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Matthew Thrush

Matthew Thrush

Houston, Texas

#1 Bestselling author of over 50 books & Co-founder of Six-Figure Ghostwriter.

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About the author

Matthew Thrush has worked as a copywriter and Arabic linguist for many years, and currently works as a technical writer for cPanel in Houston, TX. His work has been published in literary magazines at Klein High and the Sam Houston State Review. His articles have been listed as Editor’s Pick of the Week multiple times on Storychick, and also featured on AllThingsRelax, ABIS, Woodlands Church, and iOffice. He also writes serialized fiction for Radish, Wattpad, and Channillo.

Matthew has two published fantasy novels with Tate Publishing and one book of short stories and poetry. His passion is to change the world one word at a time and encourage others. He believes it only takes one spark to ignite the hearts of readers and change their lives forever. His current post apocalyptic trilogy foreshadows a future not altogether improbable in the current age. Having accrued nearly 500,000 reads in a single year, the 2136 novels are captivating the hearts and minds of young and new adults everywhere.

Matthew currently lives in Tomball, TX with his wife, their new son, three dogs, and a cat. In his off time, he is finishing up his Master of Science in Technical Communication. In his free time, he continues to write up new book outlines and ideas, while also finishing the ones he’s started. He also has an unhealthy obsession with golf, Alabama football, pizza, and sour gummy bears.

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Pre-orders

260

Funded

$5,955.00

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Success! 2136 has already sold 260 pre-orders , was pitched to 49 publishers , and is in discussions with publishers .

$20 The "Sampler"

102 readers

Thank you for your support! I'm eager for you to receive your copy and to begin reading. I can't wait to share what I have in store for you in books two and three. :)

For your gracious support, you'll receive a signed copy of 2136 and a FREE ebook with this package. :) Plus, you'll get FREE shipping! How cool is that?

What you get:

1 signed copy of 2136
1 free ebook

1 copy + ebook included

Free shipping

48 of 150 left

$20 Early Bird Sold out

25 readers

This unique package is to reward those who support early and take action. Because you're a go-getter and take life by the horns, you get to take part in a special promotional offer.

Along with a signed copy of 2136 + its ebook so you can read it anywhere you'd like or share it with a friend, you can choose TWO of the following as your BONUS prize:

1 extra copy of 2136
1 extra ebook
1 T-shirt with 2136 customized logo
2 magnet with 2136 customized logo
1 signed copy of Raifen: The Search for Truth
1 signed copy of Raifen: A Call to Evil
1 signed coffee mug with 2136 logo
5 bookmark with author signature

1 copy + ebook included

Free shipping

0 of 25 left

$25 Soulcrusher

6 readers

In this Soulcrusher, we'll send you a signed copy of 2136 once it's published and access to the ebook. Have you ever wondered what it's like to envy someone? Well, don't be that person! Make them envy you with one of the first copies of the trilogy!

What you get:

1 signed copy of 2136
1 ebook of 2136

1 copy + ebook included

$5 shipping

4994 of 5000 left

$30 Early Bird Plus

16 readers

The Early Bird special quickly filled up and I know many of you were wanting to take advantage of that awesome package. It was pretty narly! So, here's your chance! :)

What you get:

1 signed copy of 2136
1 free ebook of 2136
1 free copy of Raifen: The Search for Truth
1 free copy of Raifen: A Call to Evil

This package is only limited to the next 25 people so act fast! These go quickly. :)

1 copy + ebook included

$5 shipping

9 of 25 left

$30 Promotional Package

8 readers

So you don't want a bunch of books; one or two is just fine with you, but you'd like to get a bookmark, poster, T-shirt, magnet, or coffee mug to display at your home? This package is for you then!

What you get:

1 signed copy of 2136
1 ebook
1 T-shirt
1 magnet

1 copy + ebook included

$5 shipping

92 of 100 left

$45 The Godkin

4 readers

Not everyone is worthy of god-like prowess, but you are the exception. With your divine powers you'll not only gain all there is in the Soulcrusher, but you'll get TWO copies of 2136, in addition to 1 copy of my fantasy series, Raifen: The Search for Truth.

Do you like to flaunt your god-like beauty? I'll toss in a free magnet so all the world can see how awesome you are!

