Sunday Snippet: Melee

April is off to aweird start. We had a tornado warning in the wee hours of Thursday morning. Thatwas fun. The temperature warmed up then dropped back down with a chance of snowtomorrow or Tuesday. But, sure, we aren't having any climate issues.

Still pluggingalong on multiple work projects. I did finish up two and added another new oneto my pile. I'm very happy to be busy!

Had a decent viewingweek. Ended up making it through my full slate of shows and I think I knowwhich new program I'm adding to the lot. I'll give it a view and report back.

Actually realized Idid finish up London Kills last week, so I ended up watching anotherfull episode. Things are headed for a showdown with David and Vivienne and I'mhere for that.

Watched Death inParadise and enjoyed the episode. Discovered Izzy is still around and,well, still not a fan. If she returns, maybe she'll grow on me.

Caught BeyondParadise and thoroughly enjoyed it. So nice to have a little backstory forEsther. And, if rumors prove true, a potential love interest in season three.That'll be fun.

Enjoyed an episodeof Elementary. I'm definitely interested in how things will play outwith Kitty's attacker. I can't wait to see if it gets resolved in the nextinstallment.

Watched an episodeof Batman Beyond. This is one I remembered from my original run through.Quite liked seeing it again.

Caught anotherepisode of Classic Rugrats and it's one I don't remember so a new-to-me episode.Thoroughly enjoyed it. Only a few more left before I move on to the rebootagain.

That's pretty muchit for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Melee, anovella that puts a couple through a trial by fire.

Here's theminiblurb:

Josie Walls and Parson Parrington gain extraordinaryskills when they're captured and experimented on in a remote laboratory in anicy tundra. Longing to be free, they put their newfound abilities to the test,escaping their prison and going on the run.

And a preview snippet…

Josie alternated between floatingon a cloud and diving into hot burning coals. Heat coursed through her veinsand her skin felt like it sizzled.Somewhere in the periphery, a terselyworded questions burst from Hollis. "What do you mean the experimentfailed? You were supposed to make them pliable and programmable to do mybidding?"A nasal voice responded. "Wetold you the serum might not be ready yet. You said you didn't care. Well, thisis what happens when you don't."The sound of a fist hitting fleshbounced off the walls."You have three weeks to fixthis mess. For now, put them in containment." A door slammed.No doubt Hollis made his usualdramatic exit.Shuffling feet drew close to Josieand fingers wrapped around her wrist."Ack! Shit. She's burning up."The shuffling turned to scampering and then fumbling hands. "El? This isEm. Check your subject. Mine is burning up."Josie focused on the voice, tryingto shake off the lethargy and drowning, bobbing sensation from the drugs. Briefstretches of semiconsciousness followed by long periods of dark dives intonightmarish dreamscapes had Josie struggling to form coherent thoughts. Theadrenaline from the lab tech—at least she assumed the nasal voice belonged to atechnician—gave her a jolt and helped her stay on this side of wakefulness.Em made a garbled choking sound."So, yours isn't burning up but they're giving you shocks? Like the statickind?" He sighed. "No, no. I didn't foresee this either. But thestupid, blundering ass didn't exactly give us time to test the serum, didhe?" Another sigh. "No, he didn't take it well. Yeah, he wants us tofix it. And no, I don't have a damn clue how."Josie strained to make sense of theone-sided conversation. What the hell did Hollis give her … them. She'd almostforgotten Parson. He'd been moved to another room … cell … whatever the fuckthey wanted to call it.Nasal Em snorted. "Aw, fuck.If this is what you think it is, and we've trigged some kind of latent abilityin the subjects, we're all fucked. It doesn't matter what Hollis wants." Apause. "Yeah, yeah. I'll make the notations. And I'll increase the sedationdosage. Yes. Yes. Then I'll get some sleep. From here on out, we have todocument everything." Em ended the call and started back toward Josie,muttering to himself. "We're so off the page we're not even in the bookanymore. Hell, we're not in the same library." He grabbed a rolling cartand slid it beside the gurney. "At this point, all bets are off and we'reofficially in uncharted territory."A sharp prick against her bicepbrought the fuzziness back. Josie dreaded going back under and succumbing tothe inky darkness of unconsciousness. But … she had something she didn't havebefore…Hope.

I'm having a lot offun with this story. Josie and Parson are going through it, and they'll have touse everything they have to get through this challenge.

 

That's it for thisweek.

Cheers!

Skye