Two little boys, so alike in image and so very different in temperament, curled up together in the small twin bed, sleeping soundly; dreaming of toys and the games they would play in the morning. Neither heard the sirens wailing in alarm or the tromp tromp tromp of the Guard performing a systematic grid search in the vain hope of catching the escaped prisoners before they got away.

Neither knew the danger about to befall them.

The old man heard. He knew something was happening and he prayed to the Founders that whatever was going on wasn't going to affect his oldest grandson, who worked in the Prison. He glanced over at the clock, straining his eyes in the darkness to see the time. Owen should be home now. Where was he?

Lifting himself up off the old, sagging couch, the grandfather ignored the way his bones shook and his joints creaked, and slowly shuffled over to the apartment window, peaking around one gray curtain to peer out onto the darkened street. The long shadows of men on patrol were barely visible in the thick blackness that was this night. They were searching for something; but for what the grandfather couldn't be sure. Who could say why the Guard did what they did?

One of the boys whimpered in his sleep and the old man let the curtain fall has he hobbled over to their bedside. Lightly rubbing the small boy's back, he soothed the restless child back to sleep, smiling slightly when he clung a bit tighter to his twin.

"Micah," he whispered softly as he carefully pushed a fall of white blond hair off the boy's brow. He looked over at the identical twin, smiling at the little gray toy car clutched in one small hand. "Lucah," he said with a light laugh. He could have sworn he'd taken the toy away before bed, but wasn't surprised the boy had managed to find the little car again. Lucah could be relentless when he wanted something.

He took after his good-for-nothing father in that way.

They were both so small, taking after his dearly departed daughter in size and form; and in sleep they looked so sweet, the usual mischief and teasing smiles missing, causing the boys to look like little cherubs. They were so much like their elder brother; smart and quick, with a ready smile and laugh for the old man who loved them like they were his entire world.

But that smile has been missing for a while now, he reminded himself, as he thought about the twins’ elder brother.

Looking over to the clock again, he tried to ignore the anxiety filling him. Owen should have been home almost ten minutes ago. It was so unlike him to be late. The grandfather prayed to the Founding Fathers that his grandson's delay wasn't caused by the drama going on in the streets.

Twenty minutes later he had nearly worked himself into a fit, the constant wails of sirens and the stomping of Guards setting his nerves into a frenzy, when he heard the sound of footsteps outside the door.

"Finally," he sighed in relief, making his way over from the window he'd been looking through to the door. He had walked about halfway there when the door suddenly burst open, the small implosion knocking him off his feet. He lay on the floor in a daze, as Guard after Guard rushed through the broken door, the sounds of their boots on the shards of metal grating loudly, searing into his memory for all time. The distant sound of children screaming pulled him back from the fog he'd fallen in to, and suddenly he realized it wasn't his mind that was foggy, the room began to fill with a white, cloying mist.

Gas, his hazy mind informed him, and the grandfather tried in vain to get a breath into his straining lungs. But the action only served to let more of the toxic fumes into his body, and he was too frail to handle the poison filling him.

"Where are the prisoners?" Someone asked from close by, but the grandfather couldn't answer. Looking toward the voice, he saw a gas mask covered face peeking through the gray cloud surrounding him. The image came from his most hidden nightmares and something he was sure none of them would ever forget. He strained his ears for more sounds from the boys, but the room was eerily quiet.

The twins? he thought, even as his body began to seize and his internal organs started to shut down. Why aren't they crying? Where are the twins? Owen?

"Where is your grandson, Owen Sanders?" Another voice asked.

The grandfather opened his mouth to respond, but nothing came out but a croak.

"Forget it," a voice replied, and a new masked Guard filled his vision, a pen light shining into his sensitive eyes. "They're not here. The old man doesn't know anything." A gloved finger pressed against his throat, and the grandfather could actually feel his slowing pulse, as he felt sure the Guard could. "He's a goner. Body can't handle the gas."

"What about the kids?" Someone asked, and the grandfather wanted to plead with them to spare his grandchildren, if only he could find the breath. "They've gotten a good dose of the gas too."

"Put a mask on them, and take them to the Orphanage. Let them deal with the kids if they die." The masked Guard he could see replied.

The masked Guards stood up, and the grandfather could only watch in horror as his two grandchildren's limp bodies, little faces covered in large black masks, were carried out of the room and out through the broken front door. One of the Guards stopped at the broken metal door, and sealed the doorway with a plastic covering, preventing any more gas from escaping the apartment and into the other residences.

The old grandfather was left there, lying on the floor, body slowly succumbing to the toxic gas infecting his bloodstream and raced through his body.

As his eyes closed, feeling too heavy to keep open, the old grandfather said a final prayer, even as his lungs stuttered and finally stopped working.

Holy Founders, who created the City with such care and love, please watch over my grandsons. Keep them safe, and let their brother find them before it is too late. Please watch over them all.

The old man's heart slowed. Bu-bump...bu-bump... bu...bump...bu...

He died there on the floor, alone, another victim of the City's cruel punishments.

Oh Owen, where are you?

Review Companies

Fallen Angel Reviews

5 Angels + Recommended Read The Beast's Promise by Amylea Lyn is the second book in the Outside the City series. Owen was taken from The City when two people, Ash and Raine, escaped le... (full review)

MR Review
Rating:
Reviewer: AlexJouJou
Review:

The Beast's Promise is the second in the Outside the City series. The main characters, Owen and Maltok, were introduced in the first book. Owen was a computer specialist in the City when Ash and Raine stumbled upon him while trying to escape the jail. After forcing Owen to help them they couldn't leave him to be found by the City guards so they kidnap him and take him with them as they flee the City. The City is enclosed in a giant dome that both protects its inhabitants and blocks them from leaving. Inside the City there is no nature, everything is a dull, drab green. When Owen is taken outside with Ash and Raine he learns everything he knew is a lie, that the outside is not harmful and frightening. This second book begins where the first left off: with Owen agonizing over the twin brothers he left behind in the City. He knows he needs to go back to them but he is conflicted as Maltok, Ash's brother, is his mate. Both men are not sure how to handle their burgeoning love and some miscommunication while deciding they needed to go to the City means they both end up fairly miserable as they set out to rescue the twins. 

Once in the City they uncover what happened to the twins and find a situation that is abhorrent and heart wrenching. Escaping to the outside, they are met with challenge after challenge as life and death hang in the balance. In between the knowledge the City will definitely try to seek revenge and the issues they face they do indeed find their love and are able to mate. When the dreaded day comes though will everyone remain standing at the end of the battle?

A fantastically drawn world centers this truly unique story. There is a great amount of world building that does not overwhelm but rather supports your understanding of how that world operates. The dialogue is solid and you really get to know Owen and Maltok quite well as you read about their journey to happiness. I really enjoyed the way the ebb and flow of the story moved so you have opportunity to understand motivations and put together thoughts without any need for information dumping. Threads begun in the first book are carried through here and other story possibilities are hinted at with the reader getting glimpses of where things are going. 

The romance is, at times, a bit flowery but it never feels out of place. A true feel good story The Beast's Promise is a very satisfying second to a great series. I'm anxious to figure out which couple is going to be featured in the next one!

 

 

 

 

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