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The Unfortunate Trilogy Chapter 1: The Unfortunate Camp, Part 1
NINEThe sun is up, filtering through the cracks in the boarded windows, its golden rays making the dust shimmer and dance. I lie on my hard mattress and stare at the dilapidated ceiling. I didn't sleep. How could I? Today is the day I'll be taken from this hell and forced to live out my days in another—happy eighteenth birthday to me.Blowing air from my lips, I sit up and glance around the grimy, dimly lit room. At least forty bumpy mattresses litter the floor, each one cradling the tired body of another eighteen-year-old Unfortunate.I heard stories about kids in the before time. A birthday was an exciting event they pencilled into their calendar every year. Birthdays were something they celebrated, something they sang about. At these celebrations, they danced, received gifts, and ate sweets. It was a milestone that commemorated their growth into adulthood. Into freedom. My soul longed for a time long past, for a celebration, dancing, and sweets.As the gap between an Unfortunate'
The Unfortunate Trilogy Chapter 2: The Unfortunate Camp, Part 2
I straighten and stroll across the shower floor, pulled toward the deep purple gown. If I'm chosen today, I might as well face my fears in a pretty dress. The rest of the girls have the same idea I do and take the green, pink, and royal blue gowns. I pull my dress from its hanger and turn as the crying blonde crawls out of the kerfuffle, hugging the mustard dress to her wet body. I lift my eyebrows, astonished. Sniffling, she lifts her chin and squares her shoulders. Hope glistens in her piercing blue eyes, and as she turns away, I spot her number tattooed on the clean flesh behind her ear.Thirteen, that's her name.Without thought, I touch the tips of my fingers to the number nine tattooed behind my ear. If I'm chosen, will my Fortunate give me a name? Or will I still be known as Nine? I follow Thirteen across the bathroom to stand beside her in front of the murky, wall-sized mirror."You would've looked nice in the pink," I murmur, and her lips part, surprised I'm choosing now to t
The Unfortunate Trilogy Chapter 3: The First Unfortunate
NINEThe horses pull us through the outskirts of Freeport. Every now and again, the snake-like nerves in the pit of my belly writhe too much for comfort, but the clacking of the horseshoes over the wide cobblestone road soothes them back into a slumber. I peer through large shop windows and see Unfortunates running stores and cleaning tables in their plain, worn tunics. I wonder if I'll be sent to the town to work? I'd like that. I want to be in charge of something.Fortunates litter the pavements of the shopping district, dressed in fine suits and pretty dresses. I stare at them, gawking at the sheen in their hair and the cleanliness of their skin. They stare back at me, and it hits me then that I've never been in the presence of a Fortunate before, and seeing them so close makes the hair on the back of my neck stand. I avert my gaze, remembering one of the many rules that govern how I live my life. Don't make eye contact with a Fortunate unless they address you directly.We pass thro
The Unfortunate Trilogy Chapter 4: The Meet
KADEHe finally slipped into the solitude of his room, away from his incessant father. It's your birthday in a couple of weeks, his father's voice rang through his mind. It's tradition to receive an Unfortunate on your twenty-fifth birthday. You have no choice but to accept.Kade dropped into the oversized leather chair behind his desk and exhaled. He didn't want a gift from Michael Sario. He didn't want anything from him.He sat forward and glanced at the mining documents he'd been prying through for weeks. Something wasn't right. His mines were collapsing, and he had no idea why. He studied the map on the blueprint before him, trying to find a pattern. Nothing.A creak crept through the room as his door opened, but Kade didn't bother dragging his gaze toward the bodies entering his private space. He already knew who it was and what he brought with him. An eternity of silence passed before Michael scoffed. "Well," he said. "Here she is."Kade didn't lift his attention from the bluepr
The Unfortunate Trilogy Chapter 5: The Branding
