Happy Mother's Day and welcome to Weekend Writing Warriors, the weekly hop for everyone who loves to read and write! Writers share an 8 to10 sentence snippet. Be sure to visit the other writers. You can find them here.
This week's snippet is from my sci-fi romance, The Protector (An Outer Rim Novel). Last week, after Rissa discovered two girls in the spaceport restroom, she realizes they're hiding from traffickers.
Apologies for the creative punctuation, which was done to keep within the sentence limit.
Her lungs seized, her heart hurt so badly Rissa clutched her chest. Be strong, she told herself, pull yourself together. No traffickers had ever come to Astron Colony before—or even to Galeriana—she had to help the girls get away.
When Rissa glanced at the window on the far wall, the smaller girl sobbed, “We couldn’t open it, we were trying when you came in—we thought you were them.”
Since Rissa was taller, she could easily reach the window, so with a shove, she got it open. “Come,” she said to the tall girl, “you first, so you can catch your friend—she’s too small to catch you.”
She cupped her hands for the girl’s foot. “Hide outside, I’ll come around and take you somewhere safe.” At the girls’ wary looks, she added, “I promise, now go before someone comes looking for us.”
The door rattled and a male yelled, “Hey, open up.”
Who knew rescuing two girls from traffickers would bring down a world of hurt?
After tavern owner Rissa Dix rescues two girls from a slave ship, she must rally the townsfolk to prevent traffickers from returning. Mining heir Dillan Rusteran has loved her for years. Little do they know that by rescuing more children they're tangling with a galactic trafficking ring.
Uh oh! Even more reason to move faster. Great snippet, Diane! Happy Mother's Day! :)
ReplyDeleteGood thing she locked the door (from last week), right? Happy Mother's Day to you too, Jess.
DeleteThe situation was already tense, but the rattling door upped the stakes by several decibels.
ReplyDeleteIsn't that what we're supposed to do? Rachet up the tension?
DeleteReally good snippet. I could feel the kids going through the window, danger near by.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Charmaine. And you never know what might be waiting outside.
DeleteI enjoy the way everyone is so quick thinking here. Enjoyed the excerpt, can't wait to see what happens next!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Veronica. Rissa had already met the crew and had bad feelings about them.
Deleteoh no! I hope they aren't too late.
ReplyDelete:) Thanks, Kimberly.
DeleteLoads of tension in this snippet. I hope they get away safely.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Sue.
DeleteWow, great cliffhanger - really enjoying this, Diane!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Lyn.
DeleteRissa is a beautiful name.
ReplyDeleteI like it, too. :)
DeleteThey's better hurry!
ReplyDeleteYep.
DeleteExciting snippet that turned very tense at the end!
ReplyDeleteThanks.
DeleteWay to keep us hanging, Di!! Great emotional scene.
ReplyDeleteThank, Nancy. I try. :)
DeleteShe's pretty brave and practical. My kind of hero!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Caitlin. Mine, too.
DeleteVery tense, but she seems to know what she's doing!
ReplyDeleteShe hopes so.
DeleteWow, great snippet. This sounds like a suspenseful and interesting story.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Shannon.
DeleteOh man! I hope she's able to get the girls out quickly!
ReplyDeleteRissa hopes so, too.
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