Wednesday, July 17, 2013

Movie Review: 6 Souls




Cast:
Julianne Moore: Cara Harding
Jonathan Rhys Meyers: David/Adam/Wesley
Jeffrey DeMunn: Dr. Harding
Frances Conroy: Mrs. Bernburg

Runtime: 112 min
Rating: R
Plot:  A female forensic psychiatrist discovers that all of one of her patient's multiple personalities are murder victims. She will have to find out what's happening before her time is finished.

In My Opinion: This is one of those I was excited about when I saw the trailer, then somehow missed the DVD release and forgot all about it until perusing through Netflix. In the beginning, Julianne Moore's character is portrayed as an awkward and nerdy psychiatrist who doesn't believe in multiple personalities. She testifies that a man who is about to be executed most certainly did not have the disorder, then watches the announcement of his execution on TV while doing multiple shots of tequila  Her father, another psychiatrist played by Jeffrey DeMunn, sends one of his cases her way to see if she will change her stance on multiple personalities. At first we think we're seeing an extremely disturbed man, until Julianne's character does the whole "investigate creepy things and places all on her own" thing.

It's Rating Time

The Story: 4.5 out of 5 stars: This movie scared the crap out of me, and was pretty unique. The plot twist came out of nowhere, pleasantly surprising the pants off of me. While there were some minor plot holes, the only complaint I really have is the ending—but only because I totally predicted it, and it was a bit disturbing.

The Acting: 5 out of 5 stars: Insanely awesome cast, especially Jonathan Rhys Meyers playing multiple roles. And Julianne didn't do her ugly cry in this one!

The Scare Factor: 5 out of 5 stars: I don't remember the last time I could feel the hair on my arms raise while watching a movie!

Overall Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Bottom line: Recommended for anyone who likes horror/scary movies

~Jen

Monday, June 24, 2013

Movie Review: World War Z



Cast:
Brad Pitt: Gerry Lane
Mireille Enos: Karin Lane
Daniella Kertesz: Segen
Fana Mokoena: Thierry Umutoni

Runtime: 116 min
Rating: PG-13
Plot:  United Nations employee Gerry Lane traverses the world in a race against time to stop the Zombie pandemic that is toppling armies and governments, and threatening to destroy humanity itself.



In My Opinion: Anyone who knows me is quite aware that I've been incredibly psyched up for the release of this movie. I've tried many times to read the book, but simply can't get into it. The movie, however, was freaking fantastic. As you see in the trailers, the story starts out with Brad and his family waiting in traffic when the zombie invasion first hits their part of the country. They're forced to run through the streets among total chaos of fleeing citizens and crazy fast zombies  (check out my blog for more on this). When the family hits a Walgreens-type pharmacy, we get a glimpse of how people may act in desperate times. We discover that Brad's character recently retired from the UN as one of their best investigators, and is in high demand. After his family is flown via helicopter to a battle ship on the ocean filled with other highbrow personnel, Brad is asked to help find the origin of the virus. From that point on, the film is packed with intense scenes that kept me on edge.

It's Rating Time

The Story: 4.5 out of 5 stars: Although I extremely enjoyed just about every aspect of this story, there were a few very unrealistic parts that had me shaking my head, such as the plane crash, and I totally predicted the ending early on. But the climax to the ending was well done, and the plot was actually believable.


The Acting: 5 out of 5 stars: Everyone did a stellar job in playing out their roles. While I have a hard time looking at Mireille Enos as anything other than a cowardly polygamist's wife from 'Big Love', she made a rather pleasant leading lady—brave, but not too tough. Brad Pitt makes an exceptional leading man who can pull at your heart strings when he's playing daddy, and make you believe that he's a tough guy when he's punching zombies. Plus it's BRAD PITT. He is pretty easy on the eyes, and has a voice that most probably makes angels cry.

The Scare Factor: 4 out of 5 stars: While it's not horror-scary, the anxiety level is pretty intense. Because of that, this movie could've easily have been rated R, and don't plan on letting my 11-year-old watch this for a while for that very reason.

Overall Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Bottom line: Must see for zombie fans, Brad Pitt groupies, and thrill seekers!

