Kids on Mars are disappearing - join them, Read THE PACK (Coming out 2010)
Shamira is considered an outcast by most, but little do they know that Shamira is on a mission. Kids on Mars are disappearing, but Shamira decides to use the criminals most unlikely weapons against them, the very kids of which they have captured. In order to succeed, she is forced to trust another, something she is afraid to do. However, Valens her connection to the underworld of her enemy, proves to be a useful ally. Time is slipping, and so is her control on the power that resides within her. Yet, in order to save her brother's life she is willing to risk it all.
Excerpt
THE PACK
Chapter 1
She often walked this way home, listening for all the familiar sounds. Adjusting the handle of her small bag across her chest, she strolled slowly on the long suburban block that stretched quietly in front of her. It was night out, but it made no difference to Shamira, for she lived in the dark for most her life. She heard the quietness of the evening while she walked a comfortable pace on her journey homeward. There were no birds, no rustling trees, and no one walking the streets. Only the slight hum of the generators could be heard in the quiet of the late evening while it pumped fresh oxygen into the air.
Suddenly, out of the stillness, she heard someone approach, and she turned slightly to judge who it was. Shamira could tell the footsteps weren’t friendly, but then again, neither was Shamira. A mischievous smile crossed her face that some would mistake for innocence, the furthest thing from her mind. The footsteps continued to fall quickly toward her, and Shamira slowed down to lure them closer. She knew that he came. Only one scum for my trap today. She had dealt with others before, but tonight, she only had time for one.
He grabbed her by the neck. Typical. Why do they always go for my neck? This is too easy. She smiled to herself again, and figuring she wouldn’t work too hard to bring him down, she swallowed in preparation for the attack. Restlessness rose in her in anticipation of the fight. Time was slipping away, and she had to get home before her mother did. This has to go quickly, she thought regrettably, for she hated to rush things. She waited to see what her captor had planned for her, and she stood seemingly docile with his thick arm circled around her neck.
“So, what do I have here? Ooh, I’ve hit the jackpot tonight, baby!” He shoved his nose in her hair and sniffed, “A pretty, sweet-smelling girl all alone. You have no choice, you know. You’re coming with me. I have got plans for you, sweet thing,” he growled in her ear. She inhaled the smell of his putrid breath. The coarse hair on his arms scratched her neck. She squirmed away from him a bit, and his bulging belly pushed against her back.
“Hey! Stop, dude! Let her go!” She heard a voice in the distance. Shoot! she said to herself, knowing she would have to play helpless now. She had traced this creep for weeks, and now some goofball would-be hero would mess it up for her. Dang it! No one must know, she reminded herself, for no one could know what she did when she was alone. Great, I won’t get any information out of this creep tonight, she grimaced.
She felt her attacker slack up just a little, but couldn’t resist the urge to hurt him, like she knew he had hurt others. She lifted her leg high and stomped down on his foot with all her might, cracking his bones on impact. He instantly let up his tight hold. She turned precisely enough to step out of his reach. He yanked her long braid, a move she didn’t anticipate, but she smiled at his obvious feeling of superiority over a girl he knew was blind and helpless. A smile slipped to her face at the knowledge that he’d been tracking her for sometime. She thought to herself, I may be blind, but I’m definitely not helpless, you filthy son of a bastard. Letting him think he had the upper hand, she allowed him to pull her back into his grasp by her hair. Her back was bent back like a bow, and she sensed his jaw was unprotected just above her nose. Not surprising. It’s always this way. They all get cocky in the end. She braced herself to head-butt her captor in the chin, hopeful that he would bite off his hanging tongue that dripped a disgusting stream of spittle on her nose.
Then, she heard it. The guy that yelled out in hopes of stopping the attack had run up behind the oaf that was too dumb to realize that the gig was up. Just then, her self-appointed savior stepped in to save the day and snatched her target away by his neck. She heard him drag the scum slightly away. There was a grunt and rustling, and with a thump, the fat, smelly attacker was dealt a kick to his head after he crashed to the pavement. Hum, that sounds familiar, only I kick harder. It appears the kid has some skill. He’s sloppy, of course, but skillful enough to do the deed. She heard the boy land one last kick for good measure, and her self-imposed hero walked over to her rescue. “Great. Now I have to play grateful,” she muttered to herself.
“Thanks,” she spat out most unconvincingly. She couldn’t help it. This was her only set-up for the night, and now she had to find another way to control the rage inside her and solve the mystery of the missing kids on Mars. It looks like another night in the training room. So freaking unfulfilling. She rolled her eyes.
“I guess you’re welcome,” the boy said, “but you don’t really sound too grateful.” He tried to take her hand just like all the others who thought she was a poor, blind, invalid little girl. Disgusted, Shamira jerked away. She didn’t need his help or want him there. He’d disrupted her planned attack, and the last thing she needed was for him to touch or pity her.
