Dawn Of Rebellion Collection E-Book

Michelle Lynn

• Herausgeber: Next Chapter
• Kategorie: Fantasy und Science-Fiction
• Sprache: Englisch

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2023

Beschreibung

All three books in 'Dawn Of Rebellion', a series of dystopian sci-fi novels by Michelle Lynn, now available in one volume!

Dawn of Rebellion: Dawn Nolan is a teenage girl from the wrong side of military-controlled London, where criminals are sent to the colonies to work as slaves. When her sister Gabby is taken, Dawn sets out to rescue her, even if it means risking her own life and never seeing London again. But the colonies are a savage place, and the odds are against her.

Day of Reckoning: In a world where safety is an illusion and the government cannot be trusted, two sisters find themselves living in a new kind of prison. With their friends missing or dead, they must navigate a complex web of allies and enemies. The Texans want them to obey, the rebels want them to fight, and the Americans want them to leave. As the war begins, the sisters must choose their side and forge alliances in order to survive in this dangerous new world.

Eve of Tomorrow: In the third book in the series, Dawn must learn to navigate the dangers of leading a rebellion, trusting only those she can rely on. The group faces impossible odds and loss, but they are not alone in their fight. With a dangerous weapon at their disposal, they must stop those who seek to destroy their world and build a new one from the ashes.

Leseprobe

DAWN OF REBELLION COLLECTION

THE COMPLETE SERIES

MICHELLE LYNN

CONTENTS

Map

Dawn of Rebellion

1. Dawn

2. Gabby

3. Drew

4. Dawn

5. Gabby

6. Gabby

7. Dawn

8. Dawn

9. Dawn

10. Dawn

11. Gabby

12. Gabby

13. Dawn

14. Dawn

15. Dawn

16. Gabby

17. Gabby

18. Dawn

19. Dawn

20. Drew

21. Gabby

22. Dawn

23. Gabby

24. Dawn

25. Dawn

26. Gabby

27. Gabby

28. Dawn

29. Gabby

30. Gabby

31. Dawn

32. Gabby

33. Dawn

34. Gabby

35. Gabby

36. Dawn

37. Gabby

38. Gabby

39. Gabby

40. Dawn

41. Gabby

42. Dawn

43. Dawn

44. Gabby

45. Dawn

46. Gabby

47. Gabby

48. Dawn

49. Dawn

50. Gabby

51. Dawn

52. Gabby

53. Dawn

54. Gabby

55. Dawn

56. Gabby

57. Dawn

58. Gabby

59. Drew

60. Dawn

61. Gabby

62. Dawn

63. Gabby

64. Gabby

65. Dawn

66. Dawn

67. Gabby

68. Dawn

Acknowledgments

Day of Reckoning

1. Gabby

2. Miranda

3. Drew

4. Gabby

5. Dawn

6. Gabby

7. Dawn

8. Dawn

9. Gabby

10. Miranda

11. Dawn

12. Drew

13. The General

14. Gabby

15. Gabby

16. Gabby

17. Gabby

18. Dawn

19. Dawn

20. Gabby

21. Miranda

22. Dawn

23. Gabby

24. Gabby

25. Dawn

26. Gabby

27. Dawn

28. Gabby

29. Dawn

30. Miranda

31. Gabby

32. Dawn

33. Drew

34. Drew

35. Drew

36. Miranda

37. Gabby

38. Dawn

39. Gabby

40. Dawn

41. Miranda

42. Gabby

43. Dawn

44. Dawn

45. Gabby

46. Gabby

47. Dawn

48. Dawn

49. Gabby

50. Gabby

51. Dawn

52. Dawn

53. Dawn

54. Gabby

55. Dawn

56. Dawn

57. Dawn

58. Dawn

59. Miranda

60. The General

61. Gabby

62. Gabby

63. Dawn

64. Dawn

65. Dawn

66. Gabby

67. Gabby

68. Drew

69. Dawn

70. Dawn

71. Gabby

72. Drew

73. Drew

74. Dawn

75. Gabby

76. Dawn

77. Gabby

78. Dawn

Eve of Tomorrow

Acknowledgments

1. Dawn

2. Dawn

3. Gabby

4. Jeremy

5. Dawn

6. Dawn

7. Gabby

8. Gabby

9. Jeremy

10. The General

11. The General

12. Dawn

13. Dawn

14. Gabby

15. Gabby

16. Jeremy

17. Jeremy

18. Gabby

19. Gabby

20. Gabby

21. Dawn

22. Dawn

23. Dawn

24. Dawn

25. Gabby

26. Gabby

27. The General

28. Jeremy

29. Dawn

30. Dawn

31. The General

32. Gabby

33. Gabby

34. Dawn

35. Jeremy

36. Dawn

37. Dawn

38. Gabby

39. Dawn

40. Gabby

41. Dawn

42. Gabby

43. The General

44. Dawn

45. Jeremy

46. Gabby

47. Dawn

48. Gabby

49. Dawn

50. The General

51. Gabby

52. Dawn

53. Gabby

54. Dawn

55. Gabby

56. Dawn

57. Dawn

58. Gabby

59. Dawn

60. Jeremy

61. Gabby

62. Dawn

63. Gabby

64. Gabby

65. Dawn

66. Gabby

67. Dawn

68. Dawn

69. Dawn

70. Dawn

71. Gabby

72. Gabby

73. Dawn

74. Gabby

75. Dawn

76. Jeremy

77. Gabby

78. Gabby

79. Dawn

80. The General

81. Gabby

82. Gabby

83. Dawn

84. Jeremy

85. Gabby

86. Dawn

87. Gabby

88. Gabby

89. Dawn

90. Dawn

91. Dawn

92. Epilogue

Author's Note

About the Author

Copyright (C) 2023 Michelle Lynn

Layout design and Copyright (C) 2023 by Next Chapter

Published 2023 by Next Chapter

Cover art by CoverMint

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the author's permission.

