Crush (a LUSH novel)

By S.L. Baum

During Bluebell's Lush Ambassador tour of the Concords, Three was attacked. The Council imposed a mandatory curfew, suspended nonessential travel, and ordered her back home to One. Before leaving for home she receives a cryptic message telling her, "Make your father remember. It's the only way." Will Bluebell be able to find the truth before someone discovers she knows more about Concord than any Citizen should?

CRUSH is the final novel in the LUSH series.

• Language: English
• Publisher: S.L. Baum
• Release date: Mar 28, 2014
• ISBN: 9781311385727

S.L. Baum

I have had a love of sci-fi since I was a kid... watching Star Trek with my father. I am such a junky for action packed sci-fi movies to this day... thanks Dad! That love started to include the supernatural/paranormal as I reached my teens. I will always thank Anne Rice and Lestat for introducing me to a whole new genre... and my love vampire fiction was born. When I began writing, I didn't consider the YA paranormal genre. I started two previous projects that I couldn't finish, and I never knew why. But, when I started to write - A Chance for Charity (The Immortal Ones) - the story poured out of me and I loved every minute of the writing process! I still have those other stories, and someday I plan to go back and finish them. I am a crafter by nature! This probably also explains my love of writing - it is in the creative family. I scrapbook, sew, bead, etc... I love to create. I have a room in my home dedicated to crafts. Paper, ribbons, stickers, die-cuts, there is whole mess of supplies! At one time I was in the handcrafted wedding/party invitation business. You should see my kiddos' birthday invitations! My other love is baking, although I don't do a ton of it. Because if I bake it, then I want to eat it! Cookie creation is a fun process. I like to see how many yummy ingredients I can cram into a recipe. So far, my favorite cookie is an oatmeal, coconut, chocolate chip, toffee bit cookie - YUM! I will totally email you that recipe :D On top of writer, part time teacher, crafter, baker... I am wife and mother - the latter being the best job in the world!

Book preview

CRUSH

(a LUSH novel)

by

S.L. Baum

Book Description

During Bluebell's Lush Ambassador tour of the Concords, Three was attacked. The Council imposed a mandatory curfew, suspended nonessential travel, and ordered her back home to One. Before leaving for home she receives a cryptic message telling her, Make your father remember. It's the only way. Will Bluebell be able to find the truth before someone discovers she knows more about Concord than any Citizen should?

This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

Copyright 2014 by S. Baum

All rights reserved.

Cover Image from Phatpuppyart.

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

***

Novels by S.L. Baum

THE IMMORTAL ONES SERIES – YA paranormal romance

A Chance for Charity (The Immortal Ones – book one)

My Link in Time (The Immortal Ones – book two)

Of Fire and Brimstone (The Immortal Ones – Elizabeth’s Novella)

Our Summer of Discontent (The Immortal Ones – book three)

The Eve of Destruction (The Immortal Ones – book four)

THE LUSH SERIES – YA Dystopian

LUSH

HUSH

CRUSH

***

To David…

Around the world and back again!

***

Table of Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

*****

Chapter One

Get Up, Bluebell

I ran my hands along the leather seat of the official Concord vehicle I was sitting in, as I waited for Cimarron to emerge from Guest Accommodations, and I told myself to be calm. She was retrieving the mini tablet from our room. A tablet that I’d intentionally removed from her bag. It was the only way I could think of to get a moment alone. She was always hovering, always listening, and I needed to have a word with our chauffeur, Gill, in private. I breathed out a long slow breath of air; it was my attempt to expel the nerves that were threatening to overtake what little calm I had managed to hold on to. It was important for me to keep it together. It was important for me to figure out what was really happening inside Concord.

Gill stood near me, just outside the vehicle. He was glancing back and forth between the building and myself. Like me, he was waiting for Cimarron to appear. Gill’s eyes told me he was nervous; it was a look I had yet to see from him.

Bluebell, I need to tell you something.

My eyes widened. What is it?

"You need to know that we did not cause this explosion. You also need to know that Citizens have successfully escaped from Concord. There is something outside the barrier, but we don’t know exactly what it is anymore. We just believe that there is something else, some kind of society that exists outside of Concord. I wanted to help your mother, Hope. I tried to help her get out of Concord. I tried to give her a real chance to see what is beyond the electronic barrier. We just weren’t successful. That pains me. And, well, I just wanted you to know."

Thanks for telling me. I’ve got to believe that she is out there, somewhere. She just can’t have perished out in the wilds. Not like that. I shook my head. Why are you still here, Gill?

After my wife died, I vowed to help anybody I could… anybody who wanted out… anybody who needed it. I also vowed to expose The Council, no matter how long it took.