~Jen

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Movie Review: The Purge



Cast:
Ethan Hawke: James Sandin
Lena Headey: Mary Sandin
Max Burkholder: Charlie Sandin
Rhys Wakefield: Polite Stranger

Runtime: 85 min
Rating: R

Plot:  A family is held hostage for harboring the target of a murderous syndicate during the Purge, a 12-hour period in which any and all crime is legalized.
In My Opinion: This was yet another one on my must see list ever since I first saw the trailer. The concept of this movie is that in the future, the United States allows for a 12-hour period of crime to be legal, including murder (with a class 4 weapon or below), so that people may cleanse themselves of hatred and violence. As a result, the country sees a decline in poverty and crime. The story begins with James Sandin (Hawke) returning home from work just hours before The Purge is to commence. He's a salesman for an elaborate security system, and just scored the number one position in sales. He sits down in his mansion for dinner with his stay-at-home wife, disturbed son, and rebellious daughter, and we get the feeling no one is overly fond of dear old Dad. Mom has to deal with snarky neighbors who are jealous of the family's recent addition, the son is maybe suffering from some kind of mental disorder and likes to spy on people with a creepy baby doll robot, and the daughter is hiding a much older boyfriend in her bedroom who Mom and Dad don't approve of. But dear old Dad's security system is top notch, and the metal doors keep them secure for The Purge. Until, as seen in the trailers, the son decides to save a man yelling for help in the streets. Turns out the man (wearing dog tags) is running from a pack of creepy whack jobs, and these whack jobs tell the Sandins either they hand the man over to them, or they're going to break in and kill them all (enter the creepy MF in the picture above). But the family can't find the man as something else goes completely wrong inside their supposedly secure home. And that's when all hell breaks loose.

It Rating Time

The Story: 4.5 out of 5 stars: I'm not going to lie, this one scared the shit out of me. I held my hands over my mouth for a majority of the movie for an endless string of "holy crap" moments. The ending was unique and unexpected. Although there weren't any paranormal elements, the story was actually pretty disturbing as there are so many moral boundaries tested and broken.

The Acting: 4.5 out of 5 stars: This was one of those movies where I forgot everyone was acting, and got extremely wrapped up in the story. I almost cried for the mom at one point. Rhys Wakefield was brilliant, and played one of the creepiest parts I've seen since Heath Ledger's role as The Joker.

The Scare Factor: 5 out of 5 stars: It's not necessarily horror-scary, but it will keep you on the edge of your seat, and make you jump, plus the concept is just freaky.

Overall Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Bottom line: If you like original thrillers with disturbing plots, you'll definitely like this one!

~Jen

(Check out Jen's post on why this movie is so disturbing on her website)

Thursday, May 30, 2013

Movie Review: Dark Skies


Cast:
Keri Russell: Lacy Barrett
Josh Hamilton: Daniel Barrett
Dakota Goyo: Jesse Barrett
Kadan Rockett: Sam Barrett

Runtime: 1 h 37 min
Rating: PG-13

Plot: As the Barrett family's peaceful suburban life is rocked by an escalating series of disturbing events, they come to learn that a terrifying and deadly force is after them.


In My Opinion:
 This was another movie on my must see list ever since I first saw the trailer. The story starts out with the family of four having strange things happen inside their home while they're sleeping and later their behaviors all begin to change. It takes the parents some time to realize and accept what is happening to them. Although I started watching this already knowing it was about aliens from the trailers, I was on edge wondering when and how the bug-eyed visitors were going to make their first appearance. I felt frustrated for the parents and kept trying to think of ways they could get help or even stop things from happening. The way the aliens invade all of their lives was terrifying in itself. As a big fan of The X-Files series, I was really pleased with almost everything about this movie. The only thing I can honestly say I didn't like was the ending. The new formula in Hollywood seems to be trending toward the shock factor, and in this one I definitely didn't like it (and I already suspected the twist way before it was revealed). I realize not everything happens with a happy ending, but with this one it would've been nice to see an exception to the rule.

It Rating Time

The Story:  4 out of 5 stars: It was awesome but the ending left me frustrated.

The Acting: 5 out of 5 stars: Keri Russell delivers as the star of the show and the rest of the ensamble did well—especially the oldest boy.

The Scare Factor: 5 out of 5 stars: Although it's (thankfully) not your typical horror film and is better described as a thriller, it scared the tar out of me in many places.

Overall Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Bottom line: If you like thrillers and alien movies, you'll definitely like this one!



~Jen

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Movie Review: Mama



Cast:
Jessica Chastain: Annabel
Nikolaj Coster-Waldau: Lucas/Jeffrey
Megan Charpentier: Victoria
Isabelle Nelisse: Lilly

Runtime: 100 mins
Rating: PG-13

Plot: Annabel and Lucas are faced with the challenge of raising his young nieces that were left alone in the forest for 5 years.... but how alone were they?

