Sneak Peek at Lost from The Taken Trilogy: First 3 pages!
If you haven't read "Taken" you may not want to keep reading.
Seriously, stop now...
Okay..you've been warned...
1 Where We Stand "I wanted to go home, Russell," I say. "I want to go home." A fire starts to grow outside, greedily consuming one of the houses in the compound. James, Russell and I watch as the structure starts to melt and give way to the glowing flames. Maybe I'm starting to go mad because the sight of that house surrendering to yellows and oranges, the crackling of wood and that strange hissing sound that always accompanies fire makes it seem more beautiful than the sunrise. I slide out from under Russell's arm, ignoring my urge to twist it until it breaks, and walk to the center of the room. I wait for him to turn around. "I'm leaving, Russell."His face twitches in response. He is not surprised, just annoyed. "Leaving Wicker Farm.""Yup." Leaving Wicker Farm. Like Sasha and Aubrey hopefully already have. My heart feels like it's in a vice grip all of a sudden, but worse because it's pain that's doing the clenching. I take in a deep breath and wish I could untangle the two of them from my thoughts. I want to hate Sasha the way I did when I first met her, but really mean it this time because I know that if I don't channel this ache into anger, I'm no better off than that house outside. The hurt will eat me alive. And I think I would probably let it.Silence sweeps into the room as Russell's Resistance cohorts halt in their tracks. One of them, who just a few seconds ago was tearing sheets out of a book, stops and tosses it to the floor. In fact, all of the destruction in the mansion seems to cease. It's so quiet that the fire sounds like a tornado. None of the other people in the room can decide which one of us to focus on. Their eyes move from me to Russell. Russell to me. Me to Russell."You want to go to wherever Sasha and the young one are?" Russell asks. He stands with his arms akimbo. James instinctively mimics the movement. Now I'm having trouble figuring out which of them to focus on. I only see two people I want very badly to push out of that window. "I'm leaving," I say.One of the Resistance members, a woman with a question mark-shaped scar running from her right eye to her jaw line, blocks the exit, slapping her hands to the door frame and forming an 'x' with her body. "I'd like to see you try." One of her hands is bloody. A shattered glass object lies at her feet."I'd like to see you try," she hisses again. She's so thin that I could walk right through her with minimal effort. "Jackson!" Russell says my name like we haven't seen each other in years. He waves the woman down from her threat. "Maybe I'm not being clear about how valuable you are. In the next few days, everyone here will presumably come down from their high regarding this coup de tat, and the last thing I want is a new Resistance forming. So I want you to help me. I'll give you the best Wicker Farm has to offer.""Oh, you mean the stuff you're burning?" I point to the window, but no one turns. The other Resistance members seem increasingly uneasy with my movements and probably now, my entire presence. The quickest way to lose friends in a room like this is to defy a leader when his subjects are there. It's really uncomfortable for all parties.
Seriously, stop now...
Okay..you've been warned...
1 Where We Stand "I wanted to go home, Russell," I say. "I want to go home." A fire starts to grow outside, greedily consuming one of the houses in the compound. James, Russell and I watch as the structure starts to melt and give way to the glowing flames. Maybe I'm starting to go mad because the sight of that house surrendering to yellows and oranges, the crackling of wood and that strange hissing sound that always accompanies fire makes it seem more beautiful than the sunrise. I slide out from under Russell's arm, ignoring my urge to twist it until it breaks, and walk to the center of the room. I wait for him to turn around. "I'm leaving, Russell."His face twitches in response. He is not surprised, just annoyed. "Leaving Wicker Farm.""Yup." Leaving Wicker Farm. Like Sasha and Aubrey hopefully already have. My heart feels like it's in a vice grip all of a sudden, but worse because it's pain that's doing the clenching. I take in a deep breath and wish I could untangle the two of them from my thoughts. I want to hate Sasha the way I did when I first met her, but really mean it this time because I know that if I don't channel this ache into anger, I'm no better off than that house outside. The hurt will eat me alive. And I think I would probably let it.Silence sweeps into the room as Russell's Resistance cohorts halt in their tracks. One of them, who just a few seconds ago was tearing sheets out of a book, stops and tosses it to the floor. In fact, all of the destruction in the mansion seems to cease. It's so quiet that the fire sounds like a tornado. None of the other people in the room can decide which one of us to focus on. Their eyes move from me to Russell. Russell to me. Me to Russell."You want to go to wherever Sasha and the young one are?" Russell asks. He stands with his arms akimbo. James instinctively mimics the movement. Now I'm having trouble figuring out which of them to focus on. I only see two people I want very badly to push out of that window. "I'm leaving," I say.One of the Resistance members, a woman with a question mark-shaped scar running from her right eye to her jaw line, blocks the exit, slapping her hands to the door frame and forming an 'x' with her body. "I'd like to see you try." One of her hands is bloody. A shattered glass object lies at her feet."I'd like to see you try," she hisses again. She's so thin that I could walk right through her with minimal effort. "Jackson!" Russell says my name like we haven't seen each other in years. He waves the woman down from her threat. "Maybe I'm not being clear about how valuable you are. In the next few days, everyone here will presumably come down from their high regarding this coup de tat, and the last thing I want is a new Resistance forming. So I want you to help me. I'll give you the best Wicker Farm has to offer.""Oh, you mean the stuff you're burning?" I point to the window, but no one turns. The other Resistance members seem increasingly uneasy with my movements and probably now, my entire presence. The quickest way to lose friends in a room like this is to defy a leader when his subjects are there. It's really uncomfortable for all parties.
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