I noticed Cimarron emerge from the building, tablet in hand. She was quickly nearing the vehicle. I turned back to Gill. It’s taken you a very long time, I pointed out.

He nodded his head. But I think my wait is almost over, Gill said before he turned from me to help Cimarron.

She took his hand and slid into the back of the vehicle with me. Are we ready? she asked.

I looked up at Gill and smiled. Yes. I am ready.

Gill returned my smile as he shut the door.

I clasped my hands together in my lap as I watched him round the vehicle and then open the driver’s door. Cimarron sighed and leaned back in her seat as she tucked her tablet back into her bag. My hands moved to the edge of my skirt and I nervously played with the hem.

Stop fiddling, Cimarron lightly scolded. If you are worried about your speech, please try to calm yourself. You will do just fine. Remember to speak with confidence as you perform your duty, and we will soon be on our way, back to familiar ground. That will be nice for us both.

After the apparent attack by the Banished, which had occurred on Concord ground the night before, just after our arrival in Concord Three, my tour of all four Concords had been cancelled. All nonessential travel had been suspended, and a nightly curfew immediately activated. Luckily, Cimarron and I had been granted permission to travel and we were instructed to return to One.

But before we could enter the tunnels to journey back home, it was my duty, as Lush Ambassador to Concord, to make one more public appearance in Three. I had been instructed to deliver a speech that would be broadcast on all tablets and wall screens throughout Concord. I was supposed to assure the Citizens that The Council was hard at work, securing all protective barriers, implementing new safety standards, and heightening security to keep us safe from any further attacks. I thought the message would be better if my grandfather delivered it, especially since Aspen always professed that he was the most influential man on The Council. I had no idea how the words of a girl, barely out of Training Tech, were supposed to make anyone feel safe and secure.

What if my delivery is weak? I tried to practice the speech this morning, but there’s no way I can remember it all with such short notice. If I stumble and forget…

Cimarron raised her eyebrows and grabbed my still fidgeting hands. Your delivery will be spot on, as always. I told you that you will be able to read the speech directly from your tablet, so there is no need for you to attempt to remember it all. You’ve had enough practice with impromptu speeches; I am not worried, so you shouldn’t be either.

What if there is another attack?

She shook her head at me. With the amount of Peace Keepers I’ve been assured will be surrounding the city today, we will be perfectly safe. Those criminals will be flushed out and dealt with severely, I am quite sure of it. The Council would never put you out in a public area if they feared the Banished would cause you harm.

I inhaled deeply and did what she expected; I nodded my head in agreement. But I thought about what Gill had just told me, that his group of we – as he was so fond of calling them – wasn’t responsible for the attack on the city. I believed him. So if they weren’t responsible, I couldn’t help but wonder, Who was the responsible party? After reading the shocking allegations about The Council in those secret files, I wasn’t so sure that the Banished were the only people in and around Concord that I should be worried about.

The vehicle slowed for a moment and Gill looked back at us. I see a roadblock up ahead. They are probably verifying identities.

Cimarron craned her neck to peer through the windshield. That’s understandable.

I held up my hand and wiggled my fingers. Five finger scan?

I expect so. Gill nodded his head in agreement as the vehicle inched forward.

There were just two other vehicles ahead of us, and only one was directly behind. As I looked out the window, watching the first in line, I saw a Peace Keeper hold out a tablet to the driver. The man in the driver’s seat immediately extended his arm and placed his hand on the tablet. A second Peace Keeper circled the vehicle. He opened and closed each door and even got down on his hands and knees to look underneath the vehicle.

See how thorough they are being? Cimarron pointed. The Banished have no chance. We have nothing to worry about. Concord Reigns.

Concord Reigns, Gill and I repeated.

The second vehicle moved up, went through the same process of being scanned and inspected, and then it was our turn.

The Peace Keeper with the tablet in his hands leaned forward as Gill lowered the window. Good day, Citizen. I am Peace Keeper Jerome.

Good day, Jerome. I am Gill, an Official Chauffeur.

Jerome poked his head into the vehicle and glanced through the partition. He first locked his eyes on me, and then on Cimarron. Are there only two passengers? He directed the question to no one in particular.

As you can plainly see, Gill responded.

I take nothing at face value. You’ll need to open the trunk so Field can take a look in the back. The Peace Keeper raised his eyebrows. An official vehicle, he muttered to himself. Give it a proper once over, he called out to his partner, Field. Take all the time you need.

An impatient scowl crossed Gill’s face. I have the Lush Ambassador in my care. We are on our way to an official appearance, on orders from The Council. She is not to be made late.

Cimarron leaned forward in her seat. We understand that you are performing a much needed service for our safety, but I would ask that you do it in a timely manner.

