The Rebel (#Wattys2016)

41. North

Prince Skander sat in the floor, staring at his hands. Besides him, Jasper sat, holding June's hand. No one spoke; still shocked from knowing the rebels had announced an execution for both Princes and the King. Although no one said it, Skander felt some Selected were silently grateful it wasn't them. They hoped with the royal family gone, they'd be pardoned. Skander hadn't yet decided whether they were foolish or hopeful. Maybe they were both.

The door opened behind them and somebody stepped in.

"Skander, Jasper, June." Adeen said behind them. "Stand up, you three are coming with me."

None obeyed, and Skander heard her sigh.

"There's no point in resisting."

"There's no point in obeying." Skander answered, looking at his hands. "In eight days we'll be dead."

Adeen was quiet for a second; the she walked to the door and unlocked it. She was still wearing Skander's necklet.

"In death row or not, we can still torture you."

She surveyed the prisoners, those two black holes capturing every detail. A younger soldier, probably thirteen, was behind her. He still had a child's face, but held a gun.

Skander sighed and stood up. Jasper and June followed. Adeen didn't waste time before handcuffing the three of them. She pushed them outside the cage at gunpoint and the boy locked the door.

"Take the lead, Ambas." She commanded the boy, who nodded and led Skander and the rest out the door.

They went up the flight of stairs, but since it had been a day since they'd last been tortured, no one fell this time. Once they were inside the Palace again, Ambas started leading them.

"Turn left, Ambas." Adeen said. "There's a shortcut to the Dining Hall through the residence rooms."

Ambas obeyed without hesitation, and Skander bit his lip. Adeen was lying; in fact, there was no way to the Dining Hall through the rooms. They were walking away from it, not towards it. What was she up to?

They passed some more doors, until Adeen commanded Ambas to go through a set of double doors that led to the gardens. At first, when they went through, Skander could see nothing. But he looked to his right, to Jasper, in time to see him punch Ambas in the back of his head. The boy fell to the floor unconscious.

June gasped but Adeen was already taking off her handcuffs.

"We have no time. We need to get going. A few miles from here is an army post. They'll help."

Adeen took off June's handcuffs and then turned to Skander. For a second, they stared at each other, unsure. Adeen took a step forward and laid her hand on Skander's cheek. She sighed, and Skander realized it was the first time she'd looked relaxed since it had all begun.

"I'm sorry I couldn't tell you. I—"

Skander wasted no time.

He didn't let her take off his handcuffs before grasping the collar of her uniform and pulling her to him. Their lips crashed, and Skander thought he could feel Adeen's tears on his lips. Her hands found his cheeks, and they were frozen for a moment. For a few seconds, Skander knew nothing but Adeen's hands on his cheeks and his lips on hers and the taste of her salty tears.

It was the most relaxed Skander had been in a long time.

When he pulled back, Adeen stared at him, tears streaming down her face.

"Hate to break the moment," Jasper said, free of his handcuffs, "but we're already twenty seconds late. The alarms will sound soon."

Adeen nodded and took off Skander's handcuffs. She turned to Jasper.