“You’ll drive yourself crazy thinking about what if. Trust me, I've been at this a long time.”
I gulped down the rest of my whiskey and pushed the glass forward, making eye contact with Jorge.
Tyren sighed. “I’ve seen many soldiers get lost in escape—booze, drugs—don't let that be you. You’re destined for greatness, Ida. You’ll rise above this. The first time is hard.”
Usually I appreciated Tyren’s company, but now it felt like he was driving a dagger through my heart, tearing open the raw memory of the orphanage.
“In your debriefing interview, you told them you and the girl hid among a pile of dead bodies.”
I cleared my throat. “I didn't see another way out. The Heavies were marching down the street. If they'd found us…”
“You saved that girl's life twice.”
“Yeah, and for what?” I slammed my fist on the bar top. “An orphan who had a brother is now an orphan who has nobody. What will happen to her? Does anybody give a shit?”
He paused and stared into his glass. “I don't know. I'll have to look into it.” He shifted on the stool and turned to face me. “I’ll make sure she's properly looked after.”
I chewed the fraying edge of my thumbnail and wondered if he would be true to his promise.
“What you did in that room, Ida, was incredibly honorable. You saved the girl's life. Yes, others died, but you sacrificed your own life to save her from being killed again. You got her out of a war zone.”
“But her face… When she found out her brother died.”
He frowned.
“Tyren, I could've saved him, too, if—”
“Just stop.” He pushed his stool away from the bar. “It hurts when someone dies on your watch. It’ll always be that way, but you have to learn to manage through it.”
I dug my nails into my palms. “Manage through it.” I wanted to choke on the words.
“I put you up for a commendation to recognize your service.”
“But—why? Perez died, the boy died—”
“You're not responsible for their deaths. This is a war where many will die. Every life you save makes a difference, Ida.”
I crossed my arms. The biocuff on his wrist lit up, and he glanced at it.
“I have to go.” He swiped his ID card on top of the bar. “This is on me. Happy birthday.”
After he left, I finished my glass, letting it numb my tongue and warm my belly before walking the quad. It had been hard to sleep lately. Every time I closed my eyes, Hanna begged me to save her brother.
In dreams, I kept replaying the moment of decision. Save the girl, or save the boy? An impossible choice.
Sometimes I dreamt that I saved him instead, but that hurt just as bad.
Tyren had said this is the reality of war.
For every life I saved, would I would lose another?
Is that how it would be?
I didn’t know how much war I could take.
END OF BOOK 1
Dear Reader,
Thanks for reading ALTERED!
Are you ready to find out what’s next for Ida? Book 2 is called BRINK, and it will introduce you to a whole new world.
Ida’s healing ability makes her the perfect medic. But can she keep it secret?
In 2044 Spark City, a mysterious mutant discovers her power. He wants her as his bodyguard.
Even worse, the powerful mayor intends to control her—she might be his last chance to live. His android police hunt her.
On the run and fighting against corrupt forces, what could possibly go wrong?
You’ll love the new cast of characters in BRINK, as Ida’s story continues in this action-packed novel.
Get it now: http://bit.ly/roguespark02
Cameron Coral
P.S. When you leave an honest review of this book, it means a lot. Thanks in advance :-)
Curious about Reed Reynolds?
After We Fall is a FREE standalone novel that charts the events that take place in Woodlawn Youth Improvement Center. Find out what happens to Reed and the others left behind.
Grab your free ebook copy now! Visit: https://cameroncoral.com/sign-up/
Preview:
I am fourteen when my mother leaves me in the hands of New York State because she can’t handle being a parent. Can’t blame her, I guess. Life in the late 2030s isn’t easy for anyone. Jobs are scarce and environmental disasters such as earthquakes, tsunamis, and hurricanes are the norm. Having a kid is just another burden in a crumbling mess of a world.
“Welcome to Woodlawn, Reed Reynolds,” Kilpatrick says my first day. I shake the head supervisor’s cold, moist hand while a creeping sensation rises in my throat.
My social worker, a kind lady named Maxine, assures me I’ll be in good hands. She winks goodbye. “It won't be long before a nice couple adopts you and takes you to your forever home.”
I nod despite my insides feeling like quicksand. Once Maxine lifts off in her air cruiser, Kilpatrick introduces me to the real Woodlawn. After handing me a scratchy used blanket, he leads me to my new room, bare except for two cots with worn foam mattresses that aren’t much thicker than a folded towel.
That’s when I meet my roommate, Zeke. He’s a year younger and looks like a frightened shelter puppy at first. Later, he confesses his relief I’m not a bully. We become fast friends. Bonding happens quickly when you’re both picked on by the older, bigger kids.
Zeke’s sister is Daria. She’s my age and blind, which makes life really difficult at Woodlawn. Zeke shakes his head, explaining that they’re a bonded sibling pair. According to him, they can’t be separated during the adoption process. That Daria is disabled means no one in their right mind would take them. I don’t know what to say when he mentions it; I suspect he’s right.
I am sixteen when a red-headed girl named Ida arrives. She’s different from the others, more of a loner type. But there is something about her, and I follow her around in the exercise yard, always trying to catch her attention. She keeps ignoring me until the day she stands up for me against the biggest bully at Woodlawn—Marc Mal.
The few times Ida actually meets my gaze, I see loneliness in her eyes and something else. Bitterness? She's had a rough past like a lot of kids here.
Too bad she doesn’t stay long. I’ve only known her for a few weeks when a couple adopts her. But four months later, she sends a letter, and we keep in touch. The craziest thing of all? She’s been recruited into the military and is now in basic training.