KADEHis Unfortunate stood there, staring at him. Her violet eyes watered, and a tiny sliver of skin beside her nose twitched. The air was tense. All eyes were on him and his Unfortunate, and there was no room for error.Nine peered through her long, dark lashes for a second too long. He knew it, the crowd knew it, and they murmured their excitement. Kade handed the iron branding pole that bore his family's lion symbol back to Clive and snatched Nine by her small bicep. She gasped as he yanked her along the stage. Then, shoved her over the table, and she made a noise that knocked the air from her lungs. He pulled at the knot of her gown and tugged the fabric down her back, exposing her shoulder's smooth, flawless skin. Clive handed Kade his pole. Nine lifted her head off the table and glanced at Kade for reassurance, but he'd never comforted anyone in his life. Colour drained from her face, and she shut her eyes as she rested her cheek against the wood and gripped the edges.He moved
The Unfortunate Trilogy Chapter 6: The Brother
NINEI stand still as Master Kade's grotesque friend runs his chubby, oily fingers up my arm. They're warm and soft, unlike his cold, rough eyes. I clench my jaw as his hazel irises send uneasiness barrelling through me."Henry," Kade grinds through gritted teeth, tightening his grip on his glass.Henry pulls back and threads his fingers together, but he doesn't take his hungry eyes off me. "Sorry, I couldn't resist."I glance at Kade, and the look on his face is anything but humorous. His dark, coal eyes are thinned into slits, his strong jaw tight. "Eighteen years young?" Henry asks me, lifting onto the tips of his toes only to drop back onto his heels. I nod. "Virgin?"I open my mouth to speak, but Kade cuts me off. "Those questions, and the answers they yield, are not for anyone's ears but mine.""Of course, sorry." Henry surveys me with his beady eyes for a few minutes longer before he releases me from his intense appraisal and finally looks at Kade. "I don't suppose you will put
The Unfortunate Trilogy Chapter 7: The Cat House
KADEKade sat in his plush seat with his leg cocked, his ankle resting on his knee. The world around him wavered and vibrated, the effects of his whiskey thoroughly soaking and affecting his equilibrium. He twirled his drink in his hand and watched a blonde Unfortunate get fucked from behind right in front of him, her small breasts jiggling every time the unknown Fortunate thrust into her. She stared at Kade with lust in her green eyes, and he stared back, indifferent. He didn't know when sex lost its appeal. It just did. A light touch on his shoulder stole his attention, and he looked at the woman who moved in front of him, blocking the carnal exhibition from sight. Kade exhaled, disappointed she was able to find him. Elizabeth Miller's blonde hair fell around her shoulders as she leaned in, carrying the scent of lavender straight to his nose. He loathed lavender. "What do you want, Elizabeth?" "Vince told me I'd find you here." She pressed an index finger between his legs and circ
The Unfortunate Trilogy Chapter 8: Night
KADEKaden Sario strolled along the wide hallway, ignoring all the familiar paintings on the wall. He'd wandered these halls since he was a kid and knew every detail of every painting. He was sick of it, sick of this house, this land. He wanted to be in the city. Kade's father spent most of his time in the dilapidated city. It was a place off limits to anyone except the figureheads of the four households. Kade didn't know what was in the city or why it was so important. From the outside, it was an ancient ruin of a time past, but something had to give. Fortunates were notoriously vapid creatures of comfort. No one ever spoke of the city, but there was something inside its boundaries that kept generations of Fortunates going back for more. Whatever it was, it had to be enough to keep the boredom at bay. In the new world, there wasn't much work for Fortunates. The Unfortunates took care of everything. They did the farming, ran the shops, and waited hand and foot on the Fortunates. They
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The Unfortunate Trilogy Chapter 72:
KADEHer tears stopped flowing and her chest relaxed as he carried her up the stairs toward his bedroom. When they were inside, he locked the door and carried her to the bathroom. Kade didn’t say anything as he placed her, feet first, on the white tiles, and she released his neck to pull his jacket tighter around her. He looked over his shoulder at her before bending down to turn on the tap. Dark circles surrounded her swollen, red eyes. Her cheeks were hollow, her lips cracked. He wished he could heal her instantly, but it wasn’t possible. The healing she needed would take time, and although he knew he wasn’t the patient type, he had to be… for her.Hot water splashed against the pristine porcelain as he reached to the other edge of the bath and retrieved the plug. When he plugged it into the drain, the water filled the tub. Steam rose, getting thicker and thicker the longer the tap ran. Afraid to burn her already sensitive skin, he adjusted the cold tap until the billowing steam beca
The Unfortunate Trilogy Chapter 71: Carried Away
KADEA deafening bang cracked through the air, vibrating the wood underneath his feet, and a shrill squeal pierced his ears. His stomach cramped, tightening itself into a painful knot. His first reaction was to shoot forward and as he slid the palms of his hands over her body, he expected blood. Her body shook as if she was in pain, but there was no evidence she was shot. Her shrill scream chilled his blood. The icy vessels cut through his veins and carved their way through his heart, making it twist in his chest. Nine sobbed uncontrollably as Soyer unchained her from the post, and she fell forward into Kade’s arms. He pulled her into him, wrapping his arms around her breakable frame, and held on for dear life.Odd threads of guilt swirled inside of him as happiness manifested in his core. A dead body laid in a crumpled slouch beside him, but it was because of that dead body he now had everything he ever wanted. The sound of chains being cut clicked over the sound of the excited crow
The Unfortunate Trilogy Chapter 70: The Execution, Part 2
NINEHis smell is bliss. It’s all the things I’ve grown to like about this world rolled into one. In some nonsensical way, it reminds me of lush green grass, clear blue skies, and fluffy white clouds. His smell is happiness—something I’ve only felt when I’m with him. I told him I loved him not so long ago. It was a declaration I made out of desperation—like he has done just now. His three words roll off my skin, failing to absorb and hit me where they should. What did he say to me when I told him I loved him? ‘I can’t love you, Nine.’ It’s funny how things turn out. I blink, pulling myself from my thoughts, and focus on his concerned gaze. He has beautiful black eyes. When light hits them at the right angle, they sparkle like the sky at night. I wonder if he knows that. “You should go,” I croak, pulling against my chain. I wince as sharp bits of metal cut the sensitive flesh of my wrists. “People are staring.”“You think I care how they see me?”He takes his fingers from my face, an
The Unfortunate Trilogy Chapter 69: The Execution, Part 1
KADEHe felt sick.As he sat at the table in the front row, his stomach twisted and clenched, threatening to expel the slice of toast he had for breakfast. It’s a miracle he kept the buttered carb down as long as he had. Since Nine was taken and locked up, he hadn’t been able to swallow a single thing besides water.He was exhausted. Every day he fought for her freedom, but it wasn’t enough. The harder he pushed, the more Vince and the council resisted. They didn’t want to see an Unfortunate rise from the ashes. They didn’t want an Unfortunate to become one of them. They were intimidated by her and what she stood for. Or at least most of them were. Kade knew Vince only wanted to see him suffer, but he’d do more than that. Without Nine, he would die.Kade understood that the best thing for her was to sentence her to death. Only in death was she safe from them. Safe from him.Trumpets sounded off in the distance, and Kade clenched the armrests of his chair. He knew this wasn’t a dream, b
The Unfortunate Trilogy Chapter 68: The Fortunates
I flinch as a rogue drop of cold, stagnant rainwater falls from a crack in the stone ceiling and splashes on the tip of my nose. It sobers me, and I blink away the fog. I'm still alive. Still locked up. Still a pending Fortunate. I grant my cheeks reprieve from the iron bars that hold me captive and pull away from them. Kade hasn’t visited me, and I don’t know if I’m relieved or disappointed. Both emotions wage war inside me. I expect his priorities have shifted by now, and he's impartial to what’s happening in my life. He killed his father. He got what he wanted. Why would he stay? I’m just a girl who caused him more trouble than I'm worth. Even so, my lovesick heart twists painfully in my chest, and I grit my teeth. God. I miss him. I miss his face, his smell, his eyes, and the firm press of his hand on the small of my back when he holds me close. I even miss the way he purses his lips when he’s displeased. I hate that I miss it. I hate that I miss him…after everything he’s done