DAWN OF REBELLION

DAWN OF REBELLION BOOK 1

For my sisters

1

DAWN

History is going to be the death of me. My chin tilts down as my mind wanders off in an attempt to stay awake. Mr. Giles has been wittering on for the past half hour and I can't remember anything he's said. My eyes droop as weariness washes over me. I'm so tired. Tired of this class. Tired of this school. This entire life.

It used to be easier for me, but I don't like to dwell on the past – hence my disdain for history.

England sucks. It has sucked for a long time. That is our history. But don't say it or they'll come for you. A sigh escaped my lips and the boy in the row next to me gives me a curious look. I shake my head and look down at my desk.

“The Colonies,” Mr. Giles says. “Represent the worst that can happen to a modern society.”

My slowly closing eyes snap open. Year ten is the first chance we get to learn about the mythical colonies. Suddenly wide awake, I lean forward and rest my elbows on my desk. We've all heard the stories since we were kids. The truth is hidden in those tales somewhere. But now we get the whole picture.

Mr. Giles continues. “They are proof that in the midst of disaster, the strong countries will survive and the weak will perish. An entire nation was destroyed. Let us never forget the mistakes that led to their demise.”

I am listening so intently that the bell signaling the end of the day makes me jump out of my chair. “Your homework for tonight is to choose one of the many reasons the colonies were destroyed and write a one-page paper. Use your textbooks. You're dismissed. We'll pick this up on Monday.”

I look around in a daze and barely notice my classmates packing their books. Everyone is chatting and smiling as they leave the room, no doubt excited for the weekend. I slowly move around my desk, grab my rucksack, and head for the door. Everything I pass is a blur as I make my way to the exit. Excited chatter fills the hall as students hurry by.

In the distance, I hear my name. This snaps me out of my stupor and I almost trip on my own two feet as someone taps me on the shoulder.

“Dawn.” My older sister Gabby is annoyed as usual. “I've been calling you from the other end of the hall.”

“Sorry, I'm just really tired.” I scrub a hand across my face.

Gabby plants her hands on her hips, looking me over in that scrutinizing way of hers. If they didn't already know, no one would ever guess we're sisters. Gabby is tall and fit, with long strawberry blonde hair that falls over her shoulders in waves. Her eyes are emerald green and stand out against her tanned skin. Gabby has the kind of smile that gets what she wants and she knows how to use it. I, on the other hand, am built differently, short and thin. My hair is dishwater brown and cropped short, because why bother? My appearance suits me. It lets me go unnoticed and I'm okay with that, really. I swear. Okay, sometimes I'm okay with it.

“Dawn. Dawn.” Gabby is snapping her fingers in front of my face. I hate when she does that. “What is wrong with you today? You're acting like a proper nutter. It's like you're here, but you're not.”

“Yeah, cuz that makes a lot of sense, sis.”

She scowls at me and I look away.

“Sorry, s'been a long day,” I finally say. “Let's just go home, OK?”

“That's what I came to tell you. Drew is taking me for a ride in his new car. I'll find a way home later.”

“Can't he just drive you home?” Before I even finish that sentence, I know the answer.

“No way, do you want me to blow it? I need to go find him.” I can see Gabby's mood turning sour so I just say goodbye and continue on my way. I think about turning back to remind her not to miss curfew, but she knows when that is so I keep moving. Since I was a kid there has been a strict curfew enforced by the government. No one is supposed to leave their houses after nine at night. Gabby doesn't always make it back in time, but she hasn't been caught - yet.

As I'm walking towards the end of the hall, I hear something coming from a classroom on my left and freeze. Turning towards the sound, I suddenly wish I'd minded my own business.

A girl I recognize from my sister's track team is pressed up against the chalkboard by a boy I don't remember ever seeing before. She giggles but it's cut off as he attaches himself to her lips. I'm such a creeper, but I can't look away. He must be a senior. His shirt is stretched tight across his back across well-defined muscles.

She pushes her hands into his dark hair and a blush creeps up my neck. I have to get out of here. I break away from the scene unfolding before me and hoof it down the hall. Pushing through the double doors to the outside, I groan as I watch my bus pulling away from the curb.

I run towards it, but I'm too late. Perfect. “Shite.” I look around considering my options. Most people have already left the school grounds. We're not allowed to hang around once school lets out. As soon as the bell rings, rankers start showing up. The military uses the area for training. Actually, they use pretty much all of London for training. I need to get out of here so I guess I'll have to take the tube. Sighing, I set off towards the station.

I walk slowly, in no hurry to get home. People go around me as they rush on their seemingly important tasks.

The streets are teeming with squaddies carrying large guns as if they would ever have to use them here. This part of London is where the rich people live. Their streets are lined with department stores that most people could never hope to shop in. I don't belong here and I'm not the only one who seems to notice. Men and women in suits cast suspicious glances my way as they push past me.

I've only had to take the tube home from school a few times before and I wouldn't even have to come into the city for school if they hadn't shut down the East End Academy. They called it a breeding ground for the rebel movement. I can't say they were wrong. Rebels are dangerous. A society works better when all citizens follow the law. That's how England still prospers in a world that saw many fall. At least, that's what we've always been taught.

Sometimes I question it. I question them, our government. I'm not blind. I see what they do to us. But no good can come of rebellion so I shut it down when it enters my mind. It isn't in me to fight.

It takes me the better part of an hour to reach the tube station. I take the escalator down to the platform and swipe my card. I don't know how Gabs managed to nick these tube cards for us, but I learned to stop asking questions of her a long time ago.

I'm always amazed at how beautiful this platform is. There is a large mural painted in bright colors on one wall and adverts everywhere. I don't think there is a cleaner platform in all of London.