What you get:

2 signed copies of 2136
1 ebook of 2136
1 signed copy of Raifen: The Search for Truth
1 magnet with 2136 emblem

2 copies + ebook included

$10 shipping

2496 of 2500 left

$60 Worlds Shaper

5 readers

If being a god or goddess wasn't good enough, you've gone and created whole new worlds in your likeness. Everything in the Godkin is yours, PLUS book two of the Raifen series "Raifen: A Call to Evil" AND a review of up to 5,000 words of a story of your choosing from your one and only: ME!

I think you'd look good in a sexy T, we'll throw that in for FREE just for kicks.

What you get:

2 signed copies of 2136
1 ebook of 2136
1 signed copy of Raifen: The Search for Truth
1 signed copy of Raifen: A Call to Evil
1 review of up to 5,000 words of one of your stories
1 magnet with 2136 emblem
1 T-shirt with 2136 logo and emblem

2 copies + ebook included

$20 shipping

995 of 1000 left

$100 The Giver

2 readers

For those of you who love shopping for holiday and birthday gifts ahead of time, this package is ideal for you. Not only will you get a signed copy for yourself to enjoy, but you'll also be rewarded with additional copies that you can share with your friends and family on those special occasions. Give someone a gift they'll never forget and always have your name etched in history in the Acknowledgements.

What you get:

5 signed copies of 2136
5 ebooks

AND two of the following:

1 extra copy of 2136
1 T-shirt with 2136 customized logo
1 book with author signature

5 copies + ebook included

$15 shipping

23 of 25 left

$250 The Selfless One

0 readers

Handing out a few copies is not enough for you. Above all else, you love to touch lives and to share with others. Because of your generous heart you need more supplies to be able to hand out to all of those friendly faces that you have in mind.

Maybe you need extra copies for a book club? Maybe you want to hand out copies to strangers in the store or on the side of the road, or in church. Do you know someone that could use a smile to brighten their situation? Bless them with a free signed copy that they'll be sure to never forget. They'll always hold your kindness in their hearts and read words that remind them of your thoughtfulness.

What you get:

13 signed copies of 2136
13 ebooks
13 bookmarks

AND three of the following:

1 extra copy of 2135
1 extra ebook
1 T-shirt with 2136 customized logo
1 signed copy of Raifen: The Search for Truth
1 signed copy of Raifen: A Call to Evil
1 signed coffee mug with 2136 logo and unique quote

13 copies + ebook included

$25 shipping

10 of 10 left

$500 "Walgust"

1 reader

This package is for a very special person who has committed to contributing a large amount to help me reach my goal. Because you are so awesome, no words can describe my appreciation and gratitude for your support and friendship. It has been a pleasure to get to know you and share in this journey together.

I want you to feel as special as you've made me feel from your support with some bonus items and plenty of extra copies so you can donate to local libraries and schools, or any special person you choose.

What you get:

25 signed copies of 2136
10 ebooks
25 bookmarks
2 magnets
2 T-shirts

And I'll also send you a surprise gift along with all of the above as a special, "Thank you!" from me. :)

25 copies + ebook included

Free shipping

1 of 2 left

$1000 Someone Truly Special Sold out

1 reader

This package is for that individual or organization that loves to touch lives. Their influence on the world around them brings happiness to everyone they come into contact with, and this package is no different. For your exemplary support and generosity you receive the best there is to offer.

Because you love to give to others and to see the smiles your generosity and kindness ignites on the faces of those around you, you require the supplies to do so. You've never met a stranger and you already know who you'll send your extra copies and promotional items to right now.

That's how awesome you are!

What you get:

50 signed copies of 2136
50 ebooks
10 signed copies of Raifen: The Search for Truth
10 signed copies of Raifen: A Call to Evil
10 ebook download cards for the Raifen books
5 T-shirts with 2136 emblem and special quote
Name forever etched in history in the Acknowledgements section
2 posters
5 magnets you can post on your fridge or use as holiday cards
2 Coffee mugs with a unique quote
Your name used for a character in my next book

50 copies + ebook included

$75 shipping

0 of 1 left

2136

A Post-Apocalyptic Novel

Though the world smokes in the ashes of war and death, we will go on. The sun will not hold us beneath the dirt for long, and the icy tongue of night will feel our wrath. Let all who stand in our way crumble and bow. We are coming.