The Unfortunate Trilogy Chapter 67: His Heart
KADEHe stared at Kathryn. His heart raced, and his pulse pounded like crazy in his neck. Nine, a Fortunate, could it be? Vince threw his tantrum, but it was white noise to the thrum of Kade's soul as it vibrated within him. The more he stared at Kathryn, the more he absorbed her features, the more he saw Nine in her. The violet irises. The auburn hair. The heart-shaped face. "Bullshit," Vince boomed. "Do you think I'm stupid? That I'm dumb enough to believe that she is of the same blood as me?""Believe what you want. She is my daughter, and you can test my blood to prove it."Kade flicked his attention over the council members. They looked disgusted. They looked embellished in scandal. Within the hour, the whole of Freeport would know about this. "How did this happen, Kathryn?" Rita asked, sitting forward."I was very, very young when I fell pregnant, barely completed my education." Choking, Kathryn dropped her head and took a breath. Her husband placed his hand on her shoulder and
The Unfortunate Trilogy Chapter 66: The Twist
NINEThe chamber room is as it was when I left it, minus Thirteen's crumpled body. I kneel on the floor, keeping my attention cast down. The only other person in the room is Kade, and he leans against the opposite wall, staring at me. Both of us are covered in dry mud, and Vince made sure we couldn't get our story straight prior to summoning the council. I don't know how he will spin his tale to get me out of this. I don't want him to get me out of this. Maybe this is for the best. In a few minutes, the meeting will start, and I'm a goner. "You said you loved me."I flick my gaze to his and hate the way my heart beats for him, the way it bleeds for him. My love for him has worsened every second in his presence since I realised it. Like an infection, he's poisoned my blood."I do," I say, my voice void of the tenderness I feel inside. "Do you?""Yes.""You've got a funny way of showing it." "If I kissed you and declared my love for you, would the outcome be any different?"He swallow
The Unfortunate Trilogy Chapter 65: The Chase
KADEHe chased her. His heart pounded a million miles a minute, and his lungs burned, but he kept pushing. The sun bounced off her auburn hair like a beacon. He had to catch her before someone saw her running, but damn, she was fast. Nine sprinted through the bush and manoeuvred around the debris like she'd done this run a million times. Sticks stabbed his ribs and cut at his face, his neck, but he didn't slow. He couldn't slow. In a few minutes, he entered a clearing, and ahead of them was a wide lake. Nine ran toward it like she knew how to swim. She didn't. Freeport was surrounded by lakes. Unfortunates weren't taught how to swim for that very reason. Even so, her feet sank into the mud that lined the lake's edge. She fell into it and kept going, dragging her feet behind her, digging through the sludge like she had a chance. He shouted her name as he closed in on her, but she kept pushing. His shoes sunk into the mud, and he had no intention of going further into the sludge. "A
The Unfortunate Trilogy Chapter 64: The Chambers, Part 2
I don't want to believe it, but deep down I know it to be true. I gaze at the whip in his hand. It looks nothing like the whips I saw in the unfortunate camp. It lacks metal accents and has no pieces of bone strapped to its delicate tips. Still, it looks like it can do a fair bit of damage. Kade brandishes the whip, lifting it above his shoulder, and brings it down with more power than I imagined him capable of. It snaps against her skin with a crack so loud it hurts my ears. It takes her a second to feel it. Her shrill scream comes a heartbeat later. It gets louder and louder until she catches her lips between her teeth and swallows as much of it as she can.Thirteen. She's supposed to endure thirteen of these lashings? I choke down my own pain in fear of making it worse for her. Selfishly, in fear of making it worse for myself. I look at Kade. If it's something he doesn't want to do, I can't tell by looking at him. The expression on his face gives no indication of how he might be f