In My Opinion: I've wanted to see this movie ever since it was in theaters, but until recently when my daughter told me she wanted to start watching scary movies, I didn't have a friend who would go see them with me. We basically know everything about the story from the trailers. The only real mystery is how Mama came to be, which is revealed later on. After two girls are found living alone in the woods (and the way they end up there is so twisted it almost literally made me sick), they bring a creature back with them. There was a lot of potential in this one for being scary and it had a great storyline overall, but I feel like it missed its mark. 'Mama' was way too cartoonish for my taste. I almost laughed at her each time she made an appearance. And the insane ending really killed it for me. What was most notable in this movie was the performances. At first I didn't even recognize Jessica Chastain (from Zero Dark Thirty and The Help), which in my eyes makes her a brilliant actress. But it was little Lilly (played by Isabelle Nelisse) who really stole the show. Her character was so creepy in so many ways, I kept wondering how they could get a little girl to play such a twisted part.

It Rating Time

The Story:  3 out of 5 stars: It was okay, but could have been so much more.

The Acting: 5 out of 5 stars: The ensemble was brilliant and I'd like to see Isabelle again.

The Scare Factor: 3 out of 5 stars: Each time I was scared it was ruined by crappy effects.

Overall Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Bottom line: It was decent. If you're bored and looking for a new flick, it will keep you entertained.

~Jen

Tuesday, April 9, 2013

Teaser Tuesday: Unexpected by Faith Sullivan

It's time for another tease to wake up your reading senses. This week I bring you another tease from author Faith Sullivan. This tease comes from her second book Unexpected. After reading her first book Heartbeat I instantly became a fan of Faith. She knows exactly how to tug at your heart strings. Just check out this week's tease:

Synopsis: September 11, 2001.

A day that forever changes the destiny of college overachiever, Michelle Rhodes.

Shattered, confused and alone, no one understands the trauma consuming her until she meets Connor Donnelly.

A native New Yorker, he believes he can aid in getting her life back on track. But what if he's even more broken inside?

Offering her a chance at a fresh start, Connor convinces Michelle to move in with him. Hiring her to waitress at his bar, their mutual attraction only complicates matters.

As more details surrounding Connor's past emerge, Michelle uncovers the full magnitude of the loss he's trying to hide. Refusing to let her feelings for him hinder his recovery, she makes a decision that winds up hurting them both.

By sacrificing her heart, Michelle thinks she is helping Connor come to terms with his grief. Little does she know, Connor is gambling everything for the sake of having a future with her.

What happens is truly unexpected.

~Tease~
Chapter Five

My parents are worried about me. They know I’m damaged, but they don’t know how to fix me. It’s moments like this when being an only child sucks. Their belief in me is what drives them, and I let them down big time. They’ve never seen me fail before, and they don’t know how to handle it. I’ve shaken them to their core, and I didn’t mean to do that. It’s almost cruel. All of the sacrifices they’ve made on my behalf—were they worth it? I’d have to say no.

Tonight, they really want me to go to the New Year’s Eve party my friend, Heather, is throwing at her parents’ house. She’s home on break, and they think it’ll be good for me to get out and socialize with people my own age. I’ve kept myself pretty isolated since I ran home with my tail between my legs. I wasn’t up to rehashing things over and over again. But maybe it wouldn’t be a bad idea to get out—at least for a little while.

I admit that tending to my appearance is no longer on the top of my priority list. I’ve really let myself go. I never regained the weight I lost, so I appear gaunt instead of thin. I haven’t gotten a hair cut since the summer, and I haven’t even worn makeup in months. I guess I can twist my long brown hair and pin it up, and maybe I’ll wear a simple black sweater with a pair of jeans that I can belt. With some industrial strength under-eye concealer, I might look presentable. But I can’t summon any feeling of excitement. I feel nothing.

The party is already in full swing when I arrive. There’s no way I’ll be able to slip in unnoticed. I’ll be on everyone’s radar as soon as I walk through the door—something I’m not exactly looking forward to. I’m ‘the 9/11 girl,’ the only person from our small town who was there that day. And of course, people can’t wait to hear all about it even if all I have to say is that I was scared shitless in my apartment for three days. But still, their insatiable curiosity doesn’t make me want to talk about it. They weren’t there; they don’t know.

I can hear ‘I’m Real’ by Ja Rule and J-Lo all the way down the street. It doesn’t get more ghetto than a party in the suburbs. Judging by the familiar cars parked outside, a lot of people I graduated high school with are here. On the landing, I pause with my finger on the doorbell. Do I really want to face these people? Am I ready for this?

“Having second thoughts?” a voice asks out of the darkness.

The front porch swing is moving slightly. At the end of it, I discern the silhouette of a guy. He bends forward to light a cigarette, and I catch a glimpse of his face. He’s not somebody I know. Relief washes over me. Maybe I can stall for time out here.