I watch the people around me, instantly categorizing them into the three categories in society based on their dress: The upper class, middle-class, and the rest of us. The government decides where you belong. During your senior year of high school, you get a placement. If you're really smart or really rich, you go to university and eventually end up assigned to a great job making a lot of money. If you have an ounce of athletic ability, you'll be a ranker. Gabby already has her military assignment. The military makes up pretty much all of the middle-class. The third possibility is for people with no smarts and limited skill. They work for little pay in public service jobs. I'm hoping to be sent to uni, but I still have a few years.

I squeeze through the crowd to get to the front. The tube pulls up and I board the nearest car. It's packed with people so I stand and hold onto one of the railings along the walls. It is about ten stops before we reach the east end of London and by the time we do, there are only a few people left. Not many people live out here in the dodgy parts of the city; well, not many people that can afford to take the tube.

I exit the car and the contrast to this station would be shocking if I wasn't used to it already. The paint on the walls is peeling and trash litters the ground from the upended dustbins. The only art present here is graffiti. I barely notice the state of things around here anymore.

And, of course, the escalator is broken. Once I climb the stairs from the platform - did I mention Gabby is the athlete in the family? - I've got about 10 streets to go until I reach my flat. As I walk, my mind drifts and I'm back in history class. The mythical colonies. Before my father died, he would tell us stories that were meant to scare us into being good. Today, the colonies are home to England's prisons. Criminals are sent off and never come back. Our government is saved the cost of courts and our society gets rid of its troublemakers. I always wanted to know more but never had the courage to ask. I want to learn about the people that lived there before the prisons were built, but some things are forbidden.

There are so many things I could choose to write my paper about. We haven't gone over much in class yet, but I've read my course book cover to cover. I think I'll choose the disease. It was the final nail in the coffin that wiped out much of the population. I'm sure most of my mates will write on the war, but that was only a result of everything else so I don't think it's as important.

“Out of my way.” I'm stunned as someone pushes me aside and legs it down the street. My shoulder slams into the brick front of a building and I start to regain my footing on the sidewalk when five, no six, soldiers rush past. They don't give me a second glance as they chase the gaffer down and tackle him to the ground. I don't dare move as a squaddie pulls out his gun and shoots the man in the head. He collapses and is left there, in the middle of the road. As soon as the soldiers are out of sight I start walking again, not looking at the dead man as I go by. Things like this happen around here all the time. The rest of us just have to keep our heads down and our mouths shut.

Even so, my hands shake at my sides. Some things you never get used to.

The rebels operate out of East End and sometimes it seems like a war zone. I keep my eyes trained on the ground and keep moving.

By the time I reach my flat, the light begins to fade. I'm zonked. I don't like nights when Gabby is out late. You don't want to be caught up in the nighttime events of this neighborhood. I enter my building and climb the stairs, careful not to touch any railings or walls. This place can be pretty grotty. I pass many other flats, each with their worn doors standing wide open. As I walk by, people wave to me or just smile. We all know each other here and look after one another. Technically, our building is abandoned and scheduled for demolition, so we're all just squatting here, but we do have rooms all to ourselves, even if they have been deemed unsafe.

As soon as I get to my room, I pull out the tattered course book Mr. Giles has given me and start on my homework, waiting for Gabby to get home.

2

GABBY

The wind whips through my hair as we speed down the road in Drew's brand-new convertible.

“Drew, baby this is brilliant”. I can't remember the last time I felt so free. Pushing my sunglasses up my nose, I look sideways at him. Exhilaration shoots through my veins. The air has a biting chill, but it's not enough to make us stop.

“I'm glad you like it.” Drew smiles as he ramps up the speed.

“Now you're just showing off.” I have to shout to be heard over the wind.

“Yep. I can stop if you want.”

“Well, you should pull over, but that doesn't mean it's not working for me.” I reach over and start running my hands through his hair the way I know he likes it. I smile when a small groan escapes him. He slows down the car and pulls to the side of the road.

As soon as we're stopped, Drew reaches over and pulls me towards him. His mouth slams against mine like a starving man at a feast. A car honks at us as it passes our spot.

I break away with a laugh. “Probably our cue to get moving. I need to be getting home soon.”

“But things are just getting started here,” Drew says in his low sexy voice, trying to draw me back in. Any normal day that may have worked, but not today.

“I have to go find a present for my little sister's birthday. It's tomorrow. Then my parents want me home early.” I cringe as I mention my parents. It's a lie that hurts every time I speak it, but he can't know the truth. I watch his face and see how easy it is for him to accept. Proper teenagers do have rules and parents that enforce them. I was ten when my father was killed and my mother couldn't handle it so she abandoned us. Most people will never have to live with that kind of pain.

“Well, where do you want to go? I'll take you.”

“I'm just going over to Fenwick's. I can get there myself.” My defenses start to come up. I don't need anyone's help. I can take care of myself. I've sure been doing it long enough. “Just take me to the tube station.” He shrugs and starts the car.

I got lucky with this one. He doesn't ask many questions. Plus, there's the whole sexy as hell angle. As he drives, I reach over and push my fingers into his dark hair. He flashes me a smoldering wink with his deep blue eyes. I melt right there in his car. God, I'm a sucker for a man with a footballers build. So what if he's the district commander's son, and so what if he's a player. I think I can hold onto him; as long as he never learns that my life is rubbish.

I look up and notice we're nowhere near the station. This git just doesn't listen. As we pull up outside the department store, my anger is seething. “What do you think you're doing? I told you I don't need anyone's help. I wish you'd just listen to me.” I get out of the car and slam the door without giving Drew a chance to respond.

Entering Fenwick's reminds me of everything I could never afford; Designer clothing, purses, jewelry, and accessories of incredible colors and styles. I'm usually able to get by on what I can lift but I've never tried that here. It's a dangerous hobby and most people would think I'm a right nutter for even trying. It carries the same sentence as any other crime. You're shipped off to the colonies and I don't even know what happens there. I don't worry about the consequences though. I know I'm good. I have to believe it'll work. Nerves are usually what get people caught.

