Thursday, December 22, 2016

excerpt from the novel i may or may not write

The shadows whisper around me, closing in, and I wonder that any wood could feel so claustrophobic. The cold numbs my fingers, and the long dead brambles strain to entangle my feet. The skeletons of trees, stripped of their bark and robbed of their leaves, surround me, pale wood glowing in the falling dusk. The clouds are heavy overhead, and I find myself yelling hoarsely again. Time was running out. I would be too late.
The echo of my yells reverberates through the wood. Again and again and again. Until my voice breaks off in the middle of her name. In my rush, I'd hardly noticed the clearing until I stumbled upon it and feel my throat catch.
This is wrong.
A figure lays crumpled beneath a cape at the foot of a massive tree. It can't be her. I crumple at her side and gather the broken figure in my arms, sweeping the hood back from her face with unsteady hands.
No. Her eyelids flutter, failing to open and a weak moan escapes her lips. No no no.
Her face is marked angry red and bruised, swelling strange colors. It feels like a punch in the gut. But it looks less like a beating and more like she's been beaten up from the inside.
Oh. Wait.
Seething, angry tears burn the back of my eyes. I can't remember how to breathe. My hands are shaking when I reach to try to lift her neck. Of course. This has to be the work of the Sorcerer. I've seen more than enough wounds of my own from countless beatings to know this is different. I've never seen anything like this. My whole chest aches, but I find myself wishing fiercely that it hurt worse, that I could take some of her pain. Guilt tears at my conscience. Where had I been?
The pounding of my own heart is so loud I almost miss the soft whisper cutting through the now still air.
"Well, look who finally decided to show up."


ps / here's my temporarily public writing board on pinterest
pps / here's a previous blog post that is a character profile for the character who is narrating this piece ^. it also contains a link to the first few chapters of the novel, and will give you a little more background. and if you read it I would literally love you forever.

28 comments:

  1. may or may not have shed a tear :')

    For a minute I was there in those woods and my heart was racing and I think that's SO UNEXPLAINABLY COOL THAT YOU CAN DO THAT WITH WORDS WOW.

    Liv you are so talented and if you write this novel I will buy 200 copies probably.

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    1. WHOA MARY SHELLEY. well I also may or may not have shed a tear. :') you're literally the sweetest. thank you sososofosfsdofjld much. GAH. <3

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  2. That was an emotional ride. The last line was such a cliff hanger, I want to read more! So I do hope that you write this book! AND THE PINTEREST BOARD can we talk about how exciting it is to look at it and read the snippets!

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    Replies
    1. wow I'm so glad it was emotional for you tbh :') ahhhh, I guess I'll have to do write it now hehe. YAY I'M GLAD YOU LIKE THE BOARD. It's inspired several of my blog posts. :)

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  3. oh. like, please write this book. the beginning sentences, describing the woods, almost had a concentration camp feel- like the trees were the prisoners and the brambles the barbed wire. The whole atmosphere had that sort of bleak, suffocated horror you get in pictures from the camps.

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    Replies
    1. oh my wow thank you so much. that means so much to me. your comments are always >>> :')

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  4. not fully understanding how you're so beautiful lol. you really have a gift for words- I felt like I was there with your characters and not only can I see everything but I feel it too which is what really matters. and I'm angry that there's such a huge cliffhanger at the end like I need to know what happens and I want to know these characters. PLZ write more (and post more on here) and PLZ write the entire book. Haha

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  5. OLIVIAAAAAA. This is a wild ride. o.o

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    Replies
    1. COMING FROM THE ACTUAL QUEEN. WOW. thank you times a million. <3

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  6. ouch

    ouch

    ouch

    ouch ouch ouch

    I WAS RUNNING WITH ASA *dies*

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    Replies
    1. ahaHAHAHA, how can you know how to compliment me so well? glad you were transported there buT YOU SHOULD PROBABLY LEAVE RN OR YOU MIGHT DIE. :')

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    2. *screams* *starts running* DONT LET ASA DIE THO K

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  7. Okay, you DEFINITELY need to write this and publish it so i can READ IT FOREVER GAAH

    ps that pinterest board is amazing!!!

    -Abby
    quillsandcurtsies.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. *screaming internally of joy*
      THANK YOU OKAY OKAY IF YOU INSIST ^-^

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  8. Ahhhh this looks so good! I'll definitely be reading more about it <3

    Ellie | On the Other Side of Reality

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    Replies
    1. Thanks so much, Ellie :') That means the world :'_

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  9. WOW.

    I say this literally every time I read anything of yours but I don't understand the way you can make words feel ALIVE and like I'm sitting here watching a movie in my head. ITS SO GOOD.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. *types 1800 things to try to express myself but is still unable to even*
      you're a really wonderful human being, u know that right?

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  10. Holy cow you need to write this novel. Like right now.

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    1. :'''''''''DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD
      ^ actually me right now after reading your comment.
      OKAY :'''''DDDDDDDDD
      xoxo

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  11. Ummmm now you better write this novel or I'll forever be in the depths of despair.

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    Replies
    1. WELL WE OBVIOUSLY CAN'T HAVE THAT I GUESS I HAVE NO CHOICE :')

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  12. YOU ARE THE QUEEN PLEASE WRITE THIS NOVEL

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    Replies
    1. ONLY AS LONG AS YOU FINISH YOURS AND GET IT PUBLISHED SO I CAN BUY A COPY OKAY :')

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  13. YES PLEASE :) I love your writing and how it never fails to instantly transport me to another place! So good! <3 :D

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    1. ERIN YOU ABSOLUTE BLOSSOM (HAHAHA I HAVE NEVER SAID TAHT BEFORE IN MY LIFE BUT IT SEEMED APPROPRIATE) you are too kind!!!!!!! THANK YOU. LOVE. xxx

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  14. Oh. Wait.

    (is that my heart lying in pieces on the ground?
    wait yes. yes it is.)

    t h a n k y o u .
    this is marvelous.

    Randy Abby
    WAKE ME UP Blog

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