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Lisa Acerbo
Publication date: December 24th 2018
Genres: Science Fiction, Young Adult
When technology fulfills every dream, reality is a nightmare.
Below the streets of New State, the Grounders fight to remain free of the technological control of the world above. When dusk falls, Wren risks her life by entering the capital city as a raider to secure resources for the rebellion. Each step further inside puts her life in jeopardy from New State’s deadliest weapons – Phantoms. More machine than human, tortured until devoid of emotion and caring, Phantoms have only one objective. Kill. And they do it with exacting precision.
Wren is good at her job as a raider and committed to the cause until she meets Codex, a New State citizen who doesn’t quite fit her preconceived expectations. After a couple of awkward encounters, he shows her the meaning of hooking up—a computer simulation that allows people to live out their fantasies—without the complication of emotional entanglements or physical reality. But what Wren feels for Codex is very real. And it’s punishable by death.
As she and Codex grow closer, Wren convinces him to leave New State for the underground. But unrest between New State and the Grounders escalates, and Phantoms move in to destroy her world. Nothing goes as Wren planned. Families are arrested, loyalties are strained, and Wren’s forced to choose between her people and her feelings. The wrong choice could mean the end of her people, and reality could slip away—forever…
—
EXCERPT
“We should stop.” Part of her didn’t want to.
Codey ignored her words, pulling her closer.
Wren should draw back, take a breath, but her body betrayed her and she wrapped her arms around him tightly, tangling her fingers in his hair when their lips met. She kissed him back.
She felt his hand run over her thigh and then move up. He slid his fingers under the fabric of her worn sweater so he could caress her abdomen, tracing the lines of her ribs. In the next second, he whipped off his shirt and pulled her close, continuing to kiss her. She felt his skin, smooth and hot, and thought she would scream if she couldn’t get closer to him. She pushed herself against him, and Codey responded with another passionate kiss as he pressed gently against her on the bed.
The watch on Wren’s arm belched an alarm. Her mouth dropped open in a silent ‘ooh.’ How could so much time have passed? “This is bad.” She sprang off the bed. “I’m late.” Gaze intense she said, “You’re so not what I expected.”
“I’m not what a lot of people expect. But you can’t leave me like this. Hook ups never end like this.”
“Welcome to reality.” She smiled at him.
“I’m not sure I like it.” He adjusted his clothes.
“You have to help me. I had another reason for coming here but got distracted.” Wren didn’t have time to blush. “I need a tablet, smartphone, or portable computer and a change of clothes.”
“Why?”
“No time to explain.”
He acquiesced, grabbing an old six-inch tablet. She shoved it into her pack as Codey began to lead her out the door.
“We can get some of my mom’s clothes in the automatic laundry, but they might be big for you.”
“They’ll do.”
Codey stopped her in the doorframe of his room.
“What? We need to go.”
“Not until I get a“We should stop.” Part of her didn’t want to.
Codey ignored her words, pulling her closer.
She should draw back, take a breath, but her body betrayed her and she wrapped her arms around him tightly, tangling her fingers in his hair when their lips met. She kissed him back.
She felt his hand run over her thigh and then move up. He slid his fingers under the fabric of her worn sweater so he could caress her abdomen, tracing the lines of her ribs. In the next second, he whipped off his shirt and pulled her close, continuing to kiss her. She felt his skin, smooth and hot and thought she would scream if she couldn’t get closer to him. She pushed herself against him, and Codey responded with another passionate kiss as he pressed gently against her on the bed.
The watch on Wren’s arm belched an alarm. Her mouth dropped open in a silent oh. How could so much time have passed? “This is bad.” She sprang off the bed. “I’m late.” Gaze intense she said, “You’re so not what I expected.”
“I’m not what a lot of people expect. But you can’t leave me like this. Hook ups never end like this.”
“Welcome to reality.” She smiled at him.
“I’m not sure I like it.” He adjusted his clothes.
“You have to help me. I had another reason for coming here but got distracted.” Wren didn’t have time to blush. “I need a tablet, smartphone, or portable computer and a change of clothes.”
“Why?”
“No time to explain.”
He acquiesced, grabbing an old six-inch tablet. She shoved it into her pack as Codey began to lead her out the door.
“We can get some of my mom’s clothes in the automatic laundry, but they might be big for you.”
“They’ll do.”
Codey stopped her in the doorframe of his room.
“What? We need to go.”
“Not until I get another kiss.” His voice was husky and human, his smile unabashed.
Wren acquiesced.
Once downstairs in the laundry room, Codey shoved some of his mom’s clothes into a small duffle and handed it to Wren.
“What do you need these for?” he asked.
“I came here to get your opinion on the archives and tell you about something the Grounders are attempting, but never got the chance.”
“What are the clothes for?”
Wren didn’t know how much to reveal. She had to leave and return to the rest of the raiders soon or they’d trigger the alarm to search for her. She lacked the time to explain properly and hated to leave Codey guessing about the Grounders and the archive raid.
“It’s part of the plan being developed,” she said.
“What plan? Is it dangerous? Will you be risking your life?” Codey’s voice crept up an octave. “Nobody knows about us, right? My family wouldn’t get in trouble?”
“I’m so sorry, but I have to go. You’ll understand soon.” Wren hoped she survived so she could come back and explain.
Lisa Acerbo is a high school teacher and adjunct faculty at the University of Phoenix. She lives in Connecticut with her husband, daughters, two dogs, and horse. When not writing, she mountain bikes, hikes, and tries to pursue some type of further education.Author Bio:
