by Bryan Cohen
Yoshi grinned up at the woman as she leaned in closer.
"My birthright."
CO-AUTHORS’ NOTE
When this book first came out into the world, we had a lot of preconceptions about how YA and superhero books were supposed to be. That’s why it was about 15,000 (boring) words longer, had a cover that didn’t fit the genre, and only ended up getting out to a few hundred people.
What we’ve learned is that there are no hard and fast rules. What’s most important is that you do everything you can as an author to entertain. It’s about you wonderful people, not us. If you only wanted 400,000-word novels that could double as assault weapons, then that’s what we and our carpel tunnel syndrome would have to put out.
Hopefully, you’ll like this trimmed length and sped up pacing just fine. I think we also made Natalie one inch taller in this version.
Thanks so much for reading. If you like this, then enjoy the special sneak preview for book #3, The Candidate on the following pages.
You can also click here to ditch the preview and start reading the whole book right now.
Go out there and break the rules! Except the really, really illegal ones.
Sincerely,
Bryan & Casey
PS: Reviews help authors keep writing. Please feel free to leave one!
EXCERPT: THE CANDIDATE
Ted flew in through the front door of the hospital and landed in a puddle. At least, he thought it was a puddle, until he realized the entire ground floor of the building was now a six-inch-high wading pool. Vott and Harding had equipped him with waterproof boots, but the patients who remained inside weren't as lucky. Ted saw a nurse trudge through the water with a patient who didn't even have shoes on.
"How many patients are left?" Ted put his shoulder under the man's other arm.
The nurse's voice was hoarse. "At least 20."
"Vott, Harding. You guys still there?"
"Yeah. Ted, you better–"
"I need somewhere in a three-mile radius where I can send about 20 injured people."
Vott didn't hesitate. Ted heard him tapping away on a nearby keyboard.
"There's a building we have secured and boarded up. You couldn't get in through the front."
Ted looked back to see the patients splashing their way to his position.
"Roof access?"
Vott made an affirmative noise. "What are you planning?"
"I'm gonna make a bubble."
Ted gathered all the patients and nurses in the lobby of the hospital emergency room. On the night of the prom, Ted floated the disguised Dhiraj and Jennifer through the air to lure the brainwashed mob away from their limo. Now, he was going to do the same with way more people, all while trying to protect them from the harsh effects of the storm. Ted explained his plan, but most of the looks he received back were dubious.
The building uttered another large creaking noise and the ground seemed to move beneath them. A male patient in his 40s began crying, and an intern did her best to comfort him.
Ted straightened his spine. "Look, guys. I need to get you off the streets and somewhere safe. I don't know if this is going to work, but I'm here to help. Anybody who wants to take a chance with me, step forward."
Everyone in the lobby, from the patients to the doctors, stepped forward or did their best injured-version of the act.
Ted nodded. "Good. Everybody outside."
As they complied, Ted concentrated on blocking all wind and rain from coming into contact with the patients. It wasn't perfect and a few raindrops fell through, but to the naked eye, it looked like there was a clear glass box around the entire group.
"Paint me a picture, Vott."
Off in the distance, through the raging storm, Ted could see a red flare fly high into the sky.
Ted locked onto all the patients, doctors and nurses and shifted them up two feet to ensure he had control. All of them moved as he intended, though even that small movement felt like he was lifting 100-pound dumbbells.
Ted tightened his face and muscles. "See you guys soon." With a hearty grunt, Ted lifted the entire group high into the air.
The group reached the same height as the top of the building, and Ted floated himself high into the air beside them to get a better view of the destination.
"Ready another flare."
"Alright, but it's the last one we've got."
Ted grumbled. "Next time, send your people to Costco to get 'em in bulk."
As he pushed the patients away from the hospital, the hardest part was keeping himself steady in the storm. The wind and rain beat against his face so hard, he could hardly feel it anymore.
"Flare. Now!"
Ted thought the wind might rip the clothes from his body before Vott could comply. Thankfully, the red flare shot into the sky and Ted used all his energy to push the group to the rooftop as fast as possible. In the distance, Ted could barely see as they moved into position above the roof.
"Are they directly above?"
