by K. A Knight
Contents
Author Note
Rules Of Paradise
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Epilogue
Author Note Continued
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Also By K.A Knight
Rage Chapter One
The Forgotten
(Their Champion Companion Novel)
This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to places, events or real people are entirely coincidental.
Written by K.A. Knight
Copyright © 2019 K.A. Knight, all rights reserved
Edited By Jess from Elemental Editing and Proofreading & Kaila Duff
Formatted by Kaila Duff of Duffette Literary Services
For Jess and Kaila, the magic behind my words.
Please be aware that this book contains scenes that some may find triggering.
If you have any concerns, please skip to the last page of the book, where I’ve given a more specific warning that does contain come spoilers.
ALL MUST WORK
ALL MUST CONTRIBUTE
IF YOU LEAVE, YOU MAY NEVER COME BACK
PARADISE IS THE NEW WORLD, TO QUESTION THAT IS TO QUESTION THE LAW.
With a mischievous grin, I spin away from the incoming guards and into the med bay. I should be in class, but I hate water systems. Learning it is so boring. So, I snuck out to meet Evan. Looking around his usual place of hiding, my grin stretches when I spot him bent over reading some boring medical book. For as long as we have been friends, he has been trying to convince me to join him in medicine, but it has never appealed to me, being locked away down here and depended on so much. I dream of bigger things, things he tells me to keep quiet. The type of things that make him roll his eyes and get that look on his face that reminds me of the age gap between us. Three years isn’t a lot, but down here it probably feels like a lifetime.
He is so structured and ruled, liking his own peace and quiet and the boringness of every day. Whereas I am the total opposite, he tells me I have my head in the clouds dreaming of a world that doesn’t exist, but how can he not want to know what’s outside? To see for himself, explore. The world might have died, but I am betting the human race survived, it’s just who we are. I asked him once why he hung around me if he thought my dreams were stupid, he told me my hope was the light in the grey. I never asked again.
Rolling my eyes when he doesn’t even turn around to see who it is, I decide to sneak up on him. That’s the one thing I have going for me, I am quiet when I need to be, a trait hard earned from sneaking around down here. When I am close enough to smell his mint body wash, I lean down close to his ear. “Boo!”
He jumps, fumbling with his book and letting out a girly scream that sends me into hysterics. Falling back to lean on the medical bed I watch him through tear filled eyes. He turns to me, his short messy brown hair moving with him as his emerald green eyes lock on mine with anger. “Damn it Pip, you scared the shit out of me!”
Groaning at the nickname, I hop up on the bed and stare at him with my innocent smile. It makes him grunt as he bends down to pick up the book, which has to be thicker than both of his arms put together and that is saying something because Evan is shredded. I don’t know why, it’s not like he has to fight or go on patrol, but he likes to keep fit.
His wide muscly arms are covered in half-finished tribal sleeves, the ink extending up his arms, across his chest, and around his neck. His eyebrow piercing glints in the light and I freeze when I spot the new addition to his lip. He has his usual black army boots on, tucked into black cargo pants, his white t-shirt sticks to his chest and I have to wipe my mouth to check for drool. Not that he would notice, I don’t think he even knows I am a girl.
Evan and I grew up in the same section of Paradise, the orphanage, which was basically a forgotten room cleared for him and me. My parents were patrollers who were killed out there, something that was explained to me in excruciating detail to try and squish the longing to see the outside world growing in my chest. Evan’s mum and dad left Paradise so long ago I can barely remember them, they told him they would carve out a better life for him out there. That it was wrong living down here, just surviving, they wanted to live.
So, they left, faced the Wastes even though they knew they might never come back. All he has left of them is the rose tattoos covering the back of each hand, a promise that they will come back for him. They never did. I guess our screwed up past made us fast friends. I was new to the orphanage section, which was basically a massive room with beds shoved so close together you can almost touch. Only one bathroom is attached. A place to leave the kids that don’t matter, but Evan sure proved them wrong. I knew he would. Ever since he was young, he wanted to be a doctor, to help people. I never understood why, it’s not like he’s a people person, but all he would say is that he did it for the people he loved, whatever that meant. Anyway, we have been inseparable ever since. However, as we grew up my feelings for him turned deeper, and I started noticing things a best friend shouldn’t. But to him, I will always be Pip, the little girl he used to sing and cuddle to sleep when she cried for her dead parents. Shaking my head and the depressing thoughts away I point at his lip.
“New?”
He dusts off the book before setting it gently down on the workstation behind him and swivelling to face me. “Yeah, I was bored last night and decided to see if I could.”
I giggle at that, I asked him to pierce my ears once and I have never seen such outrage in somebody’s eyes before he snatched away his gun and walked away like Misty was chasing him.