I pass by a heavily armed guard near the doorway. That's something the usual east end stores do not have. But, then again, they don't have much merchandise either. I can still do this.

Dawn deserves something special for her birthday. She hates it when I pick out her clothes, so that's out. A purse is only practical if you have money or are borrowing things from stores like I do. Dawn would never do anything she considers “wrong”. Incredibly annoying how good she is. I go to the jewelry counter. This is the perfect gift. It'll be much harder to take, but it's for my sister. Sitting directly on the counter, as if they are calling out to me, are the most beautiful charms I have ever seen. Dawn would love these. I pick up a silver bracelet and slip it discretely into my purse. Then I pick out a charm for sister.

“Can I help you with something?” I don't know how long the saleslady has been hovering, but I'm sure if she's seen me pinching the bracelet, the guard would already have me in cuffs.

“I'm alright, thank you.” She doesn't take the cue to leave. Instead, she continues to watch me as I head for the door and slowly make my way out of the store. As I pass the guard he reaches out and grabs my arm.

“Ma'am, I need you to empty your purse,” he says. I rip my arm free of his grasp and sprint out the door before he can catch up. Once outside, I look around frantically for the easiest escape and am relieved and surprised to see Drew sitting there in his car, waiting for me. I run forward, but a hand clamps onto my wrist before I make it too far. A soldier who'd been in the store shopping holds me in place.

I twist my arm and jerk my head back to collide with his. Pain shoots through me, but the soldier lets go with a curse.

I sprint the rest of the way to the car and scramble into the passenger's seat.

“Drive. Now!”

It takes him a moment to comprehend what I'm saying. “Gabs? What's going on? You just assaulted a soldier.” He eyes me with something akin to fear.

“Get out of here now, you stupid prat!”

With that, he starts the engine and the car lurches forward. We're heading down Bond Street at getaway speed.

“Shite,” I yell, letting the energy flow from me in a rush of adrenaline. My body sags back against the seat as I breathe heavily. A laugh rips from my throat. I've never been so close to being caught. We're not in the clear yet, but wow, that was kind of fun. Damn the consequences. I'll worry about those tomorrow. How likely were they to even find me?

“Are you going to tell me what's going on?”

“Well, my sister's going to love her present.” I hold up the bracelet to take a closer look. It really is something.

“Did you nick that?” Drew is finally catching on.

Just then we hear the sirens. The police are actually catching up with us. I didn't think they had it in them. “Gabby, I'm pulling over.”

“What! Are you daft? I just headbutted that guy. You know what that means for me? We can totally outrun them.”

“It's OK, I got this. They'll listen to me.”

He pulls the car to the side of the road and we wait. It takes a few moments for the cop to open his door. He must be running Drew's plates. We hear a car door and footsteps.

“Mr. Crawford, I'm Officer Sutton. It's a pleasure to meet you, sir.”

I roll my eyes. Even after being in a car chase, Drew is treated like royalty. He can thank his well-connected father for that. It's as if I'm not even a part of this, even though I'm the one who committed the felony. Drew speaks in his smooth, future diplomat voice. “You as well officer. Is there something I can do for you?”

“Err…well, we have reason to believe that you have stolen merchandise in your car, sir.” I let out a laugh because this cop is trying to be as polite as possible while making accusations.

“I'm sure this is all just a misunderstanding. We can fix this right up. How much is this item worth?” Drew pulls out his wallet and I just groan. He should not be paying for this.

“I'm sorry sir, but it isn't as simple as that. We have this young lady on vid assaulting a soldier.” He looks over at me for the first time and the polite reverence he has shown Drew is gone. “I'm afraid she's going to have to come with me.”

Drew plays his last card, “Let me call my father and get this all cleared up.”

“He has already been alerted to the situation, sir, and has requested that we proceed with the arrest.” I can see where this is going so I slip the bracelet into Drew's center console and step out of his car.

Drew looks at me and tries to reassure me that everything will be OK, “Let me talk to my father. I'll head to the station as soon as I suss it out.” I just nod and get into the back of the police car. He has such faith.

But I don't. I know what happens to girls like me. Girls with no parents and no status. We're the forgotten. We're the punished.

A tear rolls down my cheek because I'm not like Drew. I can't afford optimism. I know what assault on a soldier means.

A shudder rolls through me as I think of my sister sitting at home waiting for me. Sitting in the back of the police car, something inside of me breaks as my future begins to disappear before my very eyes.

3

DREW

“Sorry mate,” I give a little wave as I yell out my window and pull out in front of another car. In my rear-view mirror, I can see the man behind me cursing and shaking his head. Chuckling to myself, I keep going. I weave in and out of cars on the motorway, paying no attention to speed limits, as I try to get home as fast as I can. My girlfriend was just arrested and there's only one thing I can do about it. Being the district commander's son has major drawbacks, but it can have its benefits. The policeman said my father was notified, but I refuse to believe he won't do anything. As much as the man acts uncaring, will he really have someone I care about sent to the colonies for a minor offense? To be fair, she didn't just break the law. If she'd only stolen a bracelet, that would be an easy fix. But soldiers are sacred in England and they have a recording of her attacking one.

I get off the motorway and head further into town. We live smack dab in the center of London with all the other exceedingly rich folk. I fly over speed bumps and through traffic lights until I finally reach my street. It doesn't escape my worry that I'm about to ask for him to help a girl he believed to be below my station, whatever the hell that means.

I hope he'll make sure she's released and sent home to her family. I'll probably just have to promise I won't see her again. We'll make a deal and then eventually I'll break it. It's a never-ending dance my father and I do. He tries to control my life, but in the end, I win.

