The Aquarium

by Emily Shore

  “Finally, the Temple will be expanding its hotel districts and family tourist attraction levels. These will provide more revenue that do not include exploitation. Interactive theaters, amusement parks, and all manner of family oriented attractions.” The hotels will have more security and trained staff to mandatory report any exploitative interactions.

  My final act is to show them my digital signature as I sign each document of paperwork in the air before their eyes. “Later today, I will officiate this with a press release. Over the next month, these changes will be enforced. Our next meeting will take place in one month. The subject of the Centre will be discussed.”

  The Temple was enough of a lightning bolt today. Baby steps. Giant baby steps. Dr. Moby will be a valuable asset in helping me repurpose the Centre. I couldn’t just shut down everything, release girls, and send them to the Sanctuary. No place could handle the influx of thousands. Most don’t have families to return to. Others would be fodder for the Glass District. Our world is broken. But Luc and Bliss showed me that redemption can happen in this environment. That we can pick up the pieces and fuse them back together. There will always be cracks, scars, but it’s worth it.

  After it all, Tristan lingers. Only once the others are gone does he crow, “Ow, ow, milady princess.” I nod, thanking him for the roundabout compliment. “And that gown! If you wear that to your press conference, every designer in the world will try to replicate it.”

  “So Neil told me.” I glide my fingers across the dress infused with digital lightning but the kind that responds to my motion. Much like static electricity. “It’s actually an old design of Lindy’s. My way of memorializing her work.”

  “How is he doing?”

  “He’s…coping. Giving him a job helped,” I explain, referring to how I’ve titled Neil as official Temple graphicker. His sprite lights and images of the brand-new Temple will be featured on the website as well as in outlets all over the world thanks to his connections. Lindy’s designs will also be featured for some of the new exhibits. “And in his off hours, I plan to use him as an on-call babysitter.”

  Along with Blackbird since I managed to convince her to come to the Penthouse. The other familiar figures I want our children to connect with more as they grow. Here, we have too much room, too much space for just our small family. By the time Mom arrives, it will be better.

  “Let me know if you ever need a third,” Tristan says with a wink.

  “Really?” Surprised, I raise my brows, but Tristan shrugs.

  “Little tykes started to grow on me. In fact, you should receive a little housewarming present when you’re finished here. It’s the latest in toddler technology, and I assure you it’s completely tested and safe.”

  “Do I want to know?”

  Grinning, Tristan nudges his ponytail back from his shoulder. “Let’s find out together, shall we?”

  * * *

  Flying toddlers. That’s a new one.

  “For the superhero in every child, these innovative flight suits have been dummy-tested and approved by the Board of Pediatrics.” Tristan sounds like an advertisement as he rattles off the description just before Kerrie floats toward him. “Each suit has built-in sensors to detect for any obstructions and to change directions when necessary.” Verity flies toward the window, and I watch the suit in action as it careens her to the left and around instead. Ebony will get such a kick out of this when she arrives. “For indoor usage only. Certain to provide a safe and fun thrill for your growing child.”

  I consider all the other growing children. How the world will wait in hushed breath for them and their advanced genetics. Already, their advanced genes have caused their bodies and minds to grow at an accelerated rate. Their behavioral learning will far surpass Verity and Kerrie’s, especially with guided technology and hundreds of neuroscientists monitoring them. They will reach fruition in the next five years. But they will always be babies to me.

  Tristan blows out a breath when he’s finished rambling on about the flying suits. I roll my eyes at Sky, who shrugs from the corner of the room since he decided to put Verity and Kerrie in the suits before I got back. Walking into the main Penthouse room and having my child fly right into my arms would have made a lesser mother’s heart stop.

  “I have the perfect job for you, Tristan.” He’s still chuckling and holding his arms when I finish, “You get to catch them!” I squeeze his cheek right before hastening to Sky.

  “Now, hold on,” Tristan protests, calling out after us as I yank on Sky’s collar, urging him toward the staircase that leads up to our bedroom. That will keep Tristan and the twins busy for a little while. Mom should be getting here in the next fifteen minutes anyway.

  * * *

  At least the decorators have finished removing all traces of the Unicorn and the Swan in the Penthouse as well as dismantling the Breakable room. On our way up the staircase, I smile at the moving sprite lights of Bliss and Luc from the past. In the bedroom are more, but of Sky, the twins, and me, including some of our favorite memories from the Sanctuary whether splashing in the shoreline waves, hunting for shells, or building sand castles. We will make more here.

  I’m keeping the tanks, the waterfall, and the rooftop pool. I won’t let the Aquarium chase away my love of the water. Bubbles showed me how it can still help with healing. It’s something I choose to believe.

