Subversion (One
Bright Future #2)
by Melinda Friesen
Publisher: Rebelight Publishing
Publication
Date: August 31, 2016
“I surrender my days,
my efforts, myself to the OneEarth Bank . . .”
After
fleeing slavery, Rielle James burns with the desire to topple OneEarth Bank and
end its enslavement of young people as Contracts. When she learns that her
friend Nathan has been sold to a logging company where Contracts die or vanish
without a trace, she assumes a false identity and becomes a slave again to help
him escape.
Her
act of subversion uncovers the horrific truth behind the OneEarth Bank’s role
in Contract disappearances and its link to a global pandemic.
Can
Rielle and Nathan escape and expose the truth before it’s too late?
Purchase Links:
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Excerpt:
We walk through the
front door and descend the steps to join a large group of young men in brown
work shirts and pants. They are milling around the black column at the center
of the compound. Some are still jogging in from the long dormitory on the other
side of the clearing.
Men and
women in navy blue outfits meander up the path to join us. I recognize Susan
from the office. Dek puffs on a cigarette at the back of the crowd. A woman
about his age joins him. His wife? Terrence stands away from the rest of the
group, watching the Contracts. I scan the crowd for Nathan, standing on tip-toe
to get a better view. I can’t find him among the clumps of guys in brown.
Spying a guy with sandy-blond hair, I’m momentarily hopeful, but he’s too short
to be Nathan.
A silvery-blue glow explodes from the
black column. The OneEarth Bank icon, a symbol with stark branches stretching
upward and jagged roots pushing downward, rotates inside two spinning silver
rings. The lights flash on tree boughs that encroach on the clearing, washing
them to dead white. The milling group stills. Conversations hush, and everyone
turns toward the hologram.
The female voice blares through the
speakers so loudly that it echoes off the surrounding buildings. I clench my
hands into fists, resisting the urge to cover my ears. “One Earth Bank greets
you and welcomes you to a new day of prosperity.”
Towering images flash frame by frame
over the pillar. New homes under construction. Workers smiling for the camera.
“The economy has never been stronger, thanks to OneEarth Bank. Our bright
future has arrived,” the voiceover shouts. The imagery shifts to a factory
production line. “Business is booming and everyone has an important part to
play. Young people from Resistor families who could have become a blemish on
society have found hope, acceptance and belonging through our Community Service
Contract Program.”
A young
man smiles and waves. “If it weren’t for OneEarth Bank, I’d probably be on the
streets, but now I’m learning some great skills and making new friends!”
My mouth
drops open. The lies! I glance around at the Contracts who stare at the image
with blank expressions. Are they buying this?
Above the
pillar, the presentation zooms into a map of central Africa with bulbous red
dots popping up all over it. “The Corpium virus is devastating Africa, but
OneEarth Bank is investing resources into vaccine development. We cannot
prosper while our citizens suffer. OneEarth Bank cares about you.”
The
OneEarth Bank symbol returns and the voice says, “Raise your hands for the
Surrender of Days.” Simultaneously, everyone lifts their hands to shoulder
height, palms out.
The voice continues and other voices
beside me chant with her, “I surrender my days, my efforts, myself.”
My mouth
falls farther open and my hands dangle at my sides. Pam elbows me and throws me
a scolding glance.
I slowly lift my hands like the others
as the voices chant, “To the OneEarth Bank who unites us, strengthens us and
provides all we need. We are not many, but one.”
I feel
wrong for raising my hands, wrong for even processing the words in my head. I
stand in stunned silence with a shiver that has nothing to do with the morning
breeze. They want us to pledge ourselves to a bank?
The
chanting continues. “We surrender all we have and all we are to the OneEarth
Bank. One world. One currency. One bright future.”
The Bank symbol spins before us for a
moment longer, then cuts out leaving a dense, heavy silence.
The Bank
is forcing their slaves to pledge all they have left: their days.
OTHER
BOOKS IN THE SERIES:
"One
world. One currency. One bright future."
That's
the promise made by OneEarth Bank after a global economic collapse--but only
for those who accept the insertion of a commerce chip.
When
Rielle's parents refuse to comply, government officials tear her family apart.
As punishment for her parent's crimes, Rielle is forced into a Community
Service Contract--a legalized form of slavery--and sold to a wealthy, abusive
banker.
The
Banker's secrets hold the key to Rielle's freedom, but will she risk prison or
even death to escape and search for her family?
Melinda Friesen writes novels for teens and short
stories. Her contest winning short stories have appeared in various periodical
and an anthology. Enslavement, book one in the One Bright Future series, is her
first novel.
Giveaway:
·
Two (2)
winners will received a physical copy of Subversion by Melinda Friesen
(US/Canada)
·
Five (5)
winners will receive a digital copy of Subversion by Melinda Friesen (INT)
1 comments:
Intriguing blurb and excerpt. Thanks so much for sharing.
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