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Science Fiction & Fantasy Dystopian
110,000 words
100% complete
13 publishers interested

Synopsis

The year is 2136.

War has crippled mankind to the brink of extinction. Global warming and WMDs have splintered large rifts in the protective shield. Deadly UV rays filter through these cracks twice a day burning the world below in a pulp of brown ash. The surface simmers at a mediocre 135 degrees Fahrenheit on a cool day. By night, they plummet well below zero in the darkest parts of the world.

Man sacrificed his morality to survive by dividing into classes. The Divine live in peace, free from fear, onboard one of the floating blue pyramids known as Procs. The other two struggle to stay alive. But all that changed when a supposed cure mutates into something sinister, shattering their utopia. Mankind’s lust for immortality has only created a deadlier sin. The contagion bends the survivors to their knees for a second time, and face-to-face with a stark reality of life on Earth.
Proc 1 explodes into the coastal waters of New Jersey unleashing a new wave of fear. One week later, the cure-turned-virus evolves and goes airborne, leaving millions in its wake. No one is immune to its touch. And she’s responsible for it.

2136 is the first of the new dystopian trilogy and a Featured Story on Wattpad. 2136 has accrued over 580,000 reads in a year, reached #2 in Science Fiction, and has a growing following of more than 37,000.

Outline

2136 and its two sequels are all structured in chapter form. Each one begins with a prologue and ends with an epilogue, with roughly 50-60 chapters in between. Each chapter builds on the one before it and ends with a cliffhanger to keep the reader engaged and wanting to find out what happens next. 
After taking James Patterson's MasterClass, I learned that ending chapters with cliffhangers entices readers to go on and makes for a better story. This also increases the popularity of the story with new readers.

Each book can be read as a standalone, but is best when read in sequential order. The novel's 1st person POV encourages readers to relate and develop a close relationship with the main characters. It also allows for bigger surprises to take place as they discover these secrets with the narrator as if it's happening to them.

Audience

My success in less than a year on Wattpad has shown me that the optimal age range for the 2136 trilogy is young adults and new adults. The large majority of readers on the Wattpad platform fall between ages of 13 and 30. With nearly 600,000 reads, 2136 is evidence that this reader group is hungry for more.

This age range is also most susceptible to change and hardship. They most likely are going through crises of varying degrees, but each one shares the same hope: to escape it all for a better life or to find someone who cares. I believe this is why thousands of young readers have flocked to my stories and have given up sleep to read. This pleases me to no end because it testifies to the fact that my words are impacting them in a positive way and encouraging them to read, believe in themselves, and keep their heads up.

Promotion

Wattpad is by far my largest platform to reach young readers with a growing following of 40,000. I’ll also connect with followers on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Radish, and similar social media mediums.

My established Beta Reader list of readers who have expressed a desire to read future stories and offer feedback will be paramount in book launches. Their preliminary interest will help spread the word of mouth. In addition, I’ll hire Author Rocket Platform to continue to build my mailing list of readers. I have a few hundred currently, but with their help, this will increase to several thousand. The list they will help me build will be comprised of serious readers or buy and read books regularly.

As a bonus, I’ll be launching a new devotional blog. Each day I’ll publish a new post and allow readers to interact, ask questions, and share their stories. I anticipate this blog gaining enormous traction with my Wattpad followers, as well as my blog and excerpt posts on the book’s website.

Competition

2136's genre resembles the following popular books or ideas:

* I Am Legend
* The Book of Eli
* 28 Days Later
* Maze Runner
* The Divergent Series
* World War Z
* Day After Tomorrow
* Mad Max

2136 sends the reader through a world wrecked by war and solar destruction and separated by technological advancements and poverty. Humans are compartmentalized from birth into three groups based on an aptitude test. This post-apocalyptic and zombie book is everything someone of the genre would hope for, its ties to a dystopian thriller invoke a new curiosity in the reader.

