by Jo Ho
Stepping under the glow of a streetlight, Marley unlocked her phone and hit number one on the speed-dial. It rang a few times before the call went to voicemail and her dad’s comforting voice came over the line.
“I’m not around right now, but leave a message and I’ll get back to you.”
The beep sounded but Marley found herself unable to speak. What could she say that would make her seem any less crazy than the world already thought she was? Without leaving a message, she hung up the call… and froze.
Someone had walked up behind her.
Marley knew it the second it happened. Even if she hadn’t heard the footsteps snaking behind her, she could feel the charge in the air, and the hairs on the back of her neck lifting. The streetlamp above her flickered then blinked out completely.
And suddenly all of Rhett’s warnings smashed into her head.
She was standing out here, in the dark. Alone.
Stupid Marley, stupid!
Her heartbeat spiked as Marley steeled herself, gathering her hands into fists. Whoever was there, she wouldn’t go down without a fight, that was for sure. Whirling around, she faced her would-be attacker, ready to give him everything she had until she saw those green eyes with golden flecks, staring at her again.
But this time, they weren’t intrigued by the sight of her as they had been when they had last met. Oh no, this time, they were incensed.
Marley shook off her confusion and lowered her fists.
How could this be happening?
Christian stood in front of her, but there was something different about him. The air around him shimmered and his skin seemed almost translucent. She could see the blood pounding in his veins and rushing around his body. He glared at her with all the fury of the world.
“Of all the stupid things you could do… killing me was probably the worst.”
And with that one sentence, Marley knew, life as she had known it was over.
This is the end of episode one. Continue the story with BEWARE THE SIGNS here!
Afterword
Twisted is a television series that I have been trying to make for coming up to eight years now.
I created it soon after my television series Spirit Warriors aired.
At one point I even had one of the producers behind one of the biggest film franchises in the world attached. We were trying to get it set up in the States but for a variety of reasons, it just didn’t happen.
In all this time, and after so many other projects, I still haven’t been able to let this one go. I believe in these girls and their troubles and I believe there are others out there who want to hear their story. Outside of the supernatural shenanigans are the problems so many girls face today. I know, because each of these girls is a part of me in some way.
I wasn’t one of the popular girls at school.
I was very overweight — one of the side effects of coming from a troubled background. I was bullied from students and a staff member who took great joy in belittling me in front of the whole class on a regular basis until I learned to be terrified of attending those classes.
I was also the girl who couldn’t bear to look at herself in the mirror as she saw nothing but ugliness, which wasn’t surprising as that is what the world repeatedly told me I was.
And I was the girl who looked for validation in all the wrong places.
So this series is important to me as I know there are millions of girls out there who felt the same way I did. The ones who aren’t “perfect”. The ones who are outcasts, misfits, geeks — to them I say, know that you are unique and special. Stay true to yourself and great things can and will come.
If you’d like to help me make this into a TV series, please leave your reviews for these books and help spread the word. The more love there are for these books and the more demand there is for this show, the more likely it is to happen.
My thanks go to my wonderful proof reader and grammar guru, Janice Harris for her support and insightful work. Thank you also to the fabulous Harold Trammel whose notes aren’t only perceptive but an utter joy to read. Last but not least, thank you to Dawn C. D. Harrison and Simon Richardson who cast their critical and much-needed eyes over proceedings. I’m so grateful to you all.
And finally as always, to my love Matt who brings joy to each and every day.
- Jo
About the Author
A proud geek and video gamer, and champion of complex female protagonists, Jo brings her page-turning screenwriting style to books to weave well-crafted, suspenseful stories with twists you don't see coming.
A self-taught screenwriter, Jo’s writing life began when she created the ground-breaking, critically acclaimed CBBC action fantasy television series, "Spirit Warriors," which introduced leading actress, Jessica Henwick ("Game of Thrones," "Star Wars: The Force Awakes") to the screen. Granted the biggest budget ever given to a CBBC show at the time, it was nominated for "Best Children’s Program" at the 2011 Broadcast Awards, with Jo herself, going on to win the Women in Film & Television’s "New Talent" Award in 2010. Jo even made history by being the first East Asian person — man or woman — to have created a British television drama series.
Since then, Jo has worked with some of the most acclaimed producers in the world with several television shows and movies currently in development. It is her dream to bring her Twisted series to screen and she believes she can make it happen with her readers' help!
Jo lives in London and hopes one day to travel across America in a super kitted out, Zombie-apocalypse-ready RV, with her lovely fella, Matt, and three equally lovely kitties.
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For a complete list of Jo’s books, visit her website.
