The Citizen

By Krysten Williams

For fans of The Hunger Games, Divergent, and The Maze Runner comes a dystopian horror novel like no other.

The Nation
In the post-apocalyptic ruins of North America lies The Silo, part of the utopian Nation that is founded upon peace and comfort. It is a society that has removed love, power, and greed, elements of humanity that have caused the most destruction throughout history.

Lysa has always longed for freedom outside the gates of The Silo, and has long been suspicious that it is not the peaceful place that it claims to be. When she witnesses a secret, heinous act of violence against another citizen, she can no longer ignore her suspicions. She plans to escape The Silo with her partner, Jax, but her plan is interrupted when she is sentenced to death for treason.

The Resistance
Lysa narrowly escapes with her life and takes refuge in a forest. It is here that she encounters The Resistance, a group of people who seek to destroy The Nation and restore the lost aspects of humanity. Lysa learns of an age-old war between the two groups, and must determine where her loyalties lie.

If you enjoy dystopian, horror, and survival fiction, you will not want to miss this series!

***Originally published under A.K. Williamson***

• Language: English
• Publisher: Krysten Williams
• Release date: Nov 4, 2017
• ISBN: 9781370705948

Krysten Williams

Krysten Williams is a horror blogger and author, who went from hating horror to making a lifestyle out of it. Her debut novel, The Citizen, is a genre-bending horror-dystopian-romance, and the sequel, The Forsaken One, is set to release in January 2019.Krysten lives with her badass husband and their assortment of non-conventional pets. The hamster thinks she is the cutest.When she is not writing, you can usually find her watching horror movies, riding her horses, playing Call of Duty, or jamming out on her guitar.

Book preview

The Citizen

By

Krysten Williams

The Citizen ©2017 by Krysten Williams. Previously published under A.K. Williamson.

All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the United States Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this book may be reproduced in any form, except for the inclusion of brief quotation in a review or article, without the written permission from the author.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are used fictitiously, and resemblance to any persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials.

To my incredible muse. You inspire me every day to be a better person, and I love you with my whole heart.

This one is for you.

Table of Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-One

Acknowledgements

About the Author

Chapter One

Good morning, citizens. And welcome to another beautiful day in our Nation.

I stood in the front row with the other guards. My neck ached as I tilted my head up to look at the giant screen that stood in the middle of the town square. I squinted my eyes, trying to focus the image of the announcer. The morning sun distorted his face with its orange glow.

I tried to keep my attention on the screen, but it was almost impossible. Every day since the first day I could remember, we did the same thing. Everyone, citizens and guards alike, got up at the same time, got dressed at the same time. Then, we stood in the village square and watched the morning announcements.

Even these hardly changed.

Of course, there were the occasional updates on the citizens who dared to disobey our Nation. The announcer would report on those, and how they suffered the consequences of their treason. But, even those were becoming common as the days went by.

I glanced over at Jax. His arms were neatly stacked, one on top of the other. He stared up at the screen, attentive and reverent.

Jax was a fellow guard and my mate. We were paired together when we were twelve, found to be the most compatible genetic match among the other children at The Silo, and the most likely to have healthy children.

Jax was the person I knew best, and I still could not understand him. He was one of the most intelligent citizens, yet never seemed to get bored of life here. He never seemed to wonder what was beyond those gates that surrounded The Silo, or the forest that bordered our village. No one else seemed to care, either. Everyone seemed content and happy, and walked around, brightly greeting one another with huge smiles on their faces.

My insides turned into an anxious crawl as I listened to the announcer. I felt like I was going to split apart if I had to listen to his voice one more day, or if I had to see his combed, red hair again. It, too, never changed. It was always parted to the left side, never to the right.

We have some exciting news for you, citizens, the announcer said, folding his hands on top of the table. Over the next few weeks, you will be receiving a visit from some of our Nation’s finest doctors. We do not want you to be alarmed, and we expect your full cooperation. There has been a small infection running through some of the silos, and to ensure our citizens stay well and productive, they will be giving you an injection. There will be only minor discomfort and there will be no side effects.

A few of the citizens behind me broke into whispers. A guard on my left turned around and gave them what I imagined was a warning look. The whispers stopped.

Remember, you have no reason to be alarmed, the announcer said, almost as though he could sense the worry of the citizens through the screen. As always, before we close, let us have a moment of silence to commemorate our beautiful Nation and all the benefits it bestows upon us.

I bowed my head in time with the other citizens. But, my eyes were wide open, staring at the ground. I snuck another glance at Jax. His eyes were closed, his head resting downwards.

