Category: giveaway

A Book to Last the Year Volume 1: Fantasy Calendar Anthology Fantasy with stories by Kae Galla, Philip K. Chase, Thomas Wythe, Tahera Mannan, Davina Purnell, Sheri Chapman, Summer Sky, Tammy R. Ray, Aim Ruivivar, S.B. Rhodes

Prepare to be spellbound on a spine tingling journey within the pages of, A Book to Last the Year; Calendar Anthology Fantasy. Among these gripping tales you’ll encounter. An exiled dragon filled with rage. A queen chosen from among the commons not her bloodline. A meticulous Christmas coordinator training his assistant. The magic of leprechauns against bullies. What lurks through the window at 2 am. This collection of enchanting stories and poems is not for the weary. Enter into supernatural worlds of action and adventure. Talented story tellers and poets inspired by the months and seasons provide a mixture of imaginative and fascinating journeys allowing you to escape and forever be changed. **Only .99 cents!!** Goodreads * Amazon

A Book to Last the Year Volume 2: Romance Calendar Anthology Romance with stories by Kae Galla, Kathleen A. Duncan, Tammy R Ray, Kiora Light, Thomas Wythe, CM Peters, Michele Shriver, Cherron Riser, Sheri Chapman, Summer Sky

Prepare to be impassioned on a heart throbbing journey within the pages of, A Book to Last the Year; Calendar Anthology Romance. Among these alluring tales you’ll encounter forbidden love, broken hearts, and spellbound desire. A cake decorator who hates weddings but craves a stunning guest. The aftermath of a hot encounter with a mythical God. The sweet awe of attraction between adults who were once childhood friends. A 40 something grieving widow infatuated with a younger man. A girl teetering between the naughty and nice list at Christmas time. This collection of enticing stories and poems is not for the chaste. Enter into passionate worlds of pleasure and pain. Talented story tellers and poets inspired by the months and seasons provide a mixture of imaginative and fascinating journeys allowing you to escape and forever be changed. **Only .99 cents!!** Goodreads * Amazon

A Book to Last the Year Volume 3: Dark Horror Calendar Anthology Dark with stories by Philip Chase, Svea Neizke, Davina Purnell, Katie Jaarsveld, Sheri Chapman, Larry Yoakum III, P. Mattern, L. Guathier, Summer Sky, Tammy R Ray

Prepare to be crippled with fear on a white knuckled journey within the pages of, A book to Last the Year; Calendar Anthology Dark. Among these harrowing tales you’ll encounter. A violent organization of wolves, and the king who is bound to recapture his throne. Insolence and defiance among vampires, demons, and a blonde village misfit in the 18th century. The perseverance of a lone wolf seeking revenge. Snake-like demons seeping through the gates of hell. All horror and mystery that surrounds an unusual nursing home resident revealed within a single midnight hour. This collection of daunting stories and poems is not for the faint of heart. Enter into suspense ridden worlds in which good and evil collide. Talented story tellers and poets inspired by the months and seasons provide a mixture of imaginative and fascinating journeys allowing you to escape and forever be changed. **Only .99 cents!!** Goodreads * Amazon

**scroll through the slideshow to find out more about the authors!!**https://albumizr.com/a/R1UM

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Bionic Passion Bionic Evolution Series Book 1 by LC Owen Genre: SciFi Romance

Avery King is the most eligible bachelor in District M. His brilliant scientific discovery using stem cells and bionic technology has revolutionized the new world with state-of-the-art human robot hybrids, cleverly referred to as bionic humanoids. The bionic humanoids have taken all the jobs, making the rich richer and the poor poorer. Even though Avery is set for life financially, his biggest regret is creating a technology that ruined human lives. As the political heat is turned up the districts, the heat the bedroom is twice as nice. Everything changes for Avery when he meets a unique bionic at The Bionic Dolls brothel downtown. When Avery finds that he cannot get over his fascination for a bionic humanoid named Amelia, he will stop at nothing to save her from a life of servitude as a common robot sex worker. Will Avery be able to save Amelia, or will the goons at the bionic research facility get to her first? This sizzling series will have you at the edge of your seat wanting more. Dive into a post- apocalyptic future where the lines between what it is to be a human or a simple program, are more blurred than ever! This a steamy sci-fi robot romance with adult situations and sexuality. 18+
**Only .99 cents!!** 
Goodreads * Amazon Bionic Love Bionic Evolution Series Book 2 Goodreads * AmazonBionic Desire Bionic Evolution Series Book 3 Goodreads * AmazonBionic Dreams Bionic Evolution Series Book 4 Goodreads * AmazonBionic Obsession Bionic Evolution Series Book 5 Goodreads * AmazonBionic Ecstasy Bionic Evolution Series Book 6 Goodreads * Amazon

