Saturday, October 4, 2014

Teaser 1

This is the first excerpt from the book. Keep in mind that this is a rough draft. We are planning on going rather quickly through the writing of this book, but, unfortunately, real life gets in the way. So, here is the first chapter of the book.



26 years ago -
Gabriel gasped for air but his lungs only received icy water. He tried again, but there was no air remaining to inhale and – despite the freezing water – his chest felt on fire. Panic overwhelmed him and Gabriel could feel his lungs starting to explode.
            His eyes closed sharply from the icy daggers that seemed to penetrate his chest. His arms and legs struck out at the water trying to grasp or strike anything within distance, but found nothing. The incessant flailing did not help, but he could not help from doing it. He felt as though he was having an uncontrollable seizure.
The seizing stopped as the extra weight of the oversized jersey started to pull him down, clinging tighter to his body and enveloping him. Dread filled his mind as the icy surface above floated away from him.
The cool-blue colored water and the white underneath of the frozen lake he found himself under started to darken. He knew what this meant; no more hockey games, no more pizza, and no possible chance of asking Suzanne out on a date. He was going to die and there was nothing he could do about it. Where are the other kids? Where is Jacob? Why isn’t someone trying to help me?
            His mind swirled and a strange dizziness took over. Images flew in and out of his thoughts. These ‘thoughts’ embracing him closely like his mother did when he was a child. The difference was these delusional images, although embracing him, did not caress him, like his mother once had. They were more like tentacles that wrapped around his mind and suffocated him, stopping him from any rational thought. He had heard that one’s life would flash before their eyes right before they died. Where was this mental video that should be playing?           
            Memories of old friends, family and even Rufus, grandma’s seventy-five pound basset hound, flooded his psyche. The instant intake of images and recollections caused a fire within his brain that hurt as bad as the fire in his lungs. The fire continued to grow. The burning crept from his brain and chest and moved outwards to other parts of his body. He knew he was drowning, but he never thought it could be this painful. Drowning was supposed to be a peaceful way to die.  When does it become peaceful!
            Surprisingly, the coolness of the water no longer fazed him. All he felt now was the inner heat that burned inside him; an internal furnace that was constantly being fed and had no intention of getting smaller. Getting hotter and hotter the furnace was nearing its boiling point and was going to blow.
            The pain throughout his body continued to grow and the intensity it brought with it started to cause his brain to shut down. The pain diminished greatly and a febrile calm flashed through him.
            Ahh… here comes the peace.” His body went limp. “Now I can die.”       

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