Addiction, abduction and a battle for survival. Welcome to the world of Black Scales, where in the depths of an opioid epidemic, a young man's moral compass is pushed to its limits. In 2032, the UK is on its knees. A decade of riots, rebellion and civil war known as The Panic has decimated the nation. Left in its wake is a despicable world of despair and corruption. An opioid known as ‘croc’ rules the streets. Addiction sedates the masses and the rebellion dies. Slums and shanty towns cascade through the country. Criminal factions operate in the city’s dark underbelly. Addicts roam wild, robbing and murdering in pursuit of their next fix. In Manchester, The City Guard, a coalition of the police and military, has regained order with an iron fist.  Black Scales follows Jude, a young urban hunter who lives in The Gardens. Orphaned by The Panic he has no choice but to survive by all means necessary. But when Jude discovers his adoptive family, former rebel agitators have been betrayed to the City Guard, he vows revenge on the addict who betrayed them and the man who pulled the trigger.  As Jude sets out for revenge, circumstance thrusts him into the midst of a ruthless serial killer. The pair enter into a tentative master and apprentice relationship, testing Jude’s morals to their limits. Over 15k words available now! Releasing a chapter every 2-3 days. New to this,, please feel free to contact me with any feedback, comments, or thoughts. Thank you.