About Augland:
Excerpt:
Ashton looked into the brilliant sunset reflected across the water on the distant horizon. She knew the enhanced colors weren’t real (the outside climate was far too cold and drizzly for this manufactured beach paradise), but she liked to pretend, even for a moment, that the heat, the sunset, and the perfect specimens walking past her were authentic.
Even after three years of working at Maya Bay, Ashton was still in awe of its artificial beauty. White sand and crystal-blue water stretched out for miles. Lush green trees and staggering cliffs created a sheltered cove around the restaurant where she worked as a server, and she daily admired the manufactured beauty. Down on the beach, crowds of Suits were headed toward one of several Maya Bay Resorts or to the Suit Transit Station, which would take them back to the parks where they lived. Their perfect artificial bodies set against the flawless landscape almost made Ashton believe that Augland was a real paradise.
Behind her in the restaurant, Marius was wiping down the bar, scrubbing the counter vigorously. He didn’t look up at Ashton as she passed him to clear off a recently vacated table. He had his favorite servers, and Ashton was not one of them.
They had worked together since Ashton first arrived at Maya Bay. They quickly became friends, a relationship that lasted even after Marius was promoted to manager. A few months earlier, however, their friendship had taken a turn for the worse when Marius revealed his romantic intentions. Ashton wasn’t one to continue anything under false pretenses. Suffice it to say, Marius hadn’t taken the rejection well.
“Ashton,” he said curtly, not looking up from the already spotless counter he was still wiping. He was short, with sandy blond hair that swept to the right and large, coke-bottle glasses that made him strangely intimidating. “I still see water marks.”
Marius pointed with his towel toward the table Ashton had just cleaned. She followed the damp rag with her eyes to the empty table between the bar and patio full of Suits. Ashton nodded, acknowledging his request, and continued carrying her full tray to the kitchen.
“Now, Ashton,” he said with a stern voice. Ashton jumped at his sudden spike in volume. It wasn’t uncommon for Marius to act in a controlling manner; it was how he liked to lead the staff, to find their weakness and exploit it to show his authority. He was fond of power plays and testing boundaries. Ashton turned and headed toward the table she had just cleared.
“No problem,” she said, turning back to the table and wiping harder than she normally would. Marius hovered around her for a while as she worked and then made his way back to his office. Ashton sighed in relief as he rounded the corner past the kitchen and out of sight.
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About Erin Carrougher:
Erin Carrougher lives in the Seattle area and was more than suited to write about the region as the location of her dystopian novel. She has a passion for storytelling and loves to envision worlds other than our own. Carrougher minored in Creative Writing and currently works as a Sales Manager, and enjoys cooking and the outdoors. Augland is Carrougher’s first novel.
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