Taking a step back, I put my hands in my coat pockets and move away from the light emanating from the window. I’m more comfortable hiding in the shadows.

He doesn’t press me for a response, but I can sense him watching me. Hopefully, he’ll keep his distance.

The swing creaks as I sit on the opposite side. My movement interrupts his steady rhythm, but he doesn’t reproach me for the intrusion. Flicks of ash hit the wooden floor as he inhales again.

“Is that weed?” I blurt out before I can stop myself, breaking the silence.

His only response is a chuckle.

The swing remains in motion. The shared responsibility of keeping it going creates a sense of familiarity, even though we’re complete strangers.

He shifts his position to face me, studying my profile. Rising to the challenge, I turn my head.

Our eyes lock. 

I want to look away, but I can’t. 

He doesn’t appear stoned. His gaze is focused, steady. 

Taking one last hit, he tosses what’s left of the cigarette, putting it out with his boot. Placing his hands on his knees, he glances at me over his shoulder. “Michelle, I think it’s time you came back to New York with me.”

{End of Tease}
Find Unexpected at

About the Author


I really hate talking about myself. My goal is to have the shortest author bio imaginable. I would much rather have a conversation with my readers.

Are you able to escape within my pages?
Does my writing make you feel something?
Are there characters that you can't get out of your head?

Let me know! 

Email me at faithsullivanwrites@hotmail.com 

Follow me on Twitter at @_FaithSullivan_


Visit Faith Sullivan at her blog:  http://faithsullivanwrites.blogspot.com
~Maria


Friday, April 5, 2013

TV Series Review: Hannibal

Hey, guys! Sorry I've been MIA for a while working on a ton of projects. Thanks to Maria for keeping up with the blogs!
Did you catch the premiere of Hannibal last night? I've been dying to see this show and I'm happy to report that I was not disappointed. First of all, the cast was pretty remarkable. I couldn't remember where I've seen Hugh Dancy before, but after looking him up on IMDb I guess it's Confessions of a Shopaholic. That just goes to show what an amazing actor he is, because his character in Hannibal is a total 180 from that part. And Laurence Fishburne is amazing in everything, so I was pleased to see him among the cast as Dancy's boss. Then there's the Danish dude (Mads Mikkelsen) who makes a fittingly creepy Hannibal—that guy gave me the appropriate amount of the willies.

Dancy plays a "young" (thank you to IMDb for calling him that as he's my age) FBI criminal profiler with a list of mental health problems (Aspergers being among them). Because of them, he can put himself in the killer's shoes, but he also has problems socializing. There's a scene toward the end where he is in the middle of the crime and he kind of wigs out that I thought was brilliant. For a minute I forgot I was watching a show.
Anyway, Fishburne wants a mental health study done on Dancy to make sure he can handle the job, and who does he find for the job? Freaking Hannibal Lecter himself! So now we have this unstable guy investigating a serial killer with none other than the king of serial killers at his side! It was twisted and brilliant, especially when Hannibal gives Dancy breakfast and as a viewer you're screaming at him not to eat anything that whack job offers. Plus I'm not sure I'll be able to eat any red meat for a month or so after this episode.

There are some other scenes that really delivered the story well, but I don't want to mention them here as some of you may have the show waiting for you on your DVR. If that's the case and you're debating whether or not the show is worth watching, I'm here to tell you that it is.

I'm totally looking forward to this new show and anxious to see what else the writers have in store. Did I mention they're going to have Gillian Anderson appear on a future episode? I may have fangirled and freaked out when I saw that. This is definitely one of those spin-offs I'm glad came to life.

~Jen

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Teaser Tuesday: Even Villains Fall in Love by Liana Brooks

After taking a week off I'm back to bring you a hot new tease. And when I say hot I mean it. This week's tease comes from Liana, an author who would also love to be part of a roller derby team just bad as I would. Wait to read her tease and you'll understand why this book sounds so HOT!!! Are you ready for a good tease that can also be evil?


Synopsis: A super villain at the top of his game must choose between the world he wants and the woman he loves. If you believe the rumors you know that Doctor Charm, the wickedly sexy super villain, retired in shame seven years ago after his last fight with the super hero Zephyr Girl. The fact that the charming Evan Smith—father of four and husband of the too-beautiful-to-be-real Tabitha—bears a resemblance to the defeated Doctor is pure coincidence. And, please, ignore the minions. Everything is perfect in the Smith household, until Tabitha announces her return to work as a super hero. Evan was hoping to keep her distracted until after he rigged the 2012 presidential election, but—genius that he is—Evan has a backup plan. In his basement lab, Evan has a machine whose sole purpose is keeping Tabitha hungry for him. But children and labs don’t mix. The machine is broken, and Tabitha storms out, claiming she no longer knows him. World domination takes a back seat to meeting his daughters’ demands to get Mommy back right now. This time his genius isn’t going to be enough—he’s going to need both his evil alter-ego, and the blooming super abilities of his children to save his wife. But even his most charming self might not be enough to save their marriage.


