Aubrea Summer's Blog, page 4

Teaser Passage, Sixteen Seconds

I’d like to start off first by saying how excited I am to be this close to the release of my second novel, Sixteen Seconds. We all love our babies, but this one is special. In this book, I intend to take you on a journey through the end of the world and humanity as we know it. Alongside the other survivors, you will get to decide what truly makes us human. Without compassion, we are doomed to become what we’ve always feared the most. Without free thought, we are destined for extinction. Here is a short passage, a teaser if you will, just to give you a taste of what’s coming soon.

Sixteen Seconds, Aubrea Summer

The clamor was deafening. Sinch felt that last explosion in his chest. His team moved behind him, staying close in the confusion. They had one goal. They all knew what they had to do. No one questioned the captain’s orders. Ridley built this squad, ground to sky, teaching them everything he knew. These days you didn’t have to ask someone to fight for you, they were already looking for a cause. A people without just government will fight or fall. The four members of Moonlight Squad and their leader, Charley Sinch, stole through the smoke blinded hallway. Most of the personnel fled when the doors blew off the building without visible cause or weapons. They thought they were so clever, hiding the new Defense Center in an old hospital. Loose lips disclosed the storage warehouse, and that was enough for the rebels. Ridley had been waiting for a moment when they could strike with enough man power, enough believers, and a target worth destroying.

After The Cleanse, all firearms and ammunition collected by the government were distributed to three large warehouses across the US. These buildings were kept secret by officials; excessive amounts of guns and bullets locked away from the population they’d once belonged to. There had been talk of overtaking these facilities for two years, and now it was real. They’d located a major vein in the throat of the corrupt leaders, and Ridley wanted it ripped out; start the bleeding and attack while they are weak. Sinch motioned for his unit to close in. They were nearing the hold. In his mind, he knew they’d never get out alive. It didn’t matter. The time had come to weigh the value of life over liberty. Sinch was a patriot. He bled baseball and apple pie. Death did not scare him. Confinement was his only foe. Twenty seven years old, he served under Captain Ridley for the last two, gaining the trust of the younger and older soldiers in the process. There was no task he wouldn’t accept and no duty was considered unimportant. If Sinch had to die today to change this, that’s damn well what he came to do.

“Aguero, Pilson, bring up the rear.” Sinch gathered his men into a huddle. “Once we are inside, that’s it. There is no backing out. Now you all know this is a fucking suicide mission. I will say it one last time, and that’s it. If you desire to leave now, no one will think less of you. It is your life. This squad is composed of our desire to change this shit hole we live in. Just because you don’t die with us today doesn’t mean you won’t be a part of this. Last chance, Fancy.”

Faces blinked adamantly back beneath rag-tag helmets and shoulders squared off under patchwork uniforms. No soul turned to leave. Their minds were made up. This was the revolution. Courage would save them, not fear. Loyalty bound them, not hate. Every man for his country and every breath for his people. Sinch grinned his tell tale, lopsided grin. His comrades mirrored his smile. Heavy hearts that knew their fate rose at the chance to design it in the image of righteous glory. If death is inevitable, why not make it count?

“Ready?” Sinch closed his eyes, taking a deep breath.

“Ready.” The reply echoed four times, each soldier signing the dotted line.

The door to the basement swung open with a kick. Sinch led the way, five unarmed men at the center of enemy territory. They weren’t greeted with raining shells or semi-automatic blasts. The place was empty, except for the squad. For all of their wondering, they could never have envisioned what they would be walking into. Floor to ceiling, shelves and racks, lined and overflowing with handguns, rifles, assault weapons, scopes, bullets, grenades; every instrument of mortal death lay out before them, filed away for safe keeping. There had been debate as to what they should do. The final decision was made gravely. The only way to open the eyes of so many would be to play host to tragedy. Martyrs brought a population to their feet. Self-less acts of individuals drew nations together. Sinch knew Ridley was right. They had to wake up the hibernating minds of the masses, and they’d finally found a way to do it without weapons. The irony could not be missed.

Standing in the middle of war’s playthings, Sinch checked his watch. Right on time, for the last time it would matter. “Well, gentleman. Not to sound cliché, but it truly has been a pleasure knowing you all. That’s all I really have to say. It’s a damn shame we won’t get to see the look on General Styph’s fat ugly mug.”

The team snickered. The hands on five watches struck their starting point. One. Two. Three. Four. Five. Six. Seven. Eight. Nine. Ten. Eleven. Twelve. Thirteen. Fourteen. Fifteen. Sixteen.

The world exploded.

*

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Published on March 24, 2014 15:09

Ebook Giveaway, Burn This Way

Contest Heads Up:

Today I will be posting two lines from the blurb for Sixteen Seconds on my Facebook page, Creating Aubrea Summer . They will randomly be posted any time between now and 5 pm, Arizona time. They will be posted separately, with *** proceeding and following them.

This evening, I will post a prompt.

The first three people to comment with both lines will win an E-Book copy of Burn This Way.

You must be a fan of the page to qualify. Head over and enter. You have until 5 pm.

Thank you for kicking off release week. Become a fan now so you don’t miss out on any other giveaways.