The Rejected - Episode 1 of 9 (Urban Fantasy Dystopian Serial)

by N. X. Roberts



  Copyright © 2015 N.X. Roberts

  The right of N.X. Roberts to be identified as the authors of the Work has been asserted her in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

  All rights reserved. This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or otherwise, without written permission from the author.

  DEDICATION

  God over everything. This one is for you mom…

  TABLE OF CONTENTS

  Author’s note

  The Rejected: Episode 1of 9

  About the Author

  THE REJECTED

  EPISODE 1 OF 9

  By N.X. Roberts

  Kuzimu, where the mungu population is closely monitored and disturbances of the peace are by no means tolerated.

  Keep calm…

  Keep the peace…

  Listen to authority…

  Or you’ll find yourself doing so, whether you want to or not…

  Surrounded by mystery, Sapphire Adams, is an inquisitive young programmer who suffers from social anxiety disorder. Thrust into a world where she is compelled to face her fears, she must adjust her long held beliefs and do things she never thought possible. Although forced to keep family secrets that she doesn’t understand, her family past is shrouded by an obscurity she yearns to decipher but….

  The truth has a price... Can she pay it...?

  This is the first installment of the nine (9) episode series, The Rejected of novella length, (approx. 20,000 words each 92 print pages). Each episode will be published biweekly.

  I hope you enjoy!

  Note from the Author

  Embark on this journey with me where there is page turning drama, mystery, science fiction, suspense, urban fantasy and loads of action.

  The Chrysalids meet the Divergent….This book has something for everyone.

  It was an amazing experience writing this book – I hope you have an amazing experience reading it as well.

  N.X. Roberts

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  Prologue

  Every time mungu people got together there had to be dissension…Every time! Was it some defect in our DNA that predisposed us to hating each other and having silly arguments? Darius realized that these thoughts about his people were negative and he didn’t want to think that way. Especially as he was one of the few people who knew the real truth. He instead decided to focus on the enchanting youngster, who now impatiently wrestled for his attention.

  “Why is it blue daddy?” Sapphire was referring to the azure sky.

  She pulled on his T-shirt, with her little stumpy fingers, and a perplexed expression.

  He saw that look many times before. At four years old, he didn’t think she could wrap her mind around the complicated concept of why the sky appears blue. He would have to tell her about the mixture of gas molecules and other materials surrounding the earth. Then, he would have to explain how these molecules scatter the blue light rays of the sun, making the sky appear blue. So instead Darius tried to conjure up a simpler explanation, but eventually gave up and resolved to take the easy route.

  “ ‘Cause God made it that way, princess.”

  He felt a bit guilty about his response. Didn’t he inwardly condemn those Sumu preachers for using that statement?

  “Why are the mungus the most incarcerated, disease affected and scorned people on the planet?” one might ask.

  “‘Cause God in his infinite wisdom, made it that way!” They would respond.

  His reply seemed to be enough for Sapphire though, at least for now. He was content just to look at her, watching her have experiences for the first time.

  It was both a blessing and a curse to have a daughter as intelligent as this one. Her intellect and curiosity would get her in trouble one day. He knew it. She was bound to find out the truth eventually. He could tell by her inquisitive nature that she would. She was too young for the truth now and he had to protect his family for as long as he could. He needed to preserve her innocence for a little while longer. But the more he analyzed the situation he was in, the more he settled on the conviction that perhaps it was this very truth that could protect her, save her in years to come. It was then that Darius decided he had no choice but to tell her. As soon as she could understand and bear the burden of this truth, he would tell her everything. For now, he would enjoy this time with his family. Or at least he would try to.

  Darius really didn’t attend much of the cook-outs in the neighborhood anymore because fights would always break out among members of the community. He also didn’t want his daughter exposed to some of things that took place, like heavy drinking and vulgar dancing. But on this occasion, Sarah insisted, putting forth the convincing argument that she never went anywhere, ever since she gave birth to his child. She could be very persuasive when she had to be. Darius eventually caved and agreed because he felt responsible for the situation. After all it was he that insisted she stay at home after she became pregnant.

