Delivered: A Young Adult Dystopian Romance (The State Series Book 7) Read online

  DELIVERED

  Book Seven of the State Series

  M. J. Kaestli

  No portion of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or any other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author, except for brief quotations for reviews, or noncommercial uses and with proper and correct citation.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the products of the author’s imagination, or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

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  Edited by LTT Editorial: https://www.ltteditorial.com

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  https://mjkaestli.com/

  Copyright © 2020 M. J. Kaestli

  All rights reserved.

  ISBN: 978-1-9991850-2-2

  Contents

  DELIVERED

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  Chapter 37

  Chapter 38

  Chapter 39

  Chapter 40

  Chapter 41

  Chapter 42

  Chapter 43

  Chapter 44

  Books in the State Series

  Acknowledgments

  Chapter 1

  Freya

  The coarse wood’s edge dug into the tender flesh of her palm. Her grip gave her stability while taking this moment’s pause to muster the strength to go on.

  “You okay?” Colin fretted over her. “If you aren’t up for this, we can postpone.”

  She retracted her hand from the banister, gazing down at the speckled indentations it left on her delicate skin. All surfaces inside the dome had been so smooth, sterile, safe. This place was foreign to her. She wished she had more time to familiarize herself with the land, buildings, and people. To understand the dangers she couldn’t yet comprehend.

  “No, Colin, we can’t. This needs to happen now. Your team knows about what you found in the shelter and they’re here. They’ll talk. Its better if everyone hears it from us rather than from gossip.”

  Through a clenched jaw, he replied, “Yeah, I know.”

  Colin was miserable. She wasn’t thrilled to take on a whole new government, especially one she knew so little about. A postponement sounded luxurious, but time wasn’t on their side. They needed to face this issue head-on before their names were further tarnished.

  Freya stepped forward, entering the wood building. The moment she came into view of the Advisors, a hushed silence fell amongst them.

  “M—Madam Head of State,” one Advisor sputtered, before abruptly standing and bowing her head respectfully.

  Most followed suit, but one man seemed to lag in the formalities. The room fell into an uncomfortable silence.

  I hope they’re just surprised, not shunning me before I’ve had my chance to speak.

  Freya’s skin flushed, yet she held her head high. “Please, don’t call me that—there’s no State here. We’re a free people.”

  “Of course,” she said, throwing a sharp glance at a male Advisor with thick, silver hair. “I only called you that out of familiarity—surprise at seeing you.” Her jaw clenched. “It won’t happen again, Queen Freya.”

  Freya nearly lost the pit of her stomach. Somehow, being referred to as Queen felt worse. “Please, just call me Freya.”

  Colin grabbed her hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze before he led her to her seat at the table beside Aakil. She ran her hand along the back of the chair, studying the simple elegance. These chairs were constructed from natural, earthy, rough textured ingredients—a labor filled with love and sacrifice. She hadn’t taken part in this colony’s construction. And now, as an outsider, she had to ask them to leave it all behind.

  “Well, Colin, this is a surprise,” the silver-haired Advisor remarked sharply.

  Colin remained seated, but squared his shoulders, lifting his head in an air of authority. “Yes, it is. I was forced to return from building outposts early, and Aakil shortly followed.” He glanced over at Aakil seated to his left. “We agreed it was necessary to wake Freya before the scheduled time.”

  Tension spread around the table. Most Advisors cast their gaze away from Colin, all except the silver-headed Advisor. His eyes gleamed with arrogance as he looked directly at Colin. “You come bearing good news for our people, I hope?”

  That look. One simple look was all she needed to understand what Colin had described. These Advisors wanted them out. They may claim that Colin was dramatic, but she didn’t buy it. That comment was intended to undermine Colin’s credibility before he could explain.

  I’ve dealt with worse. If he wants a fight, he’ll get one.

  “The State has deceived us,” Freya cut in. “They never sent us to a new world to colonize. We’re still sharing not only the same planet with them, but the same land mass. We’re on the opposing side of the mountains.”

  His expression remained unphased, but the cords in his neck bulged. “Not possible.”

  “I assure you, Faris, she’s quite right,” Aakil said.

  Faris. That’s the one Colin warmed me about.

  She observed Faris as Aakil continued, glad she did so before she came under fire herself.

