Subversion (One Bright Future #2)
by Melinda Friesen
Publisher:
Rebelight Publishing
Publication Date:
August 31, 2016
“I surrender my days,
my efforts, myself to the OneEarth Bank . . .”
After fleeing slavery, Rielle James burns with the desire to
topple OneEarth Bank and end its enslavement of young people as Contracts. When
she learns that her friend Nathan has been sold to a logging company where
Contracts die or vanish without a trace, she assumes a false identity and
becomes a slave again to help him escape.
Her act of subversion uncovers the horrific truth behind the
OneEarth Bank’s role in Contract disappearances and its link to a global
pandemic.
Can Rielle and Nathan escape and expose the truth before
it’s too late?
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Men and women in navy blue outfits meander up the path to join us. I
recognize Susan from the office. Dek puffs on a cigarette at the back of the
crowd. A woman about his age joins him. His wife? Terrence stands away from the
rest of the group, watching the Contracts. I scan the crowd for Nathan,
standing on tip-toe to get a better view. I can’t find him among the clumps of
guys in brown. Spying a guy with sandy-blond hair, I’m momentarily hopeful, but
he’s too short to be Nathan.
A silvery-blue glow explodes
from the black column. The OneEarth Bank icon, a symbol with stark branches
stretching upward and jagged roots pushing downward, rotates inside two
spinning silver rings. The lights flash on tree boughs that encroach on the clearing,
washing them to dead white. The milling group stills. Conversations hush, and
everyone turns toward the hologram.
The female voice blares through
the speakers so loudly that it echoes off the surrounding buildings. I clench
my hands into fists, resisting the urge to cover my ears. “One Earth Bank
greets you and welcomes you to a new day of prosperity.”
Towering images flash frame by
frame over the pillar. New homes under construction. Workers smiling for the
camera. “The economy has never been stronger, thanks to OneEarth Bank. Our
bright future has arrived,” the voiceover shouts. The imagery shifts to a
factory production line. “Business is booming and everyone has an important
part to play. Young people from Resistor families who could have become a
blemish on society have found hope, acceptance and belonging through our
Community Service Contract Program.”
A young man smiles and waves. “If it weren’t for OneEarth Bank, I’d
probably be on the streets, but now I’m learning some great skills and making
new friends!”
My mouth drops open. The lies! I glance around at the Contracts who
stare at the image with blank expressions. Are they buying this?
Above the pillar, the presentation zooms into a map of central
Africa with bulbous red dots popping up all over it. “The Corpium virus is
devastating Africa, but OneEarth Bank is investing resources into vaccine
development. We cannot prosper while our citizens suffer. OneEarth Bank cares
about you.”
The OneEarth Bank symbol returns and the voice says, “Raise your
hands for the Surrender of Days.” Simultaneously, everyone lifts their hands to
shoulder height, palms out.
The voice continues and other
voices beside me chant with her, “I surrender my days, my efforts, myself.”
My mouth falls farther open and my hands dangle at my sides. Pam
elbows me and throws me a scolding glance.
I slowly lift my hands like the
others as the voices chant, “To the OneEarth Bank who unites us, strengthens us
and provides all we need. We are not many, but one.”
I feel wrong for raising my hands, wrong for even processing the
words in my head. I stand in stunned silence with a shiver that has nothing to
do with the morning breeze. They want us to pledge ourselves to a bank?
The chanting continues. “We surrender all we have and all we are to
the OneEarth Bank. One world. One currency. One bright future.”
The Bank symbol spins before us
for a moment longer, then cuts out leaving a dense, heavy silence.
The Bank is forcing their slaves to pledge all they have left: their
days.
OTHER BOOKS IN THE SERIES:
That's the promise made by OneEarth Bank after a global
economic collapse--but only for those who accept the insertion of a commerce
chip.
When Rielle's parents refuse to comply, government officials
tear her family apart. As punishment for her parent's crimes, Rielle is forced
into a Community Service Contract--a legalized form of slavery--and sold to a
wealthy, abusive banker.
The Banker's secrets hold the key to Rielle's freedom, but
will she risk prison or even death to escape and search for her family?
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