In post-apocalyptic North America, rape and sexual slavery are legal. Lila Velez, desperately wants to lose her virginity before the troops visit her town and can take it away by force. She makes plans to seduce her only friend, Rey, the most attractive man in her town. Lila does not love him but he is the only man who has shown her true affection, an affection she is willing to take as a substitute of love.
Lila’s coping mechanism to her mother’s rape and kidnapping is her secret. A secret that will bring her closer to Aleksey, a foreign, broody man. Lila does not trust him because his links to the troops and his rough, yet irresistible appearance. Aleksey offers Lila an alternative to her plans, a possibility that terrifies her…and tempts her in spite of herself.
All the while Lila will have to find a way to live in the constant company of death, slavery, starvation, sexual abuse and the danger of losing the people she loves the most.
This book is recommended for readers over the age of 18 due to strong language and sexual content.
I am a bookaholic and regret nothing.
I spent years trying to become a contemporary dance choreographer. Eventually I realized that I enjoyed writing my stories rather than creating dances for them.
I am obsessed with books that present damaged characters, swoon worthy guys, controversial topics and happy endings.
Rey is
the only man I can think of who can serve my purpose. He’s the only boy in town
who doesn’t despise me. He even protects me. Hopefully, he won’t find a reason
to protect me from himself.
I don’t
want to develop feelings for my best friend.
Because of my plans, Rey has been in my thoughts constantly since the
troops announced their arrival, and I hate it. To distract my mind from Rey, I
venture a little further in the water current.
Feeling
fresh now that I’m clean and shaved, my mood improves. I splash and swim in the
water, allowing myself to relax and play.
If I
swim to the other side, I might catch Divine and Joey making love in the river
beach. Perhaps I should get a little bit of last minute instruction.
A
rumble brings me out of my reverie and then I hear some distant shots. My
survival instincts wake up and I’m instantly alert.
More
shots. It isn’t possible. Nobody in town has access to gun powder or
explosives. You don’t get caught with them unless you want to get executed.
They have to be soldiers. Patriot soldiers.
Just
then I hear sounds above the current noise. Steps on the river beach. I’m
barely armed not to mention undressed and unprepared. My razors might keep
Starville peeping toms at bay, but they’ll be useless against soldiers.
I hear
steps approaching and I wade away. In no time I find myself far from where I
left my clothes. My best chance to safely get out of this situation is to avoid
a fight. I can remain hidden if I move to the other side of the river behind
the rocks. If soldiers see me so vulnerable and naked, I’m doomed.
I need
to hurry. I have to head home soon and make sure my dad and siblings are safe.
The
steps sound like they come from only one person but I can’t be sure. As they
sound closer, I notice they come from my right.
I don’t
know what I’m more afraid of: the intruder being an armed soldier or the fact
of being caught so exposed.
Trying
to not splash attract attention, I put distance between me and the steps.
Hiding behind some bushes and rocks, I submerge myself, leaving only my head
above the water line.
I stand
still. Several minutes pass and I hear nothing. When I consider it safe to
leave my hiding place, I swim, splashing as little as I can.
Then I
notice something that makes my heart skip a beat.
I’m not
the only person here. There’s someone
else treading the water. I can’t see how
many people are around, but I can hear as someone else splashes.
A feel
of panic rushes hot through my veins.
I’m
surprised no one’s attacked me yet.
Haven’t they seen me? Does the splashing come from Starvillers hiding
from the shots as well?
For a
moment there’s only silence. Then another shot startles me and I fight my body
to keep calm. I swim as fast as I can, not caring about silence anymore. Better
to put distance between myself and my possible enemies. The water and the current make my escape
slow. I reach a point where the water is only at my knees and I’m hiding behind
a trunk.
Then I
see him.
A young
man, so tall and built that for a moment, I think he’s Sasquatch minus the fur.
The water only covers him around the thighs. No one in Starville, not even Rey,
is so big or built. His strong muscles reveal years of military training and
hint at the drug use that makes Patriot soldiers so inhumanly tall and big. Wet
strands of sandy blond hair run down his broad shoulders. A tattoo on his back
tells me he has been in combat and is to be respected. A soldier! Something
tells me he’s alone.
My
stomach clenches in panic. I’m terrified of Patriot soldiers. They are sadistic
giants and killing machines. The tonics they take to build their muscles and
stature make them extremely dangerous and violent. And horny.
I lose
sight of him for a moment. He emerges in a different spot where the water is
deeper. He is so tall, the water covers only up his waist while he’s standing.
He must be at least seven feet tall. When he moves I can see his most private
areas. Every part of him is enormous.
He’s in
the very spot I left my clothes. I could wait for him to go, but what if others
come to join him? What if they plan to camp here? I want to go home to check on
my dad and the twins. The possibility of being discovered with no one to
witness when he rapes me makes the hairs on the back of my neck prick. I won’t
wait for the coast to be clear, risking discovery and gang rape.
He
doesn’t seem to be in attack mode. The soldier is inclined and rubbing foam
around his huge torso. He is bathing! I suspect he has a good reason to be
unbothered by the shots. If he’s not
startled, it’s likely whoever’s making the racket will take his side.
Suppressing
the fear that runs through my veins, I force my mind to remain focused. For a
moment, I consider attacking him while he’s so naked and defenseless. I’ve been
practicing knife throwing with my rebel group. But I’m still learning and suck
at it. I rarely hit the target. Besides, Sasquatch’s nakedness and apparent
relaxed behavior are deceiving. I’m
armed while bathing, so he probably is too. What if he alerts his companions?
I don’t
stand a chance fighting against a trained unit of steroid-injected soldiers. At
this moment my only advantage is my knowledge of the hiding places of this
river. And stealth. I can do stealth.
He’s blocking the only way to get my clothes
and the safer spot to get out of the river.
There’s a gargantuan rock behind him that reaches not far from where I’m
hiding. If I could climb it unseen, I could get back my clothes and escape. The
only other option is to swim to the other side, where the current is too
strong.
The
soldier submerges frequently and emerges several minutes after. I pay attention
to the soldier’s face. He looks
extremely sad. Sadness isn’t an emotion
I associate with soldiers.
When he
rubs his face with foam and closes his eyes, I silently approach the low part
of the current and climb the rock. I’m still naked and holding a knife
awkwardly. If I can pass him, I’ll hide on the other side and then dress
completely unnoticed.
I put
my foot on the base of the rock. The water has made it smooth and slippery.
There are few places to put my fingers and climb on. But I manage to climb my
way up.
When
I’m almost at the top, I toss my knife over the rock to free my hands. From
here I can confirm the soldier is by himself.
Sasquatch
is back under the water now and hasn’t resurfaced for a while. In spite of the
danger, I’m impressed. He has lung capacity.
The
higher I climb, the less visible I become to him. He finally emerges to take
air, but I hide until he goes back under.
I’m
close to my goal when my feet become slippery traitors.
I fall to the water below me.
Butt
first. Straight toward the soldier’s head.
Thank you for hosting the blitz :)
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