Fox in the Hole (I)

A warning:

This is chapter one of the taster of my most recently published book. I will be publishing three chapter total on Vocal, for the rest you will have to buy the book.

I included this warning because I hate getting hooked on a series/ story only to find out I can't finish it. So I apologize for the inconvience, but I also wanted to share some of my work with you all. So please enjoy!

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It all began many years ago, so long the date isn’t worth mentioning.

The world was as it should be. Peaceful, safe and harmonious.

Then a plague swept the planet and eliminated over half of the population, which brought humanity to a low it hadn’t seen in immeasurable years. Yet, this was the least of their problems, as devastation was only beginning to crest over the horizon.

One of the largest countries attacked one of the smallest, seeking to reclaim land they had lost in a previous war. A war so long forgotten, we needed revised history books to confirm the claim.

The rest of the world watched as the larger country dominated the smaller one. Helpless to do anything with the threat of nuclear war hanging over their heads.

It took several years before the rest of the world could watch no more.

The end of the world had begun, with the start of nuclear attacks and retaliation.

Those most fortunate made their way into underground bunkers that would indeed save their lives and provide protection over the next one hundred years.

The less fortunate had to survive above ground with radiation and the elements. Most died of cancers, poisoning from direct radiation, and various other complications. Some survived above ground, and what they became was something this world had never seen. They gained the ability to change their form from human to animal and back, calling themselves shapeshifters.

Another era of peace followed for the remainder of those one hundred years. Until the bunker survivors emerged from their shelters and the turmoil began once more.

The latest world war broke out, humans vs shapeshifters.

The humans had the advantage in numbers and over ran the shapeshifters. They captured and confined the surviving shapeshifters, treating them as the animals they were believed to be.

Every region took their own precautions to contain the threat. As of yet, no region has full control of their situation.

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The events of our story unfold in what was once the continent of North America. The exact location is hard to determine since major landmarks and other discernible features no longer exist.

Our main character, Elyana, is a direct descendent of the shifters who survived the radiation. She is of the generation that now lives in what the government would like to brand as Rehabilitation Centres or Facilities.

From a young age, Elyana has been a resident at The Coptter Rehabilitation Facility, which was founded and funded by John Coptter and his family.

John lost his wife in the war against shapeshifters and sought fit to build his own institution to help “the poor creatures”. Hoping to create a safe place to rehabilitate and educate the younger shapeshifters so that one day they can learn to live alongside humans in peace.

Now his grandson runs the facility and carries the torch for his family’s legacy.

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Elyana was brought in for rehabilitation at five years old, never to see her family again. But judging by the amount of force needed to collect her, it’s safe to say she is the only survivor.

It’s been twelve years since she arrived at the Coptter Rehabilitation Facility, and only time will tell what fate has in store for her now.

Chapter Two: