The Line: Book 1

By C.L. Trowbridge

The Line is the culmination of 25 years of learning to write through failed attempts. For the first time, I finished one. It's my version of an Epic Saga. I just cut out all the boring parts. There is drama, intrigue, love and under it all a message. Whether you should go to the Right way, or the Left, is entirely up to you. Somewhere along the way, like our hero, you'll learn that the purpose of life is to live. The answers are so simple they are almost impossible. The only chains holding you are those you've placed on yourself. If you can't find God, be God. Like I said, this is the first one I've finished and I took quite a few liberties. Hopefully the next one is better. Thanks for reading and please enjoy.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Dec 8, 2021
• ISBN: 9781546276807

C.L. Trowbridge

My love for literature began when my second grade teacher challenged me to really learn to read. In a childish attempt to impress her I went to my elementary school library and found the biggest, most ridiculous book I could. An old copy of The Hobbit. I checked it out every week and kept it (illegally) over a summer. By the time I finished that tome, I have successfully proven Mrs. Miracle (I know) right. I had learned to read. From there it was a race. I have read thousands of books in the interim. Now, I'm taking it one step farther, from reading the classics to *hopefully* writing them. I know my style as an author isn't normal/ I wouldn't have it any other way. Monitor your sanity, ye who reads my work.

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© 2021 C.L. Trowbridge. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse  12/06/2021

ISBN: 978-1-5462-7679-1 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5462-7680-7 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2021924531

Cover art courtesy of Brittany Hughett

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

This book is

dedicated to everyone that’s helped

me along the way. Some were fun lessons

and some were not. I needed them all.

Valari, Addison, Finley. It’s all for you.

Thank you

CONTENTS

Chapter 1 New Beginnings

Chapter 2 The Waypoint

Chapter 3 The Temple

Chapter 4 Decisions, decisions

Chapter 5 Walking the higher path

Chapter 6 The Line…. Again

Chapter 7 A damnable decision

Chapter 8 The Longest Walk

Chapter 9 Find a purpose or die trying

Chapter 10 Hiatus

Chapter 11 Finding my way back to the Right Path

Chapter 12 The End Game

Chapter 13 The Tree… again

Chapter 14 The Final frontier

Chapter 15 If you like happy endings don’t read this

CHAPTER 1

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New Beginnings

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I awoke near a tree from a feverish nightmare that I can’t remember. The smell of blood and fire still in my nostrils. A blood curdling scream is still sitting in the back of my mind. I must have looked insane in that moment, grabbing at nothing and choking back the bile that climbed my throat.

Where in the fuck am I? The bastards stole my memories again.

As I stood, I assessed my situation. A beautiful fall day in a forest just beginning to turn. Seeing no one around and noting the gentle calls of the birds I assumed I was in little danger. This world must still be whole I mused aloud. Guess we should have a look around then

I had been sleeping against a large birch that looked to have been grown specifically for the purpose of napping. I had no idea how long I had been there or which direction I came from. There were no tracks that I could see in any direction so I decided to just wander aimlessly into the woods and hope for the best. I’ve always had a knack for getting lucky in this type of thing and wouldn’t you know it? Wasn’t 200’ before I found a nice trail. I went left because you always go left. Or is it right? No. Right is always wrong. Or was it the other way? Regardless. I went left.

If it wasn’t for the anger at having no memories of where (or when) I came from or how I got to this place this would have been a very enjoyable walk in the woods. The air was crisp and smelled of autumn. The path was well packed and free of any obstructions. Obviously well traveled and maintained.

Shouldn’t be long before we find someone on here and then we can quit talking to ourselves for a while. I told myself hopefully.

What was that you said? a voice came from around a bend in the trail. I can’t hear ya properly. Give me a minute, ya?

As the last words registered a large man came into view wearing a stark scarlet robe.

Alright then, who might you be? He asked as he saw me.

Funny you should ask. I have absolutely no idea. Who might you be? I replied.

I might be the roving guard for this area who doesn’t deserve a name but will probably end up with one anyway cause those are easier to remember. Proud to make your acquaintance ‘He-who-can’t-remember’ I’m assuming you don’t have any papers on you? No way you would forget to check your pockets in the event of total amnesia

It took me a minute to close my jaw and move my hand from my face to my pockets. Of course I had papers on me.

Well, that seems too obvious but I guess it can be allowed since you can’t remember anything at all. Are you breathing? Don’t forget that one. Shit. Now you’re doing the jaw clenching thing. Anyway, are you from the Left or the Right?

Uhhhhh…. I still hadn’t found my voice yet. At the rate he was giving me information I didn’t really even have questions yet.

Which way did you turn down the path, son? Left. Or Right?

Left. Always Left.

HaHA! I don’t have to kill you after all then

Ummm…..

Well, you see. Other than being just another roving guard I’m also the roving guard for Her Majesty Lucille, of the Left. Oath sworn to stop any damned Righties from encroaching on the land of the Left. Since you are a Lefty we have no quarrel. You seem pleasant enough, even if you are a bit stupid. Carry on down the path and you will get where you are going.

I couldn’t bring myself to utter a single word until he was out of sight going the opposite way down the path, at which point I remembered I was holding what appeared to be a redacted identification. It showed my face but had all of the information scrubbed clean with a black marker. At least, I think it was my face. Hard to