I’ve been much busier than usual this week, so I don’t have a story for you. I know I promised that regular posts would be returning this weekend, and I intend to keep that promise. So, with that in mind, I’ve prepared something a little different.
Instead of a story, I’m posting and excerpt from my work-in-progress, tentatively titled The Forgotten. For anyone who didn’t read my pre-NaNoWriMo posts, this is based on an earlier story I wrote by the same name. You can read that one here. So, without further ado, I present to you, and excerpt from The Forgotten.
Rayelle jolted awake. The alcohol had worn off and she felt like shit. What time was it? Midnight? Drinking that much was a terrible idea. Gods, though her head hurt. It was a nightmare that had woken her up. She couldn’t remember much about it, but she could remember that it was terrifying.
She got up, bleary eyed. A wave of nausea hit her but she suppressed it. Water would help. She moved to the kitchen on unsteady legs and poured herself a glass.
She stood there, in the middle of her kitchen and drank the whole glass, which didn’t help nearly as much as she had hoped it would. She stared out the back window as she did. Looking out a window at night was always a terrible idea, but at least there wasn’t anybody out there right now. She finished her water and placed it on the counter, then turned the water back on and splashed a little in her face. That was better. She turned to leave the kitchen. After all, she had work tomorrow and she was already going to be a zombie. Before she got out, though, she caught a glimpse outside. Someone was out there. A guy was running like a madman down the back alley. What the hell was he doing out there? Didn’t he know he’d die?
Idiot. She couldn’t help someone like that. And yet, she couldn’t look away. She felt herself moving toward the kitchen door, the one that lead outside. She stopped herself. No, there was no helping him. If she tried, she’d die too. She turned back around. It really was time for bed.
Before she knew what was happening, she found herself at the door with her hand on the knob. Was she really going to do this? There was no way. It was insanity. But still, there was this feeling. A feeling like maybe she could help. Probably not, she’d probably just die like that Rin girl from last night. It didn’t matter though, her mind was made up. She was going to try.
It felt like the door threw itself open as she peered out into the night and before she knew it, she was running. Within seconds she had reached the guy and grabbed him by the arm.
“We have to go,” she shouted at him. He made no response, but didn’t resist as she pulled him toward her house. The wide open door was becoming blurry, indistinct. It began bobbing in and out of existence. Her breath caught in her chest. She was going to die here.
Suddenly the door drew into focus. The world snapped back, clear and her chest was less tight. She could breathe again. She ran as fast as she could, clutching the guy like Jenna had clutched her just hours before. While he wasn’t resisting, he certainly wasn’t making it any easier. His breath was labored and it looked like he was blind. He dragged one foot behind him, completely useless.
They made it inside and she slammed the door with her foot. She had hoped he would be easier to carry once they got inside but he wasn’t. If anything, he was actually heavier now. She dumped him on the couch and looked him over. Nothing seemed to be wrong, there were no bruises, no broken bones, no outward signs of anything, really. He stared up with uncomprehending eyes and didn’t move. He was already dead. She checked for a pulse. No, he was alive. She put a blanket over him. She could deal with him in the morning. In the meantime, she needed sleep.
Modern Authors 