Escape Forbidden E-Book

Ruth Silver

• Herausgeber: Dystopian Princess
• Kategorie: Für Kinder und Jugendliche
• Sprache: Englisch

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2023

Beschreibung

The Prequel to the Aberrant Series!
Fight to stay alive.
The Gravelands are a dangerous place.
In a world of uncertainty, Cora Manning knows one thing without a doubt: getting into Genesis will offer her a brighter future.
When the intake coordinator agrees to let her in because of her genetic makeup, Cora discovers the promised city of utopia is nothing like she imagined.
The rebellion has begun.
This is the prequel to the Aberrant series. It was written after Magic Forbidden. It can be read before Love Forbidden or after Magic Forbidden. It is a standalone prequel.

Leseprobe

ESCAPE FORBIDDEN

ABERRANT SERIES BOOK FOUR

RUTH SILVER

DYSTOPIAN PRINCESS

Copyright © 2021 by Ruth Silver

All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

CONTENTS

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Also by Ruth Silver

1

“Please, I beg of you, find mercy and allow my wife and daughter passage to your new society.”

I’d never seen my father cry before. His eyes were red and cheeks tear-stained.

“I can’t do it,” the man holding a clipboard said. He was the intake coordinator, the one accountable for who goes to the new government cities. Everyone else would likely die.

Starvation is the most likely factor, but it wasn't the only way to go. There was exposure during the cold nights, disease was rampant, not to mention the predators lurking in the night and not the wild animal variety. The world had become a sick and perverted place.

“How old is the girl?” I heard the intake coordinator ask, glancing me over.

I held my breath and stood tall, afraid my fear might give the truth away. Besides, if I looked and acted confident, wasn't that enough to fool the man with the clipboard?

“Eighteen,” my father lied. A law broken was punishable by death in Cabal.

I bit down on my tongue. It wasn't his lie to have. It was mine and if anyone was going to risk their life, it was me. “I’m eighteen,” I said, answering for myself as I kept his secret. I was fifteen months shy of eighteen. I held the man's stare, refusing to blink or so much as glance away. Two deaths today if we’re caught, possibly three. My mother doesn't have to say anything, but just being part of our family could be enough to get her killed. The good news is I'm tall for my age and everyone already thinks I'm old enough to be an adult.

From what my father had told me before we'd arrived, they weren't taking anyone under eighteen. Who knew if there would be a second opportunity in two years or ten years' time? We traveled for weeks on foot to make the checkpoint. I would do whatever it took to enter the facility legally.

“How was she conceived?” the intake coordinator asked my father.

“The Three Parent Project.” This time he didn’t lie. There was no need. A natural birth hadn’t happened in several decades. Only the government had access to the resources for fertility and childbearing.

Children were precious in our world. I was one of the first successful children born by the Three Parent Project, IVF therapy which involved swapping part of one female DNA with another. As part of the project, two mothers were used, giving the best chance for natural fertilization. Everything about the Three Parent Project worked except to cure future infertility. As a test subject, my parents and I were assured passage into Genesis when the beginning of our new civilization was formed. The only problem, new people came into power. The cities’ resources were limited and the population was still much too big. Ironic, because in a hundred years we would nearly cease to exist.

The government had the technology to ensure new children were born, but dishing it out was like winning the lottery. I didn't get the winning numbers, but here I was, begging my way to get inside the city. Funny, since I was considered elite because of my perfect genetics. It wasn't my dark raven hair or pale blue eyes that made me special, I wouldn’t get cancer or an auto-immune disease. “She was one of the first successful births using three donors. A real fighter, strong and obedient too,” my father said. I could tell he was hoping they’d accept me into their new society. The Three Parent Project was destroyed just after I was born, or so I'd heard. The research didn’t get destroyed but the threat and fact of no survivors made the project vanish.

“The Three Parent Project? I will need proof. Show me your wrist.” The intake coordinator ran a wand above my arm, glancing down as it beeped and showed him my identification. He keyed in the number on his computer screen and it slowly filtered through the database of citizens.

I swallowed nervously. Did it show him my date of birth? Would he realize I wasn't eighteen? Sweat trickled down my cheek and I hoped the man wouldn't notice.

After what felt like several minutes, the computer screen flashed and spit out my information. I couldn't see what it said other than my name.

He cleared his throat, glanced me over before giving a brief nod.

“We’ll accept her.” The intake coordinator glanced at the screen for a split second and hit the escape key.

I exhaled heavily, relieved that I hadn't been caught for lying and even more so that I was being accepted into this utopian dream that the government had set up.

He added my name to his list and I barely had time to say goodbye before I was tossed into a line and pushed forward like cattle. I glanced back over my shoulder and offered the brightest smile I could muster. My parents were doing this for me. They were trying to offer me the best life I could have. I wanted to be grateful, excited, even thrilled for the prospect of such opportunities, but instead I was saddened by the loss. I would forever miss them. There were no visiting days or hours spent sharing stories about the time spent apart. I would likely never see them again.

“Move it,” a girl behind me said, poking me in the back.

A loud voice echoed through the loudspeaker. “Keep the line moving!”

Embarrassed, I hung my head and walked farther into the tent for a brief medical examination and vaccine. Wasn’t that what caused this infertility in our world in the first place, a vaccine?

“What is that for?” I asked the nurse rubbing a cotton swab across my arm before injecting me with a translucent red serum. It burned on its way inside my veins and forced my head to pound along with my heart. Was that a normal reaction?

The room swayed and I took several deep breaths, trying to steady my racing heart.

The nurse wiped the drop of blood away and tossed the syringe into a metal pail. “It's the perfect cocktail to keep you healthy and immune from disease. We can't risk infection in such a small town.”

“I’ve already been vaccinated against the Red Plague.” Everyone by now had either been vaccinated or dead. Natural immunity didn’t seem to exist for anyone.

