After the Silence – Bree
(Volume 1)
Part 1 now on sale for $0.99 !! at all vendors.
One woman’s
journey through the chaotic new world.
Those left
standing make the paths for the future generations.
Those the planet allowed to live still have
to survive the trials of the virus. If you manage to come out of it alive you
are left with some form of mutation that could give you an ability that could
be harmless or lethal.
Bree Taylor is the last survivor of her
family. With no other choice she sets off on her own to escape the clutches of
the new government’s army—that does not place safety and security in their code
of behavior only the highest bidder get their protection and loyalty.
The entire
volume 1 will be released in January 2015.
First part of
volume 2 (Kane's story) is TBR in November 2014
After the
Silence – Bree
Part 1
Excerpt Book 1:
The snapping
and crunching of branches told me something was moving through the trees.
Turning the flash light off, I hunched down to be as small and invisible as
possible. I listened in the darkness for
anything that would let me know where the noise had come from and what had made
it. Voices were carried to me in the
dark, a man and a woman. I moved slowly
back towards my things and sat with my back against the tree straining to see
in the dark.
Time stopped as
I waited to see if the voices kept moving or came closer. I wasn’t sure what I’d do if they did come
closer. I touched the handle of the
knife inside my coat, hoping this wasn’t when I find out if I could use
it. Leaves rustled from behind me. I held my breath and pushed back against the
tree, waiting. When I heard a low growl
coming from around the tree I think even my heart even paused.
I had strangers
coming closer on one side of me and an animal voicing a warning behind me. Tremor shook his head and pranced a few times
and the growling got louder. I sat there
trying to gauge what was the most important and decided there was no way I was
going to let something happen to my horse.
Sliding up the tree as quietly as I could, while focusing on the voices,
I tried to recall every skill instilled in me, drawing more blanks than
anything useful.
Pulling the
knife from the pocket, I prayed it was sharp enough to cut the rope I’d tied
Tremor to. I guessed I had about fifteen
seconds to cut it and get to the horse before whatever was growling took a bite
off one of my legs or other body parts.
Chewing my lip, I hoped I could still get on his back without the
saddle. The plan was to ride like hell
and come back later for my stuff—if we could find it again.
After the
Silence – Bree
Part 2
Excerpt Part 2:
Claws dug into
me as it climbed to my neck at the same moment ice cold water swallowed
me. My breath left my body so quickly it
felt like my lungs were going to burst.
The intense pain from the incisions the animal was making across my
chest brought me the strength to kick as hard as I could towards the
surface. I wasn’t the strongest swimmer
by far, but I had more than enough will to live to try for both of us.
In the brief
glimpses I managed to keep my head above the water, I didn’t spot the shore once. We were being sucked into the middle. Through
the white choppy water that blurred my vision I was only able to catch a quick
look each time before we were dragged under again. I could feel the rocks rake over my back and
hoped there would be enough flesh left to survive it.
The cat was
practically wrapped around my neck and holding several layers of skin and flesh
captive in its young claws as we swirled around again in a deep pit of rushing
water. Each time we surfaced, I gulped
as much air into my lungs as I could before water filled my mouth again. The undercurrent calmed just long enough for
me to find the direction of shore and with every ounce of strength I could find
I kicked and paddled with my arms trying to shove us in that direction. I could make out a tree that was floating
near the bank just seconds before I was inhaling water again.
Hitting the
bottom I shoved as hard as I could and tried to aim to the calmer water near
the shore, not even knowing if I was going in the right direction until air hit
my face once more. The tree was still in
sight and I somehow knew if we didn’t reach it we wouldn’t be on land after
that. Releasing my hold on the animal
that was anchored to me so deeply that no way was it going to jump off and
float away I swam towards the tree and prayed I’d reach the limbs lying in the
water before we were dragged beyond them.
