Son of a Pitch Entry: The Blood Barrier

Title: THE BLOOD BARRIER

Age and Genre: YA FANTASY

Word Count: 80,000

Query:

Sixteen-year-old Haley’s one of the Taken—a group of children with inherent abilities who are stolen at birth for their powers. As a blood-blender, she can enter a person’s bloodstream to kill. Raised in a compound, she’s become the Front’s top killer-in-training. In a last ditch effort to cling to her sanity, and possibly find friendship or love, she manages to escape. Problem is, freedom from the compound can’t wipe out sixteen years of training to be a murderer. And now that she’s alone, she can't fight those ingrained urges—not a good look for someone seeking asylum.

Luckily, when she meets an epileptic time-traveler, KC, and his emotion-shifting best friend, Charles, she may find a way to evade the Front’s grasp permanently.

Give or take a few problems. She’s falling for Charles, who happens to be KC's crush. Not to mention the fact that KC might be her brother. With the Front hot on their trail, Haley must harness her powers to keep her new friends safe. Otherwise, she might accidentally kill them. Piece of cake. Unless, of course, everyone she loves ends up being the biggest delusion of all.

First 250 Words:

Heat, intense but not unpleasant, hits my face as flames flicker along the floor of my bedroom. Steadily, each shiny-smooth plank evolves into a charred mess. The more I concentrate on the flames, the more Mama’s voice slips from my mind. I revel in peaceful emptiness.

Afraid of the dark, Mama? Are you kidding? Night is when we unzip the eyes of day and let our true skin free. Afraid? No, I live for the dark. When this room’s roasted, you’ll see I can destroy.

“Just you wait.”

In front of me, intertwined in the orange and blue blaze, the shape of a boy shines brightly. It’s as if he’s motioning for me to proceed with caution, but that’s impossible. Hypnotized, I try to make out his features. It’s no use; I don’t recognize him, so I break my gaze. There’s no time to waste.

If I don’t act fast, this will end up like all my other failed attempts.

Not quite what I had in mind when I planned my latest escape earlier today, but for some reason, the fire fills me with calm instead of panic. A solid resolve sits in the pit of my stomach, right where fear normally reigns.

Mama’s voice creeps into my head again. Little tendrils of hate-filled admonitions wrap around my brain. They pound my synapses until my mind’s full of her once more. It’s time to kill them all, baby.

        A drive to obey envelops me. I embrace her command and head for my door.