Sample from "Artemis"
Lankston's head guard named Bruno pulled a 9mm pistol out from his jacket and bashed Joseph in the back of the head.
"Ahh!"Two of the others picked him up and held him by the arms.
"What the hell are you doing?"
Rusty tried to be Joseph's rescuer and took Lankston by the leg.
"Argh! You mutt! Bruno!"
Bruno shot the dog in the head killing it instantly
"Rusty! What do you think you're doing Lankston?!"
"I'm uploading all of your research and notes on this project to the company's data base. This way I get to keep every penny for ourselves. I never cared much for sharing as a child. Not much has changed."
"You can't do this!"
Deadly serious, Lankston gripped Joseph's cheeks with one hand.
"I can do whatever I damn well please! As far as this city or this state, for that matter is concerned, I am God!"
"How do you expect to get away with this? Everyone saw the interview today. They know that is my work!"
"Yes, Joseph, you are the one obstacle standing in my way, at least alive you are."
Joseph's eyes widened and his mouth hung open as he became fully aware of what Lankston was saying.
"You...you can't."
"Don't be naive, Joseph. Do you really think I've never killed anyone to get what I want? How do you think I became the man I am today? I am above anything or anyone. Any last words?"
"Yeah, go to hell!" he said as he brought up his right foot and kicked Lankston under the chin.
Lankston's face became that of a mad man's as he ripped the gun from Bruno's hand. He shot Joseph in the chest five times. Each bullet ripped through his chest and exited the other side. Joseph fell down sitting into his prototype. He coughed uncontrollably and each time blood flooded his mouth and came pouring out. He realized he was really going to die.He gazed up, seeing Lankston barking orders at his men. His breath was slowing and every voice was muffled as if he were in a tunnel. Two of his men brought in a can of gasoline and doused the place.
Joseph tried to speak, but no words would come. Life was slipping from him. As if he weren't already suffering enough, Lankston took the head piece and attached it to Joseph. He then turned it to its highest electrical setting and pressed the button. Thousands of volts of electricity rushed through his body causing involuntary seizures in all parts of his body. A combination of blood and drool spilled from his mouth as he machine finally short circuited and he fell at Lankston's feet.
As if he had just performed the most mundane of tasks, Lankston handed the gun back to Bruno and wiped his hands with a handkerchief. He then nodded for his men to light the gasoline.
As the walked away, Joseph watched the flames rise all around him. With every last drop of strength in his body, he brought up his left arm, then his right onto a table. He then used all of his weight to try to pull himself up. The table could not support his weight and tipped over on top of him. This in turn sent all of its contents crashing around him. Toxic chemicals and samples of animal blood and hair splattered all around and on him. It began seeping into his bloody wounds.
Oddly enough with five holes in him and lying in a literal pool of his own blood he could still only think of how unsanitary this was. But, then he began to feel something happen inside of him. It began as a mere warm sensation, then it became a full-blown burn. He had to look and make sure the flames had not gotten to him yet. He clenched his teeth and fought through the pain.
After the pain passed he felt the bullet holes begin to close up. New flesh and muscle began to fill in like a biological fix-a-flat. His coughing stopped and death seemed to be heading for the exit.
Besides his healing, much more was happening. He felt his teeth changing. His canines began growing as if he were going through a theatrical change into a vampire. His hair was growing and his nails changed into claws before his very eyes.
Countless other changes were happening inside. Muscle mass and bone structure were reforming. God only knew what he might look like, but now was not the time to marvel. He stood up and searched for a way out.
The smoke was so intense that he couldn't stand it His chronic coughing returned. He was blinded. The flames had already risen too high for him to escape through them. Still he didn't give up. He didn't just cheat death only to burn to death shortly after. Then a clearing in the smoke revealed a window. In his disorientation he failed to realize it was right beside him. Without even attempting to open it he threw himself through it.
This is a sample from my new book Artemis. If you like the sample, you can get the whole book right here.
https://www.amazon.com/Artemis-Chris-Snider/dp/1537371231/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1476755595&sr=8-1&keywords=Chris+Snider
"Ahh!"Two of the others picked him up and held him by the arms.
