“Of course. But soon I’ll be a bit preoccupied.” Ava rubbed her stomach.
“I guess we just keep trying. I have to meet with my team. We’ll talk soon.” James gave her a quick hug and rejoined the group.
“My beautiful wife.” Joseph walked over and kissed her cheek. “Let’s get you back to the village.”
“We’ve accomplished a lot in these last months.”
“Yes, we have.”
“I’m tired.” She rested her head on his shoulder.
“I bet. Let’s get you home.”
Joseph held Ava’s hand and they walked down the corridor, the same corridor they had walked down so many months before when they escaped the City Center. Though the surveillance monitors had been dismantled, Ava couldn’t help but feel she was being watched. She’d never feel completely at peace until she knew where Morray was.
BOOKS BY SIMONE POND
THE CITY CENTER
THE NEW AGENDA
THE MAINFRAME
THE TORRENT
VOICES OF THE APOCALYPSE: SHORT STORIES
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About The Author
Simone Pond
Though Simone loves writing about the future, she lives in current-day Los Angeles with her husband and their Boston Terrier. The City Center is her first speculative fiction novel. The next book in the series, The New Agenda, will be available in 2014. For more information, visit simonepond.com.
Acknowledgments
I couldn’t have done this without Peter Stier Jr.—thank you for the idea and reading my pages over and over (and over), then giving me more ideas.
Scott Tipton my editor who wasn’t afraid to call me out. Damonza.com for the kick-ass cover design. Christine Haws for the killer photo.
Thanks to Nadine, Champ, A & Fredo for believing in me—even when I didn’t give you a reason to. And Winnie, who slept by my feet for countless hours and reminded me when it was time to go outside for fresh air.
Thanks to my amazing focus group who helped with the tough decisions: Amy Abrams, Sivan Adato, Cari Busch, Adrienne DeBlasio, Hillary DeBlasio, Kat Ditty, Cathy Emmett, Laura Forman, Kara Fromhart, Brian Krawczyk, Ami Lewis, Amanda McCauley, Sibyl Gardner, Nan Hochberger, Erick Mangali, Clare McCaffrey, Trisha McDonough, Sarah Milos, Maryellen Owens, Rick Phillips, Amanda Prince, Christel Roldan, Sean Roldan, Lindsay Sklar, Katie Staveley, Manya Tighe, Stefanie Timpke and Jenny Treadwell.
A very special thanks to family, friends and readers for your continuous support and encouragement—and your emails, comments, calls and texts.
The biggest shout-out goes to God for giving me the gift of writing and holding my hand the entire way—but especially for giving me the “big idea” that one morning in church.
Table of Contents
For PSJ
The Center
The Creator
The Feed
The Lie
The Window
The Escape
The Trial
The Tunnel
The Checkpoint
The Beach
The Village
The Truth
The Potter
The Shadow
The Slip
The Chase
The Battle
The Room
The Plan
The Most Important Day
The Truth
The Judgment
The Beginning
Books By Simone Pond
About The Author
Acknowledgments