"Yes. Lower them. I'll let you know when to let go."
As Ted agreed, he heard something in his mind. Thoughts of fear and pain wafted through that he hadn't noticed before. He was reading the mind of a little girl – a girl who was still inside the hospital.
"Alright, you can let them go. Get out of there, Ted. The worst of the storm is coming your way."
Ted looked up at the clouds and saw a tint of orange begin to paint the sky. He shook his head. "Can't do it. There's someone still inside."
Ted zipped back down to ground level and went back in through the front. The rising water level on the ground had doubled through the almost deserted building.
"Ted, this is an order. Get out of there now!"
With his first step, Ted felt the liquid sloshing over the top of his waterproof boots. His socks were soaked.
"Are you gonna help me, or do I have to take out my earpiece like they do in the movies?"
Vott mumbled something to himself. "I'll help, but act quick."
The shuddering of the hospital had grown louder and Ted watched as several ceiling tiles and beams dropped to the ground. He searched his mind to find the girl. The girl's thoughts grew louder and louder until he walked into a room with several beds. There she was, standing on top of a pile of sheets in an effort to get away from the water.
"Hey, honey. I'm Ted."
The girl shivered and stared. "I'm Sophie."
"Good to meet you. Can I get you out of here, Sophie?"
The girl breathed so hard and fast, Ted feared she might hyperventilate. But through all that, the girl nodded her assent.
Ted wrapped his arm around her waist and flew the two of them out of the room. As he did, he heard a pipe burst in the distance and a flood of new water came pouring in. The water level was now up to Ted's knees. Sophie cried out and buried her head in Ted's chest.
"It's ok. We'll get out of–"
A beam came crashing down from the ceiling and hit Ted right in the back of the skull. He lost his hold of the girl and they both tumbled into the water. Ted's face made impact with the flood first. His eyes stung with whatever was floating around in the water. When he came back up for air, Sophie was nowhere to be seen. Ted felt his pulse race.
"Sophie?!"
He dove under the water. Ted looked in every direction but he couldn't see the girl. He felt his breath grow heavy. As Ted left the water, he saw something he never would've expected. In the middle of the crumbling building and the water, there was a blue portal hovering a few inches off the ground. Amidst the chaos, the shimmering light from whatever it was remained calm and steady. Sophie was right beside it, and though the water was up to her midsection, she waded toward the gateway.
"Sophie, no!"
Before Ted could stop her, the girl had disappeared through the blue portal. Ted ran toward the phenomenon, but it closed with a sound that reminded him of a classic video game. As he reached for where the portal had been, another series of beams fell to the ground and surrounded hi
m.
"Ted, are you out of the building?"
Before Ted could respond, the rest of the hospital came down on top of him.
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All contents Copyright © 2017 by Bryan Cohen & Casey Lane. All rights reserved. No part of this document or the related files may be reproduced or transmitted in any form, by any means (electronic, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of the publisher. This book identifies product names and services known to be trademarks, registered trademarks, or service marks of their respective holders. They are used throughout this book in an editorial fashion only. The publisher has used its best efforts in preparing this book, and the information provided herein is provided "as is." Bryan Cohen & Casey Lane make no representation or warranties with respect to the accuracy or completeness of the contents of this book and specifically disclaims any implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for any particular purpose and shall in no event be liable for any loss of profit or any other commercial damage, including but not limited to special, incidental, consequential, or other damages. All characters appearing in this work are fictitious. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
Thank you to everybody who made this book a reality. Our beta readers Tim Matson, Julianne Clancy, Rachel Bean, Ben Harpe and Annabel Lang gave me fantastic notes along the way. Damonza, James Olsen, Candice and Logan Conner, Alisa Rosenthal, Michael Silberblatt, and Cordelia Dewdney contributed to another fantastic cover. Ashley Gainer and Abigail Dunard worked tirelessly on the edits. Sheridan, you always do so much, and it’s very appreciated. And lastly, thanks to Amy for everything.
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Table of Contents
Introduction
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
Chapter 46
Chapter 47
Epilogue
Co-Authors’ Note
Excerpt: The Candidate
Legal Business & Acknowledgements