After the
Silence - Bree
Part 3
Excerpt Part 3:
The sound of
wings flapping had my undivided attention; I stopped and held my breath trying
to locate the direction it was coming from. The moment I honed in on the area
the bird had been I wished I hadn’t. Here I was half way to the middle of the
clearing in snow up past my knees and coming out of the trees roughly thirty
feet from me were two very rough, huge men. I had twenty seconds grace before
they spotted me, just enough time to turn in the snow and take the first step
in what would likely end up being the most difficult run of my life.
Running in snow
this deep was like running through water. If your feet didn’t clear it you got
nowhere. I hadn’t stopped long enough to measure the height of the men quickly
gaining on me, but I was fairly certain their long legs would move through this
snow faster than my own.
As I hit the
tree line again, I hesitated long enough to pick a direction. Kismet and I had
been through this area enough times I knew most of it without thinking now.
Slipping in the snow I changed directions and headed towards the hill that led
to the river bed. If I could out-maneuver them in the densest part of the trees
I might just be able to put a big enough gap between us that they’d give up.
Chancing a
glance over my shoulder I noted one thing. They were large enough it would take
four of me to make this anywhere near equal. My heart was thrumming, pumping
blood through my veins in a chaotic beat. A part of me knew I couldn’t outrun
them, but I had to try. Turning, I bolted back towards a tight grouping of
trees. I could hear the pounding of their feet hitting the ground behind me and
had one second to regret the one time I didn’t let Kismet come with me. He
would have evened the odds.
One of them was
close enough I could hear his heavy breathing over my own as I dodged between
two trees I knew he wouldn’t be able to go through. My coat was actually
slowing me down, but it held the knife and gun and there was no way I was
dropping either of those right now. I heard him curse behind me and knew I only
had seconds before he would have me. Ducking left, I stopped and spun around at
the same time. My knife was now in my hand held down against my side as I
gasped to settle my breathing. He stood a foot away from me and looked really
pissed with the fact that I had made him run after me.
I wanted to
look around for the other one, but didn’t dare take my eyes off of him. A
familiar flick sound brought my attention to his hand to see a blade slide
smoothly from the handle it had been folded into. There was nothing I could say
that was going to change this man’s plans. His eyes were wide and bored into
mine with a look of craziness. A branch snapping behind me was the only warning
I got before a big arm wrapped around my waist and pulled me back into a hard
chest.
They spoke to
each other and it wasn’t in any language I understood, then again I only knew
English. The tone the man in front of me used and the sudden smirk on his face
told me I was in deep shit. There was no way, no how this was happening to me.
I refused to be a victim. The one behind me tightened his hold, making
breathing hard. He rubbed his face against my neck making my skin crawl. The
other one waved the knife in front of me a few times and then used it to push
open my coat. He grinned and said something to the one that was breathing on my
neck.
The adrenaline
was pumping so fast through my body I didn’t know how I was able to not
vibrate. Now or never! Lowering my head, I relaxed my body as much as I could.
Taking a deep breath, I threw my head back and brought my hand with the knife
up at the same time, aiming for the arm around me. The loud crack and sudden
pain in my head told me I’d connected hard with the face behind me. He cursed
and let me go just as the other one lunged towards me. I felt the sting across
my cheek as I brought the knife down and across his chest.
After the
Silence - Bree
Part 4
TBR September
18th
Excerpt:
The sound of
wings flapping had my undivided attention; I stopped and held my breath trying
to locate the direction it was coming from. The moment I honed in on the area
the bird had been I wished I hadn’t. Here I was half way to the middle of the
clearing in snow up past my knees and coming out of the trees roughly thirty
feet from me were two very rough, huge men. I had twenty seconds grace before
they spotted me, just enough time to turn in the snow and take the first step
in what would likely end up being the most difficult run of my life.
Running in snow this deep was like running through water. If your feet didn’t clear it you got nowhere. I hadn’t stopped long enough to measure the height of the men quickly gaining on me, but I was fairly certain their long legs would move through this snow faster than my own.