“Move along,” the nurse said and pointed for me to follow through the tent. “Hurry up and get changed. You’re the last batch to come through. Don’t miss the bus.”

Confused by her words, but slightly afraid of getting left behind, I grabbed the gray cotton pants and shirt and took it into a nearby stall. The stall barely covered my body. I was taller than most girls and I ducked slightly to ensure my body was hidden, not that I saw anyone else.

“Do you have any other clothes?” I asked the gentleman standing beside the bins. The pants and top were much too big, even for my height. I’m small in size but these must have been an adult male’s set of clothes.

“You should have been here earlier,” he said. “That’s the last outfit we have.”

“Great,” I muttered beneath my breath. I stepped out in the baggy attire, feeling self-conscious and uncomfortable while he wore a guard’s uniform that fit. It hardly seemed fair.

“Shoes are by the door. Small and large are all that’s left.”

“Wonderful.” I slipped on the large pair, my feet weren't dainty. Thankfully they fit, at least better than the gray outfit. Squinting from the sunlight, I stepped outside and walked toward the giant yellow bus. The paint was faded but I knew it had been used at a time when kids had gone to public school. I'd read and seen ancient pictures of a society that I had never known.

A guard stood with a clipboard in his hands. “Name?” His voice was sharp, his dialect stiff.

“Cora Manning.” My voice caught in my throat, nervous.

“You’re not on the list,” he said. “How did you get through the security check point?”

I stood tall, refusing to waiver. I was not about to get kicked out. Not when I was so close to making it to the new town. “Check again,” I said. “Cora Manning.”

“I’ve checked twice. No one by the name of Cora is on my list.”

“Wait! Wait!” I spun around on my heels and saw the gentleman from outside, the intake coordinator that had let me through. I’m not sure what convinced him to bring me along. Had they thought I could be an asset because of how I was conceived?

“She’s on my list. Last minute update. Cora Manning.” Rushing over, he handed the list to the man standing in front of the bus, the one in charge.

“What kind of last minute update?” the guard asked, glancing from the intake coordinator to me. “What’s so special about her?”

“It's above your paygrade.” The intake coordinator avoided answering the question and I felt a sense of relief in knowing that my secret would be safe, for now.

“Well, what are you waiting for?” the guard asked. I held my breath, nervous. “Get on the bus!”

So much for pleasantries.

I have no belongings, only the clothes on my back and they’re not even mine anymore. Everything else was left behind. Climbing the stairs all eyes were on me. I walked row by row, looking for an empty seat. Everyone was strangely quiet. As I examined the group I realized no one older than twenty-five and no one younger than eighteen sat on the bus. It was strange to see no older folks. Did they know something I didn’t? They seemed afraid. I didn’t quite understand what was going on.

In the very last row, there was an empty seat beside the same girl who was behind me in line. How did she get around me? “Is this seat taken?”

“Yes,” she said and scooted over, making sure I knew there wasn't room for me.

So much for asking nicely. It’s the only seat on the bus and the guard waited for me to sit down. “Move over,” I said, making sure I wasn't asking nicely. What good was being nice? The world was a tough place. I needed to demand respect.

Four guards and two additional personnel members board the bus. They were the oldest of the group, making me all the more curious what they were doing here. Were they the leaders?

There was no announcement as we lurched forward and the bus drove along the dirt paths and overgrown roads.

I didn’t know exactly where we were going, Genesis was the name of the town but the government had kept the city’s location protected. My parents risked everything to get me on this bus. I couldn’t disappoint them.

We drove into the night. I forced myself to stay awake, wanting to be alert when we arrived.

Up ahead, in the distance, there were bright lights. Is that where we were going? We continued at full speed, bumping along the dirt road that had become pot-holed with time.

Sitting in the back row, I couldn’t see. Curious, I stood wanting to know what lay ahead.

We approached swiftly and metal gates rolled open as we drove inside. Were they trying to keep the rest of the world out or lock us inside? The town was fenced with barbed wire. This wasn’t supposed to be a prison camp. There were two of those that I knew of. One out west and the other along the east coast near the sea. We hadn’t driven long enough to be near either.

“You in the back!” a guard shouted, and I slammed my butt back onto the seat. Maybe they didn’t see who it was? It was dark after all.

The bus slowed once inside the gate and the interior lights flickered on. “You will follow Officer Locke as he escorts each of you to your new living quarters. Tomorrow morning at eight o’clock you will be expected to meet outside for a town hall meeting. Any questions you have will be answered at that time. Understood?”

There were a few people that nodded their heads and others seemed to murmur in acceptance. I couldn’t seem to respond either way. Yes, I understood, but no, I wasn't sure I could wait until morning. Did I have a choice? I doubted I’d find much sleep tonight.

I waited until the other passengers cleared off the bus before I exited with my friendly seat neighbor beside me.

“Today, would you!” She jabbed me in the side and I spun around on my feet, grabbing her index finger and pulling back abruptly.

“Are you sure you want to do that?” My eyes narrowed and my top lip curled with a snarl.

Her eyes widened and tried to pull away from my grasp. I broke free, letting her escape. I wasn't here to hurt her, only defend myself.

“You two!” the guard from earlier, who had been trying to determine if I belonged on the bus, shouted at us. “Follow orders or end up back outside the gate. We don’t need dissidents.”

“Yes, sir,” she said and I nodded, muttering the same words under my breath.

I brushed past the guard, down the steps, and off the bus. Three additional buses were parked to our right. There were more of us than I had originally thought.

“You’re going to get us kicked out!” she said, fuming. I’m pretty sure steam came off her body.

“Cora,” I said, introducing myself. Maybe I wasn't so good with making friends but I really didn’t need trouble.

“You think I give a crap about who you are?” she asked. “Do me a favor and get out of my way!” She pushed past me, slamming her hand against my chest shoving me up against the bus, hard.