~Tease~

I knew from the first time I saw my wife that I wanted her naked. Of course, seven minutes later I wanted revenge. It wasn’t that she had handed me my first defeat or ruined my chances for world domination that year, it was the way she kissed me good-bye. She sent my head spinning, then walked away as if I were the least important person in the world. Once my arm healed, I stole some new equipment, cloned some new minions, and I felt a little different. I wanted revenge, with a side order of  naked.
***
Across the dinner table, Tabitha devoured him with dark, ocean-blue eyes. She put a bite of lettuce in her mouth, full lips pursing around it. Eating salad never looked so good. Her tongue darted out to lick away a stray drop of dressing. She winked at him, promising with every move to do the same to him. “It’s almost bedtime,” she said, her voice husky and luscious.
“I don’t wanna go to bed!” one of the quads screamed.
“What about cake? Don’t we get birthday cake?” another asked.
Evan winked back at his wife from the far side of the table, separated by a few feet and four, precocious just-turned-five-year olds, all as stunning as their mother with big, round eyes and honey-colored hair that fell in loose curls meant to trap hairbrushes and sticky substances.
He had to peek at the eyes to see who was talking. Maria had green eyes, Angela’s eyes were blue like Tabitha’s, Delila’s eyes were brown like his, and Blessing—their stillborn who miraculously survived—had purple eyes. The waif in question had blue eyes.
“Angela,” Evan said, “after dinner it’s pajama time, and then story time.”
“Mommy doesn’t have a bedtime!” Angela wailed.
Tabitha winked at him again. “Tell you what, tonight Mommy will go to bed the same time you do. Right after we eat cake.”
She leaned over to give Angela a hug.
All Evan could see was the deep V plunge of her tight blue shirt. Oh, yeah. Crime didn’t always pay, but altering someone’s moral compass sure put the O’s back in the bedroom.
The cake was split into fourths, equal parts purple, white, green, and blue so each girl could have her favorite color in the cake. Baking four cakes was unreasonable, there weren’t any grandparents left to celebrate with, and neighbors had an annoying habit of asking uncomfortable questions. Saying little things like, “You look just like Doctor Charm! Do you remember him? Whatever happened to that guy? Do you know how hard it is to put together a good Villains Vs. Heroes fantasy league without
him?” made for awkward evenings.
So they had a quiet family party. Cake, then presents, after which he hurried the girls off to bed so he could read Dilly Duck’s ABCs in record time before rushing to the bedroom, hoping to
catch Tabitha still in the shower.
She was already out and wearing a blue satin robe that caressed her skin in exactly the way he wanted to. Rose-scented candles cast sensuous shadows on the walls.
Tabitha turned, lips curved in an inviting smile. Long fingers twined with the sash of her robe. She tossed her honey-blonde hair in the way she always did when she was about to argue, posing with feet apart and one hand casually resting on her waist. “Sweetie, we need to talk.”
Evan wiped grease-stained hands on his jeans as he forced a smile. “Sure, babes, anything you want.”
“Really?” She slunk forward, all sinewy limbs and doe eyes.
“Promise?” Tabitha nuzzled his nose. One hand flirted up the back of his neck to play with his hair. The other traveled downward, right to his zipper.
Oh, yes, the little Morality Machine in the basement was working just fine. Another thirty, maybe forty years of this and he’d consider retiring. Or turning the machine down so his wife wasn’t quite a sex kitten every day of the week. Maybe only days with Y in them.
“Sweetie?” She nibbled his ear. “I want to go back to work.”
“What?” Evan actually pushed himself away from her, something he wasn’t sure was possible in any other circumstance.
Tabitha tucked her chin and pouted.
“Tabby-cat, I love you, but work? I’ve got my...stuff...in the lab. I’m busy. And we can’t afford daycare for the girls. We’re barely making ends meet as it is. Do you really want to go back to being Zephyr Girl? Crime fighting is a game for the young, baby. You’re not nineteen anymore.”
“I’m twenty-nine. A very—” Her hips pressed against his tight jeans just so”—very healthy twenty-nine.”
He shivered at her touch. “You’re cheating.”
“I want to do this, Evan.” She ground against the thick denim.
“You can do me all you want, baby.”
{End of Tease}
Find Even Villains Fall in Love
Author Website * http://www.lianabrooks.com/