  “You’re all aware of the concerns we’ve had over the years since spotting the satellite. But we found something, concrete proof of the State’s deception. We found artifacts from before the State took over. A shelter filled with books written in English, a radio, and most importantly, a map of the United States of America.”

  Faris’ eyes darkened. “And just like the satellites, how do we know when those items were placed there? The State never concealed that this planet was discovered before the Great War. How do we know it wasn’t already inhabited? Maybe someday we’ll run into a group of humans sent here before the war. This proves nothing.”

  Colin gripped his hands together so tightly his fingers turned white. “Freya took one look around this place, and almost instantly knew what we discovered in the mountains. The plant life here is the same as it was in the green space she worked in at the State House. Especially the trees. They were a dead giveaway.”

  Freya glanced around the table. Some Advisors looked bewildered, but Faris appeared smug, as though this was the opportunity he’d been waiting for.

  There will be no negotiations with him at this table.

  “Colin has brought me up to speed on the escape route through the mountains,” Freya began. “I see no other
alternative than to use those outposts to aid in the immediate evacuation of our people.”

  The volume of Freya’s heartbeat muted all other sounds.

  It didn’t last long, however, as Faris replied. “You can’t be serious.”

  Colin inhaled sharply.

  Freya didn’t hesitate. “I assure you; we are. We will evacuate this area and build a new home elsewhere. A location unknown to the State.”

  “Am I correct in the understanding that you,” Faris pointed to Colin, “our village conspiracist, woke Freya, informing no one of your discovery? Or shall I say, before anyone could verify the validity of your claims? And in her impaired mental state, you informed her of these trinkets, and then she stumbled on a tree and decided we must be on Earth.” He looked at Freya. “Did you expect a new planet to be void of trees?”

  Freya flinched. Even the High Council had conducted themselves with more tact. “I don’t understand why you refer to my partner as a conspiracist, but you need to set aside any petty differences from your past and hear what we came to share. The safety of everyone in the village depends on it.”

  Faris rolled his eyes before responding. “We’ve all heard enough of his conspiracies. Since the moment we arrived, he’s found something silly to fret over while the rest of us work to ensure the survival of our people. What he’s never grasped is that the biggest threat to our people is food rations, housing, and medical care. Is a future war with the State possible? Absolutely. But we have more immediate concerns to deal with.”

  Freya licked her lips. “I understand that our people have pressing needs—”

  “Do you?” Faris snapped. “I’d love to hear what you think you know about our needs. You’ve been asleep since your arrival, after living your entire life under the dome. I doubt you have the faculties to even comprehend what life has been like here.”

  Her stomach churned. She could tolerate ignorance; people could be informed; an opportunity to communicate. But Faris was intolerable.

  “I know I’ve been asleep, but I thought both Colin and I still held a position of authority. Yet, you’ve dismissed us before we’ve had our opportunity to speak.”

  Faris held her gaze, his eyes piercing into her. “Yes, you are our Queen. We modeled our system on the modern age just before the Great War. In the United Kingdom, the Monarchy served as a figurehead, a symbol of stability and interconnectivity while they elected the Prime Minister, who with the aid of his Cabinet, made the important decisions.”

  Freya’s eyes narrowed. “Were you elected, Advisor Faris?” She already knew he hadn’t been, but if he was going to fight dirty, so would she.

  He clenched his jaw, shooting a sharp, threatening look her way.

  She licked her lips, trying to maintain a neutral expression despite her victory. “You’re saying that although my partner and I are Monarchs, it’s only a token position. We don’t hold any power. Is that correct?”

  His eyes gleamed. “Now I think we understand each other.”

  “Really?” Freya challenged. “Because I see a conflict in your philosophies. You were appointed, not elected, yet you feel you have authority over us.”

  Faris’ lips curled into a sneer. “Yes, I do, for an obvious reason. Colin, by his own admission, didn’t feel up to his calling as our King. That’s why he invited us to become Advisors. You may have done well as our Queen had you been here from the start, but he insisted you sleep for nearly 20 years, and then he abandoned our people to run into the mountains because he saw a few twinkling lights in the night’s sky.”

  “So, I was a bad leader,” Colin started. “You can’t say the same thing about Freya. She deserves a voice amongst our people.”

