HARBINGER Dawn

By London C Castle

To Nyx Harbinger, there was always the question of, "Is there more?" More to the island; more to the throne. That is, until she was selected to be a contender in the most intense-and deadly-set of challenges one could imagine. Bringing forth newfound connections and unf

• Language: English
• Publisher: London
• Release date: Dec 26, 2022
• ISBN: 9781957751306

Book preview

HARBINGER

Dawn

L.C. Castle

JOURNAL JOY

An Imprint of Journal Joy Publishers

www.thejournaljoy.com

Copyright © 2022 by L.C. Castle

An Imprint of Journal Joy Publishers

All rights reserved and printed in the United States of America. No part of this book may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the authors' prior written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and specific other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

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________________________________________

Summary: To Nyx Harbinger, there was always the question of, Is there more? More to the island; more to the throne. That is, until she was selected to be a contender in the most intense—and deadly—set of challenges one could imagine. Bringing forth newfound connections and unfamiliar emotions, with impending carnage at every turn, The Evaluation showed Nyx just how much more there was to the throne she bowed to—and to herself.

Paperback ISBN: 978-1-957751-29-0

EBook ISBN: 978-1-957751-30-6

Edited By:  Riel Felice

DEDICATION:

For Christina LaMonica, Jane Elliot, and The Brosquad. You all continue to support and inspire me every day. Thank you.

Table of Contents

Title Page

Chapter 1: Eyes On Us

Chapter 2: Mother’s Wrath

Chapter 3: Sleepless Comatose

Chapter 4: Welcome to The Evaluation

Chapter 5: Pink soap and icy blue

Chapter 6: Sharp Edge

Chapter 7: A Room of Cloud and Crystal

Chapter 8: A Night Like Any Other

Chapter 9: To Synchronize

Chapter 10: Blood Pulses Out of Your Finger, and Leaves You with Second Thoughts

Chapter 11: Abscond, Absconding

About the Author

Chapter 1

Eyes On Us

To Nyx Harbinger, there was always the question of, Is there more? More to the island; more to the throne. Even more to her tiny basement bedroom. Her anxiety didn’t help quiet those questions being asked in her head nonstop. She began to pick at their fingers again. Damn, I need to stop doing that. They scolded themselves for further butchering their fingers. At this point, they looked like a stray cat had scratched them up, short peels of lifeless skin hanging around her cuticles. As Nyx stared at their own hands, a feeling of unease rose into their stomach, twisting and knotting her insides. But like any other morning, they tried to brush it off, knowing that most days, this feeling could mean so much as breaking an egg or dropping a pan of water. No big deal.

After a few minutes of staring at their hands, then the ceiling, then back at their hands, Nyx pushed themself up and off their bed. Shit. I forgot to go to the marketplace. Nyx groaned, hoping that there was at least enough food to last until that afternoon when work would be over. She walked up the dark, twisting stairwell that leads into their small kitchen.

They let out a long yawn as they rubbed the sleep out of their eyes. Some think that living in an open basement is a bad thing. To Nyx, however, it’s so much better this way! Not to mention the fact that it’s right next to the kitchen, which they used to their advantage when they were younger. Her mother was practically damn blind, not noticing when the thin child swiped a few extra berries from the counter. Plus, the stairs to the basement are quieter and less creaky, and the metal bannister is great for climbing. Not being able to afford any good weights at the moment, Nyx needed to exercise somehow. They say muscle goes before fat.

They trudged across the creaky wooden floor towards the fridge before beginning to rummage through it. Thank God, they thought as they saw the scarce amount of food in the fridge. It began to hum as the temperature within decreased, causing Nyx to shiver as she retrieved the things that hadn’t spoiled. Eggs from the family chicken lay in a glass bowl, and Nyx carefully balanced two in one hand. They then set them on the old table as they walked around it to the door leading out behind her house. They walked out onto the grass and towards the tiny garden, full of herbs stolen from the market on various occasions.

Of course, stealing is a violation of Code 5, but with the way the outer city was treated, it was necessary. But besides that, the chase afterwards (if one ensues) is an exhilarating experience. The wind whipped through Nyx’s short hair, hitting their face as they dodged through bikes and alleyways. That was the true feeling of freedom, as far as they could tell.

Nyx wasn’t a criminal, but she certainly did a hell of a good job pretending to be one. The first time she had ever stolen had been from a sleazy guy in Thorne Square, the downtown area in the centre of the island. There were other markets around, but this was the place where you could get your hands on the good stuff: fresh bread, handcrafted colognes imported from France or Spain, you name it! She happened to have stolen a silver pocket watch—the kind that flips up and you look at the time, like a wealthy man. (It made Nyx feel like a wealthy man, at least.)

To make her happy, her father had added a compass to it somehow. He was quite a skilled mechanical engineer. Sometimes, she still remembers his large, calloused hand meticulously gliding over the shining metal. But that small joy is diminished when reality hits, and she realises that it can only remain a memory.

She didn’t know where her father went. Neither did anyone else. Just hope you aren’t next is what they all thought. Nobody