Attachments

13 publishers interested
Dragon Moon Press logo Dragon Moon Press

500 copies • Completed manuscript • Looking for novel-length genre fiction: fantasy, urban fantasy, paranormal, science fiction, adult, and YA.
Dragon Moon Press is a small, traditional royalty-paying publisher. We work with experienced editors and designers to produce the best books we can. We work with you on marketing the book to your readers to develop a loyal following of your own. We have recently started audiobooks with world-wide distribution.

Traditional publisher

Science Fiction & Fantasy, YA Fiction

Worldwide

Entrada Publishing logo Entrada Publishing

Entrada Publishing specializes in publishing most fiction topics, excluding erotica and most romance (clean/Christian romance is okay).

We are a traditional publisher - publishing only works that are truly excellent in every way.

Traditional publisher

Children Fiction, Literary Fiction, Mystery, Thriller, Horror & Suspense, Science Fiction & Fantasy, YA Fiction, Career & Success, Journalism, Religion & Spirituality, Travel

Worldwide

Harvard Square logo Harvard Square

250 copies • Partial manuscript • Looking for more spiritual books, yoga and physical fitness alternatives, literary fiction and non-fiction of social or environmental value, especially international, political, literary, sci-fi, fantasy, utopia, and dystopia.
Harvard Square Editions (HSE) is a publishing house run by Harvard alumni that grew out of the Harvard Alumni Association group, Harvard Writers and Publishers. Our mission is to publish books that transcend national boundaries. We appreciate the aesthetic value and constructive social or political content, especially manuscripts related to climate change, deforestation, and conservation.

Traditional publisher

Literary Fiction, Mystery, Thriller, Horror & Suspense, Mind & Body, Romantic Fiction, Science Fiction & Fantasy, YA Fiction, Biography & Memoir, Career & Success, Health, Fitness & Dieting, Journalism, Mindfulness & Happiness, Personal Growth & Self-Improvement, Politics & Social Sciences, Science, Society & Culture, Sports & Outdoors, Technology & the Future

California

Odyssey Books logo Odyssey Books

500 copies • Partial manuscript • Looking for fiction, memoir, and narrative non-fiction, as well as novelty and picture books from Aus/NZ authors only.
Odyssey Books is committed to publishing engaging and beautifully written books. Books that stretch the imagination, challenge pre-existing attitudes and beliefs, or take readers to far-flung climes. Books are always a journey. And as our name suggests, we invest in epic journeys, adventurous voyages and intellectual or spiritual quests. Readers are sure to find a book within our range of titles to challenge, inspire, and entertain. Odyssey titles are distributed in Australia and New Zealand by Novella Distribution, and worldwide via Ingram.

Traditional publisher

Literary Fiction, Mind & Body, Mystery, Thriller, Horror & Suspense, Science Fiction & Fantasy, YA Fiction, Biography & Memoir, Cookbooks, Food & Wine, History, Journalism, Society & Culture, Technology & the Future, Travel

Worldwide

Scribbcrib Publishing logo Scribbcrib Publishing

500 copies • Completed manuscript • Looking for romance, fantasty, science fiction, and poetry.
We're a small publisher, created by authors, for authors. We specialize in unknown authors looking to get their foot in the door. We provide all of the services required for your book to be successful, but also require a lot from our authors in return. We are a royalty publisher and do not charge for services, but we ask our authors to assist with personally marketing their work.

Traditional publisher

Children Fiction, Literary Fiction, Mind & Body, Mystery, Thriller, Horror & Suspense, Romantic Fiction, Science Fiction & Fantasy, YA Fiction, Biography & Memoir, Business & Money, Career & Success, Cookbooks, Food & Wine, Health, Fitness & Dieting, History, Journalism, Personal Growth & Self-Improvement, Politics & Social Sciences, Religion & Spirituality, Science, Society & Culture, Sports & Outdoors, Technology & the Future, Travel

Worldwide

Silver Leaf Books logo Silver Leaf Books

Silver Leaf Books LLC (SLB) will design and market interesting, exciting, and creative stories based on the Action / Adventure, Fantasy, Horror, Mystery, Science Fiction, Suspense, and Thriller genres.

Our novels are intended for genre book readers from age 10 and up. These books will be written by up and coming yet talented authors who have interesting storylines but are relatively unknown in the industry.

SLB realizes that there are challenges inherent to introducing new and unknown talent, but it is our hope that a quality product and storyline will generate a loyal fan following in these core genres of our business.

Our books are released in print and are available direct through our website and can be ordered wherever books are sold, as well as digitally and electronically.

Traditional publisher

Literary Fiction, Mystery, Thriller, Horror & Suspense, Science Fiction & Fantasy, YA Fiction

United States, Canada

Agora Publishing logo Agora Publishing

Agora Publishing is a Canada-based not-for-profit organization, founded in 1997 with the aim of making book publishing accessible to all writers across Canada and internationally.

We are the only hybrid book publisher which is also a cable TV show producer; newspaper publisher; social media marketer and search engine marketing organization.

Do you have a Twitter following of at least 5000?

We will interview eligible authors for 15 minutes for our cable TV show broadcast.

If your raw interview footage generates at least 1000 views within a four day period, we will air your interview on our cable TV show.

Contact us for more information.

Applications are due Saturday, May 29, 2021.

#authors #bookmarketing #writers #tv

Hybrid publisher

All categories

Worldwide

Anaphora Literary Press logo Anaphora Literary Press

250 copies • Partial manuscript.
Anaphora Literary Press was started in 2009 and publishes fiction, short stories, creative and non-fiction books. Anaphora has exhibited its titles at SIBA, ALA, SAMLA, and many other international conventions. Services include book trailers, press releases, merchandise design, book review (free in pdf/epub) submissions, proofreading, formatting, design, LCCN/ISBN assignment, international distribution, art creation, ebook (Kindle, EBSCO, ProQuest)/ softcover/ hardcover editions, and dozens of other components included in the basic package.

Hybrid publisher

Children Fiction, Literary Fiction, Mind & Body, Mystery, Thriller, Horror & Suspense, Romantic Fiction, Science Fiction & Fantasy, YA Fiction, Biography & Memoir, Business & Money, Career & Success, Cookbooks, Food & Wine, Health, Fitness & Dieting, History, Journalism, Personal Growth & Self-Improvement, Politics & Social Sciences, Religion & Spirituality, Science, Society & Culture, Sports & Outdoors, Technology & the Future, Travel

Worldwide

Lulu Press, Inc. logo Lulu Press, Inc.

Since 2002, Lulu has enabled more than 1 million authors in more than 225 countries and territories to self-publish nearly 2 million publications. Our industry-leading tools, worldwide print network and global community help authors hone their craft and publish printed books and eBooks for FREE. Offering the largest Indie bookstore at Lulu.com and distribution services, you can sell in online bookstores around the world. With Lulu, authors are in control, forever owning the rights to their works, setting their own price and keeping 80 percent of their book profits and 90 percent of eBook profits.

Hybrid publisher

All categories

United States

WiDo Publishing / E.L. Marker logo WiDo Publishing / E.L. Marker

250 copies • Completed manuscript.
E.L. Marker™, WiDo Publishing’s new imprint, is a hybrid publisher established to meet the needs of authors in a changing publishing climate. Now, more than ever, writers are seeking a blend between self-publishing and traditional publishing. They want an option that offers the higher royalties and greater control associated with self- publishing, while enjoying the prestige and quality provided by a traditional publisher.

Hybrid publisher

Literary Fiction, Mystery, Thriller, Horror & Suspense, Romantic Fiction, Science Fiction & Fantasy, YA Fiction, Biography & Memoir, Cookbooks, Food & Wine, History, Journalism, Politics & Social Sciences, Religion & Spirituality, Travel

Worldwide

BookFuel logo BookFuel

From Manuscript to Market.

We help authors self-publish their books by providing the professional services needed to get books into book stores.

Services offered include: Editing, Cover Design, Print Layout, eBook Conversion, and Distribution.

Our unique Boost program allows authors to have their books created for $2,399.

The process is guided by a dedicated Account Manager, who's goal is to produce the book the author envisioned.

With BookFuel, authors retain 100% of their rights, ownership of their files, and all their royalties.

Service publisher

Children Fiction, Literary Fiction, Mind & Body, Mystery, Thriller, Horror & Suspense, Romantic Fiction, Science Fiction & Fantasy, YA Fiction, Biography & Memoir, Business & Money, Career & Success, Cookbooks, Food & Wine, Health, Fitness & Dieting, History, Journalism, Politics & Social Sciences, Religion & Spirituality, Science, Society & Culture, Sports & Outdoors, Technology & the Future, Travel

Worldwide

EMSA Publishing logo EMSA Publishing

EMSA Publishing is a small, independent online publisher with a goal to facilitate new and established authors with an online presence.

We offer pay-per service publishing at a low fee, including editing, formatting, illustrating, cover art, and distribution to on-demand publishers such as Amazon, Kobo, and Ingram-Spark in eBook, paperback and hard cover.

Our main goal is to help independent authors get published and sell books with compelling stories, attractive covers, and effective editing. Building an author platform is key, especially for new authors. EMSA Publishing also offers web page set up services and blog tour planning to help new authors establish an online author platform.

EMSA Publishing‘s overall mandate is to get your book read and to help you establish a foothold in the continually evolving world of ePublishing.

If you are interested, please contact Elise at admin@emsapublishing.com

Service publisher

Literary Fiction, Mystery, Thriller, Horror & Suspense, Romantic Fiction, Science Fiction & Fantasy, YA Fiction

Worldwide

JETLAUNCH logo JETLAUNCH

100 copies • Completed manuscript.
Jetlaunch book design and project management services give you back the hours you need to grow your publishing business. We've done work for John Lee Dumas, Ed Mylett, Rachel Pedersen, Dan Sullivan, Aaron Walker, Amy Landino (Schmittauer), Kary Oberbrunner, Jim Edwards, and many publishing companies. You retain all rights and royalties.

Service publisher

Worldwide

*

I awoke to a world of chaos and darkness.

I was on the floor of one of the bio labs along with a case of glass vials full of REZ 3 serum. I don't remember falling. As I maneuvered around the fragile vials full of blue anti-aging elixir, I made sure to avoid the ones that had broken and were leaking onto the white tile.

Wiping the shards of broken glass off my white lab coat I had to shield my eyes from the bright red floodlights flashing overhead. The dull echo in my eardrums muffled out the words on the intercom. What had happened?

I knelt with my fingers pushing on my ears and managed to block just enough of the deafening blaring to hear the female robotic voice broadcasting over the SEN. Secure Emergency Network.

'This is not a drill. There has been a breach in the system's stations. Please make your way to your designated evacuation pod for muster with your MO specialist. I repeat, this is not a drill.'

The Automated Recall Computer's (ARC) emergency broadcast was on a two-minute loop. In an unlikely instance of an emergency, the system would automatically upload emergency protocol and issue an evacuation. I guess an emergency was more likely than they thought. My mind was spinning over the words. The system's stations were down? What did that even mean? Like, off? Or, inoperable? And if they were down, what good would Mission Ordinance do? I grabbed the nearest operating table and pulled myself to my feet.

I felt a surge of pain in my kneecaps as they squished into some of the broken glass. Luckily, it didn't draw blood. I squinted through the flashing red to make out the features of the room. I fumbled through the dark with one hand one the wall, another outstretched before me. The crimson hue was useless. Every few seconds when the siren light would spin I'd be blinded all over again, while my night vision fought to adjust to the pitch black. This was an endless cycle of insanity while I blindly guided my way around the room toward the door. I felt a pressure on the back of my head and thought one of the machines was jabbing me, but as I went to brush it away my hand made contact with a fleshy substance. My teeth bit down into my lip from the sudden pain. I could taste the bitter iron in my mouth and spit the blood into the darkness. The object pushing on my skull was no object at all, rather, the insides of my brain desperately trying to free itself from my skull.

My very own parasite clawing its way out its pancreatic sac in search of its next host.

The grapefruit-sized swell protruding from my matted hair felt sticky and moist. And, tender—very, very tender, and fresh. The pus adhered my fingers together with its foggy membrane.

The moment my head went above my knees my body summersaulted sideways with the rush of blood. I lost all motor functions in an instant and went tumbling into the wall. A sharp pop jolted my shoulder, and the socket immediately started throbbing. A sudden wave of vertigo launched me to my knees a second time. I barely leeched my hands along the cool rim of the wastebasket before my stomach fulfilled its safety protocol when a contagion entered the body. I saw the dark black letters Hazardous Materials illuminate red when the flashing red sirens blared overhead. I raised my face from the depths of death, leaving a competent pool of oral excrement in my wake. I used the sleeve of my lab coat to wipe the grit from my lips. Thank God I had emptied it the night before.
The Easy Make Egg curdled at the bottom of the grey plastic as I cleared my senses with several steady breaths. With the support of one of the nearby walls, I oriented myself against its stability to fend off the whiplashes of vertigo that threatened to send me to my knees a second time. I etched my way slowly along the wall towards the door leading out of the lab, my hand never leaving its smooth surface.

In my nauseating whirlwind I tripped over something clunky on the floor, and smacked my forehead into the table. White specks floated into existence with every rapid blink. I gripped the leather cushion on the table and hauled wobbly feet under me. Through the red flashing I saw the body. The clot in my throat returned, and had I not just emptied my stomach of its breakfast, I would have vomited again. My wrist rattled over my mouth as I tried to hold back the gagging escapade emitting like a chained rodent, and the shrilling gasps as I tried to maintain a steady breathing.

Three seconds later the floodlights lit upon the numbers 100 embroidered on the chest of the white shirt he wore. I tried my best to ignore the rotting tissue falling away from his cheekbone and the white pus leaking from both eye sockets. Let’s just say, number 100 had not faired well during trials. Nor had the others.

Volunteer 100 - Terminated.

Number 100 had been the most promising of the volunteers administered the serum. In the first 24 hours the subjects were in a calm state. Vitals were normal and improving. As was expected. Within 36 hours the skin had regained its elasticity and color in each of the subjects. After 52 hours, they were up and moving, full of energy, and healthy, a younger version of themselves. Some exhibited signs of age resistance and reversal as significant as fifty years! Preliminary data revealed the serum had worked better than we could have imagined. All 99 of the volunteers had no signs of their actual old age. BioTic had solved the problem of death. The volunteers were proof that the ravaging effects of age could be reversed.

Then everything changed.

At 75 hours, our optimism was dashed to pieces as numbers 1 through 23 collapsed; their bodies spasmed on the floor until the muscles stopped twitching. Each one had died within the first two minutes of the onslaught of the seizures. Numbers 24 through 87 were holding strong— muscles, tissues, tendons, and neuron activity all reactivating and reproducing at exponential rates.

At 107 hours, all were lying in puddles of their own blood and erupted organs. Their eyes had burst, ears oozed hardened, yellow pus, and their muscles had dislocated completely from their bones, or snapped in half entirely.

In a desperate attempt to counteract the adverse side effects, numbers 88 to 99 were quarantined in the cryogenic chamber and pumped full of nitrogen to slow the blood cells from regenerating. All died similar deaths in their solitary confinement chambers later that night. Their vitals had skyrocketed just before taking a nosedive. Within two minutes they went from healthy, fully-functional younger images of their former selves to vibrating carcasses castrated on the cold, hard floor with their intestines hanging from their mouths and eyes, black blood everywhere. The stench reminded me of dying fish.

Their lifespans crossed the peak of 200 hours before relapse and total bodily shutdown. All 99 were wheeled off to the infirmary for incineration. With the anti-aging serum still in test trials, BioTic couldn’t risk an outbreak to the rest of the crew and inhabitants onboard Proc 1.

I had lost all hope of breaking the genetic code for the REZ 3 serum, until I met number 100. Something within me felt different the first time I shook his hand. He was calm, quiet, and strangely indifferent. He felt like the missing puzzle piece to an impossible equation of DNA strands and chromosomes. I don’t know what it was, but I just knew, in my heart of hearts, that he was the key to breaking the code.

The quad-cycle computers ran the calibrations for a week before I felt confident enough that the results were valid. Chromosome 13 was flagged as the faulty speck believed to be causing the reversal of the anti-aging serum. Instead of returning the youthfulness back to the host, and stabilizing, their bodies reverted back to Nature’s natural cycle, except now at 1,000 times the rate.
REZ 3 worked initially, but after 24 hours the outcome was fatal. Each volunteer had rapidly aged and then died as a direct result of elevated cell degeneration.
In laymen terms, all 99 volunteers had died of old age.

