeed get married, but not to Reyes. Jack came into the room with a glass of water. I was annoyed that he didn’t stay out in the living room as I’d asked but thankful he brought the water.

“I wouldn’t run off and leave you, Dad. I love you too much.” I took the glass of water from Jack and put it to my father’s lips. He drank.

“Who is this young man?”

“I’m Jack Kenner, sir. I’m pleased to meet you.” Jack bent down and extended his hand. My father took it and gave it a weak shake. I watched Jack for a moment, surprised and confused by the respect he was showing.

“I’ve never met you before. Why are you here with my daughter?”

“I’ll let your daughter explain that, sir. Sunny, I’ll be out in the living room. Bron’s gone to get some food.”

“Sunny?” my father asked when we were alone again.

“Well… I guess maybe I did run off and get married, although 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.”

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?” My father was smiling now, almost laughing. It had been a long time since I’d seen him look happy.

“It’s not funny, Dad!” But 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. Jack and I are in a lot of trouble.”

“So President Holt didn’t know it wasn’t his daughter getting married?” He was still laughing.

“Not until Jack’s mother ripped off my veil and wig.”

My father was laughing so hard 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 is. Spit was flying everywhere. I’ve never seen him that mad.”

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?”

“How much trouble do you think an urchin would be in for humiliating the president’s daughter and marrying her fiancé?” I tried to sound lighthearted. But our moment of humor was gone, and the reality of my situation hung in the air.

A tear trickled from the corner of my father’s eye. “Are they going to make it a public execution?”

My breath caught on a sob. Was this our goodbye? “The only reason I’m here with you right now is that I escaped. I don’t know if they’ve discovered 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.”

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.”

“I’ll do my best, Dad. Jack and I have new identities, so maybe we can live down here for a while.”

“You do everything you can to stay alive, Sunny. Get more coal and cover up that hair of yours. Stay out of sight.”

The front door of the apartment opened, and the smell of the food Bron had brought wafted through. She came into the bedroom and handed me the container.

“I promise to stay alive if you promise,” I said to Dad. “Eat this.” 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.

“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’ll be fine, Sunny,” Dad said. “I promise I’ll eat and drink. You try and come to see me tomorrow.”

“I’ll check in on him,” Bron said. “Right now, we have to go.”

I kissed my father goodbye and went back out into the living room. I took 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.