"What the hell are you doing?"
Rusty tried to be Joseph's rescuer and took Lankston by the leg.
"Argh! You mutt! Bruno!"
Bruno shot the dog in the head killing it instantly
"Rusty! What do you think you're doing Lankston?!"
"I'm uploading all of your research and notes on this project to the company's data base. This way I get to keep every penny for ourselves. I never cared much for sharing as a child. Not much has changed."
"You can't do this!"
Deadly serious, Lankston gripped Joseph's cheeks with one hand.
"I can do whatever I damn well please! As far as this city or this state, for that matter is concerned, I am God!"
"How do you expect to get away with this? Everyone saw the interview today. They know that is my work!"
"Yes, Joseph, you are the one obstacle standing in my way, at least alive you are."
Joseph's eyes widened and his mouth hung open as he became fully aware of what Lankston was saying.
"You...you can't."
"Don't be naive, Joseph. Do you really think I've never killed anyone to get what I want? How do you think I became the man I am today? I am above anything or anyone. Any last words?"
"Yeah, go to hell!" he said as he brought up his right foot and kicked Lankston under the chin.
Lankston's face became that of a mad man's as he ripped the gun from Bruno's hand. He shot Joseph in the chest five times. Each bullet ripped through his chest and exited the other side. Joseph fell down sitting into his prototype. He coughed uncontrollably and each time blood flooded his mouth and came pouring out. He realized he was really going to die.He gazed up, seeing Lankston barking orders at his men. His breath was slowing and every voice was muffled as if he were in a tunnel. Two of his men brought in a can of gasoline and doused the place.
Joseph tried to speak, but no words would come. Life was slipping from him. As if he weren't already suffering enough, Lankston took the head piece and attached it to Joseph. He then turned it to its highest electrical setting and pressed the button. Thousands of volts of electricity rushed through his body causing involuntary seizures in all parts of his body. A combination of blood and drool spilled from his mouth as he machine finally short circuited and he fell at Lankston's feet.
As if he had just performed the most mundane of tasks, Lankston handed the gun back to Bruno and wiped his hands with a handkerchief. He then nodded for his men to light the gasoline.
As the walked away, Joseph watched the flames rise all around him. With every last drop of strength in his body, he brought up his left arm, then his right onto a table. He then used all of his weight to try to pull himself up. The table could not support his weight and tipped over on top of him. This in turn sent all of its contents crashing around him. Toxic chemicals and samples of animal blood and hair splattered all around and on him. It began seeping into his bloody wounds.
Oddly enough with five holes in him and lying in a literal pool of his own blood he could still only think of how unsanitary this was. But, then he began to feel something happen inside of him. It began as a mere warm sensation, then it became a full-blown burn. He had to look and make sure the flames had not gotten to him yet. He clenched his teeth and fought through the pain.
After the pain passed he felt the bullet holes begin to close up. New flesh and muscle began to fill in like a biological fix-a-flat. His coughing stopped and death seemed to be heading for the exit.
Besides his healing, much more was happening. He felt his teeth changing. His canines began growing as if he were going through a theatrical change into a vampire. His hair was growing and his nails changed into claws before his very eyes.
Countless other changes were happening inside. Muscle mass and bone structure were reforming. God only knew what he might look like, but now was not the time to marvel. He stood up and searched for a way out.
The smoke was so intense that he couldn't stand it His chronic coughing returned. He was blinded. The flames had already risen too high for him to escape through them. Still he didn't give up. He didn't just cheat death only to burn to death shortly after. Then a clearing in the smoke revealed a window. In his disorientation he failed to realize it was right beside him. Without even attempting to open it he threw himself through it.
This is a sample from my new book Artemis. If you like the sample, you can get the whole book right here.
https://www.amazon.com/Artemis-Chris-Snider/dp/1537371231/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1476755595&sr=8-1&keywords=Chris+Snider
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