Smacking against metal, the echo sounded through the entire town.

“Enough!” the guard that had chastised us on the bus walked up and grabbed the girl’s arm. “Name!”

She stalled for a minute, probably deciding if she could get away with being as snarky to him as she had been to me.

“That wasn’t a question. Name!” His voice was deep and gruff, commanding her to speak.

“Private Lucy Fallon, Sir.” Her demeanor had changed. Her posture was tall and her hands were tight at her side. “Reporting for duty, Sir!”

A military camp? I swallowed my nervousness. What had my parents gotten me into?

I obediently followed the officer through the darkened streets. A single gas lamp lit the path. As we crossed the road, he pointed to the house in front of him. They all looked the same, especially at night. Dull grays and beiges limited any sign of creativity.

“That’s your accommodations. The key is in the door,” he said.

I walked up the patchy lawn. The grass hadn’t quite taken in all spots just yet. Approaching the front door, I found the key sitting in the lock, just as the officer said it would be. Turning the handle I opened the front door.

“Eight o’clock sharp,” he said reminding me tomorrow what time I needed to be out of the house. He probably knew I wasn't a soldier. Did he wonder what I was doing here?

“Thank you,” I said, and shut the door behind me.

Inside the house, a tiny oil lamp had been lit. “Hello?” I grabbed the only source of light and took it with me, catching a glimpse of all my surroundings. I’m also making sure I’m alone. Who came in and lit the lamp earlier? A guard? Someone that lived in this town already?

I walked toward the window, pushing the thin veil aside. The guard walked alone down the road, back in the direction we came from. I stared out the window as long as I could, curious where he was going, but after a moment he was out of sight. What now? I knew I was supposed to sleep but I wasn't tired. My mind raced with the possibilities of what this place could be. Were they trying to take back the country? Wasn’t that what the government cities were set up for? To ensure prosperity, safety, and unity. At least the advertisements I’d seen, flyers cascading in the wind, had said that.

I explored the house, curious how to use the stove. My parents and I had spent some time between residences, none our own. My mother had cooked for me, elaborate meals when she had the chance, because most of my life had been spent foraging for food and fending for survival. I missed my family. Would I ever see my parents again?

Finding the bedroom, I collapsed onto the mattress, putting the oil lamp on the bedside table. The watch I wore on my wrist was an antique. It used motion to keep time. Most digital displays disappeared after the Red Plague. Society wasn’t creating new luxuries; we all were just trying to survive. The watch had been my grandmothers, or so my mother told me when she gave it to me on my tenth birthday. It was an important gift then, and just as much now. I saw no clock, no way to tell time. My watch had an alarm feature. My family and I used it a few times in the past. I’d never seen the need, until now. I set the alarm for a few minutes before eight before laying my head on a pillow.

The mattress was soft, plush, unlike anything I’d ever experienced. I was used to sleeping in the backseat of a broken down car, a tossed out sofa lying beside a highway, anything available that didn’t involve the hard dirt ground.

I shut my eyes and succumbed to sleep.

The alarm on my wrist beeped, startling me awake. The sun had long since come up. I wasn't used to sleeping until nearly eight o’clock, but the comfortable bed made for an exception. It wasn't as though I’d never seen a mattress before. My family and I had taken shelter in a few abandoned homes over the last seventeen years. However, we didn’t stay there because food always grew scarce, especially in the cold winter months.

I pushed my legs off the bed and a horn screeched across a loud speaker. Had the alarm been to wake the city? It neared eight. Was this how we’d be greeted every day? It seemed a bit absurd.

Still wearing the cotton gray scrubs provided to me yesterday, I searched the bedroom for additional attire. There was one set of brown pants and a short-sleeve brown shirt to match. An eagle with two joining swords above the creatures head marked an emblem on the sleeve. I’d never seen the design before.

Quickly I changed clothes before slipping on the shoes from yesterday and walked outside. I recognized a few faces from the bus ride, including the annoying girl that was a private in the military. She wore combat fatigues along with a half-dozen others as we headed toward the town square. I’d seen the attire before, in old magazines and books we scavenged over the years. My parents tried to give me a proper education, they taught me to read and write.

Another alarm sounded, the same deafening tone shrieked across the grounds and I lifted my hands to cover my ears. Three sharp tones rang out before silence followed. My heart pounded restlessly in my chest. Would I always be startled by such an unpleasant sound?

As I approached the city square, the crowd had gathered and I knew that all four buses must have been full the previous night. There were probably 200 young adults gathered, waiting for instruction.

An older man, the oldest I’d seen in this town, barely my father’s age stepped across the platform to the center of the stage. His eyes were a dark brown that matched the mop of hair on his head. A microphone was set up for him to speak. He approached and tapped the device awaiting everyone’s attention.

“Welcome! I'm Governor Dechman.”

The crowd grew eerily silent, listening and waiting. Were they as confused as I was?

“Today marks the beginning of a new era. The rebirth of our society and rebuilding of Cabal. It is with great pleasure that our town, Genesis, is one of many built here to repopulate our world and ensure our future.”

The crowd cheered and clapped. I did the same, not wanting to stand out among my peers.

“We have come a long way and we still have a lot further to go. Equality will be met with vigor. For all will have food, shelter, and clothing. These benefits come with the responsibility of remaining inside of Genesis, providing everything we need and supporting the community. For if one man goes down, we all will fail in this pursuit of utopia. You will be expected to meet with a career specialist, as many of you are new faces and not previously registered into our system. We will find work for everyone by the end of today. That is not all. You may be wondering how we can protect our society from the Red Plague, famine, and a host of other diseases ravaging the planet. Our top scientists have ensured our children free of disease, cancer, and illnesses. A stronger immune system and a healthier and brighter future. To guarantee such a future there come sacrifices. A government worker will come to your home and take a DNA sample so we may match you with the best possible candidate for genetic compatibility. More information will be provided to you as you enter the genetics and infertility program. You also should have been able to read about it in the brochure sent to you when you won your lottery slot. There’s no sense in overwhelming everyone today!”