LC Owen is a native Texan and mother of two boys. When she is not writing or narrating for her podcast LC Owen Books, she enjoys singing karaoke with friends, going to local museums, or walking Reba (her dog). Please SUBSCRIBE to the LC Owen Books newsletter for free eBooks, eBook deals, and exclusive audios. LC Owen Books…Where thoughts become worlds! Website * Facebook * Instagram * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads

“Do you want your blowjob now?” she asked, gazing at him with a seductive stare.
As Amelia knelt beside the bed, Tom extended his hand to her, pulling her toward him.
“Only if you want to, doll,” he said.
Amelia’s eyes gave Tom a questioning blink. What did he mean ‘want to?’ She wasn’t
sure if it was her place to express desires. She wasn’t really human, after all. Amelia laid down
next to him, still blinking her large brown eyes. He gave her silky hair a gentle stroke, kissing
her forehead.
“I want you to want to, Amelia,” he whispered.
She still didn’t really understand. It was her job to service the men of District M, giving
in to their every desire.
“But…” she started.
Tom placed his finger to her full lips, holding her close to his chest.
“Why don’t we just hold each other like this,” he said.
Amelia was confused, but did as Tom said, simply resting on his chest while he stroked
her hair. It was an odd sensation on her skin to simply be held, but something about it was
amazingly comforting. She loved the way her skin felt on his, without the implication of sexual
gratification.
“Amelia,” he started.
“Yes Tom?”
“What’s your favorite color?”
“My favorite color? Gosh, I don’t know. I’ve never really thought about it.”
“Come on, surely you have a favorite color.”
“Chartreuse, a yellow-green which originated from a French liquor.”
“No, don’t give me your robot, search engine answer. I want to know what color you
like.”
Amelia gave it some serious thought. She didn’t want to displease him with another
incorrect response. Steven hated it when clients complained. He’d threatened to wipe her

memory before, and she hoped he wouldn’t follow through. A memory flashed in her mind when
one of the other dolls was dancing on stage, wearing a flashy dress with pink sequin. When it
caught her eye, Amelia remembered wishing she had a dress like that.
“I love pink when it sparkles!” she said with a smile, sitting up to face Tom. Her eyes
grew wide with excitement. “I also love hair ribbons, and sunshine, and flowers, and…”
Tom squeezed her hands. “Go on. It’s okay.”
“And…Sometimes, when I know I’m about to close my eyes, I’m worried I’ll never wake-
up again, or Steven will take away my memories. I just want to stand in the middle of the town
and play in the fountains by the skyscrapers.”
Amelia clasped her hands over her mouth, realizing she let out a bit too many words.
“Oh dear. I’ve said too much. Promise you won’t tell Steven.”
“Oh, sweet Amelia,” Tom said, running his fingers through her hair. “You just want to
be free, don’t you?”
Amelia thought for a while. She did just want to be free, but she could never, ever admit
that. “No, of course not. I love the dolls and my home.”
“Nobody said you didn’t love those things, but everyone deserves to be happy. Even
you.”
“Even me? But I’m not…”
“What? Human?”
“Yes…I’m not human. I’m not allowed to think anything other than what my
programming tells me to. Right?”
“I don’t care what Steven, or anyone else says. You’re real to me.”
Her heart was bursting with excitement. Nobody ever validated her like that before, and
it felt good to hear it from the lips of someone who cared. Tom got out of bed, pulling his pants
up.
“Come on, let’s go,” he said.
“Let’s go?”
“Yea, let’s go.”
“Where are we going?”
“To the fountains by the skyscrapers.”
“Oh Tom! Really?!”

