Titans Run by Torrie Justice (books recommended by bts txt) 📖

The cement walls of my cell echoed my thoughts. Nothingness surrounded me and nothingness filled my mind. Solitary confinement was the best thing they could have done for me honestly. They told everyone I was crazy, too crazy to put in the woman's prison. They sent me to the local psychiatric hospital where I was deemed sane. So instead of putting me with the other rejects, they stuck me in here. At least I don't have to share a room with the men up stairs though. I have my own little room in the basement of Los Angelas Maximum Security Prison.
Banging awoke me from my day dream. Warden Craft swung my iron door open and was followed by a tall cold looking man.
“Charlotte Alexandra Marigold Gray?” the warden asked me. When I nodded he preceded in introducing the man, “This is Dr. Arnold Parson. He would like to speak to you.”
The warden was always vicious in a sly, manipulative way but even he looked inviting compared to this “doctor”.
“Hello Miss. Gray.” he greeted me in a chilling voice. He turned to the warden and nodded his head towards the door. The warden turned and left without question.
“I have a proposition for you.” Dr. Parson said.
“Hurry up. I have a schedule to keep up with.” I smirked
His face remained cold and passive.
“You have been chosen along with twenty-four women and twenty-five men to go on a pilgrimage to Titans Run.” he said.
“What the hell is Titans Run and why are you sending people there?” I inquired.
“Titans Run is a new colony formed by the US government to lower our population.”
“There are no other places to be colonized. They're all populated to their limits. I may be a felon but I'm not retarded.”
A corner of Dr. Parsons mouth turned up at this statement and I decided that I liked him better when he looked dead.
“Titans Run is in the past, the way past. It's before humans, before the ice age, and before anything except the necessities for a human to live. It's a paradise with a few dangers but nothing that cannot be avoided,” he began, “You have been paired with a man that has already agreed to go. If you agree, you will each get more information about the other."
"What about my...history?" I inquired
"You'll be the only one who knows it. You can reinvent yourself in an image you're proud of. You can have a great career as one of the first to make the pilgrimage! The next group would arrive and you and the others could lead the colony to prosperity."
"What if I say no?" I questioned
"Then you die."

I was brought to a place called Kingdoms House. It was a mansion out side of Las Vegas. Vegas used to be a beautiful place I heard, but after World War III began, most of the large cities ended up like this. The buildings had been ransacked and either burned down or used as crack houses. The roads had pot holes in them the size of watermelons and could get up to six inches deep.
When we finally arrived at the house, I was in shock. The huge home looked like the poverty and population build up hadn't touched it. The architecture was intricate and showed small signs of age but over all the home was amazing.
I slowly climbed out of the car, partly because of being in awe and partly because of my aching back. A pebble made its way through a hole in my shoe and I was bending over to shake it it out when a pair of immaculate Doc Martens appeared in my vision. I stood straight up when I recognized the doctors shoes.
"Good afternoon Miss. Gray. I hope your ride was enjoyable."
I mumbled an acceptable answer and let him lead me inside. The entrance was beautiful. There were intricate drawings on the walls of angels and demons. The whole thing was slightly overwhelming but I was forced forward by two 6' 5" guards that appeard virtually out of no where.

“When will I get the information about my mate.” I inquired.
“You should have asked on the way here. There isn't any point now. You'll be meeting him in a few minutes.”
I was lead into a small study off of the main hall. The walls were made of dark paneling except for one wall which was covered in books. The doctor silently walked to the corner of the room. I was pushed forward by the brawny men that were flanking me. I realized the doctor was feeling the wall in different places, pushing in some parts and leaving others be. I suddenly heard a sighing noise and then a low hissing. A small portion of wall on the other side of the room opened slowly. Doctor Parson shooed the guards and ushered me into the whiteness on the other side of the door. The cramped room abruptly shot down wards. It was only a few seconds but it was enough to make me want to pee myself. We stepped out of what I guess you could call an elevator into a large room that resembled a cafeteria. There were a group of people sat down at tables in the center of the room and large stage with a podium on it in front of the tables. There were more armed guards stationed at the edges of the room.
“You may pick a seat. I must go and address the pilgrims of your arrival.” Dr. Parson said turning to me.
“Why does it matter that I'm here? Can't you just send us to Titans Run since we're all here?” I asked skeptically.
He put a hand on my shoulder and sighed, “You are the key to this whole experiment. Life is about survival of the fittest. You and your mate have been found to be the fittest in the whole country. You have been chosen to lead the colony when you arrive in Titans Run.”
“W-what? I'm definitely not the fittest female in the country. I've seen women that could bench ten of me with one hand!”
“Survival of the fittest is not only based on strength. It is mainly based on the balance of your strength to your intelligence. After much observation and tests, you were the one female that can not only out run and stab one of our best decoys, but you can keep a calm mind in the face of danger or anything else that could drive a normal human crazy.
“You can figure out situations faster than most humans and can be defending yourself while doing it. You have the perfect attitude for a leader...or co-leader because of your mate being the fittest male.”
I remembered the “decoy” he was talking about. Three years ago, before I was...incarcerated, I had been walking down an ally. I was taking a short cut to the bridge I lived under with my best friend Danny. I had started noticing a man that was following me. He had a slight swagger that identified him as a Tomber, a group of thugs that had free reign ever since the apocalypse. I began to walk faster and I could hear him gaining on me. I broke out into a sprint. I had a little less than two miles till I got to the bridge. I knew I could do it if he didn't catch up.
I was just getting a good space between us when I stepped into one of the many pot holes and twisted my ankle. He came up behind me breathing heavy from the chase. He reached down to grab me and I pulled out the small dagger that I carried with me. I shot out my hand and before I knew it, the man fell over with a thud. Of course at that moment, one of the very few police officers pulled up. That was the beginning of my life as a convict/murderer.
Without another word, I walked over to an empty seat and sat down. Only me and a man sat there. He looked to be in his mid-thirties and had a very receding hair line. His hair was an ashy blond with a few gray hairs here and there. A goatee slightly hid his pale lips. He didn't meet my eyes but from what I could tell, they were a soft hazel. He was a little plump and over all, he looked nerdy. Hopefully this wasn't my mate.
My thought pattern was interrupted when Dr. Parson cleared his throat and began speaking.
“You have all been informed of why you are here. You all have been chosen for a higher purpose. You have been chosen to give the human species a second chance. You are the first of many that will make the permanent pilgrimage to Titans Run. You all shall lead the human species to redemption. Without you, we could become extinct.”
He stood there a moment to let his words sink in. I looked round at the faces in search of any reaction. Most of their faces told me that they had also been threatened with death and held this man at no regard.
“Every person on earth has been affected by the continuous catastrophes,” he continued, “and you have been given the chance at new life. Each of you has been given a mate based on your age, intelligence, and education. Your mate shall be with you for your whole life. There are no divorces in Titans Run. Any violence towards your mate or anyone else shall not be tolerated along with adultery. Leaders for the colony have also been chosen. They shall have complete authority over the colony and will lead with the intention of grooming and nurturing the colony and its people above all else. Your leaders are mates and shall be an example for you all and future Titans.”
I took a deep breath knowing that I shall meet my mate in a few moments. I hoped he was kind. Violence wasn't tolerated in Titans Run but did verbal abuse count as violence? I also secretly hoped that he was cute. It'd be a great bonus to have a good looking husband.
“Would the male leader come up to the stage to introduce yourself?” Dr. Parson said into the microphone.
I searched for someone to stand up, for someone to make the claim of leader. The room was dead silent as I realized that there was