A deafening silence fell over the crowd.

“Please begin by making your way to the Resources Center to meet with a career specialist. Disobedience of the law will result in corporal punishment or expulsion from Genesis. Dismissed!”

“What’s corporal punishment?” I asked a brown-haired boy standing beside me in the crowd. His gray eyes locked on mine. He was the guard from the bus.

He bent his head down, keeping his voice low and quiet. “It’s when they inflict pain as discipline. Probably a lashing but I’ve heard rare cases of beatings and branding. Do what you can and stay out of trouble. I can’t imagine a little thing like you would survive for very long.”

I wanted to retort that just because I was small didn’t mean I wasn’t tough. What good would it do? I didn't have to prove myself to anyone. “Thanks,” I said under my breath, almost wishing I hadn’t asked.

The good news was that Genesis, our home, wasn’t a military camp. The bad news: the line for the career specialist put me near the very back.

I waited for hours, the sun cresting in the sky blazing overhead. Finally it was my turn; I entered the building feeling the draft of cool air blowing against my skin. It felt heavenly. Sweat dribbled down my brow and I wiped my forehead with my arm. The room swayed slightly.

“Next!” I heard a woman shout but didn’t see anything over the mass of people still in front of me. The line inched forward, my feet shuffled but I’d barely moved my body.

The crowd of people wasn’t friendly. I tried to make polite conversation with the boy behind me and the girl in front. Neither seemed interested in conversing.

As I approached the head of the line, my stomach tensed. What would they ask me? What was I expected to know? They wanted to place me with a job, but what skills did I have? My hands sweat and my heart palpitated. I was certain it had skipped a beat.

“Next!” I held my breath and walked up to the woman sitting behind a desk. There was a clipboard in her hands. “Name.”

“Cora Manning,” I said. It was the one thing I was certain of.

She flipped through the pages, presumably searching for my information. There wouldn’t be anything in their records, at least not about me.

“Molly, I need a file pulled, Manning, Cora,” the woman behind the desk said to a girl not much older than me. Did she already get her work assignment? Was this it?

Molly had strawberry blonde hair and a mess of freckles spattered across her cheeks and nose. Her eyes were wide, frantic looking as she tripped on her feet and stumbled into the metal filing cabinet. “Sorry!” Molly’s voice squeaked and her cheeks flamed. No one seemed to help her or acknowledge the mishap. Straightening herself out, she wiped the invisible dirt away and probably the bruises from the edge of the cabinet where her knee took a jab. Molly opened the cabinet, her fingers sorting through information until pulling a file and carrying it with her slowly over to the woman behind the desk. “Here you go.”

“Very good,” the woman said and opened the file.

I stood awkwardly, waiting to find out what my job assignment was. There was no chair to sit down on and though my legs had grown tired I had a feeling I’d be scolded like a child if I didn’t follow like everyone else.

She flipped through the pages and paused glancing up at me. Her eyes look surprised, but I wasn't sure what she found. I was a nobody, a kid that grew up trying to survive.

“Project Delta.”

“What’s that?” I asked.

She didn’t answer my question. “Report to the research lab tomorrow morning. Eight o’clock sharp. Take this,” she said and provided me a map of our town. Genesis wasn’t that big. I could have easily found the research lab without her assistance. Though I took it anyway and smiled, trying to blend in. The last thing I wanted was to cause trouble. There was something sinister about this town; I just couldn’t quite figure it out.

2

On my way back to my house, I ran into Private Bratty Pants. That was her new nickname. I didn’t bother with hello. She'd been nothing but difficult toward me. Just because we walked in the same direction didn’t mean we had to speak to one another.

“What’d you get for a work assignment?” she asked.

I contemplated not answering her. Would it work? Or would she hassle me even more? “Research lab. Project Delta.” I didn’t even know what it meant. How was I cut out for a job that I didn’t even understand what it was I would be responsible for?

Private Bratty Pants nodded and her eyes squinted as the sun set and shined into our eyes. “I’m sure they’ll assign you to mop the floors. That’s all you can do with that pretty face of yours.”

“Nice to see you again too, Private Bratty Pants.”

Her eyes widened and she lunged at me, fists flailing against my chest and toward my face as she pummeled me onto the ground. I blocked her blows, kneeing her in the stomach, forcing us to roll around as I pinned her down. Lucy had more training but I was stronger.

“Let me go!” she shouted.

“Cora!” The guard shouted. He was the same man from yesterday that hassled us by the bus. Just great. I throw one more punch, slamming my fist across her face before standing up.

Private Lucy Fallon lunged toward me but the guard came to stand between us, keeping any further fighting from ensuing. “This behavior will not be tolerated! You are both reprimanded and will lose town privileges for two days.”

“What does that even mean?” I asked. What privileges did we even have?

The guard locked eyes on me. “It means no activities outside of work. The remainder of your time will be spent inside your home; you will be on house arrest. The only exception is when town hall meetings are called and all citizens are required to attend. You are not to step outside of your home for any other reason, is that clear?”

Private Bratty Pants cleared her throat. “What if floor duty over there doesn’t follow the rules?”

The guard raised an eyebrow. “Then perhaps both of you will be punished. Depends on how generous I’m feeling. You need to learn to get along. Next time we’ll throw you into the holding cell. You’re lucky they haven’t finished with the hinges for the door yet, or you’d be down there already.”

Lucy huffed under her breath, rolled her brown eyes, and turned on her heels, walking home. I stood there watching her leave. The guard locked eyes on me. “What are you waiting for?” he asked. His tone sharp, flippant.

