Shattered

Kyla's memory was erased, her personality wiped blank, her memories lost for ever. Or so she thought. After the shocking events of SLATED and FRACTURED, we return to Kyla's oppressive world as she tries to make sense of her lfe and everything around her. Set in a disturbing near-future world, this is the conclusion to an engrossing, fast-paced trilogy that establishes Teri Terry as a master thriller writer. Book 3 in the acclaimed SLATED trilogy. About the Author Teri Terry (www.teriterry.com), Canadian by birth, has lived in France, Canada, Australia and England, at more addresses than she can count. Shes been a scientist, lawyer, optometrist and business manager, and worked in high schools and libraries, with writing and stories always humming along in the background. Because moving constantly has kept her on the outside looking in much of her life, she has an obsession with characters who dont belong or find themselves in unfamiliar places. Slated was her first novel, and she recently completed a research MA on the depiction of terrorism in young-adult literature. She lives in Buckinghamshire, United Kingdom. Excerpt. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved. It doesnt look like much from the outside. But what you get outside is often like that. People, especially, can be so different from what you can see that youd never guess what goes on in their secret places. What they are capable of. In my case, what lurked within was so well hidden even I didnt know about it. Aiden parks the car along the side of the rundown building. He glances at me. Dont look so scared, Kyla. Im not, I start to object, but then I glance at the road, and all at once, I am. Lorders, I hiss, and scrunch down in the seat. A black van pulls in behind us, blocking us in. Leaden dread pools in my veins, holds me still and numb even as everything inside is screaming run. The fear takes me back: another time, another Lorder. Coulson. The gun in his hand, pointed at me, and then Bang! Katrans blood. A sea of hot red that covered us both, and took my friend away, forever. So like my fathers death years ago that it wrenched up that most buried memory. Both dead. Both my fault. Aiden puts a hand over mine, one worried eye on the mirror and the van, one on me. A door opens, someone steps out. Not dressed in Lorder black? A slight figure, a woman, hat pulled down low to shield her face. She walks to the door of the building. It opens from the inside, and she disappears through it. Look at me, Kyla, Aiden says, his voice calm, reassuring, and I tear my eyes away from the van behind us. There is nothing to worry about; just dont draw their attention. He twists in the drivers seat, slips his arms around me and tries to pull me close, but Im rigid with fear. Play along, he says, and I force my body to relax into his. He murmurs into my hair, Just giving them a reason why we were lingering. In case theyre getting curious. I breathe in slow. Theyre not after me. Theyll go away now. Theyre not after me. And then Im clinging to Aiden and his arms wrap around me even tighter. There are vehicle sounds behind; tires crunch on gravel. And keep going. Theyre gone, Aiden says, but he doesnt let go. And the relief is so strong that I sag against him, bury my face in his chest. His heart beats fast, drumming a thump-thump of safety, warmth, and something else . But this is wrong. Hes not Ben. My fear is replaced by embarrassment, then anger: anger at myself. I pull away. How could I be such a total wimp, and let them get to me like that? How could I cling to Aiden just because I was scared? And I remember what he said on the way earlier: Lorders come here. Lorders, government officials, and their families. People with money and power who can make others look away and keep quiet. That woman is probably a Lorders wife. She is probably here for the same reason as me. I flush. Aidens blue eyes are warm, concerned. Are you sure you can pull this off, Kyla? Yes. Of course I can. And I thought you werent supposed to call me that anymore. Itd be easier if youd make up your mind what your new name is going to be. I dont say anything, because I sort of have, but I dont want to share it yet. Im not sure hell like it. Walk in like you own the place, and no one will look at you twice. Its all anonymous. Okay. Best get going before anyone else comes. More Lorders? I open the car door, step out. It is cold, a gray January day. The chill is reason enough for the scarf wrapped around my head, obscuring an identity that will soon change. I square my shoulders, walk to the door. It opens, and I step inside. My eyes widen; my feet almost falter until I remember: Walk like I own the place. This shiny place, with enormous, plush chairs, soft music, and a smiling nurse? A guard stands discrete in the corner. The woman we saw come out of the Lorder van moments ago is ensconced in a chair with a wine glass in one hand. The nurse approaches, smiles. Welcome. Do you know your number? 