Thank you, citizens, the announcer said, breaking the silence with an approving nod. With that, I will allow your local officials to carry out the rest of your morning announcements. Thank you, and united we stand.

United, we stand, all the citizens repeated, some of them shouting the words.

The screen went blank, but we all remained where we stood. We waited for The Magistrate, the leader of The Silo. We watched as he walked up the creaking stairs to the stage, and watched as he walked up to the podium, directly below the screen that we had just been watching the morning announcements on.

The Magistrate was the oldest person in The Silo. There were crinkles around his eyes and his black hair was speckled with gray. His appearance always struck me as such a contrast to the dewy, unmarred faces of the citizens.

Citizens. He paused and looked at the crowd. I am deeply grieved to the bone. I am sad to share that one of our own has betrayed us.

I felt a bubble of bile rise from my stomach as The Magistrate looked in my direction.

Perspiration dampened my forehead as The Magistrate and I held each other’s gazes. I knew this day was coming. I had long suspected it, even from the time I was a child. I was the bane of The Silo’s existence, rambunctious, curious, and emotional. I never outgrew these tendencies, as the other citizens seemed to do. I felt things keenly and spent most of my time wondering what was beyond The Silo’s gates. I never let on to my thoughts or feelings, not even to Jax. I always walked around, emulating the smiles of the other citizens, speaking brightly to everyone I saw. I tried to give the appearance of being a model citizen and guard.

Perhaps they figured out that I was just pretending.

I swallowed hard. I kept my eyes on The Magistrate.

Citizen Rain, would you please come forward?

I breathed a quiet, guilty sigh of relief. I glanced over my shoulder. The other citizens were looking at Citizen Rain, who was standing a couple of feet behind me. Her dark brows were stitched together and her eyes glistened.

Please come forward, Citizen Rain, The Magistrate repeated.

Her eyes darted to the many emotionless faces of her fellow citizens. Realizing that no one was going to help her, she trudged down the aisle. She hesitated at the steps to the stage. Two of my fellow guards, Zander and Rhea, stepped to either side of her and escorted her up the steps. They stopped beside The Magistrate.

Citizen Rain, you have been charged with treason, for the reason of your refusal to bear children. You are also charged with perjury, as you have lied to officials of The Silo. You will be released into the forest, and will die in whichever means the forest sees fit.

I want to have children! I want to, I just can’t! Citizen Rain shouted, yelling at The Magistrate, yelling to the crowd. I’ve tried so many times!

One of the laws of The Silo was that each citizen must have one child by the time they were nineteen years old. If they did not, they were condemned to death, as they were considered a drain on resources.

Restrain her, The Magistrate ordered Zander and Rhea. They jumped in and secured her hands behind her back. Your lies will not be tolerated any longer. You have received the utmost care from our doctors, who have assured me of your ability to conceive.

You’re lying! she yelled, lunging at him.

Take her away, he ordered the guards.

Please! she yelled. Someone help me! They are lying!

The guards struggled to restrain her as they trudged down the aisle. Zander tried to stuff a rag into her mouth, to silence her cries. He winced in pain, pulling his hand back. Bright red blood pooled in a half-moon along his hand. She bit me!

Silence her! The Magistrate yelled.

Zander tried to stuff the rag into her mouth again, forcing her head back by pulling on her hair.

Now, you see for yourself the lies of this betrayer. This is what we must all remain vigilant for, liars who are determined to not see peace and prosperity, and those who cannot restrain their feelings. These are the people we must be on the lookout for, as they will destroy the sanctity of our great Nation. The Magistrate addressed the crowd, pointing at Citizen Rain. Why would someone want to give up this life? A life of comfort, all human needs met? We ask so little, and give so much in return. Don’t be foolish, young citizens, and be wary.

The Magistrate stepped down from the stage. He paused and studied the guards, all standing at attention.

His gaze fell on Jax and me. Guard Jax, Guard Lysa, he said, please accompany the prisoner to the forest.

We nodded and jogged to catch up to the prisoner. The guards were struggling to get her into the back of the wagon. The two, black horses who were attached to it, looked back at us. Their ears flicked back and forth, listening to the commotion.

As we approached, I noticed Citizen Rain’s eyes. They were locked on mine, wild and pleading. I felt another pang of pity for her. Is it really necessary to stuff the rag in her mouth? I said, looking at Zander.

I am not going to listen to her scream the entire way.

She’s not going to scream anymore. Are you? I asked the prisoner.

Her eyes were still wide, but she nodded her head in assent.

I reached out and grabbed the cloth out of her mouth and tossed it to Zander.

