Schasm (Schasm Series)
Read Schasm (Schasm Series) Online
Authors: Shari J. Ryan
SCHASM
S
HARI
J. R
YAN
Booktrope Editions
Seattle, WA 2014
COPYRIGHT 2013, 2014 SHARI J. RYAN
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 Unported License
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Edited by Steven Luna
Previously published as
Schasm
, Tycon Books, 2013
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to similarly named places or to persons living or deceased is unintentional.
PRINT ISBN 978-1-62015-201-0
EPUB ISBN 978-1-62015-297-3
Library of Congress Control Number: 2014900488
Table of Contents
MORE GREAT READS FROM BOOKTROPE
A
CKNOWLEDGMENTS
I owe thanks to so many people during this amazing journey. The love and encouragement from my family, friends, and the Booktrope team, have been the biggest and best support system in helping me work toward my dream.
First, I’d like to thank Marni Mann for mentoring me as a new author, and showing me the light. If it weren’t for you, I would not have become a part of the amazing team at Booktrope. You are a true inspiration.
I’d like to thank Jesse James for being my “go-to-guy”and welcoming me into Booktrope. You opened the golden gates of opportunity and I will be forever grateful. You are an awesome community leader, and we are all lucky to have you.
Jennifer Gilbert, my book manager and now friend, you have gone above and beyond your call of duty in every aspect. You have calmed my fears, and boosted my confidence when it was falling short. Thank you for being my partner in crime on this crazy journey.
A book is nothing without a story and an amazing editor. I could never thank Steven Luna enough for the skills he has taught me, and for helping to make my story better than I could have ever imagined. True talent is when you can take a story from someone else’s mind and understand it enough to take over where the writer left off.
I’m thankful for my little boys, Bryce and Brayden, who have given me a reason to push myself further than I ever thought possible. I want to make you proud of your Mom; and I look forward to the day you are both old enough to understand what that truly means.
Thank you to my sister, Lori—my first reader, my first fan and my biggest enthusiast. I sent you the story in chapters and you begged me to keep going. Thank you for the endless support.
Thank you to my parents, Cindy and John, for always believing in my dreams and never doubting my outrageous goals. Also, thank you to my step-parents, Mark and Evilee, for supporting me, and dealing with my parents’ crazy daughter.
Thank you to my grandparents, Al and Marcia, for never missing a weekly check-in to ask about the status of my book. You have always believed in me, and it gives me the motivation to reach for the stars.
A special thanks to Lisa Farmer, Kristina Lazaro, Lindsay Olin, Lisa Lasker, Jessica Van Der Valk, Tiffany Rodriguez and Allyse Monahan for being my beta readers and for your unconditional encouragement. Thank you to Lisa Safran, my very best friend, for always being my shoulder to lean on, and always offering great advice. A big thank you to Lauren Potischman for putting me in touch with Marni Mann.
Lastly, my husband, my rock and biggest believer, Josh—I could never thank you enough for your patience and understanding during the time I’ve spent in my fictional world. I love you for each conversation you’ve endured about my characters, and for showing me you believe in them as much as I do. You pretend to ignore my loud typing at odd hours of the night and you turn over when the laptop light shines in your face before the sun rises. I could easily blame it on you, though. You told me I should write a book. You told me I should reach for my dream. You told me I should make my dream a reality. Your endless excitement and happiness encourages me like nothing else. Thank you for being more than I ever could have asked for in a husband and best friend.
Dedicated to Bryce and Brayden, my two incredible
little boys, and to my amazing husband, Josh.
Thank you for always being my inspiration.
CHAPTER ZERO
MY MOM DOESN’T LIKE YOU
“MY MOM SAID
we can’t see each other anymore. She doesn’t like you or your mom. She said you were bad for me. She said you were the reason I was sick. She said you were the reason my life was about to change.
“When she found the photograph that your mom took of us, she took it away, and now it’s gone. It was my favorite picture.
“My mom isn’t happy anymore; she isn’t like my mom was before. She doesn't smile and her eyes aren't as large as they used to be. Her words are mean and she stopped giving me hugs and kisses. She hit me when she found the photograph, and I don’t understand why. When I asked her to stop, her cheeks turned red and she walked away. I'm afraid she'll hurt me again.
“I was so excited to show her a picture of my best friend. I told her I wanted us to move to your house so we could play together every day. I said it was because I missed you when we weren’t together. That’s when she stopped responding and started crying.
“My mom is taking me to a special doctor tomorrow. She said he’s going to fix me. But I don't think there's anything wrong with me. Do you?”
“I think you’re perfect, Chloe,” he says, smiling.
“When I asked her why we had to go to a special doctor, she said it was so I wouldn’t have to miss you anymore. I'm not sure what that means, but I don't like the sound of it.”
“Chloe, don’t worry about your mom,” he says. “We’re best friends forever, and nothing can stop that.” He wraps his arm around my shoulder. “Wait right here. I’m going to get something for you.”
He runs into his house and comes back right away. He looks scared and worried for me. Should I be scared and worried for me, too?
“Here, Chloe. Take this locket. Promise you’ll hold on to it, and that you won’t ever lose it. Do you promise?” he asks.
I open the shiny gold necklace. I see a picture of two people I don’t know. They’re standing in a dark place, in front of a weird-looking rock. I’m not sure what’s so important about this necklace, but I’ll keep it safe.
“I promise I’ll never lose it,” I say, holding it up to my heart.
“I’ll miss you, Chloe,” he says with sad eyes.
Why does he sound like he’s saying good-bye? I don’t want to say good-bye.
“Honey, you can always come back over here and play whenever you want,” his mom says as she gives me a big hug.
Why is everyone crying? It doesn’t make sense.
***
This doctor’s office is scary. It smells bad, and I don’t like the people walking around. They’re scary too. I don’t like the way my mom is telling me not to worry. I don’t understand why she thinks she has to fix me.
There’s nothing wrong with me.
We’re waiting in a room with four white walls and three metal chairs. It’s a strange doctor’s office…it doesn’t have any doctor’s kits or lollipops. I have a bad pain in my tummy, and my heart feels as if it’s moving too fast.
A man walks into the room. He looks back and forth between my mom and me. “Hello, Chloe,” he says. “I’m going to make you all better.” He’s a strange-looking man with shiny black hair and dark eyes. He doesn’t look like a doctor. He isn’t even wearing a white doctor’s coat.
“I’ll be right back, sweetie. Tomas will take good care of you,” my mom says as she walks out the door.