The Gate: Part 1 of the Hinterlands Series

By Charlotte Grey

When Shannon wakes up in the middle of a forest, confused and disoriented from her sudden and unexpected death, she follows a path that leads to a small town full of silent spirits who repeat the same tasks over and over again, completely unaware of their surroundings. And the worst part? She might be trapped there forever.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Charlotte Grey
• Release date: Jul 9, 2015
• ISBN: 9781311715357

Book preview

Prologue

Coffee. Shannon needed coffee. It was her life blood. Her magic feather. How, on today of all days, had she managed to run out of her favorite blend? She rummaged through the pantry, digging a single instant packet out of the back. Scrunching her nose in disdain, Shannon microwaved a cup of water and dumped the powder into the mug.

Powdered coffee. It was so, so wrong.

Shannon downed the swill as quickly as she could, taking her morning dose of Zoloft with the last sip. Sprinting to the door, she slid on her flats and threw her purse over her shoulder, barely remembering to lock up on the way to her car.

Okay, she put the key in the ignition and started her reliable, old Jetta. Big day. No big deal. You got this.

Rain pattered her windshield, and she turned on the wipers and headlights. Bad weather was status quo for West Hampshire, Pennsylvania. Sometimes they went weeks without sun, and when it finally decided to shine through the clouds, it was blinding.

Pulling out of her apartment complex, Shannon turned onto the main road and headed toward town. She squinted, leaning in toward the steering wheel. It was always so difficult to make out the double yellow line when the pavement was wet, and the fog that covered the road didn't make it any easier.

The tiny engine revved as she drove up the first winding hill. In weather like this, Shannon always drove slowly and cautiously. As she reached the crest, dim lights from an oncoming car came into view. Instinctively she hugged the ditch, giving whatever vehicle approached ample space to drive. Gripping the steering wheel tight, Shannon prepared for the car to pass by her.

It happened in a moment. The truck swerved into her lane, its headlights blinding her as she tried to steer out of the way. Tires shrieked against the pavement. Metal crunched against metal.

The pain was sudden. Intense. Consuming.

And then it was over.

The Gate

Shannon came to in the middle of a forest. Shaking her head, she propped herself up with her hands and sat up. A thick blanket of leaves and pine needles covered the ground, and although it was only September, the trees were almost bare. She stood up, brushing the leaves off of her blue dress.

What the...?

She didn't own anything like this, and she was positive she'd left for work in a pencil skirt and a white blouse. This dress hailed back to an earlier age – an age when flashing your shins was considered indecent exposure. It was ornate and flowing, and the corset that cinched her waist made it difficult to twist and move.

Still, she was surprisingly comfortable in what should have been