Christina Enquist is a YA author and aspiring bookstore owner. She lives with her boyfriend and several pets in Visalia, Ca.
Would you sacrifice your humanity to save mankind?
IT’S THE YEAR 2828, and Domus is the last remaining country. Divided into twelve walled cities known as genuses, Domus spans what’s known as the purist lands—lands unaffected by the genetic modifications that killed all other species of mammals. But outside the walls of each genus the Immundus threaten the welfare of those within. From a young age, all citizens of Domus are trained for combat against these intruders.
At sixteen, Nia Luna knows little of the Immundus, except for the citywide alarms that ring any time an Immundus nears the genus walls. What she does know is that her own species is dying—their numbers dwindling as a mysterious disease called allagine kills many before their eleventh birthday. The same disease that ravaged her family when it took her sister.
When Nia is recruited into Genesis, a research company pioneering the path to a cure, she knows that her dream to find a cure for allagine is finally within her grasp. But within weeks of starting at Genesis, Nia witnesses something she shouldn’t have—something that changes everything. As she sets down a dangerous path that uncovers national secrets, Nia will have to decide not only what kind of person she wants to be but also how far she’s willing to go to save humanity.
Snippet:
Just outside the door, a
gray-haired but young-looking man, is speaking with Dr. Matus. Derek is by her
side.
“Nia.” She puts her hand
out to stop me from passing her. “This is Mr. Dyer. He would like to speak to
you and Derek for a moment.”
“About?”
“A problem you may have
experienced with an elevator this morning.”
“No problem,” Derek
responds. “We made it to the lab on time. Didn’t we, Dr. Matus?”
“Yes, they did.” She
shoots a concerned look at Mr. Dyer.
“I understand you went to
the ostrich floor.”
“No. A man who was in the
elevator went there. We were headed here,” I say.
“Nevertheless, I must
take you to administration for further questioning.”
“Why can’t you ask them
here?” Dr. Matus asks, her tone thick with confusion.
“That is beyond your
level.”
She stabs him with a look
of disdain. He walks us through the lab to the elevator. All eyes are on us.
On the administration
floor, we’re directed to a room at the end of the hall, where the light appears
dimmer than the light on the other end. The room is bare, with white walls and
a table with chairs in the center.
“What did you hear and
see on the ostrich floor?”
“Nothing.” The word
bursts from Derek’s and my mouth simultaneously.
“Don’t lie to me.” His words
were razor sharp, cutting into my conscience. “I have video.” The room begins
to feel more like a cell.
“Then why are you even
asking us?” Derek says. “You saw whatever we saw. Why are you questioning us
like this?”
“I want to hear from you
what you think you saw and heard.”
“I told you. Nothing. I
don’t know what I saw or heard,” I say.
His eyes are deep and
dark, shaped like pumpkin seeds, but with a
narrow lid.
“Tell me what you saw
now!”
“We saw the man. He
pressed the ostrich button and scanned his hand and arm. He got out on the
floor. We heard a scream. There was a flash of color. That’s it. You know what
we saw, and it was nothing, and we did nothing. Why are we here?! Tell us!”
Derek explodes before snapping his mouth shut, breathing heavily through his
nose.
Sweat forms in a single
thin layer on my hands. “Are we in trouble?”
“Depends.”
“On what?” Derek asks.
“On whether you’re both
true—” The media light on Mr. Dyer’s
temple flashes. “I need to take this call.” He
steps outside and shuts the glass door. My father’s hologram appears. Derek and
I watch the interaction. I’m unable to hear the conversation, but I catch one
word—Immundus. Mr. Dyer notices we can see him and touches the door, changing
it from see-through to white.
“He’s getting chewed out.
I wonder who that is.”
“My father,” I admit.
“What floor does he work
on?”
“I don’t know. I don’t
know anything.”
“Well, he looks like he
has more authority than Mr. Dyer. Maybe he’ll get us out of here.” Derek and I
wait impatiently for Mr. Dyer to return.
He walks in, chagrinned,
holding the door open. “You’re free to go.” He sends Derek a devious smirk.
“For now.”
