Broken City
Broken City #1
By- D.D. Chant
Genre/Age Group- 16+
Genre/Age Group- 16+
A girl with no future
A man with no past
A little lost boy
And those who seek to find him....
....Welcome to Deeta's world.
Deeta Richards has never seen the outside world. Before she was born a banking crisis brought civilization to an end and now no one leaves the safety of the compounds unless they need to, but Deeta still dreams of seeing more than the building she was born in.
Tom is in the guard, this group are the only people that the tribal elders allow to leave the compound and Tom knows only too well that Deeta could never survive the harshness that exists outside. Then tragedy strikes and Deeta and her Sister Jan find themselves captured by a hostile tribe. Why does Tom know so much about these people? And why do they know so much about him? As this mystery draws to a climax, they discover that their friend Tom is not quite what he seems...
**Broken City is FREE right now! **
EXCERPT
“Making new friends, Deeta?”
I jump at the sound of Tanya’s voice.
“I suppose I was, he was asking if there was anything we needed.”
“I’d be careful if I were you, goodness only knows what he’ll want in return.”
“Tanya!” I flush red, angry and embarrassed. “He just wanted to make sure we were comfortable, that all of us are comfortable.”
“Yeah whatever... trust me, Deeta, he spells trouble.”
“Don’t be silly, I think—”
“That’s the trouble, Deeta, you’re not such an authority are you? You thought Tomasz was fine and look what he turned out to be!” I see a spiteful glint come into her eyes. “He’s ruined you, you know. None of the boys will want you now, not after…” Her voice trails off suggestively and she looks after Robin. “Come to think of it, perhaps you should be nice to that Marshall. Or had you already thought of that?”
I watch in silence as she walks away, a self satisfied smile plastered over her face. Knowing that everyone in the hallway is looking at me, but not meeting my eyes, I drop the cloth I’m holding and walk, quite sedately up the stairs.
I don’t have any destination in mind, but feel a kind of numbness come over me and everything disappears. There’s no thought, no pain, not even the sensation of passing time.
I come to myself, face to face with a large door. From its shape and size I know that it is the door to the roof, my often used place of refuge. The handle puts up resistance in my fingers and with both hands I begin to pull madly at its unresponsive locks. The tears are coursing down my face as I beat a rhythmless tattoo against the hard wood.
I cry for everything in those moments. I cry for Dec and for Keya, for Jamie’s misery and Tom’s coldness, for the huge and strange changes that have tangled us all in their intricate web. My fist is suddenly arrested in a warm and firm clasp and I’m turned and pulled into a comforting embrace. Only one person I know radiates the comfort that I can feel tangible in the air and I allow myself to relax in Tom’s arms.
For a while my shuddering sobs continue and his left arm around my waist remains tight, while his right hand smoothes my hair back from my face. But even tears must stop eventually and I become quiet.
“I didn’t mean to be silly, Tom, it just—”
“I saw, Deeta.”
I lean against him, absorbing the kindness and gentleness of him, just as I absorb his warmth. Tom understands, he understands what I can’t even put into words and his understanding is a relief. I stand there with my head resting against his shoulder and time rolls back so that I don’t feel awkward. My next question is as frank as we had used to be with each other.
“Are we good, Tom?”
“Yes, Deeta. We’re good.”
He draws away from me and hands me his handkerchief, I take it from him, wiping my eyes.
“Is my face red and puffy?”
“Honesty decrees that I say yes.”
“I thought so... thanks, Tom.”
“What for?”
“For being there when I need you most. That’s what matters isn’t it; being there for your friends when things are tight?”
“I guess so.”
He puts his arm around my shoulders and we begin to walk down to the lower levels. Outside my door he does something he’s never done before. He leans forwards and kisses my cheek, much like he would have kissed Tarri or Carris.
“Goodbye, Deeta, be good.”
BOOK SOUNDTRACK
1. Gentian – Broken City
2. Skillet – Awake and Alive
3. Evanescence – Bring me to life
4. The All American Rejects – Can’t take it
5. Fireflight – Forever
6. Gentian – Without a Choice
7. Seven Cities – It’s You I’m Calling
8. Apocalyptica & Brent Smith – Not Strong Enough
9. A-ha - The Sun Always Shines On T.V.
