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Prologue
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2024-10-29 19:42:56In the year 2054, there was an outbreak of an illness that hit so quickly that no one had a chance to prepare for it. Billions of people died within weeks. To this day no one is sure what caused the illness, where it came from, and if it is truly gone. Countries fell and chaos ensued.
Over the next fifty years, some groups slowly became powerful and took over the fallen countries. North America was taken over by the group named The Chosen. The Chosen was a group of people who were immune to the illness who used that to their advantage. They used it to take complete control of the continent. Everything from what was Canada to the tip of what was Mexico was theirs.
Throughout the years many more would die from starvation as well as the lawlessness that was rampant until the Chosen took over. Towns and even cities were reduced to mere villages where survivors of the illness would try to group in hopes of surviving the chaos that was the world.
Over the years of control, the Chosen learned that there were more males than females left in the territory that they were in control of. The leaders began to come up with a plan to make sure that the strongest male lines and those that were worthy of it, we're able to have a mate to continue the population with. The old laws of marriage were no longer of any use, thus the annual reaping would take place.
All females once they reach the age of eighteen would be sent by their village to the reaping held in the capital. All males who were deemed worthy would be sent at the age of twenty to take a mate. The rules were simple and there was no room for argument. The men chose and the women went with whoever chose them.
All men are watched, graded, and observed their entire young life. The leaders of the regions report to the Chosen in who is of the highest quality to be able to go to the reaping and chose a mate. The higher the score the higher your standing in the order of choosing.
The women went through examinations to determine what if any faults they had. Whether it was illness, promiscuity, or even low intellect all of these were to be listed when the woman was placed up for reaping. Virgins were the most wanted since there haven't been any in the reaping for the last twenty years. Most women chose to give themselves to someone of their choosing before the reaping so that they at least got to control who they shared that with. The rights of the women were stripped when it came to the reaping, so most took the only control that they could get and gave away the one thing that they had to the person of their choosing.
The Chosen leaders were always the first to pick during the reaping. Over the last five years, the new leader of the Chosen has yet to take a mate. Many believe that it is because he is a tyrant and could care less about having one woman to warm his bed. Others think that it is because there hasn't been anyone worthy of him to be up for reaping. The fact remains that the twenty-five-year-old leader has yet to show his face to the people and he has yet to pick a mate.
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The Reaping 1
CoraI find myself standing in front of a man whose face I can't see but I feel that I should fear him. I am standing with the rest of the women for the reaping knowing that I am going to be picked by this man who is scaring me. I hear a voice say my name and I know it's over for me. Any chance of me going back home to my village is gone. All hope of having a happy life is destroyed as soon as I see the devious smirk on his face.I feel myself begin to shake and I hear a scream rip from my mouth as I feel the hands of the guards begin to pull me away. I kick and scream begging for someone to help me, but no one moves. All eyes are on the ground and I feel my heart shatter as I see Michael look away.I startle awake with sweat covering my face. I still feel myself shaking and I feel like there is nothing that will calm me down. Then the realization that it was a dream hits me full force and I fall back on
Last Updated : 2024-10-29The Reaping 2
CoraThe next few weeks go by much faster than I hoped they would. I haven't seen or heard from Michael and I think that it is for the best. I spend my time working and soaking up every second I can with my family. My grandparents are trying to hide the pain that they are in knowing that I will be leaving in the morning. I have always been much closer to them and I feel as if they think of me as more of a daughter than their grandchild. My father has always been rather cold when it comes to family and I think that it is a result of Chosen's teachings rather than what he learned from his parents. Affection is something that you just don't give and sex is merely the means to create life. The saddest part of it all is that when I look at my mother, I can see all the longing she has. She wants to be loved and cared for. She has sat by and watched my grandparents and she knows what true love is, she just hasn't experienced it for herself.
