Here is a sneak peek into the first couple of pages of my debut novel, NOEL Forgotten.
Chapter 1
Escape
I’m free falling for only a second before my bare feet splash through icy, shallow water. The sudden shock sends a shiver down my spine, taking my breath away. I’m illuminated beneath the circular dim light as snowflakes trickle down onto my shoulder-length blond hair.
The loosely, thin cloth gown does nothing to shield me from the bone-chilling February night. The darkness ahead prevents me from seeing anything beyond the white puffs from my breath. I rest one palm against the cold, damp wall, sliding against the hard concrete as I drift forward, hoping there aren’t obstacles along the way.
This tunnel was not on the blueprints. There’s no telling how long it stretches before the exit to the outside world. I only hope I make it out before they notice I’m missing. My guess is I only have minutes to spare.
I jog along, stimulating my heart rate to keep the blood circulating in my veins. Getting hypothermia is not part of the plan. It’s silent except for the soft echoing splashes of my footsteps. Silence is good. It means they haven’t noticed my absence yet.
Sharp tingles shoot up my feet as the water numbs my toes. The tunnel turns right and ahead is a faint light. My heart hammers in my chest, knowing I’m almost there. I try to run and falter from involuntary trembling. Every inch of my body is telling me to stop, but my willpower is too strong to surrender.
Abandoning all sense, I trot forward at a steady pace, getting closer with each step. I draw nearer and a glint catches my eye. A gut-wrenching feeling overcomes me as I realize a chain-linked barrier stands in the way of my freedom.
“No,” I cry in disbelief. Panic sets in as I hold on to the cold metal and repeat under my breath, “No, no, no. This can’t be happening.”
Shouts in the distance catch my attention, and I know I’m out of time. My hands rush over the edges, hoping to find any give in the barrier. I’ve come too far to get caught now. A siren wails across the grounds, echoing through the tunnel. Quivering hands slide around the edges, finding a weak spot. I link my fingers through the holes, unable to close them completely, as if they’re frozen open. I pull with all my strength—it barely gives. Heart throbbing, teeth chattering, and panic rising, I close my eyes and take a deep breath, willing my body to calm itself.
“I can’t go back. I can’t go back,” I whisper, thinking of all the pain, torture, and mind-control I’ve been through. I focus on the rage rising deep inside. Rage for twenty-two years of manipulation.
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