“I’m not sure.” I didn’t quite feel compelled to go home. Even if I was being punished, going to a safe place, alone from the world didn’t feel very bad. I’d been in far worse situations.

“Walk,” he said his voice commanding me to move.

I obliged, only because I really didn’t have another fight in me. My fist hurt from the good punch I got in on Lucy. She deserved it.

The guard followed me like a shadow I was unable to escape. “What are you doing?” I asked feeling uncomfortable with his proximity. I wasn’t used to interacting with too many people.

“Making sure you get home.”

“Right.” Of course that’s what he was doing. I’d been punished and he was making sure I didn’t cause a riot and create the next world war. I didn’t have much to say to the guard, as it was I didn’t even know his name or anything about him.

I strode across the dying grass and up to my front porch.

“Wait,” he said and for the first time he looked uncomfortable.

“Have I done something else wrong? Is this not my house?” I glanced up at the number above the door. 17. It looked right.

“It’s not that. You seem so normal for a girl that wasn’t originally on the list.”

I shifted uncomfortably on my feet. What was he implying? “That was a mistake. I’m supposed to be here. The list was wrong.”

“You’re an alternate?” the guard asked.

I didn’t have the slightest clue what that meant but I went with it. “Sure.” If that answer got him off my back, then great!

“What’d you have to do to take their place as next in line?”

My stomach wrestled with anger. I clenched my fists and my face burned. “Nothing. I guess they got cold feet. Didn’t want to leave their family behind.”

The guard shifted his gun as it slung over his shoulder. “Family is a fairy tale fantasy. It’s what the government is feeding to its people to give them hope.”

My brow furrowed, confused. “Then why do you work for them?” I asked. Standing awkwardly at my door, I spun around on my feet and sat down on the porch stoop. I didn’t know him well enough to let him enter my home.

“Same reason you start work tomorrow. I was assigned guard duty. There are consequences to disobeying the laws, Cora.”

Were the consequences worse than being removed from Genesis? “What’s your name?” I asked. He already knew so much about me and I hadn’t said more than a few words.

“Jasper,” he said and removed his weapon from around his body as he came to sit down beside me. “Where’d you learn to fight?”

I paused, unsure if I should answer him truthfully. “After I witnessed a woman get attacked on a deserted road in the Gravelands, my father insisted I know how to defend myself. I don't have as much training as you, but I know how to use a knife.” I felt Jasper’s intense stare, but I faced the rise of the full red moon as it looked close enough to touch. “How did you become a guard?” I asked wanting him to answer a question since I answered one.

“By chance of the lottery. Practically all of Cabal got a ticket. Lucky me got selected. A life inside Genesis, I just have to work for it.”

Was he intentionally being arrogant or did he always make such snide comments? “And the rest of us don’t?” I couldn’t believe Jasper! “I’ve been assigned the Delta Project. I don’t even know what that is!”

Jasper turned his head, staring at the full moon as it crested above the houses across the street. “Yeah but they chose your job based on genetic factors and whatever history they could pull up on you. There was planning involved, even if you don’t see it. I was a random number generated by a computer, an ancient piece of technology. Where’s the mystery in that?”

Jasper was right. There had been a file the woman behind that desk had scoured through before assigning me a job. I needed to find out what was inside the folder! I couldn't let anyone discover that I wasn't eighteen. “I haven’t lived in the camps for years.”

“The camps haven’t existed for nearly a decade, Cora. How long ago did you leave?”

I was four when we left the government shelter. I kept my mouth shut, my face grim.

“Are you always this irritating?” Jasper asked and laughed.

My eyes widened. Was he kidding? “Me? You’ve got to be joking! This is my home. You’re lucky I even let you on my porch!”

Jasper stood up, dusting the dirt from his pants. “Then I guess I shall consider myself fortunate. Watch out for Private Lucy, she’s a hellfire. I’ve seen what that girl can do, steer clear of her.”

What was Jasper talking about? They knew one another? Jasper grabbed his gun and slid the strap once again across his body. He faced the street and glanced down at his watch. “Hey!” I didn’t quite feel done, maybe because I had more questions and fewer answers.

“What happened to the camps? The government shelters that were set up for survivors of The Red Plague?”

Jasper turned around to face me. “Same as all the cities. They were abandoned or burned down. All resources went into the new project, our current society. Feel proud you were accepted, because most of Cabal wasn’t. Everyone I know from before is still out there,” he said and pointed to the metal gate with barbed wire coiled at the top. “They’re roaming the Gravelands searching for food or worse, dead. Rather than solve the world’s problem with infertility, homelessness, and famine, the government would rather let a few elite have their utopia. Welcome to Genesis, Cora. I hope buying your way into this town was worth it. I have to get back to work,” he said and walked off, his boots pounded the dirt as he headed toward the town square.

What had I gotten myself into?

3

Early the next morning I woke, showered, and dressed. The water was cold and the shower timed for three minutes. Not that I had any desire to stand longer under an icy cold array of water beating down at me.

Breakfast was bread and milk. Even after I finished my stomach grumbled. I could eat more. I had eaten more, on my own, hunting and scavenging for food.

The alarm through the town blared to alert us it was five minutes before eight. I hurried out of the house, slipping on my shoes outside. My pace was quick as I breezed past houses and toward our main center of town.

I reached for my back pocket, only to realize I’d forgotten the map. My eyes narrowed, squinting in the morning sun as I glanced at each building. To the far right there was a medical symbol. I’d seen it before in old forgotten books and abandoned hospitals.

If I was wrong, perhaps they’d point me in the right direction. I picked up my pace, trying my best not to be late. Entering through the glass door, there was a woman sitting behind a giant desk. “Can I help you?” she asked.

“I’m Cora Manning. I’ve been assigned to The Delta Project, at the research lab.” I wasn't sure I was in the right place. She glanced me up and down. Why?