  “Check out the new feature I had installed earlier today,” I tell Sky just before surprising him with clicking the button on the wall so the floor collapses to reveal the pool and separated jacuzzi tub.

  Sky grins and cups my chin, raising my face just as he lowers his, “I’m proud of you. For everything. You know that, right?”

  “Mmm.”

  “And I love you.”

  In the middle of it all, Sky’s hands float up to house both sides of my face, eyes scouring mine, the mahogany like dark earth welled deep to sea water housing emeralds. “You and you alone hold my heart, Serenity,” he repeats the familiar words. Words he once spoke to me in another dark place. “You are my one everything. My one choice. My one love. My one bride. I promise to be your rocks and thunder.” My lungs cage my breath when he recites our wedding vows.

  “I promise to be your water and lightning,” I say, my voice cracking like used sandpaper through it all.

  “I will never love any girl in the world more than I love you, Ser.”

  “I will never want to be loved more by any other man than you, Sky,” I respond, and the bed becomes our shore, the sheets the lapping of the lake water where we first became one.

  There will always be the Temple, the Aquarium, the Garden, the Aviary…all the cages that are my past. The Temple will be a part of my future but only a part. I am uncaged. But there are other cages with doors in need of opening. And for once in its entire sordid history, the Temple will be the key.

  Sky is mine.

  Verity is mine.

  Kerrie is mine.

  If there is ever the urge to fly near the gilded cage again, I will always know where to find freedom.

  And they are better than swan wings.

  The End

  The Uncaged Series Playlist

  Serenity’s Songs:

  Monster – Skillet

  Skyscraper – Demi Lovato

  Speechless – Naomi Scott.

  Dark Horse – Katy Perry

  Love The Way You Lie – Skylar Grey

  Love Me Like You Do – Ellie Goulding

  Say You Love Me – Jessie Ware

  I Fell In Love With the Devil – Avril Lavigne

  Bad Blood – Taylor Swift

  Thompson Square – Glass

  Flashlight – Jessie J.

  Naturally – Selena Gomez

  * * *

  Skylar’s Songs:

  Desert Lands – Trading Yesterday

  She is the Sunlight – Trading Yesterday

  Beautiful – Trading Yesterday

  Gallery – Mario Vasquez

 
; Pieces – Red

  Mr. Brightside – The Killers

  Love Like Woe – The Ready Set

  * * *

  Luc’s Songs:

  Love The Way You Lie – Rhianna and Eminem

  Sweet Dreams – Emily Browning version

  Total Eclipse of the Heart – Bonnie Tyler (Glee Cover)

  Battlefield – Jordin Sparks

  Miserable at Best – Mayday Parade

  Come Little Children – James Horner/Brock Walsh

  * * *

  Bliss’ Songs:

  Only Human – Kristina Perri

  Skillet – The Last Night

  Zedd – Clarity

  Disney’s Let It Go – Connor Engstrom Cover

  See You Again – Whiz Khalifa ft. Charlie Puth

  Hymn for the Missing – Red

  * * *

  Emily’s Personal Playlist (for all books)

  Go The Distance – Voctave and Peter Hollins covers

  The Climb – Miley Cyrus

  A Million Dreams – The Greatest Showman

  Hero – Superchick

  Acknowledgments

  At the culmination of this book series, there is never enough room for all those I would have to thank. As always, the CTP team. I’ve loved taking this journey with you and hope The Uncaged Series will be a slow steady flame long into the night. Time for me to light new torches. Thank you for giving my anti trafficking book a home from which to shine.

  Thank you to my street team. It’s been a rough crazy year full of roller coaster highs and lows. So, thank you for checking in with my rare posts and my buzzing messages reminding you I’m still alive when I have new book covers to share. Thank you, Andi and Nicci for binge reading and for Nicci especially with serving as my assistant and promoting my books and being my cheerleader! You are a sweet special gift.

  Special thanks to all those who have listened when I get up on my anti trafficking soapbox. Expect more as I’ve begun a new anti-trafficking fantasy dystopia!

  I could list off a dozen organizations where I’ve learned from over the years and who have impacted me and trained me. But I’ve chosen to save a last thank you for the most prominent three: Women At Risk, International - though you are far, you feel like home and I will always champion all you WARriors as we fight the battle. Exodus Cry for taking on the head of the snake ― the commercialized sex industry and for Helen Taylor and the story of the coliseum and the three paths but how we love each one of them. Beautiful and Loved ― for more precious than rubies, for showing me first the Jesus lens we must look through to see her true identity. You’re in my heart and prayers even when I can’t come to the pack n prays.

  Always a big thank you to my biggest earthly support system, my husband, Kevin. Thank you for Germany without which this book wouldn’t be possible. Thank you for walking this journey with me the most.