“Really,” he smiled.
Amelia beamed once Tom’s car rolled into the city where the tall buildings stretched into
the sky. The people bustled about on the busy sidewalks, shopping and carrying on. There were
shops with bionic humanoids, busily fixing the window displays. There were children riding on
their hoverboards. It was all very exciting to Amelia who rarely got to see much outside of the
Bionic Doll building, or a man’s bedroom. Tom tossed his keys to a bionic valet as he escorted
Amelia to the fountains in between the skyscrapers. Water would come shooting from the
ground periodically in different places from a spout in the concrete. Children waited eagerly for
the next bit of water to come shooting from the ground. Tom took her by the hand, leading her
to the middle of the spouts.
“Are you ready?” he asked her.
“Yes!”
Water came shooting up in between them, showering them with droplets. Amelia
squealed, taking Tom’s hand and continuing to frolic about as the water shot up randomly from
different spouts. Her dress flowed all around as she spun, allowing the water to drench her dark
hair. Tom took each of her hands in his, spinning her around on her feet. She wrapped her
arms around him, giving him the embrace of gratitude.
“Thank you. This is the best day ever,” she whispered.
Tom held her close, wrapping his hands around her waist. He lowered his hand into the
pocket of her dress, placing something thick and heavy inside.
“Take this. It’ll get you through at least until you can figure something out. There’s a
man on the other side of town. His name is Avery King. He can help you.”
“Avery King?” she asked, adjusting the silver bracelet.
“Don’t let anyone see your tattoo. They don’t need to know you’re a bionic. Just go be
free.”
“Be free?”
“Go Amelia. Before Steven finds you. Just go,” he pleaded. “I put enough credits in
your pocket to last you months.”
Amelia wasn’t sure what to say or do. She was so grateful that Tom took her to the
fountains, but she wasn’t quite expecting him to help her run away. As the water shot-up
between them, Tom ran in the other direction.

“Wait! Tom! Please!” she pleaded.
“Avery King!” he said again, disappearing into the crowd.
“Avery King,” Amelia said to herself, grasping the credits in her pocket.

$15 Amazon gift card and a digital copy of my trilogy The Islands of Sedania Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!a Rafflecopter giveaway

A Pride of Brothers: Rick by Peggy Jaeger Genre: Romantic Suspense

Elite bodyguard and P.I. Rick Bannerman’s job is to protect. He doesn’t get emotional with his clients, but when a woman from his past is threatened, his next job becomes personal. Family lawyer Abigail Laine is the target of a client’s vengeful husband, but refuses Rick’s offer of protection. He walked away from her four years ago, and she swore to forget him. Now her reluctance to accept his help could cost Abby her life. Add to GoodreadsAmazon * Apple * B&N * Google * Kobo * Books-A-Million

I’m a #contemporaryromance writer who writes #RomComs about strong women, the families who support them, and the men who can’t live without them. If I can make you cry on one page and bring you out of tears rolling with laughter the next, I’ve done my job as a writer! #Family and #food play huge roles in my stories because I believe there is nothing that holds a family structure together like sharing a meal…or two…or ten. Dotted with humor and characters that are as real as they are loving, I bring all topics of daily life into my stories: life, death, sibling rivalry, illness and the desire for everyone to find their own happily ever after. Growing up the only child of divorced parents I longed for sisters, brothers and a family that vowed to stick together no matter what came their way. Through my books, I’ve created the families I wanted as that lonely child. As a lifelong diarist, I caught the blogging bug early on, and you can visit me at peggyjaeger.com where I’m blogging about life, writing, and stuff that makes me go “What??!” daily. I’m a social media junkie! You can visit me at all these sites below, any day and I’ll probably be there. Website/Blog * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram * Pinterest * YouTube * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads

“Right there.” She aimed her fork at him as if it were a spear. “Perfect example. You know I hate being
called Abigail. I’ve lost count of the hundreds of times I’ve told you and you still do it, knowing it pisses
me off. And”—she cut him off before he could speak— “your usual response is to lift your hands and say
‘and still’ when you’re called on it. Who does that? What kind of person persistently and purposefully
annoys people?”
“So you’re saying I’m intentionally annoying?”
“Persistently, so. Yes. Makes the lawyer in me wonder why.”
Just the lawyer? “Any answers come to mind?”
“Plenty.”
“Care to share?”
She placed her fork down next to her plate and regarded him across the table. “You really want to hear
this? Because if you know anything about me, you know I’m truthful. I don’t hold back.”
Oh, he was sure she didn’t. And wouldn’t. Her tenacity was one of the things he’d first been drawn to.
That and her fabulous ass.
“I’m a big boy,” he said with a grin. “I can take it.
She took a sip of water first, her eyes trained on him the entire time. “Okay. If you really want to hear
this.”
He waved his hand for her to continue.
“I think you use your cocky, aren’t-I-simply-too- witty attitude to keep people at a distance.”

2 $10.00 amazon gift cards Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway! a Rafflecopter giveaway

Second Chances by Larry Yoke Genre: Romance Fiction

Second Chances is an adult fiction romance novel: Hunter O’Conner has a rough childhood, so it’s not surprising when he turns down the wrong path. Growing up with an abusive father, we can’t help but feel sorry for him and wish, as he does, that “Mr. Wilson was his father” instead. He’s not, but this father figure helps teach Hunter some lessons which will ultimately help him turn his life around when he gets a proverbial “second chance.” It is a captivating story that teaches us it’s never too late to change and do the right thing. Add to GoodreadsAmazon * B&N * Kobo

He has been writing short stories and poems since a child. Now his writing entertains and contains current social messages taken from the pages of today’s headlines. His poetry and books have won national awards in 2018, 2019 and his writings have seen their way into several anthologies. He has proven his mettle as an established author worthy of reading. His books are found at online book stores and his social media and author sites. Website * Twitter * Instagram * Amazon * Goodreads

$10 Amazon – 2 winners! Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!a Rafflecopter giveaway

Flow The Flow Series Book 1 by Clare Littlemore Genre: YA Dystopian Fiction

A flooded future. A relationship torn apart. When 16-year old Quin’s best friend Harper fails The Beck’s assessment, will she ever see her again? Regular appraisals are part of life in The Beck, a walled-in community constantly threatened by floodwaters. But when the shocking results of the most recent test are revealed, Quin knows her world is about to change forever. Wrenched from Agric, where she has lived and worked for years, Quin finds herself thrown into the unfamiliar Patrol Sector. Yearning for her lost friend, struggling to adjust to her new surroundings, she begins to question the society she thought she knew. And then she meets the mysterious Cam, who seems willing to break the rules for her. Determined to find Harper, Quin enlists his help. But when she discovers the horrifying truth, it might just destroy her. If you devour fast-paced, addictive stories with compelling characters who inhabit intriguing futures, you’ll love The Flow Series. Goodreads * Amazon Get two FREE short stories for the Flow series here!! The Transfer: https://BookHip.com/MZVJFGThe Storm: https://BookHip.com/DFNWMV Break The Flow Series Book 2

Broken. It’s been three months since Quin transferred to Patrol and discovered the terrifying truth about the community she lives in. Citizens of The Beck are disposable and those in charge are capable of terrible cruelty. Vowing to protect those around her, Quin has joined the Resistance. But she knows she is risking everything. Rebellion of any kind must be secretive and clever. Gathering enough people to fight seems like an impossible task. When those closest to her are directly threatened, Quin knows she has to act. But time is running out. Governance will stop at nothing to protect the world it has worked to build. In the end, Quin must decide how far she is prepared to go to rescue the ones she loves. Break is the second in the Flow series, which follows Quin as she struggles to carve out a future in the harsh regime she was born into.Goodreads * Amazon Drift The Flow Series Book 3