iBooks

About the Author

Liana Brooks was born in San Diego, California. Years later she was disappointed to learn that The Shire was not some place she could move to, nor was Rider of Rohan an acceptable career choice. Studying marine biology  so she could play with sharks seemed to be the only alternative. After college Liana settled down to work as a full-time author and mother because logical career progression is something that happens to other people. When she grows up, Liana wants to be an Evil Overlord and take over the world. 
In the meantime, she writes sci-fi and SFR in between trips to the beach. She can be found wearing colorful socks on the Emerald Coast, or online at www.lianabrooks.com.
You can also find Liana Brooks here: 




~Maria






Tuesday, March 12, 2013

Teaser Tuesday: Splinter by London Cole

Yay it's Tuesday, which means it's time for a new tease to tickle your reading senses. This week's tease comes from a good friend of Jen and mine. We both met London on Twitter and bonded over Rum and beers. Who better to share a drink with than someone you've met on Twitter. Get ready and enjoy this week's tease. Trust me when I say this tease will have you on the edge of your seat.



Synopsis: Seventeen year-old Acquisitions Specialist Drake Adair is legendary at his job: he can obtain anything from anyone and from anywhere, without getting caught. At least, he’s never been caught before.


This time things go differently. He ends up on the run from the enemy Guild and takes refuge in a cave, only to become trapped in a pit in the back of the cave. He might be the only living human in there, but he’s not alone.

Kelsie Blake, Drake's roommate and closest friend since she fled her filicidal father, has secrets. Secrets she keeps even from Drake. Sneaking outside the Gates into the wild, she risks everything for a little excitement. Her lies now threaten everything she cares about most in her life.

Drake unearths a plot by an enemy Guild to tear apart life as he knows it. The very people closest to him may be pawns in the grisly scheme, leaving Kelsie and Drake with no one to turn to as they struggle to find answers before it's too late.

Set eighty years after World War III, Kelsie and Drake pair up to protect the only life they know in a harsh and unforgiving world. They must each come to grips with his abilities, her secrets, and their mixed feelings for each other. Will they make it? Or will the very foundations of their lives be ripped from beneath them.


~Tease~

CHAPTER ONE
::DRAKE:: 

IT’S NOT LIKE I’VE never fallen into a pit before, but this time was different. This time I was running for my life through a pitch-black cave when the ground disappeared.
Something crunched when I landed. I couldn’t tell what I’d broken. Part of me or something else.
Giving myself a pat-down to check for broken bones, I decided I was intact and hopped to my feet to shake it off. I cursed and mourned the loss of my favorite flashlight. I’d been running full tilt through the dense woods at night before finding the cave that led to this hole.
With cautious steps, I began inspecting the pit. I was pretty sure I’d fallen around four meters. It was approximately five meters across and roughly round. I didn’t find any other holes to be worried about falling into. I also felt safer knowing that the men chasing me wouldn’t be able to get to me except through the same tunnel I’d come down, thus giving me a clear warning of their approach through the cramped passage.
I headed back to where I’d landed. Something round like a large rock turned under my foot and sent me sprawling backwards.
“Smooth, Drake. Real smooth,” I muttered under my breath. I still wasn’t sure someone hadn’t followed me into the cave in the hillside and didn’t want to make too much noise.
When I landed on the pit floor this time, I noticed something under my hands. Feeling around for one of the objects, I picked it up and ran my fingers down the length. I knew instantly from the texture and weight what it was. A bone. A human bone.
I tossed it and heard the clacking sound that only bones impacting other bones can make. It’s enough to get your skin crawling, even if there was light.
Climbing to my knees, I felt around for what had tripped me. It was on my hit-list.
Using my hands to blindly explore the floor around me, my right hand found the culprit.
Holding the semi-round object, I inspected it by touch and quickly found two rounded holes with a jagged triangular hole below them.
Great, a human skull and I’m surrounded by bones likely belonging to the pit’s last victims. That’s a comforting thought.
Holding my breath to allow for absolute silence, I listened for any noises that would signal pursuit. It was hard to hear much over the pounding of my heart, but I heard the dogs howling in the distance. I didn’t worry too much about them, but it seemed safest to remain here for now.
After being on the run for the last forty-eight hours straight, the exhaustion was catching up. It was only a half-hour hike through the woods to get back to my home on Sven Guild land where I could relax, but I wanted to give my pursuers and their dogs time to lose my trail.
Setting the skull down next to me, I started searching for my pack, whose contents had put me in this sticky situation. Finding it, I pulled the pack to my side, hearing countless bones and skulls clunking hollowly together as the bag dragged across them.
Only minutes before, I had been running from Briln Water Guild guards and their dogs. I’d started to get worried for the first time that I wasn’t going to make it back to safety before they caught up to me, when I saw the small cave entrance peeking out from behind a bush at the base of a hill. I’d ducked into it, losing light immediately and running blind. Crawling, to be more precise. Whatever was ahead had to be better than the pursuit behind me.
Oddly, the air didn’t smell. At least, not any more than a dank cave. I still wrinkled my nose; it was disturbing with all of the bones around. I resigned myself to being stuck in the dark for a few hours. Picking up a skull, I started turning it around in my hands.
“Well, looks like it’s just you and me tonight. I sure hope you didn’t die because you couldn’t find a way out of this hole, but I’ll worry about that in the morning,” I said aloud to the skull in a hoarse whisper.
Putting off rest any longer was futile. This was as safe a place as any to catch some sleep. I set the skull down beside me and shivered as my finger grazed the teeth. Besides, it was too dark for me to find my way out now.
Maybe in the morning there would be a little light, allowing my escape. I rested my head back against the wall of the pit, closed my eyes, and fell asleep to the aroma of musty, stale air.