Peace Keeper Jerome stood straight and squared his shoulders. Five finger scan, he huffed, ignoring her request, and then he extended the tablet. I need proof of who you claim to be.

Of course. Gill nodded and offered his hand, placing his fingers into the five circles on the screen. A white line passed over the tablet, scanning each of his prints into the Concord database. Gill kept his fingers still, and only removed his hand when the tablet beeped. A moment later his photograph appeared on the screen.

The Peace Keeper held the tablet next to Gill’s face, to get a visual confirmation of his identity. "You check out, Gill-bert. Now it’s time for the…"

A long, loud beep emitted from the tablet, interrupting his sentence. Official Concord business. Immediate clearance for Gilbert 2.01 and all passengers. The message scrolled across his screen and came through the tablet’s speakers: I could clearly hear it from where I sat in the back of the vehicle. A deep frown appeared on the Peace Keeper’s face.

I immediately felt the vehicle shake, and heard the trunk being slammed closed behind us.

There was the sound and vibration of two quick thunks as Field knocked on the top of the truck after it was secured. Pass them through, Jerome.

But…

But what? That was an order.

Jerome, who was still holding his tablet out toward the vehicle, erased his frown but replaced it with a disappointed glare. But he waved us through without another word.

That’s a bit disturbing. Anyone could be back here, Cimarron tisked as Gill accelerated away from the roadblock.

The Council knows I would have notified them, through the emergency call button located just behind the steering wheel, had anyone tried to stow away in or commandeer this vehicle.

He has proven his unwavering loyalty to Concord, which is why he has been given clearance, I pointed out. Isn’t that why he was chosen as our driver?

I suppose it is. The Council knows best. Let’s be on our way so we can get out of this drab place. The lack of vibrant color in Three is quite depressing, Cimarron sighed.

I looked out of the window and noticed, for the first time, that she was right. The colors were not as bright as they were in One and Two, and they seemed less varied. In fact, from what I could see, the buildings weren’t as architecturally interesting and the landscaping was quite sparse, and not nearly as beautiful as it was at home. Three wasn’t as nice as Two, and even Two didn’t quite compare to One. It made me wonder what Four would have looked like, had we have made it that far. But the attack on Three had prevented us from going any farther.

I don’t find it depressing. It’s simply less glossy and perfectly presented as One, Gill noted. Three is a nice community with hard working Citizens.

All four Concords are very nice communities with hard working Citizens, Cimarron retorted.

That they are, Gill agreed. You have no argument from me, and I don’t believe I said otherwise. You were the one who implied that Three was depressing. Which, by the way, may not be the best descriptor to use in front of the Lush Ambassador.

I… I… I didn’t mean.

I put my hand on Cimarron’s arm, quieting her. I know that all the people of Concord are important. It takes everyone working together to form a whole unit, striving toward a common goal.

Well said, she smiled in relief, glad to have the momentary embarrassment over and done with. I think we are here.

We had arrived at our destination: a small government building in the center of Three’s business district. A short man in a black suit with a blue tie, which perfectly matched the color of his eyes, was waiting for us at the back of the building where Gill had parked. Welcome, Bluebell. I am Boston, one of the Information Specialists here at Three.

How interesting, the lead Information Specialist at Two was also named Boston.

A quick look, of what could only be described as annoyance, crossed his face. Yes. I know. We are five years apart in age, from two different Concords, and have strangely entered into the same profession. It is an unfortunate coincidence, and something that will eventually prevent my advancement, unless I have it officially changed. But, we should get back to the task at hand.

Cortez is a nice name, you should consider that, I told him. You are right, though, I suppose we should stay on task.

"Cortez is nice, Boston smiled. Well, we have everything set up for your short speech. I’ve been informed that there will be a thirty-minute delay between what you say here, and when the Citizens will be able to see the broadcast, so a quick edit can be made… if anything goes amiss, no matter how small, it will be fixed in editing. But the delay will also allow the Citizens here in attendance to watch the replay afterward. People like to see themselves on the screen," he winked.

I smiled at Boston. Thank you. When do I begin?

Immediately. They are waiting. He gestured for Cimarron and me to follow him.

We went around to the front of the building, where a podium had been set up and a small crowd had gathered. There couldn’t have been more than fifty Citizens in attendance, all sitting in their chairs in an orderly fashion, patiently waiting with their hands clasped in their laps. As I stepped up to the podium, I took note of the two Peace Keepers that closed in on either side of me… and the two that were standing behind the seated Citizens. All four stood with their hands poised on the stun guns that hung from their belts. And there was another weapon hanging from the opposite hip, one that I had never seen

Reviews for Crush (a LUSH novel)

[Emily Miller · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

A fizzle of an ending to a cool series. Yawn.