She wanted freedom. But freedom comes at a price. Quin believed that a life away from The Beck would make her happy. But when a cruel twist of fate forces her to leave sooner than planned, she struggles to come to terms with her new reality. Haunted by memories of the people she left behind, she finds herself wishing she was back in Patrol, with Cam by her side. Cut off from The Beck, the escapees carve out a new existence on a small island. Tentative bonds are formed, but as disputes surface and rebellion is threatened, Quin quickly realises that their new home isn’t the sanctuary she had imagined. And when one of her fellow citizens is willing to go to desperate measures to save those he loves, he puts the entire community in danger. As they hatch a daring plan to save themselves, Quin is faced with a terrible choice: protect her friends or follow her heart. Drift is the third in the Flow series, which follows Quin as she battles to forge a new life in unfamiliar territory without the man she has come to depend on.Goodreads * Amazon Quell The Flow Series Book 4

One battle. One chance to change the future. Having survived the deadly virus that endangered her new community, Quin is devastated to learn that the same sickness threatens The Beck. With Adams and his Shadow Patrol in charge, Cam and her friends are in mortal danger. The rebels know they’re not strong enough to take on The Beck’s government alone. The only way to succeed is to join forces with The Ridge. But their alliance is built on tenuous threads: one wrong move could destroy their hopes forever. As Quin steels herself for the final battle, a shocking revelation leaves her wondering what she is willing to sacrifice in the name of freedom. Quell is the fourth and final book in the Flow series, which follows Quin and her allies into the ultimate battle to save The Beck. Goodreads * Amazon

Clare Littlemore is a young adult dystopian and sci-fi author who thrives on fictionally destroying the world in as many ways as she possibly can. She was born in Durham, in the UK. Her parents were both teachers, and she grew up in a world surrounded by books. She has worked for most of her life as a teacher of English at various high schools in England, where she has shared her passion for books with hundreds of teenagers. In 2013 she began writing her own fiction, got totally hooked, and hasn’t stopped since. Clare lives in Warrington in the North West of England with her husband and two children. Website * Facebook * Readers Group * Twitter * Instagram * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads $50 Amazon Gift Card

Chapter One
When I woke it was well before dawn. I could hear the rain pattering on the pod tarps, a
sound I had long ago learned to tune out. Usually in the dark I could hear the comforting
sound of the other girls’ slow, sleepy breathing, but not today.
For a long time, I refused to open my eyes. Lying still, I tried to prolong the moment
when I would have to admit that I was no longer asleep. Of course, the only day we were
allowed to take a break from duties was the one time we could never stay asleep. All non-
essential tasks would be suspended, for the morning at least.
Ours was an Agricultural pod. Growing the produce which fed the entire Beck was a vital
task, and there were more than two hundred workers assigned to man the fields and
greenhouses. Heavy flooding and regular storms meant our community fought a constant
battle against rising floodwaters, so protecting the growing areas was paramount for our
survival. But the fields and greenhouses could manage a short period without our labour
force. The Supers would man any crucial stations for the earlier part of the day.
Usually our pod slept until the very last moment, and then became a frenzied chaos of
activity before we all headed out to face the day. We grabbed our undershirts and pulled on
dark green overalls and boots, the creaking of camp beds echoing throughout the near-
silent pod. Every day we headed out the door as one just before 5.30am.
Not today though.
A dramatic sigh from the bed next to mine interrupted my thoughts. Reluctantly I opened
my eyes to find a pair of alarmingly blue ones staring back at me, as I had known they would
be. Cassidy. Her regulation cropped hair was white-blonde and stuck out in every direction. I
tried to smile at her, knowing that the occasion and the early hour would turn the
expression into a grimace even as I tried to seem optimistic.
“Hey.”
“Hey yourself.”
Our voices were a whisper. Anything above that would earn the entire pod a reckoning.
Nobody wanted that, especially today.
“You ok?”
I shrugged, not knowing how to reply.
“Quin!”
“I’m ok.”
“Really?”
Now it was my turn to sigh. “No. Not really.”