CHAPTER TWO
 ::KELSIE::  


WHERE IS HE? HE was sometimes gone for days, but always contacted me at some point. Drake had told me he’d be back in a day at most. It was supposed to be a quick snatch-and-grab, going to a location he had been to numerous times. It didn’t make it any less dangerous though, and he always turned his communicator off while on “missions,” as he liked to call them.
I tossed aside the project I’d been working on. My head just wasn’t in it. I couldn’t focus. I was exhausted from not having slept well the last few nights. This was a new feeling for me, worrying. I’d never been a worrier before, and I didn’t like it.
I got up and went outside the Development facility where I worked for a break. My third break that hour. After a few minutes I came back in and made a pot of tea to try and relax me. I looked at the dark liquid swirling in the cup, longing for a dash of milk. I tried to remember what it tasted like, milk. Cows were nearly extinct in this post-apocalyptic world and getting a hold of milk was more impossible than getting clean meat.
Here at the Development facility, where we took what the Acquisitions Specialists – Ackspecs – brought in and found uses for it, we had developed a substance from vegetable proteins that almost had a texture like ground meat. When seasoned properly it could almost taste like meat, too. Almost.
I shook my head to clear the longing out. Immediately my stomach sank, and I was filled with worry again. I went back to the worktable where I’d set down the half-drawn schematics for my new project and picked them up, setting my tea next to me on the chair. Rebecca, the lead Developer that I apprenticed under, had a strict “no beverages or food on the work surfaces, unless it is work related” policy.
“Kelsie, dear. What’s wrong? You haven’t had any production all day. I can’t see that you’ve even made any progress,” Rebecca said, having come up behind me to look over my shoulder. “Actually, that diode goes over there, as you well know. Goodness, you designed this project after all.”
I realized suddenly that my arms were sore and stiff. I was still holding the unfinished project up in front of me. The way my arms felt, I must have been holding it up for a while, lost in thought.
“Wow, that’s a very stupid mistake. I’m sorry.”
Rebecca put a motherly hand on my shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze. “I know. It’s very unlike you.”
“I’m having a problem focusing. Drake’s been gone for days; he’s never gone this long without giving me a detailed plan first. I wouldn’t even know where to start looking for him.” Unwanted tears started welling in the corners of my eyes. I hurried to blink them away.
Rebecca gave my shoulder another squeeze. “I’m sure he’s all right. Drake is very much like his father – he can survive anything.”
“I know; I hope so. He’s all I have. The closest thing I have to a family.”
“I know, sweetie. How ’bout you take the rest of the day off.”
I turned to look at her to see if she was serious. “Really? Thank you. I’m so sorry for being useless.” I really was. Normally I could hold it together better. I was ashamed of falling apart like this in public. I was the daughter of a Magistrate, after all. A psychopathic Magistrate who had gone crazy and tried to kill his own daughter, but still, a Magistrate. With that memory, the floodgates opened and piping hot tears poured out of my eyes in a torrent as I made it to the door.
My cheeks burning with the unwanted tears, I hurried down the narrow street to the house I shared with Drake. I took a different route than normal to avoid everyone.
It took me directly along the path at the base of the tall wall that surrounded our small town. Most people of the town, known as a Guild, stayed well clear of the wall for fear of seeing what was on the other side. I walked quickly to the house to check if Drake was home yet.
When I got home and found the house empty, I decided to do the only thing that really clears my head. Creature hunting. The excitement and rush helps purge my mind: knowing that I could be killed at any second if I let my guard down, knowing that Drake might catch me.
I stepped into some tight but stretchy pants and a leather shirt. I’d never liked leather, but it acts as a light armor and does a good job protecting me against mutant claws and teeth. I pulled my short hair back in a ponytail and tied it up. Next, I slipped on a pair of gum-soled shoes. I put a few thin throwing knives into my belt and fixed the sheath to my thigh.
Now the main weapon: a short, double-edged sword. This I hung in its scabbard on my back. The handle stuck up perfectly behind my right shoulder. I had designed the scabbard and sword so that I could draw it in the blink of an eye, yet it stayed out of the way as well. Sometimes a gun would be nicer, but ammunition was hard to come by. It was just easier to acquire a sword, and I never had to reload it. Lastly, I threw on a lightweight long-coat that covered my weapons and strange attire, and would allow me to get through town without drawing attention. I would stash it once I was outside the Gate.
I stood in front of the mirror in the bathroom to make sure I had everything on. For a moment I wished, for perhaps the millionth time, that I had even a single hint about where to look for Drake. All he had said was that he was going in deep to get a load of rare, processed charcoal for the air filters we needed for Ash season. Said he had stumbled onto a stash of it once, but this was the first chance he’d had to retrieve it.
I absentmindedly fingered the jewelry hanging around my neck, pendant hovering just at the top of my cleavage. It was a silver creature. I think it was called a dolphin, but couldn’t be sure. All creatures like that were long since extinct. Drake had given it to me a couple of years ago. He’d gotten it in one of the waste cities. I had worn it every day since, especially when I went outside the Gates. It was my lucky charm. Anytime I got myself into a bad situation, I would feel it against my chest and it helped remind me of what Drake would do.
I was flooded with worry again. My stomach balled up in a knot. I inhaled a deep breath and decided I was ready. What I needed was to get this out of my mind; filling my veins with adrenaline was the way to do just that. I needed to remind myself that I was tougher than this. I was a skilled fighter. Killing mutants was something I did on a regular basis. I was bad-ass.
Of course, no one else knew that. It was my secret. 

