Author2Author

Tip of the Day: At least watch Step 1 on "How do I Plot a Novel." Then, if you have time, watch the next 27 (I'm not done yet!).

In honor of my latest WIP that I'm excited about, I'm posting a teaser. Enjoy!

The Forgotten Night

Chapter 1
Leo

My body ached like it had been crushed under an entire football team. Except I hadn’t played ball in three years. Screw anything that could break my fingers and stop me from playing my Gibson.

Speaking of that, I slowly flexed my fingers. Thank god they bent without trouble.

Wait, why would there be trouble?

I popped my eyes open. I was in my car.

Why?

A pounding head, nausea, and dizziness joined my body aches. The rising sun’s rays cut like razors in my eyes. “Jesus,” I muttered.

A moan came from beside me. My sister, Jenny. “You OK?” I grunted.

“Where are we?” she asked, her voice rough.

I felt my head for gaping wounds. My fingers slicked up with sweat but no blood.

“Leo? What happened?”

As if I had a clue.

“You crashed, didn’t you?” Jenny clutched her head and cringed. “I can’t believe it. Why do you have to drive like such a maniac?”

“I didn’t crash.” My own voice hurt my head. I reached to the back seat and groped around for my water bottle, then drank. I didn’t remember crashing, but didn’t remember not crashing. From the crooked position of the car, I had run into a shallow ditch. Dammit.

“Do you remember what happened or don’t you?” Jenny demanded, her voice rising. Not that I blamed her. Inside I felt the same panic.

“Leo!”

“I’ll figure it out,” I said, a better answer than admitting that my thoughts from last night were as blank as a corrupted hard drive. I rolled out of the car. The motion made me gag but nothing came up. I leaned onto the cool, dewy hood and scoped out the scene.

The road was empty, the sky was still. I sucked in some fresh air and recognized the two-lane country road that we took to and from Dad’s. Route 522 in Pennsylvania. To the west, long field grasses lined the way until the elevation soared into the tree-covered Appalachian Mountains.

Jenny’s door creaked open. “Did we hit a deer? Or take down a tree or something?” she asked from her seat.

The overgrown grasses buzzed with insects but that was it. Jenny and I were alone. I circled the car in measured steps looking for any sign of damage, trying to keep my posture tall so Jenny wouldn’t know how bad the spinning was in my head and gut.

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