*Second Book To Alliance*
Mel and Ben survive the mission across the Wasteland, but they arrive home changed. Ben's wound is healing slowly and what Mel witnessed in the past month haunts her at night. Their mission was fulfilled, but the conflict h...
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The Solstice was an all-day event to celebrate the longest day of the year. It began with the summer sacrificing at dawn and it did not end until late into the night.
If it wasn't mandatory for everyone to be there, Colt would have slept through the murder but as Morgan's adopted son and future heir, it was expected for him to be in attendance. As he turned in bed, Colt very much wanted to go back to sleep.
Heir.
The thought was almost laughable. For the heir to become leader of the Settlement, Morgan would have to die first and he wouldn't die. True, Colt never tried to kill him because it wouldn't make sense to do that. There were still the Elders to contend with. If Colt murdered Morgan, they would order Colt to be punished in some way. They wouldn't kill him because that would be too easy. They would do other things to him. Worse things.
No, it was best to do an uprising and take down Morgan and the Elders all together.
Colt sat up in bed, shaking his head. Why was he worrying about that? Ed didn't want to help him overthrow anyone. No, Ed wanted to leave and tomorrow he and Colt would make their escape.
Colt threw on some of his everyday clothes. Solstice day required Outing clothes but he didn't care as he pulled on a white button shirt and rolled the sleeves up to his elbows.
The first thing he was going to do after escaping the Settlement was to wear a normal t-shirt and jeans. Being in the Orion he had gone through those old clothing stores and tried on the fabric. They were more comfortable than the stiff white shirt and black pants he had grown to hate.
Tucking his shirt into his pants and keeping the top few buttons of shirt undone, he made his way to the front door. With his hand on the doorknob, he took a deep breath.
Out there, out in the Settlement he had to act like cocky, an alpha male, a womanizer. It was an act he had performed well for many years but it killed him each time when a girl flirted with him or he stole a kiss with one in an alleyway. He dreamed of a day he didn't have to hide.
Opening the door, he stepped out onto his porch. Families were already making their way down to the raised dais by the church. Several girls smiled at him as he joined the crowd. A few of the younger female's blushed as Colt gave them a sleepy smile and he ran fingers through his black hair that he had forgotten to comb.
The morning was still young with the sun not yet over the horizon where the pink clouds blanket the ground. And though it was predawn, the temperature was high and with no wind, it would be another hot day.
Following the people to the raised dais, Colt looked for Ed. Last night, he had gone to talk to Morgan and hadn't been in the Hall for dinner, but it wasn't unusual for Morgan to ask a few men in the Orion to go out into the city.
The dais was built beside the church. In the center of the dais was a miniature cross. A sacrifice would drape their arms behind the horizontal pole and tied down so when the knife stopped their hearts, they would still be standing.
