THE MARK- EDYTH BULBRING
INTRODUCTION:
THE MARK IS SET IN A POST-APOCALYPTIC WORLD WHERE THE
STRUGGLE FOR SURVIVAL IS MORE DESPERATE THAN EVER.
IN AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE EVEN CHILDREN ARE FACED WITH
INSURMOUNTABLE ODDS, WE MEET JULIET SEVEN- A RESIDENT OF
SLUM CITY- WHO STEALS IN ORDER TO EARN HER PLACE IN THE
‘ORPHANAGE’.
JULIET IS DESPERATE FOR TWO THINGS: TO REMOVE THE NUMBERS
ON HER BACK BEFORE HER NEXT BIRTHING DAY, AND TO DEFEAT THE
‘MACHINE’ AND SEE THE SOCIAL HIERARCHY FALL.
SHE THINKS SHE IS ALONE IN HER BATTLE TO TAKE DOWN THE
MANGERIANS, BUT LITTLE DOES
SHE KNOW, THE VERY PEOPLE SHE THINKS ARE VULNERABLE AND
TRIES TO PROTECT, ARE THE
(ONES WHO HAVE ALREADY SET A REBELLION IN MOTION. THE CLOCK
IS TICKING- TO JULIET’S
BIRTHING DAY ON WHICH SHE WILL HAVE TO SUBMIT TO SERVITUDE,)
AS WELL AS TO THE SECOND GREAT APOCALYPSE THAT WILL SEE THE
WORLD, AS JULIET KNOWS IT, FALL TO PIECES.
,CHAPTER 1: THE MONSTER
THE CHAPTER OPENS WITH THE INCIDENT AT THE BEACH: JULIET AND
HER FLATMATES PLAY A
GAME. THEIR HANDLER XAVIER PRETENDS TO SEE A ‘MONSTER’ IN
THE WATER AND BEGINS TO
SCREAM. THIS SENDS THE POSH REVELLERS OFF THE BEACH, LEAVING
THEIR BELONGINGS
BEHIND. AS THEY RUN FOR PROTECTION, JULIET AND KITTY HAVE
OPEN ACCESS TO THEIR
PERSONAL ITEMS. AS THE GIRLS RUMMAGE THROUGH HANDBAGS,
BEACHBAGS AND PICNIC
BASKETS, THE LOCUSTS ARRIVE ON THE SCENE TO MANAGE THE
SITUATION. THEY SPOT KITTY AND CALL OUT TO HER FOR ATTENTION-
BUT JULIET QUICKLY PUTS ON AN ACT OF FAINTING TO DIRECT THE
ATTENTION TOWARDS HER, THUS SAVING KITTY.
LATER, BACK AT THEIR FLAT, WE DISCOVER THAT JULIET AND
KATHERINE ARE FLATMATES, AND
JULIET IS FIERCELY ATTACHED TO KITTY, BUT KITTY (WHO IS
DESCRIBED AS EXCEEDINGLY
BEAUTIFUL BUT NAÏVE) DOES NOT SHARE JULIETS AFFECTION OR
DEPTH OF FRIENDSHIP. WE AS READERS SHOULD BEGIN TO WONDER
WHY…
,CHAPTER 2: COWBOY
PULAKS: RICKSHAW DRIVERS
MARKET NAGS: VENDORS
THE LABORATORY: THE FACTORY WHERE ALL PRODUCTS ARE
ARTIFICIALLY CREATED BY WAY OF MASS PRODUCTION.
WE MEET COWBOY- HE IS THE ILLICET TRADER WHO PAWNS STOLEN
GOODS FROM JULIET FOR MONEY. SHE IN TURN USES WHAT LITTLE
MONEY SHE GETS TO BUY A FEW THINGS FOR HERSELF AND FOR
KITTY.
WE ALSO DISCOVER THE SUPERNATURAL WORLD THAT EXISTS WITHIN
SLUM CITY, IN THE FORM
OF WITCH, MISTRESS HADEDA (THE TALKING BIRD) AND NELSON (THE
PSYCHIC). THE WITCH CONCOCTS MEDICINE THAT HELPS THE ORPHAN
WARDEN KEEP THE CHILDREN SLEEPING AND QUIET THROUGHOUT
THE NIGHT.
JULIET’S TENDER SIDE IS ALSO REVEALED AS SHE PUTS EACH OF THE
SMALLS TO SLEEP AT BEDTIME.
JULIET LOVES TO READ- WE EXPAND ON THIS PASSION IN THE NEXT
CHAPTER.
, CHAPTER 3: DRUDGE SCHOOL
THE MARK AT THE BASE OF EVERYONE’S SPINE IS A UNIQUES CODE. IT
IS IMPRINTED ON EACH
INDIVIDUAL BY THE MACHINE, AND CONTROLS THEIR EVERY MOVE,
EVERY ACTION AND EVEN
DETERMINES THE COURSE OF THEIR LIVES IN TERMS OF CAREER, LIFE
PARTNER AND SOCIAL STATUS. TO EQUIP EACH CHILD FOR THEIR PRE-
DETERMINED FUTURE, CITIZENS OF THE NEW WORLD ATTEND
SCHOOLS THAT ARE SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED TO CATER FOR EACH
PROFESSION.
KITTY, FOR EXAMPLE, IS BEAUTIFUL. SHE WAS MADE THAT WAY SO
SHE COULD SUCCESSFULLY
WORK AT THE PLEASURE HOUSES, SERVING AND ENTERTAINING MEN
FOR MONEY. JULIET, HOWEVER, IS BUILT FOR HARD LABOUR. SHE,
THEREFORE, IS DESTINED FOR DOMESTIC RESPONSIBILITIES, SERVING
AS A MAID IN THE HOUSEHOLDS OF THE POSH.
WITH HER BIRTHING DAY LOOMING, AND HER FATE BECOMING MORE
AND MORE CONCRETE,
JULIET IS MORE DETERMINED THAN EVER TO GET RID OF HER MARK,
AND FREE HERSELF FROM BEING A SERVANT- WHETHER IT IS TO THE
POSH, OR THE MACHINE, OR HANDLER XAVIER- SHE WILL BE FREE AT
ANY AND ALL COST!