You have to help me, please.

Please get in the wagon, I said. There is nothing I can do to help you.

She bowed her head and nodded. I followed her up the steps of the wagon and removed the restraints. I slipped one hand out of the cuffs, and secured her in the shackles that would keep her from jumping out of the cart. I did the same for the other hand.

I hopped down from the back of the wagon and stood with the other guards. I wasn’t sure what to do, and I tried to keep my excitement and nerves from showing on my face.

I glanced back at Citizen Rain. A tear ran down her face. I felt a bite of sorrow in my chest. I felt bad that I was excited to finally leave the gates of The Silo at her expense, only to release her to her death.  

Let’s get on with it then, Rhea said.

Rhea and Zander jumped in the front part of the wagon, Rhea grabbing the reins. I followed Jax back up the stairs, past the prisoner. We sat on the bench, facing the prisoner, our backs to the other guards. Rhea nudged the horses forward, and the wagon lurched with movement.

I realized that Jax was watching me. My breathing had quickened, and I had my hand on my gun. I took a deep breath and placed my hands on my lap. I mimicked his posture, upright and attentive.

Along with my excitement in finally leaving The Silo, I was also frightened. From the time we were children, we were taught to be wary of the dangers that lurked beyond the gates. No one was allowed out of them, except on patrols, and guards stood watch over the fence perimeter at all times.

There were also whispers among the citizens, who told each other stories of red eyes watching them from the forest, or pained howls that awoke them in the middle of the night.

I had never seen red eyes in the forest or heard any howls, but I heard stories from the guards. At least every week, some of the guards were sent out of the gates to patrol the forest, to make sure our Silo was safe from outside threats, and to bring back fresh game if they could. Some of the stories they told in the quarters gave me nightmares. The most recent story, from a guard named Silas, was about how they found an animal that had been shredded to bits, scattered across the forest floor.

We will be fine, Jax said. Just as long as we get back before dark.

Rhea stopped the horses at the gate. I heard the rustling of papers as she gave the guards at the gate the movement orders for the prisoner.

Open the gate! I heard one guard yell.

The gates opened with a creak and Rhea guided the horses through. I watched as the gates shut behind us.

The prisoner began to rock back and forth, huddled in a ball. I don’t want to die, I don’t want to die, she chanted.

I wanted to reach out and comfort her, but to do that would be a treasonous act. I would certainly be put to death for it. No one wants to die, I said. I turned away, trying to ignore her wide blue eyes.

I studied the expanse that ran between the forest and The Silo. The grass was long, almost mid-way up the wagon. One of the horses tried to sneak a bite of it as they walked along.

The clearing was much larger than I imagined. It seemed to extend for as long as the eye could see in both directions. It took the horses quite a while to bring us to the line of trees that marked the forest.

We halted at the edge of the forest. The trees blocked the sun, almost seeming to touch the sky in their might. The air grew cold around us.

One of the horses tossed its head. Rhea ignored it and prodded the horses forward. They balked, prancing in place for a moment. The wagon wobbled back and forth, and then lunged forward. I held on to Jax to avoid falling off the bench.

We were in the forest moments later. The air was cool and fresh, but smelled unlike anything I had experienced before. It almost smelled like cut grass after it had been rained on and left to decay. I crinkled my nose.

I squinted as I tried to study my surroundings. It was dark in here, the trees blocking much of the sun from reaching down to us. We bumped along the road, branches snapped and crackled beneath the wheels of the wagon.

The road was barely wide enough for the wagon to fit through. At one point, I reached out and touched the trunk of a tree that was at least three times wider than me, feeling the scrape of the bark against my palm. I looked at my palm, feeling something sticky coating it.

Blood. I recoiled when I saw that it coated my hand. I brought it to my face, examining my palm for scratches. The bark had been sharp as it scraped against me, but I did not think that it had sliced my skin.

The blood was already a rust color and beginning to congeal. Could it have come from the tree?

I looked at the trunk as the wagon passed along. The same rust-color stained the tree and the ground below it in an uneven splatter. Leaves were covered in it and twigs dripped with it. Bits of what looked like fur littered the ground.

Silas’ story came to my mind, about the animal they found ripped to shreds. It had been true, after all.

But, that meant that whoever, or whatever, did this was still out here, and we were out here with it.

Chapter Two

Jax? I said, looking down at my palm and back out at the ground. What happened out here?

He looked down at my hand. Wipe it off, he said.

What is it from?

Wipe it off, he said. His voice was even, but his gray eyes widened.

I wiped my hands on my pants. I tried to get as much off as I could. The rust color now stained my