“Harper?”
I nodded and rolled quickly on to my back, staring at the tarp above my head. The pod
was filled with muffled whispers now, and we were in danger of being overheard. Grady,
our Super, was the only one still sleeping, but she wouldn’t be for much longer. We were
better off not talking, not making any noise. I wondered as I justified it to myself whether it
was simply an excuse not to discuss the subject any further. I had been awake for hours the
previous night, dreading today. Not for myself: for Harper. But talking about it wouldn’t
make any difference.
“Quin?” This time the voice came from my other side and was softer, less insistent.
I turned to see Harper staring at me. Her thin face was ghostly in the early morning light,
and I sighed as I took in her sunken cheeks and the listless expression in her pale green eyes.
Forcing a smile, I tried to sound confident.
“You ready?”
“You know I’m not. Barely scraped through last time.”
“But we worked on it.”
“Not enough Quin.”
Harper’s eyes filled with tears but they did not fall. Fear lanced through my chest at the
defeat in her tone.
As I turned away, I noticed that the whispering had stopped. Grady was awake and had
climbed out of her bunk to begin dressing. Eager not to anger our Super unnecessarily,
others followed suit. Today the rush to haul on overalls and boots was not chaotic. Instead
our actions were slow and measured. We had time, and no-one was eager to embrace the
day’s events. Despite this, within a few minutes our group had gathered at the mouth of the
pod and lined up. Her usual grimace in place, Grady unzipped the tarp and a dim, grey light
spilled through the entrance. I shuddered as we marched outside in silent unison and
headed towards the canteen.
The rain had stopped but the sky was iron grey above us. This was not unusual, but the
looming clouds seemed angrier today. As we passed the other Agric pods in silence,
different units emerged, our numbers growing steadily until the area was filled with the
sound of rhythmic marching that propelled each line, like automatons, towards the hilltop
path.
Glancing left I could see down into the fields which stretched away before us into the
distance, empty for now. The dark, protective fencing round the Hydro Plant, where The
Beck got much of its power supply. Then the wall. Tall, strong, protective, manned by Patrol
guards as always. Beyond the wall were the floodplains, their waters seemingly still from
this distance, reflecting the steely sky and encircling the entire Lower Beck. Sometimes the
level of water was barely visible. After a storm it increased and everyone got twitchy for a

while, until a spell of better weather beat it into temporary retreat. But the huge body of
water was always there, a silent threat that nobody in The Beck could ignore.
Moving beyond the Agric Compound, we skirted the edge of the LS pods, deserted at this
time of day, and then passed by the Dev Compound, where the staff would not yet be
awake. In the distance I caught a tantalising glimpse of the woods leading to the Upper
Beck, and in the distance I could just see the pass between the hills that provided a fourth
wall to our valley. Finally our line snaked sharply left towards the Lower Beck canteen.
Steam rose softly from the rear of the building and the unmistakeable scent of baking bread
filled the air. The Sustenance Crew would also not avoid their duties today. We all had to
eat.
Marching a few steps ahead, I watched as Cassidy turned her head slightly towards me.
Usually she did this when she wanted to direct a whispered remark at me, or snort with
suppressed laughter at whatever she had found amusing. We had perfected the art of
communicating in near-silence after years of practice. Only essential, work-related
communication was permitted in The Beck. We had learned fast that the easiest way to
survive was to exist unnoticed, under the radar. But today Cassidy’s speech seemed to die in
her throat and she merely glanced strangely at me before spinning back to face her
destination again as though she had thought better of it.
Our lines came to a halt at the flagpole just in front of the canteen. Usually we were
eager for food and this was tangible, even in the silence. Now the lines were filled with grim
expressions and no one seemed eager to hustle in and eat. A solitary voice, whichever
Sustenance Super was on duty today, called out pod numbers from a clipboard. One by one,
the lines trudged inside the tent.
I found myself willing the process to take longer to delay the inevitable, but too soon our
line was filing in behind the others and queuing for the daily bowl of porridge and rough
hunk of bread. Today’s portion was made with milk, a rare treat. The usual watery
substance which lurked in our bowls was replaced by a creamy, filling warmth. It was only a
pity that we couldn’t enjoy it.
Collecting my allotted bowl, I walked to the pod’s usual table and slid on to the bench. A
moment later, a small, cold hand slid inside my own underneath the table. I couldn’t believe
how small the hand inside mine felt, how feeble. I turned slightly to my right and managed a
small smile for Harper, squeezing her hand in return before turning my attention to the
meal.
I had little appetite, but the porridge was thick and creamy and I knew my body needed
the strength it would provide. Forcing down spoonful after spoonful, I wished we could be
afforded this kind of nourishment on a day when we could actually enjoy it. But it was
tradition, to provide us all with a filling meal before the trials which awaited us.
The room was eerily quiet for a building which housed so many people. All female at the
moment, the canteen contained row upon row of benches which housed a never-ending