So much for the anti-death magic elixir I had thought.

My vision returned to normal as I continued to stare down at the last of the willing subjects to volunteer for the program. Why did he have to die too? My mind raced back to the last dose I had administered to him two weeks prior. During his daily checkup, his vitals had looked good and were holding. And yet, he had died too less than a few hours earlier. ARC came back over the intercom shattering my reclusive dream. I wished it were all a dream.

‘System's machines have failed. Propulsions 1, 11, 19, and 21 have failed. Proc 1 has lost all power in the main thrusters. Prepare for impact. I repeat, Proc 1 is going down.'

What! My back was violently jerked to the side and smashed into the adjacent wall. The dead body of number 100 slid on top of me. His puffy, blank eyes glared down at me. When the floodlights shown again, number 100's features spurred curiosity within me. There were no visible signs of death. His eyes hadn't burst, his ears weren't bleeding, and there was no evidence he had had a seizure. With his body lying on my abdomen, I squeezed my hand out from under him and felt for a pulse. I waited for ten seconds—hopeful.

ARC made me jump as her static voice blared through the intercom.

'All stations must evacuate to their designated areas IMMEDIATELY! Systems are critical. Make your way—'

ARC went out in a gurgle of static. I felt Proc 1 rattle beneath me as the engines strained against the weight of the ship. With power lost to the propulsion tubes, there was no way the backup generators could compensate for that amount of wattage. We were going down.

Number 100 shot to the ceiling with a sudden whip. His head snapped to the side and hung there crooked. I soon joined him against the ceiling. I hung weightless for the next several seconds as my body floated in midair. The broken vials of REZ 3 and the purple substance within their sealed glass bodies hovered all around me like sharp bubbles ready to burst. My eyes shifted to number 100. Had he just blinked? I had my gaze locked on his face when my body lurched back to the ground well before I ever heard the recoil of the explosion

Number 100’s limp frame landed beside me, our eyes inches from one another. The back of my head burned and my fingers tingled. The room faded in and out as I struggled to remain conscious. Just before the world returned to black, I saw his eyes twitch open and look at me.

He was alive!


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  • Matthew Thrush
    on July 18, 2016, 7:47 p.m.

    haha, You know I only give you the best there is to offer. ;)

  • Justin Mickle
    on July 18, 2016, 10:54 p.m.

    Woo! Best of luck. Look forward to the read.

  • Dale Ross
    on July 19, 2016, 12:13 p.m.

    Looking forward to adding you to my must reading list!

  • Kari DeNeal
    on July 21, 2016, 4:14 a.m.

    Can't wait to read the real thing! :)

  • Tim Landrum
    on July 21, 2016, 1:35 p.m.

    I'm really excited that I can pre-order your book and help it get published. Good luck Matthew!!

  • Eric Zamarripa
    on July 27, 2016, 3:59 p.m.

    New book. New author to me. No expectations. Yup, I'll give it a try. You should do the same!

  • Matthew Thrush
    on July 27, 2016, 4:49 p.m.

    @Eric Zamarripa, Thank you for your support. I hope you enjoy the story. I look forward to hearing what you think.

  • Megan Hailey
    on July 31, 2016, 4:15 a.m.

    I have caught the sickness and I can feel it. Do you know "err"?

  • Gary Coffman
    on Aug. 4, 2016, 3:03 a.m.

    Looking forward to reading your book. Gary

  • Lee Constantine
    on Aug. 4, 2016, 9:30 a.m.

    Good luck Matthew! Hit your goal so I can read this book!

  • Grace A Blair
    on Aug. 22, 2016, 2:55 p.m.

    Go Matthew check out AuthorU for tips on publishing

  • Larry Thrush
    on Aug. 27, 2016, 4:16 p.m.

    Best of luck young man. Awesome story telling skills

  • Anonymous
    on Dec. 11, 2019, 2:38 a.m.

    i cant buy the book in my country :( TT

  • Anonymous
    on Feb. 26, 2021, 12:19 p.m.

    Russian actor Panin is seen on an erotic resource loveawake.ru