Excerpt Part 2
Book will be ready by December 1st. Unless otherwise stated, this is the publishing date. All that’s left is the final proofreading, formatting, and tweaks.
Until then, here is the second half of the prologue, this time with the main character, Bree Booker. Both parts of the prologue take placed 15 years in the past. Enjoy!
Blue and red flashed across the brickwork, and Bree shrank further into the dumpster’s shadow. The screaming—a dull roar hours before—crescendoed throughout the district, joining the chorus of choking moans. The horrific noise made Bree clutch her book closer, rubbing the snot from her face as she cast tearful glances at the fire escape above.
I need you to be brave.
Ripping away her gaze, she crept out from hiding, pressing against the wall with each careful step. Mama insisted that she leave, but Bree needed to finish this book. Stories always made Jasmin smile. Obviously, it was what her sister needed to feel better. That was why Bree had to keep her book safe. Once the bad people left, then she could come back and make the ouchies go away.
I need you to get out of here, sweetie.
Reaching the end of the alley, Bree poked her head out from around the corner. Cars blocked the end of the streets, light shining through their hollow husks and hiding the source of the screaming. Monsters liked to gobble little girls, and while she didn’t see any in the streets, it didn’t mean they weren’t hidden in the shadows. Papa had said the monsters were too scared of him and Mama since they were both brave. She just needed to pretend to be brave long enough to get through the door. If there was one thing Bree was good at, it was playing pretend. So, straightening her shoulders and clutching the book tight, she—
A large hand grabbed her arm and yanked her away from the door. Shrieking, Bree tried to swing the book around, flailing her arms in panic. The man grunted, arms tightening around her chest as her feet lifted from the ground. Kicking out with her legs, the book hit the man, jarring out of Bree’s grip as his hold loosened. When her heel hit a particularly soft spot, the man released her with a gasp. She landed next to the stairs, scrambling up the few steps to lunge for the door. With both hands clenched around the handle, Bree yanked. It didn’t budge.
Bree tried pulling on it a few more times until her hands slipped away in a tumble at the final attempt. Grabbing the handle again, Bree stared up to find large, yellow signs plastered over the battered wood. The black letters stretched across the sign made her pause as she tried to sound out the syllables. Behind her, a string of curses caught her attention and she turned to watch the man rise up with wide eyes. She banged her fists against the door with a scream. Mama always came when she made too much noise, and Bree didn’t care if she got in trouble if it meant getting away.
The man made another grab for her, forcing her to stagger back, and she lost her balance. Arms flailing, she failed to reorient herself and smacked into her attacker as she tumbled down the steps. Her shoulder throbbed on impact, and her hands scraped against the concrete as she lunged forward into a sprint. Her heart thudded against her ears, the fear overcoming the pain as loose rocks dug into her bare feet.
Bree ran, too out of breath to do more than whimper while tears and snot ran down her face. Wild eyes whipped toward every corner as Bree searched for the other monsters. They knew Papa wasn’t here to protect her. Yet she only saw those bright yellow signs, like dozens of eyes glaring at her from the darkness. It wasn’t until she went around the next corner that she realized the direction she had been heading. Before her sat the rundown schoolhouse. More than half the windows were shattered and yellow signs formed a barrier across the door. If there was anyone scarier than Papa, it was Mrs. Alberta. She could stop the monsters.
Don’t let anyone get you.
Going to the nearest window, Bree choked down her sobs and scrambled through, feeling a glass shard stuck in the frame slice into her leg. Once inside, she crouched, peering over the sill, watching the monsters appear just seconds after, this time armed with flashlights. They turned toward the school, the light brushing across the window and forcing Bree to duck down, hands pressed against her mouth and eyes clenched shut.
Don’t trust anyone, strangers are monsters in disguise.
“Are you sure she went this way?”
“Of course, she’s gotta be here somewhere.”
“Gods, can’tcha handle one little girl?”“Hey, you try holding on when she flailed the way she did.”
“Moron, we still have eight more blocks and I don’t want to be here any longer than necessary.”
“If Greg finds out—”
“If he finds out. Besides, one little girl ain’t gonna do much. Once lockdown’s done, security is going to be tight. Even this close to the borders, there’s no way out.”
“I swear, you’re going…”
The voices drifted away from her, the light disappearing and leaving Bree in the dark. Bree waited a second before she crept forward and away from the windows, half expecting the men to lunge over the window for her. The lack of light in the long hall made it scarier. But Mama had made her promise that she was going to be brave and Bree needed to at least try for Jasmin. Who else was going to read to her little sister? Plus, even though she’d lost the book during her escape, Bree knew she could find one on Mrs. Alberta’s bookshelf. It took a few minutes, but Bree eventually found the classroom. Light shone through the door’s small window, and Bree sobbed in relief as she ran the rest of the way.
Don’t worry about us, we’ll be fine. We’ll follow once Jasmin’s better.
Pushing through the door, Bree stopped in her tracks at the sight of the disheveled classroom. A man stood toward the back, grumbling as he tore wires from the bank of computers. On the ground, limbs askew and eyes wide and glazed, lay another man. In the dim light of this classroom, he was easily recognizable as the kind officer that always helped her cross the street. Except his easy smile was replaced by a slack jaw, eyes staring blankly up at the ceiling. His shirt was darkened along his chest, his empty hand stretched out across the linoleum. Bree froze at the sight, unnerved by how still the officer lay. Then a crash followed by a growl drew Bree’s attention back toward the man fumbling in the back of the classroom.
Just make sure you keep yourself safe.
Spinning on her heel, Bree bolted from the room, running the maze of hallways, putting as much distance between herself and the classroom as she could. She ended up stumbling out the front door, and she heard monsters begin to shout from all directions. Whipping her head around, Bree backed toward the front door, screaming at the monsters that approached. She had nowhere to run. With an anguished cry, Bree fell to her knees. Hands pressed against her ears and eyes clenched shut, she curled her small body over her thighs and waited for their claws to dig into her skin. She wanted to leave, get as far away from his place as she could. She didn’t even care where just as long as it was anywhere but here.
Rocking back and forth on her knees, she sobbed, “L-leave me a-a-alone. P-please.”
Bree choked, her pleas interrupted when something slammed through her. A searing presence erupted from somewhere in her chest and a loud roar deafened her ears. At that moment, as she felt her head implode, the world seemed to spin away from her. The moment she could breathe, Bree cried, confident the monster had chomped down on her. It was this thought that caused her to jump with a shriek when a hand gently shook her shoulder.
Live your life, don’t worry about us.
Bree fought hard against the person, screaming out repeatedly to be let go. It didn’t take long before she was exhausted, too tired even to lift her head. In her delirious state, it took her a moment to realize that the person who held her wasn’t simply lugging her away. He was holding her tightly but gently against his chest, whispering into her ear in a soothing tone that reminded her of Papa. Promises of safety drifted around her, a small hand rubbed along her back, her sniffles petered out, and the exhaustion took over.
Promise me you’ll find someplace to be happy.
With eyes flickering open, Bree spotted a tall chain-link fence highlighted by blue and red lights, leaving her to wonder where the school had run off to before she drifted away.
A-and remember that I’m a-always, always, proud of you.
Until publishing date!
Visit my website www.melissaojeda.com
