Natural Selection (Forces of Nature Series, #1)
Author: Elizabeth Sharp
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Synopsis: What do you do when you find out your family isn't your family, death is knocking at your door, and that guy you can't stop thinking about knows more about who you are than you do? Amelia Hoffman was just a normal 15 year old until she found out the truth. Now ancient myths, supernatural beings, and murder have changed everything. Tests and school dances are no longer the biggest worry in her life-- she has to figure out how to save everyone she loves and accept the future in front of her before its too late.
SNEAK PEEK
The policewoman
introduced herself as Regina Simms. I swallowed nervously, and it went down
wrong making me cough. Officer Simms went to fetch me a glass of water. She
returned with a Dixie cup and a young man in a dark suit. I could tell by the badge
clipped to his belt he was probably a detective. So TV let me down again.
“I’m Detective
Laurent,” he said, setting a manila folder on the table opposite me. His
immaculately groomed dark hair and youthful face seemed at odds. He was rather
bulbous with a large nose and a fleshy face. He shook hands with the
principal,then me. His palm was hot and damp, and his grip was loose and timid.
“I understand you knew Mariah Carter?”
I numbly nodded,
unable to speak through the shock. The whole situation seemed unreal like it
had been staged by some poor author trying to hurry a plot along. I took the
water and attempted to swallow a sip, but my throat felt swollen.
“Were you close?”
“Kind of. Things
have been different since we got to high school, but we used to be really
close.”
“How would you describe
her?”
“She was just
kind of average like me.” I watched him eye me up and down, and I remembered my
Goodwill finds. I flushed, my lips compressing as I looked away.
“Average? This
is average? Isn’t this more what the kids are calling New Age?” I let my eyes
flick to his face briefly, but the look on his face reminded me of a predator
stalking prey. I swallowed, my gaze darting away again.
Mrs. Soberlo
came to my rescue. “It’s Spirit Week, detective. Most of the student body is
dressed similarly to Miss Hoffman. Don’t they train you to do this kind of
stuff? What does Miss Hoffman’s appearance have to do with anything? Her friend
died, and I would appreciate a little decorum. She doesn’t need a cocky
detective getting snarky with her!”
Go Mrs. Soberlo!
I eyed the distinguished woman, clearly having underestimated her. She was tall
with short, grey hair heavily peppered with white. She wore a nice suit, rather
harsh in its cut, but it worked on her tall thin frame-I bet Jamie Lee Curtis
would play her if they ever made a movie of her life. The detective noticeably cringed,
and Officer Simms hid a gin behind her hand. I looked between him and my
principal, squirming uncomfortably. Mrs. Soberlo sat with her arms crossed and
a stern look on her face saying he had better keep in line. I understood how
she had gotten her reputation with the students, but I was grateful for it
right now.
“Very well, Miss
Hoffman. I apologize.” He didn’t really sound like he meant it, but I shrugged
and looked at my hands fidgeting in my lap. My principal merely arched an
eyebrow at him. “Yes, mm,” he said clearing his throat and tugging on his tie. “Was
Miss Carter into anything—unconventional?”
“Like drugs? I
don’t think so—”
“Not drugs, Miss
Hoffman, more like . . . what are the kids calling it these days? Goth, maybe?”
“Like funky hair
colors, tons of eyeliner, and black lipstick?” I scoffed, imaging Mariah’s
oxford shirt and khaki pencil skirt she’d been wearing the last time I saw her.
“Um, no. Far from it.”
“No fascination with
the occult?”
My eyes widened
in alarm. What in the hell was going on here? “No! I think she was in the choir
at the Methodist church.”
The detective’s
brow furrowed, and he glanced at the female officer. She shrugged picked up the
folder in front of him, walking around the table towards me. “I want to show
you a photo taken of the victim’s room. The image is graphic and might be
alarming. If you don’t think you can handle it, we’ll understand. I know Garret
can be kind of awkward, but I assure you he’s a good detective. He just wants
to figure out what happened to your friend.” She gave the detective a hard
glance, and he grimaced and looked away. “Once you see the pictures you’ll
understand . . .” She paused shoting a disapproving frown at the detective. “unorthodox
behavior.” She glanced at Mrs. Soberlo and waited for nod, then turned back to
me.”
After that build
up there was no way I could say no. I owed it to Mariah to give whatever help I
could. I nodded, and she set a black and white 8x10 in front of me. A lump
filled my throat, and I tried not to see the blood. The body wasn’t in the
photo, but I could tell something horribly violent had been done to my friend.
It could have been a still from a horror movie. At first wasn’t able to see
past the blood, but eventually the rest of the picture registered. Lead settled
in my stomach as I realized why they’d been asking about the occult. A strange
symbol had been painted on the floor.
About the Author: I am an author, artist and self-proclaimed technogeek. I am the cover artist at 4Corners Press. But my first love will always be writing. Otherwise, hearing voices in my head would mean I"m schizophrenic. ;)
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