I've lived in the same house my entire life and I still laugh every time I see it. It's a monstrosity. For starters, it's huge. I don't mean huge as in good sized, it's huge as in a giant could live here. The front gates are made of steel and manned by two guards round the clock. I always thought that was excessive since there is no way you could get past the gates in the first place. Why do we need guards?

“Alright, Willie? How's it going?” I ask as I pull up to the gatehouse.

“Fine sir.” He doesn't even look at me as he opens the gate and I drive past. It was probably the Willie crack. He hates when I call him that. He says William is so much more respectable and dignified. So I never call him William. In this house, you've got to find some way to have fun or you'll go crazy.

I park in my spot on the drive and head for the door to my fortress. Dad doesn't want me calling it a fortress, but when all the windows are bullet proof and there are about eight ways in and out of the house, there is no way I'm calling it a home.

I ring the bell as usual. Apparently, Crawford's aren't supposed to open the door for themselves. We have some poor chap that got put into civil service after grade school and is now our butler. We also have two maids and a cook. All of this just for three people.

The door swings open and I step inside. “Welcome home, Mr. Crawford.”

“Thanks, Carl.” I wipe my feet on the mat and hand Carl my coat before asking, “Is my father here?”

“Yes, sir. He's in his study. Is there anything else?”

“No. I think I'll go and find him.”

“Very well, sir.”

As Carl heads back towards the kitchen, I begin climbing the spiral staircase to the upstairs rooms. I drop my school bag in my bedroom before knocking on the door to the study. My father spends a good deal of time in here. I can remember sneaking in when I was little and going through father's books, fascinated. Now, it's just a place where we hold most of our better rows. There've been a lot of them.

“Yes? Who is it?” says a voice from inside the room. I push open the door and step through, bracing myself.

“Hello,” I say in the formal, tense tone that is always reserved for this man. He looks up from his desk.

“Oh, it's you.” The callous nature of my father no longer stings. I've grown used to disappointing him.

“Yeah. Can I talk to you?” In response to my question, he lowers his eyes back down to his papers.

“If it's about that girl, there's nothing you can do now. Best forget about her.” He doesn't even bother to look up again.

“Forget about her? Nothing I can do?” I go from zero to rage in a matter of seconds.

“Yes, son. She was just another slag, trying to rise above her station. She assaulted one of our countries dedicated soldiers, not to mention the stealing. Now, I have important work to do. There is a climate meeting later this week.”

My arms are shaking as I slam my hands on his desk. Startled, he scoots his chair back and regards me with hard eyes.

“Now you listen to me dad, Gabby does not deserve this.”

My father lets out a harsh laugh. “She broke the law and now will pay for it half a world away from you.”

“Are you going to send her to the colonies?”

“That is where criminals belong.”

“She barely touched the soldier and only pinched one tiny bracelet,” I yell. It takes all my strength not to reach across the desk and clock him.

“There are many reasons why she is there.” His voice is eerily calm. “You're only a small part of the much larger picture. The bracelet is an even smaller part. My son, why don't you call up one of your other women to cheer you up?” Once again, he resumes his work.

Bile builds in the pit of my stomach as I watch my father so easily send someone to such a fate. My hands turn white as I grip the edge of his desk trying not to completely lose my cool. I imagine myself doing and saying so many things in this moment, but only one thing escapes my lips.

“I know James is over there. He isn't dead.”

This grabs his attention and he searches my face to determine how much of the truth I know. The next few minutes pass without words as we stare at each other as strangers.

“You know nothing,” he spits.

“I know I need to find him. I know I need to get away from you.” I say the last part almost in a whisper, but I can see that he heard it. He rises to his feet and I take a step back.

Pointing one finger towards the door, he says in a low, menacing voice, “There's the door. Get out of my house.”

I turn as I reach the exit, “Mom,” I begin to say.

He cuts me off. “I'll figure out something to tell her.” I nod and run into the hall and down the stairs. I don't bother to grab anything other than my keys as I book it out the door and into my car. I lean my head back on the seat and close my eyes, feeling utterly screwed. What now? I have to find my brother and do what I can for Gabby. I have nowhere else to go, nothing keeping me in England.

I can't help but wonder if I'm making some colossal mistake as I think on how to get to the colonies. I wish my brother James was here to help me, but if he was I probably wouldn't be going at all. I grab my phone and punch in the number of someone I know can help me. He works at the airport.

Once that is figured out, I turn in the direction of the east end and set out to find Gabby's family. They need to know what's happened and that I'm going to do something about it.

4

DAWN

Panic sets in when I wake to realize Gabby never came home last night. She's never done this and I can't help the nagging feeling that something is wrong. Happy birthday to me, right?

I stand at our broken window watching the angry sky. It's been raining since the early hours of the morning and the sun has yet to make an appearance. If I went looking for Gabby now, I'd never find her.

I jump at the flash of lightning and brace myself for the waves of thunder. Thunderstorms have always freaked me out, making me feel vulnerable. Gabby and I usually just grab our blankets and go curl up together in the corner farthest from the window. Having Gabby around makes me feel safe, but she's not here and I'm alone.

I sit in our corner by myself and huddle under a blanket, trying to calm the shaking in my bones. My head jerks up when a soft knocking sounds against the door.

“Gabby?” I call. “That you?”

The door is pushed open to reveal a beautiful man with dark hair and wild eyes. He steps into the room and stops as his eyes take in his surroundings. His curious gaze burns into me. What the hell did he expect? This is East End, not freaking central London. I pull the blanket to my chin and wait.

“Are you Dawn?” It doesn't look like he slept at all last night and he could be on some sort of drugs. Water drips from his hair and his shoes leave wet prints as he steps closer. I watch his face. There is something very familiar about him.

My mouth clams up as I try to talk and all I can manage is a simple nod.

