Second Chances - A "Chosen" Short Story 2.5

By Jeff Altabef and Erynn Altabef

I need answers only my father can provide. Separated from birth, we've only recently connected. Still, I have no one else to turn to. The Deltites are hunting me and they're close now. We'll fight our final battle soon. Needing more information, I force him to tell me a story about the beginning, my beginning.

He sheds new light on my mom, on my grandfather Sicheii, and on how I started down this path. He spins a tale about love, a recent murder, and mysterious strangers who come to town looking for a medicine man, my grandfather.

My father reveals his own shadowy past in the story, too, but I'm not worried about who he used to be. I care only about who he is now, and who I am, and the foe I face.

He made a choice back then, and it led to all of this.

Now I give him a second chance—an opportunity to make things right.

Evolved Publishing presents a short stand-alone story featuring two beloved characters from the multiple award-winning Chosen series of young adult fantasies. This story fits neatly between Books 2 and 3 of the series. [DRM-Free] INCLUDED: Special 5-Chapter Sneak Preview of "Wind Catcher."

 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Evolved Publishing LLC
• Release date: Sep 7, 2015
• ISBN: 9781622533084

Jeff Altabef

Jeff Altabef lives in New York with his wife, two daughters, and Charlie the dog. He spends time volunteering at the Writing Center in the local community college. After years of being accused of “telling stories,” he thought he would make it official. He writes in both the thriller and young adult genres. As an avid Knicks fan, he is prone to long periods of melancholy during hoops season. Jeff has a column on The Examiner focused on writing and a blog on The Patch designed to encourage writing for those that like telling stories.  [AUTHOR OF: A Point Thriller Series; A Nephilim Thriller Series; Chosen Series; Red Death Series]

Book preview

Copyright

www.EvolvedPub.com

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SECOND CHANCES

A Chosen Short Story

Copyright © 2015 Jeff Altabef and Erynn Altabef

Cover Art Copyright © 2015 Mallory Rock

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ISBN (EPUB Version): 1622533089

ISBN-13 (EPUB Version): 978-1-62253-308-4

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Editor: Lane Diamond

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eBook License Notes:

You may not use, reproduce or transmit in any manner, any part of this book without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations used in critical articles and reviews, or in accordance with federal Fair Use laws. All rights are reserved.

This eBook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only; it may not be resold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, please return to your eBook retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

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Disclaimer:

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are products of the author’s imagination, or the author has used them fictitiously.

FREE GIFT

Thank you for picking up your copy of Second Chances. We hope it gets your heart racing! As a thank you for that, and for joining Jeff Altabef’s newsletter list, we’d like to offer you a free gift. Jeff has written a new short story, Enemies of the State, which you’ll receive by email when you sign up at FREE GIFT.

Other Books by Jeff Altabef and Erynn Altabef

CHOSEN

By Jeff Altabef and Erynn Altabef

Book 1: Wind Catcher

Book 2 (Coming November 2015): Brink of Dawn

Book 3 (Coming November 2016): Scorched Souls

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SHATTER POINT

By Jeff Altabef

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www.JeffAltabef.com

Table of Contents

Title Page

Copyright

FREE GIFT

Other Books by the Authors

Second Chances – A Chosen Short Story

Wind Catcher – A Special Sneak Preview

What Others Are Saying

Prologue

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Acknowledgements

About the Authors

What’s Next from Jeff Altabef and Erynn Altabef?

More from Jeff Altabef

More from Evolved Publishing

SECOND CHANCES

Juliet’s Story

My relationship with my dad is anything but ordinary.

He wasn’t around for much of my life—15 years, 11 months, and 8 days to be exact. I used to blame myself, thinking he didn’t want anything to do with me because I was defective. Like so many things, I was wrong. I didn’t know the full story.

As it turned out, Mom kept him away without me knowing. She worried that he’d be a bad influence.

I’ve forgiven her, but still, it ticks me off whenever I think about it.

I met him for the first time just three weeks ago under rather... extreme circumstances, and in that short time, I’ve gotten to know him a bit, but I need to know more.

Mom isn’t home. She’s working at her law firm, which is how I planned it, because she’d only complicate things.

I need to speak to him alone. Acid churns in my stomach and my body feels heavy. We haven’t had a ton of experience speaking like this—alone and about something that matters.

I trudge up the stairs and find him sitting on my bed with glassy eyes, his strong arms tense as he stares at a photo of Mom and me on the day I was born. He has clear blue eyes, short blond hair, and a two-inch scar that runs down the right side of his face. He moved in with us shortly after we first met.

When I see him and Mom together, their love for each other is so obvious that it’s hard for me to imagine how difficult it was for them to be separate for all those years—all because of a lie told to keep me safe, but that’s a different story.

I linger in the doorway, watching him study the picture for a few seconds, and then clear my throat.

He turns, lifts the photo, and frowns. I’m sorry I wasn’t at the hospital when you were born.

That wasn’t your fault. That was Grandfather’s doing. I sit on the bed next to him. I have a question for you, and I need to know the truth. No dodging or avoiding the answer. Can you do that for me?

He must see how serious I’ve become because his face turns stoic, he lowers the photo, and nods.

I need you to tell me about your gang days, about how you and mom fell in love, and about how you got that scar.

My dad’s eyes sink into his sockets and his lips turn into a thin grim line.

I know this is hard for him—to tell me about who he used to be. We aren’t always the person we want to be, especially my dad, who’s still haunted by some of the things he’s done. I know he’s a better person now than he was back then, but I need to know about the old him, the one who wasn’t so good. It’s necessary; the information could save my life.

I touch his arm. You know I wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t important.

I know Juliet. It’s just... well, that was a different time in my life, and I’m not exactly proud. He pauses.

I try my best to encourage him by locking my eyes on his. I don’t want to make him tell me, but if it comes down to it, I’m afraid I won’t

Reviews for Second Chances - A "Chosen" Short Story 2.5

[TammyBrazeau · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I received this book for free for my honest review.. This book was well written but ended way too quickly.. Can't wait to read more of your work.