“Next door. You can go down that hallway.” She pointed north down a dark corridor. “The buildings are connected. Better run. You’re about to be late for your first day.”

I nodded and took off down the hall. The lights flickered on as I approached. Some type of sensor must have triggered the lighting in the building. My feet clanked on the linoleum as I skidded to the end of the hall, another desk at my left.

“I’m looking for the research lab,” I said, panting and out of breath. My heart raced from the adrenaline coursing through my veins.

A young man wore blue scrubs. I’d seen them in the medical tents when we’d scavenged near cities. “And you are?”

“Cora Manning. I’ve been assigned to the Delta Project.” I stood straighter, trying to look presentable. My hair was probably unkempt from running and I knew I must have wrinkled the brown clothes provided to me.

The young man pushed a button and a buzzer sounded. Along with it, the door opened outward. He stood on the other side. I wasn't quite sure when he got up from the desk. “What are you waiting for?” he asked. I swallowed anxiously and walked through the bright corridor, following him. The walls were a sterile white, nearly blinding. My heels tapped the floor, echoing as we walked. “Where are you from?”

Was he trying to make polite conversation? I wasn't very good with people. “Everywhere,” I said. It was true. My family rarely spent more than one month in a town. They were trying to keep me safe. I never felt like anywhere was home. Government shelters housed everyone, including criminals. No one was left behind, at least that had been the government’s motto. It didn’t always work out so well. That’s when the new society began its formation.

“You show real charisma for a girl that’s traveled the world.”

I bit my tongue, unsure what he meant by the comment. It was better not to provoke, if he was looking for a fight. “What is this place?” I asked.

“A state of the art research facility. Our aim is to cure the reproductive ailments of society but also eradicate all types of disease.”

“Is that even possible?” I asked. I was well aware that certain genetic components played a part in cancer and autoimmune diseases, that’s why the Three Parent Project had been established. So far it had worked successfully. Of course it didn’t mean I couldn’t get the flu or still die of an infectious disease that was airborne. However, I’d been lucky most of my life. My mother insisted I had an immune system that was like a vault, protecting me from even the common cold. I couldn’t remember the last time I fell sick.

“Anything is possible. Our population was selected specifically for what each person has to offer, both physically for work and genetically for the future.” He stopped walking and slid his hand into his pocket, retrieving a white keycard. He tapped the electronic instrument beside the door handle and a tiny light flashed green. “Good luck,” he said and opened the door letting me inside.

“Hello?” I said as I stepped into the room.

A brunette woman with a pixie haircut and wearing a white lab coat scribbled something into a notebook. She held her left hand up gesturing for me to wait a moment as she finished her thought.

I stood there awkwardly, my hands now coming to rest together in front of me. The lab technician breathed a sigh of relief and put her pen down. “Cara, right?”

“Cora,” I said, correcting her.

“Cora, come in.” She gestured me to come farther into the lab. I obliged. What else was I to do? “How much do you know about genetics?”

I shrugged. What was there to know? My parents tried to give me the best education they could given the circumstances of the world. Humanity was at its worst, at least that’s what my parents used to say. Maybe they were right. Maybe not. I never grew up in a world any different. When it was all you knew, it seemed normal.

“I’ll take that as nothing. Any idea why you’re assigned to my lab?” she asked. She did not look impressed.

I contemplated whether I should tell her or not. It was probably why I was there. The implants were supposed to help hospitals identify patients and provide medical information in an emergency. The implants had always been optional. At least in most circumstances. Mine, however, was given to me at birth. My father was always anti-government. I’m surprised I was even conceived by the government, but perhaps you do things even if you don’t necessarily agree with them, in order to have a child. I opted to keep it a secret. It’s not as though she couldn’t gather the information from her superiors or find a wand and drag it over my arm. After all, it was the reason I was accepted into the new society.

“No clue. I’m good company,” I said though I doubted that was enough of a reason for me to help her in the lab. “I’m a fast learner. You only have to tell me once and I’ll get it done.”

“We’ll see about that,” she said not sounding convinced.

“I still haven’t gotten your name.” She hadn’t been very friendly or introduced herself at all. I knew I wasn't always the most social person but this woman was a hermit.

“I’m Doctor Noelle Baker.”

Maybe I should be elated that she gave me her name, but I wasn't impressed either. “So,” I said my eyes glancing at the multiple test tubes and samples of blood. “Do you have anything to do with what the governor spoke about yesterday? Testing DNA to match mates? Is that what we do in here?” It sounded anything but romantic.

“It’s a very precise science, Cora. Our DNA testing combined with IVF allows us to ensure removal of all bad genetic material. It’s what ensures a healthy society of children. Have you ever heard of the Three Parent Project?”

Of course, I’d heard of it! Was she kidding? Did she not know that I was one of the children born from it? Maybe she was messing with me, or trying to determine if she could trust me? “What about it?” I didn’t let on to what I knew.

Her eyes narrowed and she removed a glass tube that was empty. “This is a test tube,” she said, “we only need a drop of blood to look at DNA. Here, give me your arm, I’ll get a sample of yours while you’re here. Then we can run it against our new database of prospective candidates.”

She guided me to sit down. I had an injection before and again, recently. I assumed that’s how it would feel when she took a vial of my blood. I was wrong. It hurt quite a bit more and for a longer duration. At least a minute, maybe two. She took a few glass tubes and filled them, though I wasn't sure why she needed so much blood. When she was done she handed me a piece of cotton to hold over my pierced skin.

“Hold that tight for a few minutes to clot the blood.”

“Great,” I said under my breath.

Noelle laughed and took the glass tubes to the counter across the room. I couldn’t see what she did and I didn’t stand up. I felt a little hot, I was probably flushed. “Don’t look so upset,” she said.

“Why does the government have to get involved in the coupling process, if we can be given an injection to destroy diseases? Isn’t that what the red serum was for before we came into Genesis?”

