Conflict that spans millions of years, division among an overpopulated Earth, and 13 young people who have inherited a cursed 'gift' to find the solution.
In a scramble for world dominance, the twelve empires existing in 2500 A.D. are locked in a bitter battle to monopolize "the Bridge", a highly enigmatic means of entry into a perfectly Utopian 5th Dimension.
Sending forth only those who are capable of survival, national leaders select representatives and commence a deadly race in pursuit of an intangible substance strong enough to satisfy their lust for power.
But what they don't know is the Bridge is anything but predictable. A result of a warp in space and time and radioactivity that average humans are unable to withstand, the Bridge plays on the wants, fears, and desires of all those who enter. Alive, but inanimate, for centuries it has struck fear into mankind, and earned the title of 'Bermuda Triangle'.
In their dystopian society glutted with hatred, conspiracy, and betrayal, the mission the young people are given cannot be underrated. While attempting to rid humanity of evil, they come to terms with the state of the world, the origin of their power, and find out the one simple truth: Perfection is an Illusion.
Geoff and Naomi are dead, and they're depressed, but when Geoff's cat Bernie dies as well, they embark on a wild journey to find it in the underworld.
*****
When Geoff dies, alongside his girlfriend Naomi, they end up sharing an apartment in the Underworld as skeletons. But after a few years, Geoff starts suffering a mid-death crisis. What's the purpose of going through the motions as a skeleton if you can't really live? Then he gets word that his cat, Bernie, just died and he can collect him and bring him home! Geoff and Naomi hurry to get Bernie only to discover that, due to a clerical error, their cat has been lost. With the hunt for Bernie giving new purpose to Geoff's un-life, he and Naomi begin a quest to get back their cat. Battling skeleton pirates, climbing the sky ladder and facing off against the villain who took Bernie, Geoff is determined to find his purpose - or die a second time trying!
[[2018 Wattys Winner - The Originals]]
[[word count: 30,000-40,000 words]]