The Surrendered
by Case
Maynard
Publication
date: September 20th 2016
Published
by: Blaze Publishing
Genres:
Dystopian, Young Adult
BLURB
After a financial collapse devastates
the United States, the new government imposes a tax on the nation’s most
valuable resource—the children.
Surrendered at age ten—after her
parents could no longer afford her exorbitant fees—Vee Delancourt has spent six
hard years at the Mills, alongside her twin, Oliver. With just a year to
freedom, they do what they can to stay off the Master’s radar. But when Vee
discovers unspeakable things happening to the younger girls in service, she has
no choice but to take a stand—a decision that lands her on the run and outside
the fence for the first time since the System robbed her of her liberty.
Vee knows the Master will stop at
nothing to prove he holds ultimate authority over the Surrendered. But when he
makes a threat that goes beyond what even she considers possible, she accepts
the aid of an unlikely group of allies. Problem is, with opposing factions
gunning for the one thing that might save them all, Vee must find a way to turn
oppression and desperation into hope and determination—or risk failing all the
children and the brother she left behind.
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A sinking
feeling washes over me. “We’re going to Meadowood.”
He responds without opening his eyes, “I want answers.”
I start to argue that this will be a fool’s errand, but in truth,
I want the same answers he does. “Do you think the man who rescued Oliver was
with the Southies?”
“I don’t know who else it could’ve been.” He sits up and
stretches. “It must’ve been them, and I want to know why they changed the plan
without informing us. The Master and his Regulators got to the rooftop very
quickly after I fired that shot. I have to wonder if someone told them we were
there.”
“You think the Southies took Oliver to get the combination and
then set the Regulators on us? Why would they do that?”
He rubs his face. “It doesn’t make any sense. But something’s not
adding up.”
I ponder this, thinking about my brother’s strange plea. “I know
you think I’m insane, but I can’t help but feel like Oliver knew someone was
going to take him; I swear it felt like he was speaking to me when he said not
to interfere. But that doesn’t make any sense, either. He’s been behind the
fence for years.”
Cason yawns and tries to shake off the effects of the Papaver. “I
don’t think you’re crazy; his message did seem odd for someone who was about to
hang for a crime he didn’t commit. I don’t know, but hopefully he’ll be at
Meadowood and you can ask him yourself.”
My mood elevates as I realize I may only be hours away from a
reunion with my brother. The pain in my arm forgotten, I try to concentrate
only on this knowledge, confident we’ll have our answers soon enough. “I didn’t
get a chance to thank you for earlier. You could’ve just turned me over to the
Master and walked away, but you didn’t. I’m grateful for that.”
I feel a little embarrassed as soon as the words leave my mouth.
Normally I’m not one to share my feelings, but the Papaver Flower makes me
breathless and lightheaded and loosens my tongue.
He reaches for me, careful not to jostle my splinted wrist, and
pulls my face to his. “I’m probably going to ruin that sentiment by telling you
the Master would never have let me go anyway, but know this—” he runs the pad
of his thumb along my lower lip and meets my eyes “—if everyone else in the
entire world leaves you to fend for yourself, if your father, your mother, your
brother disappoint you, if God himself decides you aren’t worthy . . . you’ll
still be able to count on me. I’ve got your back, Vera.”
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Author Info
With over 20 years’ experience in
the legal and medical fields, Case Maynard decided to trade in her briefs and
reports to write the stories that have been floating around in her head since
childhood. She lives with her two teenagers and husband in South Georgia, while
maintaining a long-distance liaison with her oldest daughter and partner in
crime in Alaska. When not writing, she enjoys reading as often as possible,
binge watching anything good on Netflix, and all things NCAA football (Go
Noles!). You can learn more about Case and her stories on her website.
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