“I'm Drew. I know your sister.” That's when it hits me. This is the boy from the classroom yesterday, but that girl wasn't my sister. My fear turns to anger. What makes him think he can run around on my sister? She's too good for the likes of this asshat. When I find her, she's going to be crushed. Slag.

As I think about her, I push what I saw to the back of my mind because I just want to know that she's okay.

Despite my desire to spit in Drew's face and walk away, I find my voice, “Is she OK? Where is she?”

Drew nervously runs his hands through his hair and sits near me without an invitation. Too close for comfort. “She was stupid, so stupid. I didn't know what she was going to do or I would've stopped her. There was a chase, and I couldn't help. And now…” He trails off and his hands start to shake.

I let him sit in silence for a minute trying to understand his jumbled explanation. I finally ask, “Drew, what are you saying? Where is she?”

He looks straight at me, his eyes pained, “She's on her way to the colonies.”

I can't speak. This can't be true. What has Gabby done?

Words clog in my throat as tears threaten at my eyes. My whole life, she's taken care of me. Now she's off to have who knows what done to her. This can't be happening. I shake my head furiously.

Drew is talking, trying to explain to me the events of the night before, but I haven't been listening. His words come rapidly as if he wants to get it all out there and never have to speak of it again.

“…that's when the police took her and I went home to talk to my dad. He wouldn't help me. I tried to explain it to him and he said he was just happy to have her out of my life. He had her sent on the first air shuttle to the colonies this morning. I couldn't stop him. I left home and came looking for you.”

“How did you find me?”

“Well, Gabby never told me where you lived; only that it was in the east end. So, I've been driving around for hours, asking anyone that would talk to me where to find you. I knew her family would be worried.”

“I'm Gabby's family.”

“Wait, what? Where are your parents?” Both of us start to calm down as everything sinks in.

“Gone.” I look away; acting as if that word doesn't kill me every day. The last thing I'm going to do is explain to this boy my family's sordid history.

Drew blinks rapidly, taking in the new information. “We have to help her.”

“We?” I don't want anything to do with the git who is cheating on my sister. I don't trust him. “Why would you want to help?” The question comes out harsher than I intend, but he deserves it.

“It's my fault.” He breathes out a long breath. “She never had a chance because of my father.”

“Your father?”

“The district commander.”

“Shite.” I bury my face in my hands. “Get out.”

“What?”

“I don't trust you. I don't like you. Your father just ripped apart my family.” A sob tears from my throat. “My sister is gone. So get out of my house.”

“You can't do this by yourself. You need me,” he protests.

“Do what?”

“If you're at all like your sister, you already have a plan and, if you don't, I do.”

“We're nothing alike,” I snap. “There is no plan. People go to the colonies and they don't come back. Ever.” As I curl back up on the floor he pulls a scrap of paper from his pocket and writes something on it.

“Here, in case you change your mind.” And then he is gone.

I reach for the piece of paper and unfold it.

Tomorrow

11 PM

Airport

Hanger 18

Out on the street below, a car engine roars and thunder rolls.

5

GABBY

I'm screwed.

“Gabriella Nolan, you're hereby accused of thieving behavior, taking place at the Fenwick's department store. You assaulted a dedicated soldier. You have been seen on vid and fled the scene of the crime. These are very serious charges and will be met with a very serious punishment. Here in England, we do not indulge reckless persons.”

I look up as my accuser finishes reading my crimes and am surprised to find that I am face to face with the district commander himself. I have been sitting here for hours, unsure of what was going to happen, but now I know I'm in some serious shite. All I did was take one measly bracelet, but apparently, this is about more than a crime. The commander doesn't get involved in petty theft.

I shake with anger as I look at this man with his cropped hair and pressed uniform. He's handsome, just like Drew, his son. They have the same dark hair and smooth skin. Unlike Drew, however, as this man smiles down at me, it gives me no comfort, only dread, as if he takes great pleasure in my situation.

I finally unclench my jaw enough to speak, “What about my trial?”

“My dear girl,” This isn't a term of endearment, but of superiority. “This is your trial. I am your judge. I am your jury. I have already found you guilty.”

“You can't do that.” I stare defiantly into his eyes, full of wickedness and glee. He's so pleased with himself that he actually winks at me and says;

“On the contrary, I can and I have. Enjoy your stay in the colonies.”

A thunderstorm shakes the plane and I jolt awake. For a moment, I think maybe it was a dream, but no. It was no dream. Surely my own country wouldn't do this to me. I see his face in my mind and am disgusted with the way he looked at me. He considered me trash, not worthy of dating a district commander's son and so he threw me away. Would it have made a difference to tell him that Drew and I weren't even that serious? I liked him, sure, but we were just having fun. It's not like I was truly a threat to the commander.

I shake my head to clear it of those thoughts. Drew has no place in my mind as I head into the unknown. The plane lurches. As I try to brace myself, the shackles around my wrists tug at my skin. My feet are chained to the seat awkwardly and I let out a grunt as I try to get some semblance of comfort.

I have never been on a plane before, much less one going to my doom. Trying to get my bearings, I realize I'm not alone. I count nine others, all drugged, unaware that they too are heading chain in place.

There are rankers here too; two at the front and two at the back of the plane. Seems overkill to guard a bunch of drugged prisoners. I watch the two at the front, waiting for them to move. Their backs are ram-rod straight and they're still as statues. Their eyes stare ahead at nothing in particular. Good little soldiers. They make me want to scream. I might if it wasn't for the nasty looking guns at their feet. Don't they know what they're doing to us? Don't they care? I turn away in disgust but, out of the corner of my eye, I see one of the guards actually move. He knocks on the door to the cockpit. A woman in a gray suit walks out and immediately looks at me. Our eyes lock for a moment before she frowns and calls to someone on the other side of that door. “I got a live one back here. Requesting assistance.”

