Beware the Purge: The Sub

Ready for the Wedding

Dominic Crane

“The cake will be delivered at 5:50.” Grant’s stern voice called from the other room,

“Is that the last of the details I requested?”

“Yes, Dominic. Could you at least show some gratitude? I got a five-star quiet wedding, reliable staff, and catering in under twelve hours.”

“It does help that, between the three of us, we own half this city,” Zach smirks, stepping out of the bathroom while straightening his dark navy suit coat.

“I appreciate it, Grant. Thank you both for making tonight happen. I’m going to take one last look. Have a drink.” Stepping out of the dressing room, I walked down the antique embroidered baseboard and trim. Pulling out my phone, my fingers flew across the screen to her name.

The line rings three times, feminine laughter fills my ears. My smile takes over my face as I step out of the rooftop access door. The ceremony space is perfect. “I take it you had a good day before our wedding, my bride?”

It took her a moment to catch her breath, “Yes, very much. Isadora is amazing.” Maddie’s rushed words are followed by another fit of giggles from the girls.

“I take it you are still planning to be my bride tonight then, Ms. Maddie Thorn? We only have an hour left.”

She gives a light-hearted chuckle, “Isadora and I met a designer at the shop. I loved the dress but a few things I thought about changing…she’s meeting us there to fit it to my body.”

“We’re pulling up! Make sure you do not go anywhere near the designer or the dressing room before the wedding, Dominic!” Isadora screamed into the phone.

Forcing me to pull it away and save my precious eardrops. So I can hear Maddie’s screams and cries of passion for the rest of our lives.

“I will stay away but at six, Maddie Thorn, you are mine. The ceremonies and photos are for the media. We will make sure to finalize our union tonight. See you at the altar, Maddie Thorn.” ending the call, smiling.

Knowing she is in a good mood, I scan over the final details of the rooftop wedding. The staff rushed around me making final touches to the chair drapery, lighting, and music.

A waiter passes me with a glass of champagne already poured.

“Stop, take those back, and pour fresh ones for our guests as they arrive.”

The waiter stumbled for a moment, the ten glasses shaking with his sudden halt in movement. He steadies himself and the tray, keeping his head down as he turns towards me. “Of course, Mr. Crane. Is there anything else, sir?”

“Your name?”

He looks up stunned, “August Carr, Sir.”

“Thank you, August. Please return the champagne and prepare a cart. We have so few guests. I see no need to spoil the drink by letting it sit.” I take a glass off the tray, downing the bubble contents, before placing the empty glass back in August's unique formation on the tray. “August, would you do one more thing for me?”

“Yes, Sir, whatever you need.”

“Please make sure each member of the staff that helped with the wedding tonight gets a glass of champagne. Those who are legal age, of course.”

“I will make sure it is done, Mr. Crane. Congratulations by the way!” August smiled, turning towards the door and walking smoothly with the tray in his hand.

Zach and Grant, with ever the perfect timing, open the door for August. The waiter shows his gratitude with a full waist bow. This August, Carr is getting to be increasingly intriguing by the minute.

The exchange between the three ends with the rooftop door shutting, my eyes tracing the barest glimpse of strawberry blonde hair before it’s shut out.

“Just half an hour left before you are a married man like me, Brother!” Zach smiled, wrapping his arms around me.

“What I don’t get any love just because I’m not married?” Grant whines, like a younger brother.

We aren’t blood brothers, though, after all the s**t we’ve gone through together, we might as well be. Their help in all this just shows me how much they truly love and trust my judgment within our circle.

Maddie doesn’t know it yet, but after tonight, she won’t be leaving my side ever again.

“Na, get in here.” Zach grabs Grant’s neck tie, pulling him into the hug.

“Did you have to go for the damn tie? I spent so long making sure it was perfect!”

“Let it go, Grant, let the little things go. Maybe you’ll get a girl that way!” Zach chimes in.

The click of the rooftop door pulls my eyes towards it, Isadora shimmering out, ensuring the door barely opens. Her dress was a soft sage green and her hair was in perfect waves.

“Is there a problem?” I asked, stepping away from Zach and Grant. From the tone in my voice, they were on alert immediately, waiting for Isadora’s response.

“Your bride is perfect. Couldn’t have picked better if I had tried honestly.” Isadora sighed, placing a hand on her hip.

Pride starts to fill me, but I quickly stop it, “but what?”

My sister's eyes met mine, “Don’t ruin this, Dominic, don’t ruin her.”

“That’s not my intention at all.”

“Do you want to see her before the ceremony? I’ll give you a few minutes if you want them.”

“Have you asked her?”

“No.”

“Then no. I want to wait until the wedding. Once the ceremony is over, we will be leaving for our honeymoon. Jane has packed the bags, right?”

“Yes, apparently Maddie did not have a lot of the clothes I recommended, so we had to place an order, but your droids ensured they were delivered here hours ago. All packed perfectly for air travel.”

“Thank you for arranging things, Isadora. I owe you a great deal for everything you've done these past few days.”

“Oh don’t worry, brother, I’m keeping a tally. You better get ready, your bride is stunning.” She grins, turning back towards the door and stepping inside.

“She has always been stunning!” I call after my sister. I love the idea of constantly complimenting my bride, even when she might not hear it.

“I’m telling you, Grant. He’s love-struck, she put some kind of voodoo spell on him.”

“Oh shut up.” Pushing past the two of them, I head up the small aisle littered with soft pink and white petals.

“Really Zach, it’s not like she’s a witch and her p***y cast a spell on him.” Grant mutters.

“Would you two stop, I’m getting married in a few minutes.” I rake my fingers through my hair, tossing the long golden strands to the side.

“Oh, she for sure cast a spell on him, and now he is hers!” Zach whispers-shouts, leaning towards Grant as they step up behind me. Several guests came in at once, August pouring their drinks skillfully before they took their seats.

“I thought that waiter had a whole tray earlier-“ Grant mutters.

“It was my mistake.”

“Let it go, you two, it doesn’t matter. Dominic, do you have fifteen people total at and in this wedding? Chill, both of you.” Zach interrupts, as Pärt – Spiegel im Spiegel begins to play over the rooftop speakers.

The guests smile as the videographer and photographer shoot around us and snap a few photos. Positioning themselves at the rooftop doors, as it opens.

Isadora walks out first, smiling, as she moves forward to stand as the officiant.

Jane comes out next, her fiberglass body perfectly shined and waxed. One of the girls even put a diamond necklace and bracelet on her. The droid gives me a simple nod, stepping into the maid of honor position.

The door’s click caught my attention again. Even in my dreams, I don’t know if I will be able to recreate this stunning vision of Maddie Thorn that I have ever witnessed step through the doors and out onto the navy aisle runner.

Her soft wide eyes met mine, like she was lost but not sure why. Her eyes started to glance behind her, back towards the door.