AllFreeNovel
Share Us
The silence when you’re alone is damning. It consumes your thoughts, gripping them in a vise. The real test is wondering–could I have changed anything?
But she’s mine, and I'll kill whoever takes her from me.
"You look gorgeous," Agnes says when I turn to look at myself in the mirror.
I'm wearing a body suit with a mesh skirt. A black sash cinches at the waist. It reminds me of a black vintage gown, but the suit is neoprene and temperature-controlled underneath.
I found the latest collection inside a grandiose closet full of the latest futuristic designs. The pantsuits I found had sharp angles and uneven patterns to give it a look of an asymmetrical design. The high neck protects you from the elements by combining a high collar and an integrated hood. All the tops are fitted with built-in technology, like a built-in respirator for adapting to polluted air, pockets for storing vital items, and luminous strips for visibility in low-light circumstances.
The color scheme is subdued in utilitarian tones such as charcoal gray, deep matte black, or industrial metallic tints. All handpicked by Killian.
"Thank you, Agnes." I glance at the mirror, and she gives me a wry smile. "It takes a bit getting used to."
Wearing clothes you find in markets on the streets littered with holes was a lot different from when you were used to the most expensive fabrics bought with a single swipe of a device. I had to learn to sew and create clothes out of materials by hand. I had to find a way to blend in and fast when I arrived. Especially when I was pregnant. I had to fit in and ensure my face was always covered, living among the survivors. I lived in fear that Killian would find me. Every night, the fear would grip me, rendering me restless, hoping I could stay alive to raise my son.
"This is where you belong, Lillith." I turn to face her. "You belong with Killian. You're his wife and have gifted this family with a legacy. A beautiful son. Strong like his parents."
"I'm scared, Agnes." Needles prick my throat. "I've never been so scared in my entire life."
She smooths my hair with the palm of her hand. "I know, my child. I know you're scared, but so is he."
My bottom lip trembles. "He has nothing to be scared about."
"Oh, he does. Losing you is his biggest fear. When you get a taste of what you fear the most, you'll do anything, Lillith." She takes my hands. "You're the fire he needs, Mrs. Cross. Without it, he will cease to exist."
It's not the first time I've heard similar words. The fortune teller back on the mainland always told me he's coming. I learned to block her out because her words instilled fear like a dark cloud hovering over me, and I was waiting for the hailstorm to follow, dragging me to the depths of the darkest ocean.
I make it to the foyer at seven sharp. Killian turns around in his dark suit. A breath lodges in my throat; he looks handsome in his suit. His charcoal-colored mask covers his gorgeous face underneath but adds mystery.
A grin forms on my lips. BROKEN is sketched on top of his mask. Then he bows, taking my hand. Instead of kissing the top, he places it over his chest, his palm over mine. I step back, looking around to see if any other person is in the room, but it's just the two of us.
"I read that bowing before a lady is a sign of respect."
"It is," I reply.
He straightens and leans close. "I added the part where I place your hand over my chest so you can feel how hard my heart beats for you every time I look at you."
Warmth slides up my arm, wrapping around my heart and leaving flutters in my stomach. "You had me at the bow," I say softly, my hands wrapping around his neck. My thumb caresses the skin where his pulse beats. "I hope you're wearing this for them." My eyes trace the edge of his mask. "Because you don't need to wear it with me."
The back of his hand strokes my face, leaving tingles in his wake. "Maybe I want only one set of eyes on my face." I can feel the heat of his gaze awakening every nerve ending in my body, lighting me on fire. "You look stunning."
I blush. "Thank you. You look very handsome in your suit."
He lifts my hand softly. "In that case, I was hoping"–he holds my wedding ring in his fingers–"you would do me the honor and wear this for me?"
I nod. I didn't think of that. How would it look if we arrived at the fundraiser and I was without my wedding ring? As the wife of the richest man on the island no one has seen in years, we are bound to be the center of attention. I glance at his left hand and notice he's wearing his ring.He asked because of the fundraiser. He's playing nice, and I have the feeling I know why. The grid. Now that I'm back, he wants to continue what he had started.
Pushing my feelings aside, I know firsthand what people are going through on the mainland—the despair and hopelessness, the hunger and the destruction of humanity. Pretty soon, there will be more Utheans than people on the mainland.
He slides the ring on my finger, which feels like an internal in-between between two people–between former lovers who, in the eyes of the world, are still husband and wife.
We head toward the downtown area of the island. I haven't been here for so long that I almost forgot what it looked like. Some things have changed. A huge development with towers, homes, and gardens. Buildings designed in a synthesis of contemporary minimalism. A stark contrast to the mainland. The island can provide for its own needs, thanks to cutting-edge technology that generates renewable energy, treats wastewater, and cultivates edible crops. The vast solar and wind farms dotting the landscape power the lavish lifestyles of the rich. Modern aquaculture facilities and vertical farms ensure the availability of fresh vegetables and fish.
"It hasn't changed, has it?" I ask, looking at what is so easily built but kept from the rest.
He looks out of the driver's window of his Lamborghini Revuelto. "It hasn't… the few with the privilege live lives of unparalleled abundance, while the majority struggle to survive amid resource scarcity, pollution, and civil unrest. The island has always been a symbol of greed and indifference, sparking envy and resentment among those left behind. To me, his place is a symbol of evil. We need to remember which side we’re on."
I look around, admiring the interior of the car. "This is different."