  The cook-outs usually took place in someone’s front lawn with people bringing their own lawn chairs and lounging around, typically in shorts, vests and sunglasses. This time it’s Mr. Joseph who holds the gathering but everyone knew him as old man Jo. He was at the grill boasting to some of his neighbors about his cooking skills. He wore a cream colored apron. Whether cream was the actual color or it was white and turned dingy, no one could tell.

  “Let the grill man work in peace, this ain’t no restaurant.” He said as he sipped his beer.

  He placed a burger patte on a woman's plate and stared at her behind as she walked off.

  “No no no, you can’t take away a plate for him, he should have come.” A woman said.

  Onlookers laughed at her outburst. There were always people who wanted to eat too much or take away a plate before everyone was served.

  Attendees were expected to bring something. Sarah made the potato salad and some of her friends brought mac and cheese. There was loud music playing and a group of people break dancing as others looked on. A few old men were drinking alcohol under the shade of a tree.

  The smell of smoky meat and meat products on the grill gave Darius a mixture of nausea and nostalgia. There was a time in his life when feasting on these cook-out menus was the highlight of the entire occasion. He used to love the smell of pig-feet. Now it just burned his nose causing him to fight the impulse to gag. There were oth
er attractions of front-yard cook-outs of course. Women frequented these events, but more importantly, scantily clad women, frequented these events. The men went there on the hunt. And the women went there with the expectation of being hunted, though they would never admit it if asked. But these days, Darius only had eyes for one woman, his wife and mother of his daughter. Right now she was on the receiving end of a heated piece of gossip. Darius studied her while she laughed, and her friends relayed a story. Sarah never looked more appealing than when she was in the middle of a chuckle. She held her stomach as she threw back her head, thoroughly enjoying the conversation. His daughter was now hula-hooping with a few of the other children, having the time of her life. And then he saw it…The incident he was praying would not happen.

  “Hey you better watch it man, that’s my girl you talkin’ bout.” Brick stared directly at Mano with tight fists, clenched at his sides, pushing his face impossibly closer to the older man.

  Mano was unfazed by Bricks fury. The slur in his words and the bottle he clutched were reason enough.

  “Man err-body know that girl a hoe.” He was about to take a swig at the bottle covered in a brown paper bag. Brick slapped it out of his hand and that sure enough got Mano’s attention. “What the hell is wrong with you Brick, I damn near raised you, ask yo’ momma!” he slurred trying to keep his eyes open.

  All reason seemed to have left Brick. The first punch he threw, collided with Mano’s jaw, causing him to cough uncontrollably. This wasn’t enough for Brick though. Mano’s nose was the next casualty. It spewed blood as he collapsed on the front lawn. Brick’s bloodshot eyes and heavy breathing illustrated his ever-growing discontent. He was ready to hit Mano some more.

  “Get up and fight, old fool!”

  He was about to start kicking the wailing man, when a few of the other men at the gathering stepped in. They pulled Brick away as he shoved them off violently, trying his best to land a few kicks at Mano. It took four men to restrain him.

  Mano went home to lick his wounds, but not before he picked up his half broken bottle of alcohol. Everyone stood around to witness the melee and give their two cents.

  As soon as Darius realized what was happening he tried to gather his family so that they could leave quickly. He grabbed his daughter as she was stuffing her little mouth with a handful of that orange colored, processed corn snack garbage, they loved to give children. He wanted Sarah to stop feeding these foods to his daughter. He knew the damaging effects it could have on her. Sarah was saying her goodbyes. This could take a while. As he waited, he saw people pulling out their take away bowls and aluminum foil for extra food.

  When his wife had her fill of the “I’ll see you later girl” goodbyes, they headed to the car. Darius hardly had time to check his mirrors and put his seat beat on when Sapphire spoke up.

  “Mommy I have to go potty”. She crossed her legs together and the discomfort on her face was unmistakable. They didn’t need to ask if it was urgent.

  “Let me take her, we’ll be quick, I promise.” Sarah said.

  Darius waited in the car for them.

  As fate would have it, the sector guards showed up right after they went inside. They came rushing out of their vehicles like their lives depended on it.

  “Get on the ground!…Don’t move!…Stop right there!” sector guards barked these commands to the males at the gathering.