7162, I say, the number Aiden gave me earlier. Even though my name is best kept quiet, Im not sure I like being known by a number, not after being Slated. Not after having a Levo around my wrist with my number carved into it, classifying me as a criminal for all to see. Its gone now; there are no visible marks left behind, but the scars remain. The nurse checks a handheld screen, smiles again. Have a seat for a moment. Your IMET consultant will be with you very soon. I sit, startled when the chair moves, adjusts to my body. IMET: Image Enhancement Technology. Barely whispered about, hellishly expensive, and totally illegal. Im here courtesy of favors owed to Aidens organization, MIA. MIA may stand for Missing in Action, but it turns out they dont just find missing people and campaign for the truth about the Lorders to be revealed. Turns out they also sneak people out of the UK who need to disappear, and others in at the same time: IMET consultants who know a good black market opportunity when they see one. The woman in the other chair turns toward me. She is attractive, fifty or so. If the rumors are true shell look twenty years younger before she leaves this place. There is an inquisitive glint to her eyes, a what are you here for ? look. I ignore her. A door opens and footsteps approach. She starts to get up, but the steps continue past her, and a man stops in front of me. A doctor? But not like any doctor Ive seen before: He is in scrubs, but they are a bright purple shimmery fabric. It matches his streaked hair and purple eyes to perfection, unnatural shimmer and all. He holds out both hands, helps me up, and air kisses my cheeks. Hello, darling. Im Doc de Jour, but you can call me DJ. This way. His words are a lilting drawl, an unfamiliar accent: Irish? I follow him and suppress a smirk at the indignant look on the waiting womans face. She must wonder who I am, why I take precedence. If she only knew. IF she knew, itd go straight to her Lorder husband. Doc de Jour is disappointed in me. Are you sure that is all you want done? Hair. In brown . He says it like brown hair is the ultimate crime of mediocrity. But blending in is what I need. Yes: brown. He sighs. Such lovely hair you have, and so hard to match. Like sunshine on early daffodils 12. With highlights 9. He runs his fingers through it, a measuring look in his eyes, like he is copying it for his next patient. Then he studies my face. How about eye color? No. I like them green. Theyre distinctive; its a risk, he says, and my eyes widen. What does he know? He winks. They are an interesting shade. Almost apple-green 26, but more intense, he says, then spins the chair Im sitting in around and looks me up and down. I squirm. Wouldnt you like to be taller? I raise an eyebrow. You can do that? Of course. Itll take a while, though. I bristle. What is wrong with my height? Nothing. If you dont mind jumping to see over things. Just the hair. Brown. You know IMET is accelerated gene-tech: it is permanent? Brown hair forever. Itll grow that way; no more blondy ever again, unless you come back to see me. He hands me a mirror and I look in it. So weird to think next time I do this I wont see the hair Ive always had. The color is okay I guess, but it is so fineI always wanted thicker hair. Like Amys gorgeous dark hair, the first thing Id noticed about my new sister when I was assigned to live with her family as a new Slated, just months ago. Wait a minute. I wonder if... He leans down and stares into my eyes with his purple ones. Theyre hard not to look at. Yes? Can you make it longer? And thicker. Maybe... some streaks in it. Not anything weird: natural looking. He claps his hands. Consider it done. Later Im told to lie back on a table that is like the chairs in the waiting area: it molds and grips my body. Flutters of panic fight to keep me awake. Is this how it was when I was Slated? Then, I had no choice; I saw the file photograph. I was tied to a table like any other criminal. The Lorders and their surgery stole my memories, put a chip in my brain that couldve killed me before my Levo was taken of... Kyla's memory was erased, her personality wiped blank, her memories lost for ever. Or so she thought. After the shocking events of SLATED and FRACTURED, we return to Kyla's oppressive world as she tries to make sense of her life and everything around her. Set in a disturbing near-future world, this is the conclusion to an engrossing, fast-paced trilogy that establishes Teri Terry as a master thriller writer. Book 3 in the acclaimed SLATED trilogy.