The Wonder Soul - Paperback

Zoe woke, startled and confused, in the dark. The last thing she remembered was waiting outside her apartment to catch the shuttle. 

Now she stood in darkness.

The familiar warm, sweet scent drifted through the surrounding air. She fumbled to find her surroundings and noticed a large, soft cushion rested beneath her. 

Where am I?

As her senses returned to her, she realized that something wasn’t right. Why couldn't she see? The silence weighed heavy against her head. But gradually, sounds emerged around her. A shuffle a short distance away and whispered voices reached her ears. 

Zoe listened. 

She hoped whatever, or whoever, would reveal their intentions, or she could sneak away before they discovered her awake.

Sweat dripped down her back and soaked through her shirt. She had to get out now. She groped through the darkness and found where the cushion ended. A hard, bumpy surface met her touch. 

She climbed off the cushion and stood up.

Zoe stretched her arms and searched for a wall to guide her out of this place. She didn't know who brought her here or what they planned to do, but she wouldn't wait to find out.

The shuffles and whispers echoed in the distance again, and she moved further away from them. There had to be another way out. After a few steps, she reached a wall. 

Am I in a cave?

The sweet, familiar scent filled the air, though she still did not understand what it was or why it pulled at her memory. She crept along the stone wall, hoping she would soon find a source of light. The ground shifted, and she descended downward.

This can't be the right way.

A light appeared in the dark cavern with a flicker of fire from somewhere behind her.

"She's up," a hoarse voice said. "I can smell her."

Zoe scooted away deeper into the cave. Her breath quickened, and she broke into a run. Quiet was no longer her concern, only escape. 

She maneuvered blind through the darkness as she bumped against the walls and tripped over her own feet several times. Large objects fell from tables and shelves she crashed into, clanking against the stone. As she ran, the invisible obstacles continued to get in her way. More lights flickered on. Footsteps echoed behind her, getting closer. She risked a glance back.

Crash!

She tumbled to the ground. The entire cavern lit up. She looked frantically for something, for someone. "Who's there?" she asked. Her voice shook and bounced off the empty cavernous walls. Voices mumbled, but no one appeared.

"Don't be frightened," the husky voice said.

Zoe jumped back. 

The voice came from right in front of her. She scanned the open space. Her head throbbed in confusion.

"She can’t see us. This was a mistake,” the voice said. “She shouldn't have been brought here.” The murmurs of other voices materialized. 

Zoe covered her hands over her ears, trying to block out the sounds. When that didn't work, she hugged her knees into her chest and curled inward. "Who are you?" Zoe asked. "Why did you bring me here?" She shivered, straining to see who spoke to her.

"This is much worse than I thought," the same voice said. Zoe buried her head into her arms, willing herself out of this awful place.

It's just a dream. She rocked on the hard ground; deep breaths failed to calm her nerves. But within seconds, everything went dark and quiet. Zoe drifted to sleep once again.

Trim Size: 5x8 inches

Number of Pages: 308

Cover Finish: Matte

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