RB – Thoughts on Posting Part 1 of My Novel

Hey all! It's been a few weeks now since I finished up posting the preview chapters for Part 1 of my work-in-progress novel Outcasts & Runaways. I have to say, there were some definite positives to the experience! One of the primary positives was viewing my work from the perspective of actively sharing it with …

Outcasts & Runaways – Part 2.1

Beginning<– Previous PART 2 - WORLDS COLLIDE Chapter 18 – Earth Jenny screamed, and something shiny and pink slithered instinctively over her arm. Shannon zoomed by in a white flash, snatching another two darts out of the air as a host of guards poured into view yelling and waving tranq rifles. More guards raced to …

Outcasts & Runaways – Part 1.17

Beginning<– PreviousNext–> Chapter 16 – Earth, Two Months AgoThe Plan The note was slipped into her sleeve during a routine medical examination with Dr. Thomas. She read it in her room, blood pounding in her ears. “Finished hack. Tracers will be neutralized when time comes. Confirm if ready to go ahead. Need all kids on …

Outcasts & Runaways – Part 1.16

Beginning<– PreviousNext–> Chapter 15 - Thera Barrenger raced through endless hallways, but each one held a mirror. He would turn a corner as soon as he saw one, but there was another, and another, and another. All of them were his face – or were they his father’s? Or Salein’s? Or some other Rukilef he …

Outcasts & Runaways – Part 1.14

Beginning<– PreviousNext–> Chapter 13 - Thera When you can jump thirty feet at a time and land with no force of impact, roof-hopping is a breeze. Unfortunately, Barrenger’s partner in his mission did not have this advantage. Barrenger stopped at the edge of another rooftop halfway to the city wall, waiting for Samlin to leap …

Outcasts & Runaways – Part 1.13

Beginning<– PreviousNext–> Chapter 12 - Earth, Five Months Ago The Secret Mercury was getting good at keeping secrets. The fact still felt strange to her; she’d always seen herself as a pretty open person, before. But the nightmare in which she lived, a nightmare of alternating painful horror and soul-deadening living conditions, required that she …

Outcasts & Runaways, Part 1.5

Beginning<– PreviousNext–> Chapter 4 - Earth, One Year Ten Months Ago The Streak The world stood still at Subject 3A’s command. So long as she kept moving, that is. That was the tricky part; she couldn’t just stop to observe, and running around and around something tended to create cyclones. This frustrated her, because as …

Outcasts & Runaways – Part 1.4

Beginning<-- PreviousNext--> Chapter 3 - Thera Lunch was a simple affair, light salad and toasted fruitbread with citrus water. No self-respecting Haweyh overate before their coming-of-age feast. Barrenger dug in anyway, commenting on the tasty smells coming from the kitchen (while carefully ignoring the burnt ones), avoiding the subject of the swords. He still wasn’t …

Outcasts & Runaways – Part 1.3

Beginning<—Previous Next—> Chapter 2 - Earth, Two Years Ago The Singer “Subject 4A is ready for testing.” “Confirmed. Proceed with the test.” The electric shock came, and Subject 4A wanted to scream. Perhaps she would have if she had a voice. Instead, she grabbed onto the buzzing sound of her torment. That was what it …

Outcasts & Runaways – Part 1.2

<—PrologueNext—> Part 1 – Worlds Apart “O lowly minds of Theran soil,Who bask in Elo’s mighty gifts,And claim that powers used to toilBelong to hands that plow and sow: Know not thee of the veil betweenThe world of soul and that of fleshIs thin and frail and often seenThrough selah’s bright and holy glow? Beware …