After a cautious glance out the back door of my house to make sure no one was around, I stepped out quickly and flattened myself to the whitewashed wooden wall. It was still muddy out from the light acid rain we’d gotten while I’d been at the Development facility, and mud clung to my boots. It probably wasn’t necessary to be this cautious behind my house, since my back door faced the tall wall that surrounded the whole Guild I lived in. No one else wanted their house so near the wall – the strange noises that permeated from the other side at night were disturbing. That meant that the only way that anyone would see me back here was if they were virtually in the backyard. Which would have been cause for alarm in and of itself.
Still, I was very cautious because it wouldn’t be good to be caught.
I slipped silently across the crushed rock path that led around the house. Sticking my head out past the corner of the next house, I checked for people. Figuring everyone was still inside from the rain, I darted out of my cover to cross the narrow path that we called a street. My destination was a clump of small trees on the other side of the street behind a business.
Footsteps crunched as I got to the center of the street. A couple of women’s voices accompanied them. Not good. Thinking fast, I dove for cover under a nearby porch. I quite literally mean dove. Rocks and debris dug at my knees through my pants and cut into my bare palms as my head narrowly missed a beam. I hit the side of the house under the porch with a dull thump.
The pair of women walked right on by down the street, apparently having been far too engrossed in their own conversation to notice the sixteen-year-old girl diving under a porch.
Just as I breathed a sigh of relief, the door above me opened, checking to see what the thump had been, no doubt.
“Hello? Anyone?” a gruff voice asked as I watched through the gaps between the porch boards.
Not receiving an answer, the owner of the voice walked out to the end of the deck and looked around the corner of the house. He “humphed” and headed back inside.
Now I could breathe again. It might seem crazy that I was going to this length to maintain secrecy. But it really wasn’t. Everyone in our two-hundred person Guild had a job. You did the job you were assigned or else they kicked you out of the Guild. Without a Guild, you were pretty much as good as dead.

{End of Tease}
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                                About the Author

London Cole is an NA and YA Paranormal author living in various places around the  US. When he's not writing he can be found doing laps in his pool, playing a rock concert, or any of a variety of outdoor extreme sports.

London's debut Splinter is a Dystopian Paranormal based on the island he was raised on, Whidbey Island. Only, it's the island eighty years after the Third World War, and everything is a lot different...and a lot meaner.

Visit London Cole at his blog: http://www.londoncole.com

~Maria