The Dissent (The Union) by Leah Vernon

Author:Leah Vernon [Vernon, Leah]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: 47North
Published: 2023-11-06T16:00:00+00:00

We were on the highest level of a premier building in the Square inside of a massive sphere. The top had been unsealed. Moist air circulated through the stands. I tasted humidity. Rainfall was nigh.

There were thousands of spectators, packed in like sardines in a tin. They hung suspended from the banisters on exclusive decks and crowded the mezzanines. I felt claustrophobic as they enclosed on me, appearing as if they would topple over like building blocks on an unsteady base. At the midpoint was a hexagon-shaped ring. The outer edges and laser rails glowed a phosphorescent green. Below that, bodies filled the pits. The best view from which to witness the carnage. So close that blood spatter would certainly fall upon them. Above, transparent circular holoscreens with my opponent’s face as well as mine had our names and stats displayed.

A banner remained constant and read in bold, scorching letters: Union Duel 3010.

The arena blackened. The crowd became silent. For a moment, I thought that Mama Seeya had brought in the brigade, and they were finally going to put a stop to this nonsense, but I should have known better. The place was crawling with every watchman in the province, and she wasn’t going to risk her people. Nor would I have asked her to. They’d made more than enough sacrifices.

It was my turn.

A solo spotlight hit Marco Grant. She posed like a damsel in anguish with her head leaned back and her forearm resting over her eyes. The other hand brought the gold-leafed microphone to her glossy lips. She snapped into another pose; fireworks exploded around her like a fiery typhoon. She sashayed and began the lyrics to her song.

Dancers dressed in erotic watchmen gear paraded around her. Male dancers in the center lifted her body and spun her in a circle as she hit a higher octave.

Former Avi would’ve sprung to life and swayed and sang the already-memorized verses, but after the concert ended, I had to face Jade. If that wasn’t a buzzkill, then I didn’t know what was.

The music, the pyrotechnics, the sounds started to fade into one descant. The dome began to move underneath me, caving in like a mudslide. The colors swirled like heated magma and merged into one harsh reality. I swayed, struggling to keep myself upright, present. The holocams hovered and zoomed in as expected. Watching every insignificant move and probably overlaid with snarky commentary on the live broadcast.

Instructor Skylar gripped me before I collapsed and leaned in as if he were an affectionate coach and not a human crutch. I played the part and rested my head in the nook of his shoulder. He smiled to seal the deal.

“Mind games.” He kept his attention on the performance; his lips moved deliberately. “This whole ruse is to get you away from your center.”

“She’s succeeded.”

“No.” His forcefulness jarred me. “She has not. Until your last breath, you play the game to win.”

He’d given me the same advice before I entered the Cube for the final test for watchmen training.

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