Page 147 of Marks of Rebellion

Hunter is dead.

"I'm glad you're better. I had the priest change our vows so they are quick and all you have to say is, 'I do.' I explained how you aren't feeling the best, and we need a quick ceremony so you aren't on your feet long."

There is no getting out of it.

He pulls me in for a kiss, and I weep in his mouth, but he pins me and deepens it until I'm gasping for air from the trepidation I always feel around him. "The team of people will be here to help you get ready. When you're ready, I'll meet you in the car to go to the church."

"You aren't going to meet me there?"

"No. I'll escort you."

I can't even arrive like a proper bride.

He releases me. "Today starts our future, Vanessa." He glances at my arms. "Get rid of those hives. Have the team put makeup over them if necessary. And make sure they remove your IV port."

I nod, and he leaves me sobbing on the balcony.

The red hibiscuses mock me, and I put my head over my knees, trying to calm down.

But I can't. All I see is Hunter's face.

I thought he was alive.

He's been dead all this time.

A sharp pain cuts through my soul, slashing me into pieces and taking me to the point of no return.

When the group of professionals comes into the room, I'm shaking and incoherent. I don't hear a word they say or respond once to them. They drag me off the balcony and do the best they can, but I can't stop the tears.

Arja comes in and yells in my face to snap out of it, but I'm stuck in a haze of sorrow, and nothing they try releases me from it.

Like a zombie, they dress me, then lead me down the grand staircase. I barely hear Carlos's words when he barks, "Why isn't her makeup done as the picture I chose?"

"She won't stop crying," someone says.

"Get her to stop! This is our wedding!" he orders.

"I think she's just happy, sir," someone offers and wraps their arms around my shoulders. It might be the seamstress, but I can't say for sure. All I can do is stare at the red hibiscuses in the trees and cry, mourning Hunter.

"I'll inform the guests she's very emotional due to happiness." I think it's Arja who speaks.

Carlos and the others continue conversing, and I lose the ability to stand. I fall to the ground and sob.

Carlos starts shouting and yanks me up then puts me in the car.

The seamstresses do something to my dress, but I only fixate through my tears on the red hibiscuses out the window.

At some point, Carlos gets into the car with Arja. When we pull out, I claw at the window, wailing about leaving the flowers.

The entire way to the church, Carlos and Arja aggressively talk, but nothing registers. Carlos even shakes me, but Arja screams for him to stop, and he does.

Hunter is dead. Nothing else matters. He died because of me. His beautiful life was destroyed, and it's my fault.

The car parks at the curb, and the driver opens the door. Arja steps out, and Carlos yanks the door shut. He turns to me. "Pull it together, now. Stop this! Or you will pay the price of disobeying me." He shoves another box of tissues in my face.

My body is trembling so much, I can't hold the box and it falls on my lap. Several times, I try to remove tissues, but I can't seem to sustain the grip.

Carlos takes several out, wipes my face and rolls down the window. "Get the makeup people here."