A man opens the door and walks toward me, holding what looks like an enormous needle. “Hold still,” he tells me. I would've liked to tell him to try holding still when someone is about to stab you with a needle and inject who knows what into your body.

The last words I remember saying are, “You son of a bitch.”

6

GABBY

My skin is on fire. Is this hell? Did I die? I can see the flames dancing around me. Sweat pours down my face. Water, I need water. “Somebody please help me.” There's no one here to hear me. I'm alone, I'm on fire; what else can possibly go wrong? The heat has finally gone to my head and I faint right there, with the flames still refusing to go out.

“No. Please. Put me out.” I wake and there is no fire. The heat persists, but I'm not burning to death. I can't think of a worse way to die. But where am I, if not dead?

I can't control my breathing as I start to panic. It's too hot; I don't know how long I can stand it. I'd give anything for a drop of water, just one drop that isn't my own sweat. I'm alone in what seems like a small box. It's too small for me to stretch out my cramped legs, but the pain is the least of my worries.

My head pounds from the heat. I know enough to realize that if I keep sweating like this, I won't survive long unless I get some water.

I don't know if it's because of the heat, the thirst, or simply a left-over effect from whatever they drugged me with, but I can't stay awake. I just need a little kip. At least, that's what I tell myself before I pass out.

How long does this go on? A day? A week? I pass in and out of consciousness. I wake up to a hand reaching through a small door at the bottom of my prison. The mysterious hand places a small cup of water and a piece of bread on the floor and then pulls back. I want to cry out to whoever is out there, but I can't find my voice. I reach for the cup and could swear that the water sizzles as it hits my tongue. That may just be the delirium talking. My thirst is worse than ever as I suck the last dribble of water from the cup. When it's empty, I throw it to the ground and attempt to eat the bread. I can barely choke it down my swollen throat. I curl back up and sink into the darkness once again.

In rare coherent moments, I can't believe this is happening to me. It's not like I'm a danger to anyone. I'm a teenage girl! And I'm all that my sister Dawn has.

I just wanted my sister to have a nice birthday in the middle of this shite world. She deserved it. What will happen to her now? Oh, Dawn, I'm so sorry. The tears fight to come, but they lack the water so I end up dry heaving instead.

I have nothing left to give.

7

DAWN

I don't have another choice. At least that's the mantra I repeat to myself as I run through the dark.

I stayed up all last night trying to figure out how to help my sister and came up with nothing. I don't know what Drew has planned, but I have to go along with it.

By the time I reach hanger 18, Drew is nowhere to be found, but neither is anyone else. A plane sits on the tarmac, waiting to take off.

I don't know what to do so I wait, hoping Drew actually shows. I'm crouched down low, hiding behind a truck when I hear footsteps behind me. I flatten myself against the side of the truck and listen intently.

“Dawn?” A whisper comes from the dark. The footsteps have stopped by the time he whispers again. “Dawn are you out here?”

“I'm here.” I step out from behind the truck. He walks up and grins.

“I wasn't sure you'd come,” he says.

“Well, I had no other choice.”

“I know.” At any other time, his cockiness would make me mad, but I just shake my head and let it slide.

“Is it strange that no one is guarding the plane?” I ask.

“Yes and no. Come on, we don't have much time.” He takes off running across the pavement. I follow him, looking around constantly to make sure we won't be caught. We reach the plane and Drew immediately gets to work on some sort of latch. He manages to get it open and the door swings upwards. Without hesitation, Drew hauls himself up through the opening and then reaches down to give me a hand. I take his outstretched hand and grab the bottom of the door frame as well. It takes some effort but I manage to pull myself into the plane. Drew closes the door behind us and I let out a sigh of relief.

My breath comes fast as I lie on the ground and look around. We're surrounded by boxes. Most of them are unmarked, but I recognize the Red Cross that symbolizes medical supplies. This must be a supply plane headed for the colonies. Good, Drew was right.

I sit up and look at Drew. He's been watching me. “What?” I ask.

“I'm glad you decided to trust me,” he says.

“I never said I trusted you.”

“But you're here.”

I sigh. “Because being there for my sister overrides everything. Basically, I'm just using you.”

His intense stare doesn't waver. “Don't judge me on who my father is. You can trust me.”

“Who said your father is the reason I don't like you?”

He presses his lips together. “I got us a plane and now we'll get to Gabby. I won't let her be trapped there like …”

His voice trails off and I don't press him.

I know what it's like to have secrets and I won't begrudge him them. Gabby isn't the first person in his life to be sent away. I file away that information. Even the district commanders son has tragedy in his life.

I shift my gaze away and move a few things around to get more comfortable. “We have a long flight, I'm going to try to get some sleep.”

8

DAWN

We're trapped. In this cargo bay. In this mission. Our choices have been stolen from us. Now there is only purpose.

The flight seems never ending. My whole life, I've always been looking for escape routes. I don't confront things like my sister does, I run, but there is nowhere left to run to. I don't know what kind of dangers wait for me when this plane touches down. For the first time in my life, I am heading straight for the fight, straight for trouble. No more avoiding, no more hiding behind Gabby. It's my turn to be there for her and I won't fail, I can't. Even though I have no plan and my only ally is this boy I only know by his bad reputation, I will do this. I may be daft for trying, but I will try.

“Dawn?” Drew interrupts my thinking. “Are you hungry?”

I lift my head and turn to look at him. He is sitting on his knees, leaning towards me, and holding out something in his hand. In it is a long, thin, red and yellow package. “What is it?” I ask.

“Jerky.”

“Huh?”

“Seriously? You've never had jerky? These things are the best.” His face-splitting grin is enough to lift my mood and I take the food, opening it slowly. It's tough and hard to bite in to, but as soon as I do the delicious juice fills my mouth. It only gets better as I chew and soon I have my own smile to match Drew's. I wouldn't have admitted this to Drew, but I was famished.

