And Then Begin Again (Dark Collections Book 2) by Ann Christy

Author:Ann Christy [Christy, Ann]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: teen science fiction, dystopian, space exploration, planetary colonization, interstellar travel, action and adventure, post-apocalyptic science fiction, women's fiction, female lead characters, post-apocalyptic fiction, clean reads, women science fiction, YA science fiction, paranormal romance, genetic engineering, androids, romantic, africa, biological warfare, future earth, space colonization, space opera, paranormal adventure, dystopian science fiction, artificial intelligence, coming of age, lgbt, psychological thriller, hard scifi, AI, urban legend, first contact, colonization, mutants, robots, family life, female villains, interracial, african-american science fiction, short reads, light horror, science fiction, self-replicating machines, literary horror, teen fiction, teen fantasy, action, superheroes, friendship, strong female leads, time travel, cloning, urban fantasy, fantasy, YA fiction, adventure, romance
Publisher: Ann Christy
Published: 2016-12-07T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten – The Price We Pay

Whatever façade they used to maintain compliance fell away the moment the train stopped. The side door—the one facing the camp—opened and the intercom told them to exit the train.

Every potential route of escape went through Darren’s mind, but strangely enough, he seemed to be the only one interested in that. No one else appeared to understand what was going on, at least not well enough that anyone joined him in seeking a way out. Some were smiling, others were examining what they could see of the camp through the windows. There was uncertainty on a few faces, but no one showed fear. Not one of them seemed to understand what this place was.

Darren tried to open the exit doors on the opposite side of the car, but they were stuck fast. Others began filing out and he looked around the car, searching for any place that might be big enough to hide him. There was nothing. Not even the food cart. Why hadn’t he noticed this before? The lack of storage, the spare frames of the seats, the open floor plan.

He stomped his feet around on the floor, looking for a trap door or storage area—anything would do at this point—but there was nothing. A young man nowhere close to retirement age stepped up into the car and eyed Darren. He was dressed in a recognizable attempt at fatigues, the color of his clothes mirroring the vast forest outside. He didn’t have anything as crass as a gun that Darren recognized, but on his utility belt he had several items in various holders and clips. Darren had no doubt that something among that collection functioned as a weapon.

“Please exit the transport,” the young man said. He didn’t say it like an order, but the way his hand rested so casually on his hip near his belt, and the way his feet were a little apart told Darren it was an order. Nothing less.

“Where are we?” he asked, his tone flat, but not overtly defiant.

The young man took a half-step back. Darren was so much taller and bigger than most of the people in this time, that even without trying, he was intimidating. Clearly, this young man—soldier—wasn’t going to take chances.

“You’ll get your indoctrination as soon as you join your friends,” the soldier said.

Darren walked across the train, making the soldier shuffle aside a few steps to stay clear, and stepped down off the train. Only then did he turn a little toward the soldier. “I don’t know them. I don’t have friends.”

The soldier stayed a few steps behind Darren during the eternal hundred yards they walked toward the gathered retirees. Darren did his best to examine his surroundings and catalog anything and everything that might be of use to him.

Behind him, the train idled, the last car still halfway through a gate. The fence itself was at least thirty feet tall and topped with coils of wire. In addition, the links were threaded with thick bands that probably carried an electrical charge.

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