Last Updated : 2024-10-29The Reaping 3
CoraThe drive to the facility is filled with silence. There were only about twenty people on my bus as there was very few this year. Both males and females alike sat like stones and were lost in their thoughts. My mind drifted back to my home and the idea that my father was most likely still yelling at my family. I would have never had the guts to speak to him the way I did had it not been for the fact that I was leaving. I still can't help but wonder to myself if he has ever loved anyone. He grew up with loving parents but with all that was happening during that time, I can see how that might change him for the worse.I often had to hide my true self from him and my mother. He had never really abused us but he had this way about him that made you feel like there was no room for argument and that if you pushed him hard enough he may crack. I think that his coldness created a new person in my mother. I could at times see the fi
Last Updated : 2024-10-29The Reaping 4
ThomasThe morning of the reaping is one that is always busy for the people in the headquarters. Everyone makes sure that the event goes off without a hitch. I on the other hand have to spend this morning meeting the newest member of the Chosen. There is one man who scored higher than anyone has in a long time so he was picked to join the ranks here in headquarters."Thomas the young man is here." I hear a voice come through the intercom system. Amazingly after the great illness, we have been able to restore almost all of the technology we had at the time. Although it works most people do not have access to certain things. That is one of the things that I have been working to change."Send him in." The next second the door opens and a young man walks in. He is tall with blonde hair and I can tell that he is very popular with the ladies. He already has an arrogant air to him, so I can tell that he is goin
Last Updated : 2024-10-29The Reaping 5
ThomasAs those words left my mouth I looked over to Michael who was seated to the side. His face visibly paled and I saw the huge gulp that he took when he realized he had been busted. At this moment I received so much satisfaction that I almost smiled. I knew that I couldn't do that as it would show emotion. I had been trained from an early age that as the next leader that to anyone who was not family I had to appear to be a tyrant with no feeling.Throughout the years that had been many stories circulated that made me sound like a heartless monster. That couldn't be further from the truth but I had to make sure that those outside my circle saw me as just that, a monster. My only fear in this is that my mate would be terrified of me. I knew that only those who were just after power would easily come to me and try to seduce me and want to be my mate. I had never entertained a woman because I always wanted to wait for the woman
Last Updated : 2024-10-29The Reaping 6
CoraI look into his eyes more confused than I think I have ever been. No one has ever said that I am above them. I know my family cares about me but even they have never lifted me above them. Yet I sit here looking into the eyes of the man that leads a whole continent of people and he says that I am greater."You look like you don't believe me." He says with a chuckle, and I feel myself begin to relax again. He smiles at me. "Cora I have waited to find someone that I thought I would be able to love. I waited to meet the woman I would fall in love with. I listened to your answer to your questions and I know that you are looking for the same thing. You have never been intimate with anyone and neither have I. I want us to try and make this a real relationship and not just a mating."I know that I am sitting here with my mouth hanging wide open and look like a total idiot. I take a moment and study this man in front of me. He is beyond handsome and it is obvious
Last Updated : 2024-10-29The Reaping 7
CoraThomas looks at me in anticipation as I sit and contemplate my next answer. I look once again into those eyes that seem to always captivate me and I know how I should answer.“Yes, I did often feel like I had no freedom. I’m not sure how much you have been outside of the headquarters or how many villages you have actually seen, but women are not treated as equals. There are very few men who actually care about their mates. I was lucky enough to live in a home where my father wasn’t physically abusing my mother. Well, at least not where I had ever witnessed it. My grandparents were together before the reaping so they were actually in love.” I see the look on his face and I can see that he has not heard this or at the very least knew that it was a widespread problem. “Most women in my village were with men who would abuse them. They were treated as second class citizens. That is why I have acted the way I have. I was
Last Updated : 2024-10-29The Reaping 8
CoraWaking up the next morning I find myself confused as to where I am and what I am doing here. After a few deep breaths and calming myself, I realize that I am Thomas’s house and that this is my new home. Just knowing that he wants to take care of me and make me happy gives me more hope then I have ever had in my life.Thoughts of what my life has been up until now make their way into my head. Had I really spent my life living in fear of what the day may bring, granted my life was never as bad as some in my village? I think that for the most part I have been spared the worst of what this life has to offer, but that still doesn’t mean that my life has been a bed of roses. Knowing that these thoughts were doing nothing to help my mood I decided to get up and start the day.Last night at the end of our date Thomas walked me to the door and told me that today he would have to return to work. He also said that he wanted me to come with him. After givin
Last Updated : 2024-10-29
Latest chapter
The Reaping Epilogue
Cora As time passes things get clearer on what needs to change. the first huge step was punishing those who were out to harm others. Not a day goes by where we do not receive new reports from people wanting to inform us of a crime. A task force has been set up to help handle the situation and find justice for the victims. Thomas and Elliot worked hard on forming a new type of what was once called the police. These men and women are tasked with learning the truth and helping bring justice to those who are victims as well as those who are falsely accused. Our personal life has also moved forward and gotten stronger. Over time I learned to work through the pain from my attack and with Thomas’s help, I have made peace with that incident. I have even started a support group for women who have been attacked in any way to get help from each other. “Cora, please sit down and take it easy. I don’t want you getting too tired or hurting yourself or the baby.” I
The Reaping 31
