Displaced
by J.F. Jenkins
Blurb:
Chevelle
Donahue thought going into work would be just like any other boring day at the
mall. Sure, there was her annoying co-worker Wicken Sanders, and a promotional
visit from teen heartthrob Timber Hudson, to watch and keep her entertained.
But who was she kidding? Working retail was lame no matter what happened.
A terrorist attack changes everything - an attack from aliens of all things.
The patrons are given two options: comply or else. Complying means giving in to
a new set of rules and changing her entire life. "Or else" means she
has no chance of going home again.
She must figure out the truth behind why the aliens are holding everyone
hostage. In doing so, she risks her chance at freedom - but by the time she
learns what's really happening, she might not want it.
Excerpt:
I want to say it’s a
Thursday, and the middle of January. I’m not sure exactly because I haven’t
seen a calendar since the end of October. The one we kept in the apartment ran
out, and all of the others have been destroyed in the effort to make sure all
of us poor, inferior humans submit to the ways of the Achlivan. We were able to
draw one on our bathroom wall. It’s small, but it does the job.
It took some time, but I think I’m finally able to accurately document
everything that’s happened in the past three months. For a while, I wasn’t sure
if I’d ever be ready. I’ve seen things I wish I could forget, and as much as I
want to just go along with the way of these aliens, I can’t.
Letting go of my past life is not easy, and I’m terrified of forgetting it.
Someday, the human race will be free from captivity, and when that day comes,
they’ll need to know what happened and how life used to be. They’ll need to
know that our species was once part of a thriving civilization.
That’s why I’m writing this.
I remember the day the Achlivans came vividly. It was warm, which was
something to cherish in late October in Minnesota. The weather there was always
so temperamental, like Mother Nature had PMS. One day it’d be gorgeous, and the
next there would be three feet of snow. It didn’t matter if it was the middle
of July. That day, I want to say it was around sixty degrees. Jeans and a
sweatshirt kind of weather.
Like most days before I had to open at work, I didn’t sleep the best the
night before. Something about the anticipation of having to wake up with my
alarm clock always messed with my ability to relax. I had the same problem
during school too. Any time I had to wake up before my body actually wanted to
messed with my head. I don’t think I need to elaborate how going to bed at two
in the morning on a regular basis didn’t make for waking up at a time before
eleven often. It all comes with being a night owl. At school, I had the ability
to schedule my classes around that. Work on the other hand left me at the mercy
of my manager. Because I needed money – badly – opening was something I had to
suck up and deal with.
The store opened at ten, so it wasn’t like I had to get up at some ungodly
hour in the morning or anything. Still, the morning of the attack, I was having
a hard time wanting to get out of bed. I groaned several times and opted out of
taking a shower just for the extra half an hour of sleep.
My alarm went off on my cell phone one last time. If I hit the snooze button
and stayed in bed, I’d be on the chopping block at work. The fifty cents over
minimum wage that I got an hour was almost enough for me to say screw it all
and stay in bed. Unfortunately, it was still more money than I had in my bank
account.
As if he could read my mind, my chihuahua, Burrito, jumped up onto my chest
and started to lick my face until I couldn’t breathe. Dog breath filled my
nostrils, slobber covered my mouth and nose, and tiny paws scratched my neck
and shoulders.
“Ugh, okay, I’m awake, I’m awake!” I carefully picked Burrito up and put him
next to me. Then I reluctantly got out of my warm, cozy bed. Getting dressed
took all of five minutes since I threw on my jeans from the day before which
were still laying on the floor, my navy Toy Tech T-shirt that I needed for
work, the first pair of socks and necessary undergarments I could find in my
top dresser drawer, and my amazingly comfortable work shoes. All that was left
to do was pull my long, straight, boring, dark hair back into a ponytail.
I was halfway up the stairs when my Mom called down to me. “Chevelle, if you
don’t get up here soon you’re going to be late! Breakfast is ready for you!”
“I’m right here, relax,” I said, meeting her at the top of the steps. “You
cooked? Wait, of course you cooked. You’re always cooking.”
“Someone has to make sure you’re eating right. I figured you’d be thanking
me so you didn’t have to eat all of that cafeteria college food.” Mom threw up
her hands and shook her head. “All right honey, I can take a hint. You’re an
adult now and you don’t need me to baby you.”
I gave her a big hug. “Baby me all you want. I just don’t have a lot of time
to eat a big breakfast. Like you said, I’m going to be late. Besides, do the
words freshmen fifteen mean anything to you?”
She laughed. “If you’ve gained fifteen pounds already, you’re hiding it
well.”
Truth was, I’d gained five pounds. Pants should not be such a chore to get
on. Would my mother have understood this? Over time, but not until I lost
control over my weight gain and it became painfully obvious it was there. I
didn’t want things to get that bad and, like most American teenage girls, I
believed I already needed to lose ten pounds as it was just to feel good about
myself.
Ignoring her comment, I took a cold toaster pastry from out of the box and
rushed to grab my purse and hoodie from school. “I’ll be back for dinner! Love
you!” I called out before I headed out the door.
Those were the last words I spoke to my mother.
Link:
http://www.amazon.com/Displaced-The-Achlivan-Cycle-ebook/dp/B00DTLOZ30
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