  “Colin.” Faris lifted a finger. “You were an excellent revolutionary, as was Freya. She was exactly what the people needed to fight the State. That’s why we have kept you both as figureheads: our people love you. But love isn’t what our community needs right now. They need structure, stability, and a governing body who keeps their people’s best interests at the forefront of every decision made. They don’t need a pair of lovesick rebels who care more about their relationship than they do about our community.”

  Freya’s mouth fell open, but she closed it again. She had to admit, Advisor Faris had a point. It wasn’t savvy for Colin to keep her in gestation for personal gain. Add in his absence and there was only one conclusion: He had been a poor leader, therefore, holding no credibility.

  Luckily, she had learned to hold her tongue during her stint in politics. Some battles could be won over time, and some were best delt with through retreat.

  “I see.” She nodded. “Colin and I will abdicate our titles, as we will soon migrate East. We deserve the right to give an address to our people, as a farewell from their King and Queen. We’ll inform the community that we are still on Earth, plan to migrate to a new home, and invite any who care to join us.”

  “Be my guest.” Faris scoffed. “No one will follow you. And if any do, we’ll be glad to be rid of them. We need to stand united to build a strong community. Whereas, with the pair of you, and any who listen to you,” he squinted at Aakil, “bring nothing but chaos and destruction.”

  Shivers ran down her spine.

  He may think they’re acting in the people’s best interest, but he sounds a little too much like the State.

  “The people love Freya,” Aakil said. “She was the best Head of State in history. You may be surprised at how many people follow her.”

  Faris laughed dryly. “No one remembers her, or cares. She may as well have been a statue laying in that gestation chamber. Nothing more than a monument of our liberation. You’re both symbols of our past. Our people are most grateful for what the two of you accomplished, but we’ve moved on. Your migration will include nothing more than the team who were foolish enough to help you build the outposts.”

  Freya nodded. “Thank you, Advisor Faris. We’ll begin our preparations to migrate East.”

  On that note, she stood from the table. Colin and Aakil jumped to their feet, and the three of them silently exited the building. They parted ways from Aakil and then walked in silence until they reached their hut.

  Colin collapsed into a chair, resting his head in his hands. “You’ll be happy to know, we allow divorce here.”

  Freya took a seat. She gently reached out and placed a delicate hand on his arm. “We have both waited practically a lifetime to be together. It would be ridiculous to give up now.”

  He kept his gaze cast downward. “Don’t you hate me for ruining everything? Apparently I’m such a terrible leader, I messed it up for the both of us, even with your track record.”

  “Yes, you were a terrible King.” She nodded and leaned closer. “If you wanted to secure power, you should have let me wake up when I got here or never brought me through to begin with. That kind of decision is far too personal to ever fly in a political career. Its political suicide, actually.”

  Colin finally looked up at her. “Well, don’t hold back, Freya. Tell me how you really feel.”

  She relaxed into her seat. “You should already know how I really feel.”

  His shoulders slumped further. “Yeah, I guess some things never change. You were coupled with a babbling idiot.”

  “Colin.”

  “What? You told me right at the start you should have been paired with someone smarter, like a doctor or scientist—I better keep you away from Aakil. I don’t know how, as we’ll be taking a dangerous trek to an unknown land, possibly leading to our deaths, but—”

  “Colin.”

  “Oh crap, I’m babbling right now, aren’t I? Dammit.”

  “Colin,” she shifted into his line of sight. “You should know I never wanted to get involved in politics to begin with. All I’ve ever wanted to do is garden. Getting caught up in the rebellion, becoming the Head of State, I never would have chosen any of it. We’ll build a new home together. This community is amazing; it’s just the location that’s a
problem. You can do this again, and I will sow the land. It will be amazing and ours.”

  He ran his hand down his cheek, settling at his jaw. “So, you aren’t mad that your partner is such a loser?”

  Freya leaned forward, gently caressing his face. “No. I came to terms with that before I fell in love with you. I’ve moved past it.”

  He glared at her. “Oh, Freya, you’re hilarious. So funny!”

  She laughed, sitting back in her seat. “Colin, all kidding aside, in politics, doing the right thing usually loses the popular vote. You weren’t a good King, but you solved the puzzle these people won’t accept exists, and you planned accordingly. If I didn’t know you had paved the way for this journey we’re about to take, I wouldn’t feel confident asking anyone to go with us. Because of your outposts, I believe we will make it through the mountains safely.”

  Colin took a deep breath, struggling to keep his emotions in check. “Okay. What do we need to do to get ready for this?”