The Last Day of Freedom
By R.J. Vickers
()
About this ebook
Tristan Fairholm is an ordinary teenager who would give his own heart to save his brother.
Suddenly his life is turned upside down when an earthquake hits his sleepy town of Valley City, North Dakota. He panics, and makes a fatal decision that lands him in court. While stuck in limbo at Juvie, he is cut off from his family, tormented by bullies, and treated like a criminal. Worst of all, no one believes him.
After all, no one else felt the earthquake. Is he lying?
Or are darker forces at play?
The Last Day of Freedom is the first book in the young adult fantasy series, Natural Order.
R.J. Vickers
R.J. Vickers is a writer, chef, and world traveler who currently lives with her husband in New Zealand. When she isn't tucked away in a cafe with her laptop, you can find her hiking, kayaking, or baking sweets.
Read more from R.J. Vickers
The Fall of Lostport Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Natural Order Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Related to The Last Day of Freedom
Related ebooks
Healer's Magic: The Kala Trilogy, #1 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Starlight Chronicles: An Epic Fantasy Adventure Series: Collector Set #2, Books 5-7: The Starlight Chronicles Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsCourt of Crystal: The Relic Trilogy, #3 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Star of Time: The Star of Time Series Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Cin d'Rella and the Golden Apple: Circle of the Rose Chronicles, #2 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsCemetery Hill: Sunshine Walkingstick, #3 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsChambers: The Spirit Warrior: Chambers Series Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsTemple of Sand: The Relic Trilogy, #2 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe End of the Cities: Book Three Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsCriminal Behavior Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsFearless Little Werewolf: Little Werewolf Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Silent Places Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Lifeless: Lawless Saga, #2 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsShag Lake Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Gryphon Series Boxed Set: The Gryphon Series Boxed Set Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Missing Guest: A completely gripping psychological thriller from Diana Wilkinson for 2024 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Season of Risks: The Ethical Vampire Series, #3 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsWorks of Darkness: Matt Foley/Sara Bradford Series, #1 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Lives We Lost: The Fallen World, #2 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsLost And Found: September Day, #1 Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Weaver: The Morphid Chronicles, #3 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsCin 'd Rella and the Water of Life: Circle of the Rose Chronicles, #1 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsDwindle Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Aja Minor: Spider's Web (A Psychic Crime Thriller Series Book 4) Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsOutside the Cities: Book 2 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Pairings Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsWinter's Captive Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsWitch Hollow: Sunshine Walkingstick, #4 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsFinal Diagnosis: A Medical Thriller Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5Plague Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
YA Fantasy For You
Six of Crows Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Hobbit Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Crooked Kingdom: A Sequel to Six of Crows Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Shadow and Bone Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Giver: A Newbery Award Winner Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Caraval Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Once Upon a Broken Heart Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Red Queen Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Shatter Me Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Heartless Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5These Violent Delights Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Legendary: A Caraval Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Bloodmarked Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Ruin and Rising Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Selection Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Legendborn Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A Winter's Promise Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Finale: A Caraval Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Dance of Thieves Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5King of Scars Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Sorcery of Thorns Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Hero and the Crown Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Foul Lady Fortune Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A Wizard of Earthsea Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5We Hunt the Flame Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Bone Witch Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Rule of Wolves Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Two Towers: Being the Second Part of The Lord of the Rings Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Reviews for The Last Day of Freedom
0 ratings0 reviews
Book preview
The Last Day of Freedom - R.J. Vickers
The Last Day
of Freedom
A prequel to The Natural Order
R.J. VICKERS
Cover art by Amber Elizabeth Lamoreaux
Copyright © 2015 R.J. Vickers
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in reviews and certain other non-commercial uses permitted by copyright law.
www.RJVickers.com
For orders, please email: rjvickersauthor@gmail.com
This book is dedicated to Daniel, who has supported me every step along the way.
Want the inside scoop
on your favorite characters?
For a limited time only, you can check out their FREE secret prison profiles.
Click here to peek at the never-before-seen histories of these young miscreants!
Chapter 1
Marcus looked weary and dejected when Tristan met him after school.
What’s wrong?
Tristan asked, ruffling his brother’s floppy black hair. You’ll be fine. You’re strong.
Marcus shrugged and started doggedly along the path towards home.
Don’t you want to pick up a puzzle?
Tristan asked. He was trying his best to keep up a cheerful countenance, not allowing his tone to betray the fear that gnawed at his stomach.
Again Marcus shrugged.
Tristan waited until they had passed beyond the school fence and left the shouting kids behind before grabbing Marcus’s arm and shaking him gently. Something’s wrong. Are you going to tell me, or do I have to force you to?
Marcus nibbled on his lip, staring at the cracked concrete. What if it doesn’t work? What if I die?
You won’t!
Tristan realized he was almost shouting, and took a deep breath to calm himself. Dad doesn’t even know for sure if you need the transplant.
Tristan knew otherwise, but he hated the idea of Marcus going to the hospital with the thought he might never leave. Remember? That new doctor said they’d need to do another biopsy, just in case. That’s all you have to do. A stupid little biopsy.
That’s what he said last time.
Tristan put an arm around Marcus’s shoulders and gave him a rough sideways hug. Marcus ducked out of Tristan’s embrace and continued his disconsolate progress down the street. Tristan hated how small and frail Marcus looked. Two years ago, he could have passed as a regular kid. Now, though, he was visibly sick.
Tristan would have given Marcus his own heart if it made him well again.
When they passed the mall, Tristan dragged Marcus towards their favorite game shop. It had become a tradition of theirs to pick up a new puzzle every time Marcus was scheduled for another hospital visit—it was Tristan’s promise that he would stay inside and keep his brother company while he recovered, no matter how tempting the weather outside.
What do you want?
Tristan asked, eyeing a puzzle that looked like the blueprint of a futuristic flying machine.
I don’t care,
Marcus said.
Tristan punched him lightly in the arm. Lighten up! Are you going to make me do the puzzle by myself?
Eventually they decided on a historic map of the world, with South America squashed into an almost unrecognizable blob and Antarctica sprawling over nearly a third of the world’s surface. As they left the shop, Tristan crammed the puzzle into his backpack and gave Marcus a worried frown.
What’s got you so scared?
Some guys at school,
Marcus mumbled. They’re saying their teacher had a heart transplant and then just died. Right in front of the class!
Tristan shook his head. I never heard anything about a high school teacher dying. They’re just trying to mess with you.
He knew the kids who had picked on Marcus in the past—he wanted to pound their pimply faces to mush.
Hmph.
Marcus clearly did not trust Tristan’s conviction.
They were quiet the rest