“I had it handled,” she said and then started to walk toward home. As she headed off, the temperature changed. It was getting late. She could always tell. She tried to ignore him and hoped he would get the message. The last thing she needed was a nosey tagalong.
“You could’ve fooled me,” the boy pressed. “He had his arm around your neck!” He made the fatal mistake of touching her again. She didn’t think, only reacted as she grabbed his hand and held it steady, yet firmly before he made more than a whisper of contact. Shamira did not like to be touched. It angered her immensely. Many people touched her freely, like they had a right to simply because her eyes appeared unseeing. They always assumed she needed their help, but they were all mistaken; she didn’t need anyone’s help. Shamira always fought her own battles—some of which she even created because she hungered to fight. There was an urge inside her, something she barely controlled. She breathed deeply and tried to hold it back, but it was barely at bay.
Nevertheless, he wouldn’t stop. He didn’t get the message and decided to stick around. He moved a distance away, but she knew exactly where he was. She had to breathe deeply to avoid doing something they’d both regret. She was getting angry again, just like she always did when someone treated her like she was helpless. They didn’t know about this rage inside of her, this burning, this constant hunger for a challenge, someone deserving of justice—something she could barely hold in. She stood down, calmed down, and waited, relaxing enough to drop his hand. She knew exactly how this was going to go. First, there would be his concern, then pity, and then his hand again as he tried to help. I don’t have time for this today. I’m already late.
“Look, don’t touch me, okay? I don’t like it, and you don’t have the right.” She moved past him to walk home.
“Hey, I’m sorry, but it’s obvious that you need somebody to walk you home,” he said then reached out to touch her shoulder just like she knew he would.
That’s it! The dam inside her broke. I was angry before, but now I’ve had enough playing with this self-righteous imitation hero! She slid out from under his outstretched hand, smoothly ducked, and then turned around to land a solid punch to the boy’s face. She didn’t stop, either, but instead punched him again and again in the chest to make him backoff.
He took the battering, but yelled, “I won’t fight you back! I don’t hit girls.”
“Err! Leave me alone! Go away! I can take care of myself! I will hurt you, so just leave! Leave!” Dismissing him, she turned away and ran all the way home. She ran quickly and smelled the sweet aroma of manufactured air and the quiet hum that was Mars.
Whoever he was, she would remember him—his voice, his smell, and her dislike for him. He dares to pity me. She would teach him to pity alright. They would meet again, and when they did, she would not hold back. She’d make him stay out of her way.
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By the year 2161, Earth is completely free of violence. Oh, there are still drugs, body organ theft and other “benefits” that the rich are willing to pay for, but if any problems arise, they just shut down travel to the planet! The Pack by LM Preston, who first captured everybody’s attention with Explorer X – Alpha has just released her YA novel, full of an action-packed adventure that I totally recommend—hey, you don’t have to be a teen to have fun reading about teen life! This book is definitely at 5+!
Mars is where it’s at! Or at least it is the place to be if you are a criminal. Originally, it was supposed to be that the criminals selected to colonize Mars were to be working to change—to create a new life. However, there were some hardened criminals who figured out how to relocate, figuring they would be kings there!
And they probably would have succeeded, if this possibility had not been predicted...
Major technological advances had been made. Mars had been built and colonized by the government, who had created a world as close to Earth as possible, including the generation of oxygen and other elements to approximate the control of temperatures there. Mars was colder in general and lacked the “green” of Earth, but it held its own beauty for those that had been born there and could not look back in their lives to miss their home...
For in addition to the relocation of criminals, there were also civilians who had been asked to spend time there. And a special Security Force Elite had been created.
With a body that had been developed from birth to provide extra strength and superior abilities...
But now, something had happened, the children of the original Security Force Elite were being kidnapped and several of the adults had been taken. There had also been other civilians adults and children taken, but the panic began because it should not have been possible for anybody to “take down” the Elite Force.
The daughter of two of the top-level Elite had had enough and wanted to save the children!
Shamira was a special young woman and even her parents did not know the extent of her abilities. In order to save her life when she was a baby, doctors had used advances that had only been used on adults before. She survived, but had been blind since then. Surprisingly, this had caused other children to shun her as a child and she had withdrawn into herself, allowing only her family to be loved and close. But the only one with whom she truly felt she could be herself was her younger brother David.
But then David was kidnapped also! And as Shamira roamed the streets trying to find out about all of the children and where they might be hidden—and during times her parents were working, she met Valens, whose sister had been taken. A hate-love relationship developed, Shamira hating the way Valens would not leave her alone, since she knew she could take care of herself. But then, after David was gone and he shared that his sister was also gone, she realized that it would take more than her own strengths to find them!
And The Pack was formed!
In addition to The Pack by LM Preston being an excellent action-filled adventure, there is a very comforting underlying story about friendship, parental guidance—and love. You can’t beat those additional qualities for a YA book! Preston writes/creates “stories of young people who overcome unbelievable odds.” In my opinion, they are some of the best around to help our children understand and live in today’s world!
