The First Day

By Celesta Thiessen

For fans of Lost and Jericho...

Abigail and Nathan Taylor have made it safely to Salt Eden, the utopia created by their father. But there’s trouble in paradise. As colonists and tourists clash over cultural differences, Abigail learns their father has a dark secret.

This story is rated 13+

• Language: English
• Publisher: Celesta Thiessen
• Release date: Jun 13, 2017
• ISBN: 9781370918997

Celesta Thiessen

I live in Steinbach, Manitoba, Canada with my husband and two young daughters. We're homeschoolers and entrepreneurs. My husband and I make iOS apps and I write stories. Being a writer is magical - spinning nothing into stories - stories that can light the way to a different world.You can connect with me on Faceboook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorCelesta

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SALT EDEN 2

The First Day

Celesta Thiessen

Published by Celesta Thiessen

Copyright 2017 Celesta Thiessen

Chapter 1

Nathan shades his eyes from the sun as he looks up at Salt Eden from the deck of the Soul Mate cruise ship. Salt Eden, a giant oil-rig-like structure, stands high above the ocean on four thick, long, steel legs. On the platform sits a cube-shaped, seven-story building. On each level are balconies covered with lush green plants. There are two metal walkways under the building, one almost at ocean level and one right up near the bottom of the building. There is also a metal staircase that crisscrosses between the legs and leads up to the underbelly of the building.

Nathan shakes his head. Not exactly a tropical paradise. He winces and puts his hand to his shoulder where a bullet had ripped through him.

He sees his father pushing his sister, in a wheelchair, out onto the deck of the ship. She’s wearing shorts and there’s white bandaging on her leg. He stares at it for a moment as a look of guilt passes across his face. He knows it was his fault that she got shot. Then he looks away.

As people make their way to the deck of the ship, he notices that there are many attractive women. But it looks as though all of them are paired up with someone, everyone coming out two-by-two. Then he notices that all the people coming out of the ship are Caucasian.

Nathan looks back at his family. Robert is serious but Abigail is grinning. She looks happy. He saunters over to stand with them. "So, who did you bring for me, Dad? I know you brought everyone’s soul mate. And, by the way, are you a racist or something?"

Nobody. Robert speaks without even bothering to look at his son.

What?

Robert spares him a glance. You never filled out a profile so I couldn’t match you up with anyone. Plus I didn’t think you'd take that kind of thing seriously anyway.

Nathan looks at his father, irritation showing on his face. I wouldn’t. But that doesn’t mean I’d be opposed to some girl looking at me all moon-eyed.

There are some older teen girls who live here with their families. I made sure that there would be an equal number of males and females, including you. So you could choose from one of them.

Choose from one of them? Nathan looks up at Salt Eden as though he’s searching for those girls. "I don’t get it. The girl you have for me lives here but you picked someone for Abigail who’s going back home after the cruise. Then he looks back at his father. Don’t you want Abigail to stay here too?"

Of course, Robert snaps and then turns away, looking up into the sky.

Nathan follows his father’s gaze and sees a crane lowering a large cage down to the deck of the cruise ship.

This is our elevator. Robert pushes Abigail away from Nathan and towards the elevator.

Abigail calls back to Nathan in a teasing voice. I can’t believe you wanted a soul mate. You romantic you!

Yeah, yeah. Nathan looks down from the deck of the boat to the walkway near the ocean’s surface. There are ducks on the lower platform and in the water! Three teens are there watching over the birds. On the other side of the walkway, opposite to where the ship is, there are some people fishing.

An announcement comes over the speakers. "Salt Eden is a dry colony. If you