Swinging my legs back and forth on the bed I look at the floor. My long brown hair falls into my face and with a puff, I blow it away. Freezing, I hold my breath as a tattooed hand appears in front of my face. With the utmost care, Evan brushes away my hair and puts it behind my ear, smiling at me softly. I return it as his hand lingers against my cheek. Gulping, I beg myself not to lean into his touch. His green eyes change and my heart stutters as I see desire burning in them, but as quick as it came, it disappears, and he drops his hand and turns away like I am diseased. He has been doing that a lot lately.
Gritting my teeth, I twist my mum’s wedding ring on my finger nervously. “So, what we doing today, Doc? Dissecting cannibals, stitching patrols who shot themselves in the foot?”
Without looking at me he turns on his computer and wiggles the mouse. “Nope, you are going to class.”
Groaning, I fall back dramatically on the bed and stare at the boring white ceiling, just like every other ceiling down here. “C’mon Evvie, don’t be so boring. I only have three months left and we both know I am not going into the water systems engineering.” I shiver at the last, seriously? Who would pick cleaning out shit as their job for the rest of their lives?
“Exactly Piper, so stop being such a brat and just go to your classes and stop bugging me at work,” he snaps, and I sit bolt upright glaring at his hunched form. Brat? Bugging? Ugh, Mr. Mardy is obviously in one of his lovely moods today.
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Hopping down from the bed I throw a glare at him, which can I just say is lost on him...it was a good glare too. All narrowed eyed with deep intensity, boy would have shitted a brick but sadly he remains staring intently at his scans ignoring my strop. “Sorry for bothering you with my bratty ways, your dickness,” I say before turning to leave.
“Dickness, really?” he calls, and I glance over my shoulder to see he hasn’t even looked away from the screen, even if I can hear the smile in his voice. What a cum bucket.
“Yep, it’s like your highness cause you are super stuck up, but also a dick. So dickness, maybe you should get that tattooed on you next,” I fume, spinning around again.
“Where are you going, Pip?” he asks and I don’t stop this time, unwilling to let him see the hurt in my expression. He has been pushing me away more and more, and it doesn’t get any easier.
“To hang out with someone who actually appreciates me and doesn’t treat me like I am shit on the bottom of his shoe.” Stomping out the door I hear him swear as he tries to come after me, it makes me smile a little. We can never stay mad at each other for long, and sometimes it takes me spelling it out for him to realise what he has done.
“Come on, Pip. I didn’t mean—oh hello, General Kertol.” I spin and see the Paradise guard’s general standing with his arms behind his back and an expectant expression on his face, which is swinging between me and Evan before he ignores me completely and turns to face Evan.
“Doctor Sencal, we need your assistance.”
“Of course, General. I will be right there,” Evan says smoothly.
With a nod the general walks away, not even uttering a hello to me. I flip him the bird with both hands, immature, but it makes me feel better. I look at Evan to see him glaring at me even as his lips twitch.
“We can carry on this argument later, Pip.”
Huffing, I turn around. “Sure, whatever you say, your royal dickness.”
Happy I got the last word, I flounce away in search of something fun to do, screw Evan and his attitude. I can’t keep letting him get to me, and one of these days he will push too hard or say something he can’t take back.
I groan as Todd fumbles against my chest, his clumsy hands looking for my breasts as he kisses me without breathing. Okay, so he’s not the best kisser, or the smartest semen in the stream, but he sure is good looking and he does take my mind off Evan for a little bit. Plus, he sure can wear that guard uniform. Turning my head to the side, I roll my eyes as he pants into my neck and moans like a porn star. Really dude, I haven’t even touched his junk and he sounds like he is going to explode like a shaken can of coke.
Looking around him while he fondles my breast and dry humps me like a dog on speed, I soon get bored. The room we are in is—you guessed it—all white! Gasp! It was probably a water storage plant at one point, but they never use it anymore and all the teenagers sneak down here to hang out. I am regretting that decision as Todd, the numbnuts of Paradise, dribbles down my neck. Okay, time to go.
“Todd, I have a meeting with my selection advisor,” I say and push him away. He groans and moves back, looking disappointed.
“Fine, you want to meet later?” he asks hopefully, cupping his crotch as if I couldn’t understand the implication.
“We’ll see.” Reaching down I grab my jacket and leave before he can corner me.