Cora “Cora you must rest. You have been through a very traumatic experience and your body will start to shut down again if you are not careful. Thomas takes her home and makes sure she rests. I will contact one of my colleagues in the villages that worked as and therapist. She is going to need help working through all this.” Once you make it home Thomas takes me up to our room. As I walk into the room it suddenly hits me that I have just been to hell and back. I suddenly break down and sob my heart out. I cry for my rape. I cry for Thomas and all that he lost today. I cry for the friend that Michael had once been but is now no longer on this earth. I cry for Doug and the sad life that he must have had to live all these years. And finally, I cry for this world full of evil like Caroline. For all the girls who never got to live their lives. Thomas helps me get ready for bed and asks if I want him with me tonight or if I would rather him not stay. I know
The Reaping 30
Cora Rebecca gasps as she hears the words that change everything forever. The people we have been searching for turned out to be one person. Caroline was thought of as a loving mother and example to all women. She was poised and gave off an air of royalty, and yet standing here now she looks like a psychologically deranged person. “Mother you didn’t. Say you didn’t.” Thomas pleads with her. He looks like a broken child who has just learned that their hero wasn’t the person that they thought they were. “Thomas? Have you learned anything in all the years of training we gave you? You’re showing your emotions and making yourself look weak in from of your men.” She barks out at him. I look toward Doug and he just sits there looking straight ahead as if he hadn’t just heard a thing that was said. “Doug, why don’t you look surprised?” The words come out of my mouth before I have a chance to stop them. He finally breaks his staring contest with the wall in fr
The Reaping 29
Thomas “I know who did it!” With those words, my heart stopped. Elliot held the information that I needed the most. “Follow me.” I lead him to a remote area and made sure that there wasn’t anyone around. At this point, I didn’t care if there was a way for someone to be recording this. I just needed to find out what happened. “It was Michael. I know you probably thought of it too, but he is the only one that I could think of that would be that emotional when it came to Cora. I have him recorded going into the room and then an hour later leaving looking like he had just been through hell. His clothes were messed up and it looked like he had a few scratches on his face. She must have put up one hell of a fight.” Elliot is treading lightly considering that this was the woman I love and she was currently unconscious. “Get Rebecca down here. I want her to stay with Cora and her family. You and I are going to meet my parents and grandfather. Is security pick
The Reaping 28
Cora I come to find Michael stripping my clothes off. My dress is gone and he is working to get my undergarments off. I start flailing around trying to stop his movements. He raises his fist and punches me in the face. “Stop fighting me dammit! You brought this on yourself!” He says into my ear in an almost whisper. “Please don’t do this Michael. Please don’t hurt me.” I feel myself beginning to lose control and the tears are starting to roll down my face. I want to stay strong but I am weak from being knocked out and I can feel the fear taking control. “I told you already, I should have been the one to have you first! I loved you and you just threw me away for what? Power, sex, money, or were you just trying to get me to prove myself to you? Why are you making me out to be the bad guy?” He slaps me a few more times and takes my underwear off and uses them to bind my hands together. He stands and starts to pull his pants down and all sane thou
The Reaping 27
Cora The first morning I went back to headquarters with Thomas I was a complete nervous wreck. Knowing that we still had no idea who was sending the messages or who was behind Michael’s schemes made it all that much harder. Thomas told me multiple times that I would be fine but, something in the back of my mind told me otherwise. “Cora, could you go to the file room and see if you can find the records from your old village for the last six years? I want all of them if possible. Do you need someone to go with you?” Thomas has worked extremely hard the last few days and I know that he is getting tired. “I should be fine. I am just walking down the hall little ways. If I need anything I’ll yell. There is security always walking around. Don’t worry.” I kiss him on the cheek and head out the door. Walking down the hall I see the security guard walking around and notice that there is a lot of activity today. Since we came back Thomas has been working on man
The Reaping 26
Cora As soon as the words left her mouth my anger raged inside me. When we were talking earlier I noticed how she was trying her hardest to not have to touch anyone and the looks that she was giving my family. She just avoided me altogether and I just wanted to know what was so wrong with me that she couldn’t even make an effort. It seems that now I have my answer, she doesn’t like people from the villages. The rest of Thomas’s family was amazing. His grandfather had me laughing the entire time we were talking. He said that I reminded him of his late wife and that I would be perfect for Thomas “What do you think I mean Dear? it is clear to me that my son has picked well below him in the Reaping.” Gasps were heard around the table and the sickly sweet smile that she is giving me is anything but friendly. “Caroline, what in the world are you talking about? You are from the villages!” Doug yells and I can see that he is losing his temper with her.
The Reaping 25
Cora The ride back is one that was full of silence. Everyone was lost in their thoughts trying to make sense of all that we had learned. The trip was not as successful as we would have liked but we did learn enough to get a good start. Thomas seemed to be thinking more than any of us. The thought that one of his family members could be behind this was beginning to take a toll on him. I reach over and take his hand to show him that he isn’t alone in this. He has supported me so much that all I want to do is give him that same love. Once we finally reach the headquarters Elliot and Rebecca head home and Thomas leads my family into the house. They all stand around looking like they have never seen anything like it. I smile knowing that they are finally going to be living a life that is free of Carl’s tyranny. “We have three guest rooms on the second floor for you to stay in. Please treat this as your home until we can get you set up with a place of your
The Reaping 24
Cora As the words hang in the air and I can see that my family is nervous. More nervous than I have ever seen in the entire time that I lived with them. I take a deep breath and center my mind knowing that something is going on here and that it may change everything. “Look we have made sure that no one can hear a word you say. We are most certainly not going to do anything to hurt you, we just need to know what is going on.” Thomas says in his voice that he reserves for only those closest to him. I smile at him in thanks and turn back to my family. “I’m sure that you were coached on how to act in front of the leader. We are trying to do something that can help everyone but we need to know the truth of what is happening in the villages. Dad, I know that you are a man that follows what the Chosen says, but you need to know that what you have been told and what is the truth are not the same things.” “What do you mean by that? You know they could kill you