“Oh dear.” Noelle’s face grew pale. “Was it translucent red?”

“Yes. Why? What’s wrong?” I asked standing up.

She grabbed a stool and sat down. “I wasn’t the only scientist that was supposed to be part of Genesis, but my partner didn’t show up. Honestly, I assumed he got cold feet. Joining Genesis was an honor but it also meant leaving our families behind. Not everyone was accepted into the program.”

I frowned, not understanding the correlation. “What does that have to do with the serum?”

“Howard warned me the night before we were supposed to meet up that he’d been contracted by the government to create a serum that would eradicate all forms of viruses. It would kill the disease on contact, including the host. The idea was to ensure that all pathogens are free from our new society. The problem is, if you have the sniffles you’re dead.”

“So you think Howard may have been given the injection? What happened when you arrived? They didn’t subject you to the same scrutiny?” I asked. “My clothes were taken and I was given the same items to wear as everyone else.” It felt like prison.

“I was given an injection at the lab. An older dosage but it has the same affects. Combining the two is lethal. I had to bring my documentation to bypass the security checkpoint. Plus I arrived right at the gate. I doubt I’ll ever see my husband again.”

“Oh,” I said, surprised Noelle left anyone behind. Maybe that was why she didn’t seem so friendly. “That’s tough.”

“You have no idea.”

I shot her a nasty look. “Really? I left my parents in the Gravelands. What happened to your family? I bet they’re not scavenging for food.” There was talk of a city down south that was prosperous with food and had ample opportunities for employment. It wasn’t perfect, no such place existed. Housing was over-crowded and there were talks of riots and violence late at night. My family and I never found the golden city of dreams. A scientist however, would have probably come from there.

Noelle remained silent. She was ignoring me. I didn’t entirely blame her; I could be harsh when I intended to be. She took a tiny dab of my blood and put it on a thin clear plastic strip.

“What are you doing with that?” I asked.

“Examining your blood under a microscope,” she said.

I didn’t ask her what she expected to find. Blood was blood, right? Wasn’t it all the same? “Is that how you determine DNA?” I asked.

“No.” Her answer was quick, abrupt. She didn’t elaborate further. I definitely pissed her off.

“Okay,” I said and glanced around the lab. “Do you still need me here?” I didn’t feel useful. This was not my scene. I could hunt, cook, even sew, but ask me to do something scientific and it was out of my league.

“Yes, Cora. You don’t get a free pass because you may feel you don’t belong. This is work. The government demands you do your job and you will do it well. Otherwise, you’ll face life back in the Gravelands. You might not think it so bad, except you’ll be alone. There’s no way to send word to your family, that is, if they’re still alive. Work with me and we can do great things together. Go against me and you’ll wish you never stepped foot inside Genesis.”

I swallowed the lump forming in my throat. “What can I do to help?” I didn’t mean the offer but it sounded as though I’d been given no real choice. If I failed at this job, would the government reassign me or dispose of me?

4

I spent most of the day, quiet. When Noelle gave orders I followed them. Otherwise I was spinning in circles on the chair, bored out of my mind. Did Noelle have any idea how much of a mistake the government had made in assigning me to help her? It wasn't as though she or the boy I'd met earlier were helping train me either.

“Cora,” she said, gesturing me over to her. What did she want now? Did I need to clean a beaker or wipe down the lab equipment? “I need to take another blood sample.”

“You didn't get enough from me already?” I wasn't a fan of pain and her sticking me with another needle meant another bruise. I already had one forming on the inside of my arm.

“There are some inconsistencies. I need to make sure the containers weren't contaminated,” she said and stood. Noelle walked to the cabinet and opened a fresh box of vials, retrieving a different set of them. “Please sit.”

Even though she asked nicely, her tone was sharp and I knew I wasn’t really being given a choice. I did as instructed, and she tied off my arm with a band of rubber. Grimacing, I wanted the pain to be over with already. She swabbed my arm and tapped my vein before drawing several more vials of blood.

I'm grateful when she is finished. I didn't bother to move or even suggest to help in the slightest. The room swayed.

“You look pale,” Noelle said. She grabbed a plastic bag, opened the nearby freezer and tossed several ice cubes inside. “Try this. Put it on the back of your neck.”

The immediate rush of cold helped bring my head out of the clouds. “Thanks.”

“I need to run this sample again.” She looked me over. “I'm concerned about leaving you alone. I don't want you to faint on me.”

“I'll be fine,” I said, assuring her that she could go and do her job.

“Even so, I'd feel better if you didn't pass out and hit your head. I'll call Toby in to keep an eye on you.” Against the wall is an intercom system. Noelle stalked over and pressed the button. “Toby, can you come in here?”

“Yes. Be right over.”

I didn't budge from my seat. The door to the laboratory opened and the young gentleman that had let me inside stood over me.

“Keep an eye on Cora. We had some issues with a blood sample and I've taken a little more than she's used to donating.”

“Donating?” I repeated. The room spun. “People donate blood?” It sounded archaic.

Toby stood in front of me, making sure if I fell, it would be straight into his crotch. I'd better be dead if that happened. I wouldn't want to wake up afterwards. It would be far too embarrassing. My head hung down and I stared at the floor, the marble swirled together. “Perhaps I should get her something to eat or drink,” Toby said.

“Just, don't move her,” Noelle said with insistence.

I heard the patter of her footsteps as she crossed the room and took a tiny sample of my blood. I didn't know what she was looking for or what had made her so concerned to open a new box of vials. Had all her samples been contaminated or just mine? My heart leapt in my throat, concerned that maybe she'd discovered I was part of the Three Parent Project and she didn't believe the results.

Noelle spent several minutes examining my blood, putting it into machines as she waited for a reading. Her soft moans and hums only furthered to confuse me. “Is everything all right?” I asked.