As I hit the tree line again, I hesitated long enough to pick a direction. Kismet and I had been through this area enough times I knew most of it without thinking now. Slipping in the snow I changed directions and headed towards the hill that led to the river bed. If I could out-maneuver them in the densest part of the trees I might just be able to put a big enough gap between us that they’d give up.
Chancing a glance over my shoulder I noted one thing. They were large enough it would take four of me to make this anywhere near equal. My heart was thrumming, pumping blood through my veins in a chaotic beat. A part of me knew I couldn’t outrun them, but I had to try. Turning, I bolted back towards a tight grouping of trees. I could hear the pounding of their feet hitting the ground behind me and had one second to regret the one time I didn’t let Kismet come with me. He would have evened the odds.
One of them was close enough I could hear his heavy breathing over my own as I dodged between two trees I knew he wouldn’t be able to go through. My coat was actually slowing me down, but it held the knife and gun and there was no way I was dropping either of those right now. I heard him curse behind me and knew I only had seconds before he would have me. Ducking left, I stopped and spun around at the same time. My knife was now in my hand held down against my side as I gasped to settle my breathing. He stood a foot away from me and looked really pissed with the fact that I had made him run after me.
I wanted to look around for the other one, but didn’t dare take my eyes off of him. A familiar flick sound brought my attention to his hand to see a blade slide smoothly from the handle it had been folded into. There was nothing I could say that was going to change this man’s plans. His eyes were wide and bored into mine with a look of craziness. A branch snapping behind me was the only warning I got before a big arm wrapped around my waist and pulled me back into a hard chest.
They spoke to each other and it wasn’t in any language I understood, then again I only knew English. The tone the man in front of me used and the sudden smirk on his face told me I was in deep shit. There was no way, no how this was happening to me. I refused to be a victim. The one behind me tightened his hold, making breathing hard. He rubbed his face against my neck making my skin crawl. The other one waved the knife in front of me a few times and then used it to push open my coat. He grinned and said something to the one that was breathing on my neck.
The adrenaline was pumping so fast through my body I didn’t know how I was able to not vibrate. Now or never! Lowering my head, I relaxed my body as much as I could. Taking a deep breath, I threw my head back and brought my hand with the knife up at the same time, aiming for the arm around me. The loud crack and sudden pain in my head told me I’d connected hard with the face behind me. He cursed and let me go just as the other one lunged towards me. I felt the sting across my cheek as I brought the knife down and across his chest.
About Jacqueline:
Jacqueline Paige lives in Ontario in
a small town that’s part of the popular Georgian Triangle area. No
one has ever heard of Stayner, she usually tells people she lives “near
Collingwood” and no, she doesn’t ski at Blue Mountain or at all, in fact she’s
not even fond of snow.
She began her writing career in 2006
and since her first published works in 2009 she hasn’t
stopped. Jacqueline describes her writing as “all things
paranormal”, which she has proven is her niche with stories of witches, ghosts,
physics and shifters now on the shelves.
When Jacqueline isn’t working at her
‘reality job’ or lost in her writing she spends time with her five children,
most of whom are finally able to look after her instead of the other way
around. Together they do random road trips, that usually end up with
them lost, shopping trips where they push every button in the toy
aisle, hiking when there’s enough time to escape and bizarre things like
creating new daring recipes in the kitchen. She’s a grandmother to four (so
far) and looks forward to corrupting many more in the years to come.
Purchase links:
Giveaway information:
The day of post I will give 1 ebook copy of
After the Silence – Bree (part2) to a random commentor. (or Sensuous
Promotions can select the winner)
ALSO I have my first ever NA release coming
out in September under the author name of J. Risk The Alterealm Series – Book 1 The Huntress –
I’m going to give away a copy of this as well.
Sensuous Promotions can select the winner.
AND I’m having another contest running until
October 24th that readers can enter for MORE prizes from myself https://www.facebook.com/authorjacquelinepaige/app_228910107186452
and the Apocalyptic Halloween Event with Sam
Cheever + 11 authors @ https://www.facebook.com/groups/apocalypticromance/
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