Book 4: Shadows of the New Dawn and Book 5: After the Fall

Books 4 and 5 TASTE ME SERIES

Book 4: Shadows of the New Dawn

Chapter 1: Sparks in the Dark

The city never slept. Towering skyscrapers of cold steel and flickering neon loomed over the crowded streets, casting shadows across the people who lived in their depths. Kian stood in the heart of this labyrinth, their hands stuffed into the pockets of their worn jacket, feeling the pulse of the city beneath their feet. The hum of machines, the whisper of drones overhead, the shuffle of feet—everything moved with a mechanical precision, driven by the regime's unrelenting control.

To the casual observer, Kian was just another worker, a cog in the sprawling machine. They had learned how to blend in, how to make themselves invisible. Their work in the tech sector regime ensured they stayed under the radar. But inside, Kian was anything but compliant.

They shifted their weight, their eyes scanning the crowded plaza. The central square was full of people, all of them hurrying to their next assigned task, heads down, avoiding the eyes of the security drones that hovered overhead. Surveillance was everywhere. No one spoke out of line. No one dared. The regime's control was absolute.

Until tonight.

Kian's fingers brushed against the small metal device hidden inside their jacket. It was a simple thing, a piece of tech they had designed in secret, far from the prying eyes of the regime's security. But it was more powerful than it looked—this device would set the city's grid offline for a full thirty minutes. It was the signal the resistance had been waiting for.

They exhaled slowly, trying to calm the racing of their heart. There was no turning back now.

A voice crackled in their earpiece. "Kian, are you in position?" It was Adira, the leader of the resistance.

"Yes," Kian whispered, keeping their voice low as they moved through the crowd, heading toward the central control hub that monitored the city's power grid. "I'm almost there."

"Good," Adira replied, her voice steady. "Once you're inside, activate the device and get out. We'll take care of the rest."

Kian nodded, though no one could see them. The plan was simple: take down the grid, create chaos, and strike at the heart of the regime's control systems while the city was in the dark. But Kian knew nothing about this mission, it was simple. The regime had eyes everywhere.

They slipped through the narrow alleyways behind the plaza, their feet quick and silent. The control hub was just ahead, a squat, heavily guarded building that monitored every inch of the city's infrastructure. It was the regime's lifeline—and tonight, Kian would sever it.

As they approached the hub, their pulse quickened. Two guards stood at the entrance; their rifles slung over their shoulders. Kian kept to the shadows, their breath steady, as they scanned the area for the quickest way inside. There was no room for mistakes.

"Kian," Adira's voice crackled in their ear again. "Remember, you don't have to do this alone. If you need backup"

"I've got this," Kian interrupted, their voice sharper than they intended. They didn't mean to sound harsh, but the weight of the mission pressed down on them. They had to prove themselves tonight—not just to the resistance, but to themselves.

"Alright," Adira said, her tone softening. "Just be careful."

Kian didn't respond. Their focus was entirely on the guards. They waited, breath held, until one of the guards moved toward the corner, leaving the entrance momentarily unguarded. It was a small window, but it was enough.

Kian moved quickly, darting across the open space and slipping into the control hub. The cold metal of the building's interior greeted them, sterile and silent. They ducked into a maintenance corridor; their footsteps muffled by the hum of machinery all around them.