  The women looked on with trepidation as their men were stomped on, slapped and shoved for no other reason than being mungu.

  Old man Jo now had a nasty gash over his left eye. He looked to be in need of serious medical attention.

  One woman wasn’t too keen on the idea of her thirteen year old son being mishandled, so she tried to protect him. She was slapped and kicked soundly for intervening on his behalf.

  Darius had no idea that he was holding his breath the whole time these things were taking place. He breathed a sigh of relief when he saw his wife and daughter headed towards him. That was until he unlocked the doors to let them inside, and the sound attracted attention.

  “Over there, one of them is getting away!” an officer pointed his index finger in their direction. One millisecond later, all of their guns were aimed at Darius and his family. He knew better than to try to make a run for it. The sector guards were the law in Kuzimu. His life and that of his family were meaningless to any them. He slowly stepped out of his car with his hands up and started toward the gathering. One of the guards grabbed him by the collar and pushed him toward the other mungu men they just victimized.

  “Alright, line these monkeys along the wall,” lieutenant Cave said with authority. He was apparently leader of this exercise. He continued. “My name is lieutenant Randy Cave; we have reason to believe that some of you have not been obeying the laws of this fine, peaceful, land of Kuzimu. We’ve received reports of erratic behavior and for your own safety we are here to provide our assistance. This is a routine exercise. Just cooperate and no harm will come to you.” He managed to keep a straight face while he made his speech.

  Was this beast serious? These people ransacked the house, toppled the grills, beat up every male mungu present along with some of the females, insulted and humiliated everyone, yet he had the audacity to say that no one will be harmed. The look Darius gave the officer must have mirrored his thoughts.

  “You there, do you have something to say? Are you eying me boy?” Cave said.

  The two men weren’t the same age, but it wasn’t uncommon for the shetani to refer to mungu people with demeaning names such as boy, wench or monkey. In fact everyone seemed to be used to it.

  “No,” he looked Cave in the eye. “I was not.” Darius answered meekly, but the contrast of his facial expression, one of pure hot hatred, was unsettling to Cave.

  Lieutenant Cave believed mungus like this needed to be taught a lesson.

  “Get up and empty your pockets boy.” Cave yelled.

  Darius obeyed giving no other response.

  “Take your shirt off and kneel down!” Cave’s ever-growing fury showed in his tone.

  As soon as Darius complied, one of the guards pushed him to the ground and the side of his face was pressed against the grass.

  Darius maintained a defiant stance despite his humiliating circumstance. He was determined to die like a man in front of his family and these onlookers, not a coward. In his mind he decided that he would not let them break him. They could kill him if they wanted to, but they would never break him. If anything could break him, it would be the anguished way Sarah looked at him and her tear-filled face. Or it would be his daughter’s expression.

  Sapphire seemed to be in a daze. She repeatedly gasped for air but other than that, she didn’t move an inch. She just stared at her father with her mouth open, balling her tiny hands together. Darius was sure that her tormented face would haunt him until his dying day.

  Officer Cave walked over, placed his knee on Darius’ back and pulled out his gun.

  “You ugly little monkey, aren't you afraid of what I could do to you boy?” He cocked the gun and pressed it to Darius’ cheek. Darius made peace with the situation. He thought at least these savages would see that the mungus weren’t all fearful push-overs. At least these people could see a glimpse of what a fearless mungu man looked like.

  “What the hell are you waiting for? Do it!” He breathed, then closed his eyes.

  “Oh, we have a feisty one! No that’s too easy a death for you little fella.” Officer cave removes his gun “Stick around we’ll have some fun, me and you.” Cave drawled. “Get this one in the truck guys! We found what we came for.”

  The crowd dispersed.

  Darius had a million thoughts as he marched slowly toward the waiting sector guard truck. He thought about how in one single act he had changed the course of his entire life. He thought about how he finally stood up to these devils. He thought about the plans Lieutenant Cave had for him. He thought about everything except a crying Sapphire. He coul
d never think about how she now shrieked and struggled in her mother’s arms, in pain calling out to him. He wouldn't allow himself to think about how his family would survive without him. He would not think about the pivotal truth he had yet to tell his daughter. His precious Sapphire…