Sauntering to the classroom where I am supposed to meet the uptight adviser, I just turn a corner when I freeze in shock. My heart stops and I feel like I might faint. They don’t notice me, too busy feeling each other up in the corridor, but I can see from the tattooed hands and arms who it is. Evan and some skank. He leans his head back against the wall and stops her with one hand, but I have seen enough. Spinning so they don’t see me, I flee as the tears start to fall. It’s stupid and only makes me angrier at myself. I mean I was just doing the same thing, but Evan doesn’t fuck around. Never has, hell I’ve never even seen him with a woman. Something about him always being too busy. He must care about her. The thought stops me, and I lean against the wall before sliding down to sit on my arse. All my hopes and stupid dreams of him finally noticing me and giving us a go evaporate. God, I am so stupid. Of course, he would never notice me.
I sit there for a while, throwing myself a pity party before I wipe my eyes and drag myself to my feet. Fuck him, I have survived a lot in this bloody life, I can survive losing him too.
The thought drives me, but it also makes me realise I have been waiting. Just lingering like I knew something was coming, tugging on his doctor’s coat the whole time like a child with a comfort blanket. Never making a real decision for myself. Well fuck that, it’s time I decided how I imagine my future. I just hope I can be grown up enough to keep him in it, just as a friend.
I manage to avoid Evan for two days. It feels strange, usually we spend every waking minute together, but I need to get my own emotions in check before I do. I know I have projected my feelings onto him, and it’s not fair he pays the price. He never gave me any indication he thought of me romantically, and I know right now he will be upset wondering what he did, but I need to be selfish for a moment before I can let him in again and even then, we need to make some boundaries so this never happens again. I spend those two days staying busy, and I meet with my adviser and go through all my options. It wasn't until he was outlining what a patrol career would entail that I knew what I wanted. It gives me everything, the chance to see outside and still come back safe, while experiencing adventure and life outside of the bunker. It also allows me some time away from Evan, where I can just be me. I know it’s the right path for me, it sends my heart into overdrive and for the first time in a long time, I am excited about something.
My advisor scoffed and told me women don't become guards or do patrols, but I will prove him wrong. I have been coasting through classes, just learning enough to pass, but I know once I set my mind to something, nothing will stand in my way, because what I don't have in talent, I make up for in stubbornness.
I leave the advisor meeting with a new hop in my step and steel running down my spine. I have a month to prove I will make a good patrol, or I get placed into whatever role they think will best serve the community. I can’t let that happen. I know I would wither and die, dramatic but true. I am a dreamer, a believer, and doing the same boring meaningless job every day will kill something inside of me.
That's why I go straight to the guard’s section of the bunker and wait for Todd to finish his training class. Leaning against the wall, I spend my time checking out the guard’s asses as they walk past.
“Piper?” comes a hesitant voice. Looking up from the peachy rear I am checking out, I smile at Todd. He is standing in the open doorway to the gym with a towel raised to his sweaty face.
“Hey.” Wow, lame. He raises his eyebrow and steps away from the door, raising the towel and wiping his face before putting it back around his neck.
“You okay?” he asks worriedly. It makes me feel horrible, maybe I have been too harsh on him. He has always been nice to me, and so what if he isn't the brightest, he works hard and actually has the time of day for people. I can see the worry dancing in his eyes and it only serves to make me feel worse.
“Yeah, I’m fine.” Blowing out a breath I hold out my hand. “Can we start again? Hi, I’m Piper. I can be a stone-cold bitch, I love coffee and watching the night sky.”
He hesitates, but a slow grin forms on his handsome face. “Hi Piper, nice to meet you. I’m Todd, I like music and women who know what they want.”
We share a grin and he step closer to me, and I feel my heartbeat speed up. “Can we go somewhere to talk?” I ask and he nods, looking around and spotting the other guards lingering and watching us.
“Come on, I know the perfect place.” I smile and we walk side by side. It’s nice, and it feels good, like I am letting someone else in. We might never be best friends, but I know he will help me if I need it.
“So, you want me to train yo
u in self-defence and what to expect outside?” Todd asks for the fourth time, and I have to hold myself back from hitting my own head against the wall. Dude might be nice, but he can be stupid.
“Yes…please,” I grit out and remind myself of my promise to be nicer.
Todd sighs and slumps on the chair opposite me. He dragged me to his room and jumped in the shower. I am betting he didn’t expect me to talk to him from my perched position on the counter. Dude acted like a girl, covering up and stuff. He seems more comfortable now though...too comfortable.
“Eh, Todd?” I say and he looks up from running the towel through his hair.
“Yeah?”
“Your legs are open, and you have nothing on but a towel,” I point out helpfully. He glances down and his eyes shoot wide when he sees that it has slipped, and I can see his pet iguana.
“Fuck!” He quickly covers up as his face turns bright red.
“Dude, it’s cool. It was a nice enough penis, like congratulations I guess?”
He blinks at me owlishly. “Not helping Piper.”
I hold my hands up and sit back. “Sorry, sorry. Just thought pointing out that your balls are very nice and symmetrical might ease your embarrassment.”