stream of hungry workers. A large, barn-like structure with whitewashed walls and stark,
simple furniture, the canteen never stopped, and every pod was carefully assigned two
meal-time slots each day. The portions we received were meagre and barely kept us going,
so anyone missing a meal really suffered. In our world, there were very few justifications for
missing out on food.
I watched as table after table of girls ate, heads bowed, our silence more severe than
usual due to the tasks which awaited us. The table at the top of the room was elevated
slightly and contained the Supers. Their portions were slightly larger than the rest, which
was why Super positions were so sought after. Both Cassidy and I would be considered for
Super positions today, and Cass was looking forward to the prospect of a slightly better diet,
but I knew that being promoted also came with its down sides. Being separated from friends
I had known from the moment I was assigned to the Agric Compound was one. The extra
responsibility was another. I wondered again if I had the stomach for it. But what else was
there?
I glanced at Cassidy sitting beside me, consuming her breakfast with a grim
determination. She too was sneaking looks at the Supers between swallowing, as if making
vital mental notes about them. After a few minutes she stared directly at me, her eyes
burning fiercely.
“Three,” she hissed.
“Three what?”
“Places up for grabs,” she raised an eyebrow, “I think three of them are going up.”
I thought about it. Of the twenty Supers currently at the top table, Cassidy believed that
three of them would be promoted to positions in other fields today, leaving their places free
for others to take. There were at least thirteen girls I knew of being considered for
elevation. Competition was tough. Cassidy was desperate to become Super. I wasn’t quite as
enthusiastic. My main reason for wanting promotion was Harper. If she could only get
through today, and if Cassidy or I could make Super, we might protect her. Without that, we
all knew she couldn’t go on for much longer.
A tap on my thigh brought my attention back to my friend sitting on the bench next to
me. I realised I was being handed something else. Harper was determinedly pressing
something into my hand: the hunk of bread she had been given by the Sustenance worker. I
stared at her fiercely.
“Take it back.”
Harper shook her head.
“Take. It. Back!” I hissed.

The Super on duty was looking our way. I bowed my head rapidly, pushing the bread
towards Harper, who was now staring in the other direction. I noticed that her porridge was
barely touched.
“But you need it,” I pleaded, “more than I do.”
“I can’t.”
Finding sudden tears in my eyes, I had to bite my lip to keep them from falling. Harper
was desperately skinny already, she had been for months now. She had struggled to collect
her share of crops in the fields and Cassidy and I had been helping her out, collecting extra
and slipping it her way when no one was watching. The additional work had almost killed us,
but we had agreed it was worth it for Harper. It had also had the unexpected effect of
strengthening us both, building real muscles on our wiry frames, and was one of the reasons
that we were eligible for Super promotion today.
Harper, on the other hand, had only grown steadily weaker. I suspected that she was ill,
but admitting that was far more dangerous than trying to hide her weakness. There was no
option of medical treatment for her. We could only help her out where possible and hope
time would help her to heal. Over and over again, I had offered her a share of my rations,
hoping that the extra food would allow her to grow stronger, but more often than not she
had refused to take it. Even when she did accept a small amount of food, she struggled to
eat it. Whatever was the matter with her seemed to have killed off her appetite and her
spirit, and she struggled even to consume The Beck’s paltry rations.
Watching Harper struggle to finish the tiny bowl of porridge, I remembered the way she
used to be. I had known Cassidy and Harper for a long time, but three years ago, when we
all passed out of Minors and were assigned to the same Agric pod, our friendship had really
taken root. The three of us had quickly become inseparable. The Beck was a restrictive
place: the work hard and the hours long once you moved into a Compound at the age of
fourteen, but between the regulations and the hardships there was room for friendships to
grow. The relationships we developed with our pod sisters were what kept us all going.
Where I was quite thoughtful and quiet, Cassidy was loud and boisterous, a character
trait she was mostly forced to stifle. Cass regularly made fun of me for being uptight, which
had led to several arguments between us in the past. But Harper was loving and gentle and
funny, the perfect connection between us and she diffused our regular spats with an easy
understanding of both our characters.
She was also by far the most suited to the Agriculture Compound. Even in the very early
days she had shown herself to be extremely adept at planting, nurturing, and gathering the
crops so essential to the continuation of life in The Beck. She was the one who understood
exactly how to make things grow and thrive, and she was looked upon as an unofficial
Supervisor well before the age of sixteen due to her capacity for understanding exactly what
was required to ensure the healthiest harvest.