In between bites, I try to explain, “We could never afford stuff like this. Food was in short supply in our flat.”

At this Drew is silent. I look up from my food and catch him watching me again. Sensing I don't want to elaborate on my money issues, he says, “Well, it looks like it's a popular food in the colonies. They have whole crates of this stuff here.”

“Yeah, must be a treat for the officers or something.” Drew hands me another piece of jerky and as we're eating, I think of something. “How did you do it?” I ask.

“Do what?”

“Get us on this plane,” I answer.

“I had help,” he says. “The officer in charge at the airport is a friend and a sympathizer.”

“Seriously? You made a deal with a sympathizer? They're dangerous.”

He shrugs. “Not as bad as the rebels.”

An image of the gaffer I saw gunned down in the middle of the street flashed across my mind. “I guess you could say that, but at least rebels don't hide their views. Sympathizers in the government and military believe in the same things - independence from military rule, freedom – but they don't actually fight for it. Is it worse to push disobedience and disorder or to have those ideals and choose to turn your back on them instead?”

Surprise twists his features, his smile slowly growing. “You sure you weren't a rebel?”

“I'm not sure what I believe.”

“I don't know.” He scratches the side of his face. “Sounds like you chose a side.”

One of my shoulders lifts in a shrug. “My sister is the fighter. She'd probably ended up a rebel at some point.” Then I stopped, realizing who I was talking to. “I mean … shite. The rebels are fighting your father. I didn't mean …”

“Dawn. Chill. To be honest, I support a lot of the things the rebels say.”

“So, you're a sympathizer?”

“I was.” He looks around. “But I guess this is my coming out party.” Lifting a hand, he gestures to the plane surrounding them. “Hate to break it to you, but we're rebels now. There's no going back.”

His words echo through my skull. No going back. Rebel.

For Gabby, I'll be anything she needs me to be.

9

DAWN

I'm jolted from sleep when Drew shakes my shoulder.

“Hey Dawn, I think we're landing.” Drew shakes my shoulder lightly.

After our conversation about the rebels, my walls started to crumble. Drew and I are in this together now. We both gave up everything. I don't know his full reasons, but he's here.

For that, I'm glad.

He gives me a warm smile. A smile that seems foreign in this place, but it puts me at ease all the same. How is this the same boy who cheated on my sister?

Everything that happened in London feels like another world. His boyfriend skills aren't important at this time. In this place. All that matters is my sister – not her heart, but her life.

I stand up as straight as I can, which still means I'm hunched over a little bit in this tight space. “I've got a plan. First, though, let's fill our bags with some of this food.”

“You got it, boss.” Drew gives me a mock salute and I can't help the smile that comes to my lips as I roll my eyes.

I immediately go for the Jerky. I look over and see Drew going for the sweets. Laughing and shaking my head I say, “Uh…I think we should get food that will actually keep us alive, not send us into a sugar coma.” I see him put all the sweets back and then slip a couple pieces into the side pocket of his rucksack.

As soon as we feel the plane touch down, we hide and wait for the door to open. It feels like an eternity goes by before someone finally comes to unload the plane. The door creaks loudly as it opens and then a man is standing within arm's length of our hiding place. He's a tall, imposing figure and needs to bend almost all the way over in order to get through the door. As soon as he does, he begins looking around inspecting the boxes. His eyes sweep right past us without stopping and I inhale sharply, sure that he will see us any second now.

The colonies man steps closer into the cargo bay to count the boxes. Another man calls out to him. “Sir, you have a call on the sat phone.” He turns and exits the door without a second glance. I exhale the breath I'd been holding.

“Drew, he left the door open. We need to go now.” He goes to the open door and sticks his head out, checking to see if the coast is clear. He motions me forward and I see that there's only one man on the runway and he's busy pumping petrol from a truck into the plane.

I crouch by the edge of the door, watching the man, waiting for my opening. He walks behind the truck and I immediately jump out. I stumble when I hit the ground, but pop right back up. Drew is right behind me. I've never legged it this fast in my life. My legs throb and my chest starts to burn, but I don't stop, I can't.

We reach the nearest tree cover and allow ourselves to slow down. Silence follows as we listen for any sign of a pursuit. There is none.

I bend over, resting my hands on my knees, exhausted and panting.

“We made it,” I whisper to myself. Drew hears me and tries to pull me into a hug. Immediately, I stiffen and pull away. Unbothered, he releases me, still grinning like a prat.

“We can do this, Dawn.”

We move a little further into the woods to find a place to rest until the sun comes up. The darkness provides, cover, but in an unknown wilderness, we wait for morning to travel. We decide on a small clearing where we find a patch of grass to lie down on. We settle in and pull out our packs. I choose a very small nosh, just enough to hold us over because we don't know how long this food has to last us.

Even in the night, the warm air feels good. England never gets this warm anymore and I revel in the unfamiliar sensations.

Over dinner, we get down to planning our next move. “Where do you think we are?” Drew knows more about the colonies than I do – which really isn't hard being I know very little. I didn't have a high ranking father to eavesdrop on.

“I think we're in the Northern part of the colonies.” He raises his eyes to look around. “We need to head south.”

“And you know which way that is?” I ask skeptically.

“Sort of.”

“What kind of answer is that?”

“One that has to be good enough,” he answers. “The sun rises in the East, okay? I think I can figure it out from that. Plus, my father had all sorts of charts of the colonies in his office.”

“Fine,” I grumble. “You better be right. I don't want to be lost in a foreign country.”

“How did you think you'd find your sister?” he asks.

“I didn't really think past the getting here part.”

“Exactly,” he says smugly, throwing an arm over my shoulders. “It's a good thing I'm here.”

I pushed his arm away. “Whatever.”

“You'll realize it eventually.” With that, he walks off into the dark to take a piss, leaving me completely and utterly alone.