  And to God for tilling the soil through the film Amazing Grace and planting the seed in Germany, for leading me to the right people and places, and for gifting us two girls to further my passion. Thank you for the constant inspiration and that you won’t let me rest because you know I am strong and capable and your grace is sufficient for me. Carry me through, equip me onward, complete the good work you’ve started to the end. And please heal my carpal tunnel!

  About the Author

  Emily Shore is a MN author with a B.A. in Creative Writing from Metro State University and was a grand prize winner of #PitchtoPublication, which led her to working with publishing professionals. Her novellas Ruby in the Rough and Ruby in the Ruins are her first indie-published anti trafficking works. She is signed with Clean Teen Publishing for her anti-trafficking dystopian The Aviary. For every book sold, a personal donation will return to trafficking rescue.

  Throughout the years, she has connected with rescue organizations, activists, and trafficking survivors and injects truths she's learned into her books for youth. She loves motivational speaking on the issue of sex-trafficking and was recently featured at the 2018 MLA and MEA. Please contact her through her website if you would like her to speak at your local school, library, or church. In her spare time, she loves attending any abolition events, baking, painting, and spending time with all the girls in her life.

  Emily lives in Saint Paul with her husband and two daughters. They are in the process of adopting a little girl from India.

  Discussion Questions

  Consider Tristan’s perspective and how he could never conform to the reality of a world where men are expected to be dominant over the opposite sex. Contrast him with Neil, who is also not considered dominant. Contrast with Skylar who seems dominant on the outside, but he chooses to different path.

  Tristan mentions how the rape rate is 9.6/10 for females. From what CDC sources reveal, the US’s current numbers reflect 1/6 women have experienced an attempted or completed rape in their lifetime. Discuss the consequences and how those numbers can increase in a rape culture.

  Serenity reflects on how she can understand why some women shut down because it’s their only method of control. This is backed up by rape survivor testimonies. Consider how this knowledge can influence beliefs regarding rape. Does it change your mindset?

  Even Serenity is flawed and battles voices in her head regarding Wylder’s rape. Discuss the fact that rape is the most underreported crime in the USA. Consider Lindy’s frame of mind after everything that happened to her. Discuss how culture and community influence women in regard to their rapes. How does trauma from the act also impact a woman? How can we change these voices to support victims instead of silencing them?

  Serenity’s experience with Yang is an extreme example of dissociative identity disorder. This is only one of countless possibilities of coping mechanisms. Research DID and other forms of dissociation. How do these impact the brain and behavior?

  Discuss Serenity’s quote about a sink or swim world and how people survive by following the current instead of swimming against it. Consider how this begins even in childhood and how nurture plays a significant role in how children are shaped. Discuss some examples: abuse, sexual objectification, poverty, racism, violence, etc.

  What did you think of Serenity’s choice in the end of the book? Discuss her last words and how she’s embraced her new life, her own legacy and declaring that she is uncaged? How has she changed over the course of the series and especially this new book?

  Thank you for reading The Aquarium; I hope you enjoyed my book!

  Want to be the first to know when I release new books? Here are some ways to stay updated:

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  If you loved The Aquarium, please tell your friends about my book and consider leaving a review. Reviews are like potato chips; you can't ever have enough of them. Thanks for reading my book!" ~Emily Shore

  Recources

  Rachel Moran: Paid For: My Journey Through Prostitution:

  My Book

  * * *

  Exodus Cry’s Documentaries: Nefarious: Merchant of Souls and Liberated: The New Sexual Revolution (Available on Netflix):

  https://exoduscry.com/tag/documentary/

  * * *

  A Call to Men:

  http://www.acalltomen.org/about-us/our-leadership

  * * *

  Nita Belles: In Our Backyard:

  http://inourbackyard.org/media-publications/

  * * *

  National Center on Sexual Exploitation:

  https://endsexualexploitation.org/videos/

  * * *

  Rebecca Bender:

  https://rebeccabender.org/

  * * *

  Women At Risk, International:

  https://warinternational.org/

  * * *

  Shared Hope International:

  https://sharedhope.org/

  For Minnesota:

  Beautiful and Loved:


  https://beautifulandloved.com/

  * * *

  Rebecca Kotz:

  http://www.rebeccakotz.com/

  * * *

  Breaking Free:

  http://www.breakingfree.net/

  * * *

  Terebinth Refuge:

  https://www.terebinthrefuge.org/

  * * *

  Don’t Buy It Project:

  https://www.dontbuyitproject.org/

  * * *

  Women’s Foundation of Minnesota:

  https://www.wfmn.org/mn-girls-are-not-for-sale/

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