She walked over, resting a hand on Toby's shoulder to allow him to move. “I should be asking you that, Cora. Toby, grab me a thermometer, will you?”

He grabbed the first aid kit, affixed to the wall. Inside a thermometer sat nestled along with adhesive bandages and some other unknown essentials I wasn't familiar with.

“Put this under your tongue,” Noelle said as she shoved the device into my mouth. “Keep your lips closed.”

I nodded and felt the pointed metal tip under my tongue. It was awkward and uncomfortable. She glanced repeatedly at her watch before telling me, “Open up.” She sighed and cleaned the thermometer before putting it away. “You're running a slight fever. It's possible the red serum may have interacted with your genetics.”

My hands grew sweaty and I wiped them on my pants. “What do you mean?”

“Toby, find me the wand.”

He headed out of the room and I could hear a door across the hall open and shut. “I suspect you are part of the Three Parent Project. Did no one tell you this sooner?” Noelle asked.

She didn't give me time to answer and I was glad since I didn't want to lie to her.

“Your genetics make you special. It's why you don't get sick. You can't get cancer. You're immune to the diseases that many are born with.”

Toby entered the room, handing Noelle the wand. In an instant she had it powered on and guided it over my wrists until she was satisfied with the beeping and the information that popped up on the screen.

“It's as I've confirmed. The red serum the guards gave you to inoculate your body is making you sick. You should have been informed of this before coming through the gate. There were safeguards in place. I don't even know where to start, how to help you, with the technology I have here in my lab.”

“What are you saying?” I asked, staring up at her with wide frightened eyes.

“You're dying, Cora. I couldn't even fathom how much time you have left.”

My world stopped and tears burned my eyes. No. It couldn't be true. The government had set up these cities to protect our future and ensure the survival of humanity. Why had they infected me with a disease that would destroy me? “You're wrong,” I said, my voice quivered and my hands shook. I pushed past Noelle and Toby, stalking through the door and down the hall.

I heard Noelle's voice in the distance. “Let her go.” Grateful she wasn't chasing after me, the flood of tears followed as I ran outside, desperately trying to get away. There was nowhere for me to go, no one to turn to. In our new society, built to make the world better, I felt alone.

5

Maybe what Noelle had said wasn't true. Though I couldn't fathom why she would lie to me. I shivered in the cool autumn air and trudged back to my home. Noelle hadn’t chased after me and I felt grateful for the reprieve. Could she have been mistaken? I didn’t feel sick. Perhaps the thermometer had been wrong? Then again, the blood tests had been undeniable proof that I had a disease inside of me that was slowly killing me.

Could there be a chance at a cure? Or maybe Noelle was wrong? She was human after all and people made mistakes.

“Cora.”

I heard Jasper’s voice and wiped my eyes as I spun around to face him. “Yes?”

“Shouldn’t you be at work?”

My arms pimpled with goosebumps. “Noelle let me out early.”

“You’ve been crying.”

I wasn’t sure if it was a question or a statement.

“I have,” I said and wiped the last of my tears away with a swipe of my fingertips. Slowly I nodded. I needed a friend, someone I could trust and confide in, but was I allowed to divulge what Noelle had told me? Would the knowledge put anyone else in danger?

“Do you want to tell me about it as I walk you home?”

I walked alongside of him, grateful for the company and at the same time dreading to tell my story. “Not really.”

He was quiet and contemplative. “I’m sure it can’t be easy, analyzing DNA to determine genetic matches. Just promise me you won’t pair me with Private Bratty Pants.” His humor had earned him a smile from my lips.

“I’ll see what I can do, but—” I stumbled with what to say. That hadn’t been the reason for my discomfort or being upset. It had nothing to do with pairings and children. I understood that we were trying to ensure the future of the human race. Some sacrifices had to be made, including love. I could see that now, slowly like a star fading as the sun rose in the sky.

“No buts,” Jasper said. “Promise me.”

My heart fluttered and I nodded against better judgment. “I promise.” What were the odds his genetics and Lucy Fallon were most compatible for having a child?

He led me to the front stoop of the porch. “We’re here.”

I stalled at the entrance, not wanting to go inside just yet. “Do you think it’s possible that we’re the ones being caged?”

A frown covered his face, his eyes crinkled in confusion. “Everyone that came into Genesis had a choice, Cora.”

“I know.” I sighed realizing I explained myself poorly. It was difficult getting my thoughts out without risking an act of treason. Freedom of speech faded every day, especially within government sanctioned towns.

“Are you going to tell me what’s bothering you?” Jasper towered above me, practically an entire head taller. “This isn’t about Lucy. You both have different work assignments. Something happened in the lab today, didn’t it?”

I shuffled my feet and stared at the ground. “I can’t talk about it,” I said beneath my breath. I wanted to tell him, to divulge my secret but it felt like an unwarranted risk. Besides, who would believe me?

His hand found mine, his warm fingers slid into my palm. Although his hand was much larger, we were the perfect fit, his strength to my agility. I’d always been swift and cautious out in the Gravelands. It wasn’t uncommon to run into bandits. Everyone wanted whatever you carried on your back and if you gave nothing, then they wanted you. I’d escaped a good half-dozen attacks without help, when I’d gone against better judgment and followed my parents to forage food. I wasn’t always so quick to learn to follow the rules, but I had been well educated in martial arts and self-defense. My parents had taught me everything they knew. I would always be grateful to them for all they’d given me.

“I asked you a question,” Jasper said.

“What?” I hadn’t been paying attention. His soft gray eyes and matted brown hair with the sunlight glimmering against his skin had piqued my interest.

“If Noelle or Toby said or did anything to offend you, each citizen has one transfer they can request within a six month period. You could put in for another position,” Jasper said.

“It wasn’t—they were kind to me.” I didn’t further elaborate, how could I?