Cress hardly felt the hot water beating on her head.
Outside her washroom, a second-era, swooning over
the incessant shower, Cress was the star, the damsel,
the center of that universe.
She sang along at full value, pausing only to prepare
herself for the crescendo.
She didn't have have the full translation memorized,
but the emotions behind the words were clear.
Heartbreak. Tragedy. Love.
Chills covered her skin, sharply contrasted against
the steam.
She pressed a hand to her chest, drowning.
Pain. Loneliness. Love.
It always came back to love.
More than freedom, more than acceptance—love.
True love, like they sang about in the second era.
The kind that filled up a person's soul.
The kind that lent itself to dramatic gestures
and sacrifices.
The kind that was irresistible and all-encompassing.
The woman's voice rose in intensity with the violins
and cellos, a climax sung up into the shower's down-
pour.
Cress held the note as long as she could, enjoying the
way the song rolled over her, filling her with its power.
She ran out of breath first, suddenly dizzy.
Panting, she fell against the shower wall.
The crescendo died down into a simple, longing finale,
just as the water sputtered out.
All of Cress's showers were timed, to ensure her water
reserves wouldn't run out before Mistress Sybil's next
supply visit.
Cress sank down and wrapped her arms around her knees.
Realizing there were tears on her cheeks, she covered her
face and laughed.
She was being ridiculously melodramatic, but it was
well deserved.
Because today was the day.
She'd been following the Rampion's path closely since
they'd agreed to reduce her nearly fourteen hours before,
and they had not deviated from their course.
The Rampion would be crossing through her satellite's
trajectory in approximately one Earthen hour and fifteen
minutes.
She would have freedom, and friendships, and purpose.
And she would be with him In the next room, the
operatic solo began again, quiet and slow and tinged
YOU ARE READING
Cress
Teen FictionTheir best hope lies with Cress, a girl trapped on a satellite since childhood who's only ever had her netscreens as company. All that screen time has made Cress an excellent hacker. Unfortunately, she's being force to work for Queen Levana, and she...