Realising that the rest of the table had finished eating, I thrust the bread at Cassidy
underneath the table. I knew she would accept it, where I couldn’t swallow my friend’s
quota of food without feeling a keen sense of betrayal. Moments later, we rose and began
filing out of the large room, the Sustenance staff already sweeping in to clear the bowls
from the tables and begin again with the next sitting. Leaving the canteen, our line turned
out of the exit doors and wound its way back round the path which took us within sight of
the entrance again. Now, a similar sized group of young men from the LS pods was hungrily
awaiting their turn to eat, having already chalked up several hours of work with The Beck
livestock.
Usually plenty of glances passed between the groups, even from this distance. The Lower
Beck’s male and female citizens were separated from a very early age, when they were still
Minors even, and most of the pod assignments at the age of fourteen were single gender.
Only in certain Compounds were male and female citizens permitted to work together. That
didn’t prevent curiosity though, in fact it probably made us even more inquisitive about the
other group. The Agric girls always looked across at the boys, and were occasionally
rewarded with a sly wink from one of the more confident among the group.
Few people were looking today though. The lines of girls marched forward resolutely. We
knew what was awaiting us and no one was looking forward to it. Behind me, I heard Harper
gasp as she tripped and I automatically shot out a hand to catch her before she hit the floor.
She stumbled for a few paces before regaining her balance and I let go, knowing that Grady
had not missed Harper’s near fall. She was so clumsy these days. I was certain this fact was
known by all the Agric Supers.
Around a year ago, I had begun to notice the gradual change in Harper. Cass wouldn’t
accept it at first, but I saw the early signs. She was quieter, less likely to chat, found it more
difficult to complete the long hours required of an Agric worker. Where previously she had
joined in the whispered chatter between us, and the stolen glances at the boys as we passed
them, now her head remained permanently bowed and she didn’t so much as glance in their
direction.
While Cassidy and I had grown stronger, Harper had only seemed more sluggish and
depleted in energy by the day. Eventually we had to support her on her return from the
fields each night, and tried to switch our greenhouse allocations with her as often as we
possibly could, so she could work where it was warmer and duties were light.
Today was Assessment day. It happened every six months without fail, and its purpose
was to test the ongoing durability of The Beck workforce. We kept the place running, and
without all staff being in prime condition, The Beck risked a complete breakdown. The series
of tests we underwent each time included a gruelling physical, a mental health test, and a
written examination which tested our knowledge of life and work in The Beck. All three
were graded and the results defined what happened to a citizen next.
Promotion to a higher position within your own pod was possible, and carried with it
some benefits. Reassignment to an alternative Sector was also possible. Citizens were

sometimes moved between the different areas if the Supers felt we were better suited to
another role, or if we had gained the necessary experience and knowledge to work at a
higher level. In an environment where floods had destroyed huge parts of the country and
land was scarce, overpopulation was not an option. Those failing the tests risked demotion
to a lower level Sector, or even assignment to Clearance. This was my biggest fear for
Harper.
Clearance was the place where citizens ended up when they had outlived their
usefulness. It was saved for the elderly, for people who were not able to maintain a useful
position in Beck society, for those who were seriously ill and unlikely to get better.
Situated across Black Hill on the far side of The Beck, none of the ordinary citizens were
ever permitted to visit Clearance. Only the Governor’s officials and Patrol members on duty
were allowed over there. Whatever went on, it all took place over the other side of the hill,
completely hidden from view. There was only one thing I knew for certain about Clearance.
No one ever came back.

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