I miss Ida like anything, but her story gives me hope. Hope for a better future outside Woodlawn.
And then the Fall happens.
The Fall—the collapse, the invasion—whatever you call it, happens real slow at first.
It is early days, soon after Ida’s third letter arrives, and the adults who work here look nervous. Some of them stop showing up, which is odd because Woodlawn runs like clockwork. Even Kilpatrick, who usually enjoys taunting us, becomes distracted. He spends time alone, holed up in his office, listening to news reports. Something is happening. I don’t know what, but it seems like a big deal.
Today, after getting beaten up and sent to the nurses station, I find out…
Grab your free ebook copy now! Visit: https://cameroncoral.com/sign-up/
Also by Cameron Coral
Rogue Spark Series:
ALTERED (Book 1)
BRINK (Book 2)
DORMANT (Book 3)
SALVAGE (Book 4)
AFTER WE FALL (A Rogue Spark Novel) - get it for free on CameronCoral.com
Anthologies:
Dark Shadows 2: Voodoo and Black Magic of New Orleans (An Authors on a Train Short Story Collection)
About the Author
Cameron Coral writes sci-fi and fantasy and lives in Chicago.
She's the author of the action-packed Rogue Spark series about Ida Sarek—a soldier-medic in the year 2044 with a knack for getting into trouble, sticking up for the underdog, and kicking butt!<
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When she isn't writing about fierce women with troubled pasts and mad fight skills, Cameron feeds her muse by reading, binging sci-fi series, traveling, and kickboxing.
Want a free novel, exclusive advance copies of her new books, and occasional rants about why robots are awesome?
Visit her website: CameronCoral.com
Acknowledgments
I owe a debt of gratitude to you, dear reader, for taking a chance and picking up this book. I hope these pages transported you to another world for a bit and that you enjoyed the ride.
Ida Sarek is a character who’s been bouncing around in my head for many years. She’s an amalgamation of all the strong, ass-kicking sci-fi heroines I love: Ripley, Kara Thrace, Molly Millions, Katniss Everdeen, Leia, Jessica Jones, Sarah Connors, Trinity, Dana Scully, and many more I’m forgetting.
I’m not sure where the idea to have a character who can heal came from exactly. I guess in some ways, it’s a superpower I’d like to have. While not as popular as flying or being invisible, being able to bring someone back to life would be incredible—and dangerous if the power got into the wrong hands. Can you imagine certain dictators from the past or present having someone like Ida to keep reviving them?
I imagine someone like Ida would make the ultimate bodyguard…This is a topic I explore in the next book in the series BRINK.
Thank you to my ever-patient and supportive husband, Steve, for being my alpha-reader, idea bouncer-offer, and for making me breakfast many mornings. You + me.
A special thanks goes out to my editor James Millington who helped shape this book and the beginning of BRINK.
The amazing covers for the Rogue Spark Series are due to the fine work of Christian Bentulan at CoversbyChristian.com. You made Ida come to life and truly captured her badassery!
Thanks to Mom for shuttling me to the library so much when I was a kid and not intervening when I started bringing home Dracula, Stephen King books, and other creepy stories when I was a kid. And also, for letting me watch V, Twilight Zone, Star Trek, Manimal, Monsters, and all the cool 80s sci-fi shows I wanted. Thanks for being a real-life, ass-kicking heroine.
Thanks to Dad and Sherry for encouraging me to write and pursue my creativity. You both taught me it’s okay to follow the beat of my own drum, be silly, and have more fun in life.
Thank you to my amazing, supportive friends and extended family! Finally, I can share my books with you! I can’t possibly list everyone here because I am blessed to have a “framily” that is beyond compare.
I dedicate this first novel to my stepdad, Mike Roberto, who passed away in 2014. One Christmas, he gave me a gift that changed everything—Salem’s Lot by Stephen King. Wow, did I love that book when I was eight. I didn’t understand everything I read, but the tiny spark of an idea flowered: I want to be a writer someday.
If you enjoyed ALTERED and would like to hear more from me, I extend a warm welcome to join my email newsletter. It takes a minute to sign up. Just visit CameronCoral.com and you’ll find a sign-up button. You’ll also get a free novel!
I send emails every week or two about fun stuff—pictures, videos, and personal updates. Often, I share flash fiction, short stories, or rants about why robots are awesome. You’ll see cosplay pics from when I attend comic conventions.
The cool thing is, I’ll never spam you. I take your email privacy very seriously, and I have a detailed privacy policy on my website. You can unsubscribe at any time.
But I hope you stick around, because I have a lot to share in the years to come.
Warmly,
Cameron Coral
P.S. When you join my newsletter list, you get a full-length novel that you can download to your computer, phone, or e-reader. Just head to my website: CameronCoral.com
P.P.S. Have you ever left a review for a book you like? If you have, I promise that writer loved you for it. Reviews are how independent authors get the word out. We don't have publishers; we depend on people like you writing reviews to let other people know we're out here and you like what we do.
Also, if you have questions about the book or Ida or just want to say “hi,” send me an email anytime at [email protected]
Copyright
Copyright © 2018 Cameron Coral
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
This book is a work of fiction. The characters, incidents, places and dialogue are drawn from the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Edited by James Millington
Cover by Christian Bentulan
For more information:
CameronCoral.com
[email protected]
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Altered: A Dystopian Sci-Fi Adventure (Rogue Spark Book 1) Page 11
