by Taylor Brooke
Genre: YA/Older Teen Urban Science Fiction
Release date: November 1st 2016
Limitless Publishing
Summary:
Brooklyn Harperâs worst nightmare has become her reality. She has been captured by Isolationâ¦
Trapped in a white-walled labyrinth by Juneau Malloy, Brooklyn is faced with the horrors of Isolationâs finest training yet. The skills she learned as an Omen Operative in Camp Number Eleven are put to the test in the form of brutal assessments of her strength, skills, and fortitude. Confused and disheartened, Brooklyn and the group of renegade Omens prepare for whatever trials Isolation has in store for them.
Juneau has caged her once again, but Brooklyn is far from brokenâ¦
When Brooklyn finds out her best friend Gabriel is alive, she goes on a violent rampage in search of her, but instead earns herself a stint in solitary confinement. Juneau attempts to tame Brooklyn through grueling exercises before offering her one radical choice. Brooklyn must hand over her freedom in order to spare her friends. Sheâll become a showpiece Juneau will auction off to the highest bidder for her skills in assassination, defense, and combat.
There must be a way out, and the renegade Omens have to find itâ¦
Brooklyn has no intention of becoming Juneauâs latest achievement. During a mind-warping training simulation, Brooklyn uncovers Isolationâs greatest secret and their darkest mistake. Juneau Malloy has created something far more sinister than the Omens, and itâs ready to eat the world alive.
As the battle with Isolation intensifies, Brooklyn is faced with her most dangerous choice yetâ¦
Save her friendsâor save humanity.
Pre-order Link: Amazon
Omen Operation (Isolation #1) is FREE from October 25-30 on Amazon! Get yourself a copy!
Book One (click on image for Goodreads link):
ECHO Campaign Excerpt:
Limbic Simulation Phase OneâProceed with CautionâNumber 178
Music fluttered through the speakers of a room unlike any other Brooklyn had seen at the facility. Tapestries hung from the ceiling, stitched with patterns of the solar system. Grand images of suns and moons and stars were placed upon the walls in the form of quilts, rugs, and blankets. Above them was a line of thin candles cradled in iron sconces. Light from their flames cast long shadows across the ceiling and darkened the bright threading of the obscure cloths.
She didnât recognize the song, but the gentle cries from a cello filled the room with a sense of calm that Brooklyn wasnât comfortable with. The Limbic Simulation was a fear exercise, a way for Juneau to gauge their control over primal instincts. Whether flight would overcome the urge to fight or vice versa. Sweet chocolate and brown sugar filled her nostrils, the smell of baking cookies. Brooklyn inhaled as much of it as she could.
As long as she kept her wits about her she could enjoy the small moment of peace presented to her. The candlelight, the pleasant smell, even the interesting tapestries made Brooklyn want to curl up on the floor and stay in that room. Maybe she would. Maybe she would ignore whatever monsters Juneau and his team had cooked up, and stay in this moment until it was taken from her by force, like everything else.
A solid wooden door, carved with intricate swirling patterns and a gold doorknob was across from her. She listened carefully, and beyond the popping of the candles wicks, she heard a faint tapping, like fingernails against the other side of the door. She glanced over her shoulder to the docking station, wondering briefly if it would be worth it to turn around and not cooperate. To walk out of the room and back into the white hallway where Michelle and Gabriel probably waited for her.
The tapping turned into scratching, like cat claws in the center of the wooden door.
Brooklyn rolled her shoulders and stretched out all her fingers, cracking them against the side of her legs. Whatever was behind that door, it was going to die. That was what she told herself as she took long strides past the pretty hanging quilts, swallowed a last gulp of cookie scented air, and swung the door open.
On the ground was Amberâa clone of her. It writhed with a hand wrapped around the deep wound on its throat. Blood soaked its shirt and its bulged eyes pleaded with Brooklyn for help. Its other hand, slick with syrupy blood, scrambled over Brooklynâs boot.
âNot supposed to happen like this,â it croaked. âHeâs out of containment.â
Brooklyn lifted her foot and crushed the clones hand beneath her heel. âWho?â
âStop the simâ¦stopâ¦â
The cloneâs voice faded and the life in its eyes dimmed. Brooklyn listened to its heart simmer out one beat at a time.
Its crimson blood was the brightest thing in the room, harsh against the eggshell walls, and dark as it soaked the light mauve carpet. She stepped away from the body, well aware of the pair of eyes glued to her from across the room. Brooklyn kept her body poised for an attack. Cloaked by a slanted shadow in the corner of the near empty room stood another clone, one sheâd prepared herself to see.
Porterâs clone watched her, hunter and hunted,, but Brooklyn stood her ground. She met his gaze, rationalizing the jarring bit of panic that flew through her. The sight of one of their clones would always cause her nerves to jump, wouldnât it? This was no different.
Her initial thought was to flee, which surprised her, and the following urge was to wait. She saw his bare feet tap against the carpet. Her nostrils flared for a hint of emotion. Nothing. No fear, sadness, excitement, nothing but stagnant air.
âLook at you,â the clone said. A peculiar grin moved across its face, tongue darting out to wet its lips. âNow I can see it. Youâre beautiful.â
Brooklyn bristled but stayed quiet.
âIâve wondered for quite some time why he likes you. Youâre stubborn, irrational, explosive even, yet he chose to chase you. I see it now. I see it clearer than ever before.â
Unwarranted heat rushed into Brooklynâs cheeks. She straightened her back and curled her fingers into fists. A pain suddenly spiked in her lower abdomen, searing, achy knots. This clone was unlike any sheâd encountered, and the thought made her violently uneasy.
âPorter and Iâweâre brothers. I feel connected to him more than to my own father. Perhaps it was his visibility, his life, his accomplishments. Maybe it was my own jealousy of him that built the bridge between us, I donât know. The only thing I do know for certain, Brooklyn Leona Harper, is that I did not know envy until you. Youâ¦â
It slithered from the shadows, and like Porter, it had pools of whiskey for eyes. His intense gaze pushed into her like a dagger. Her voice crawled away, hidden in the back of her throat. He moved slowly like an ancient predator, a scaled, winding dragon taking inventory of its meal.
âYou are a star nursery, giving birth to clusters of energy and fire and unrelenting anger. I can feel it burning the deepest parts of me, and now, in your presence, I understand his love for you better than I understand myself. The thought of taming a force like you, being sucked into your gravity, it thrills me.â
Brooklyn wanted to back up but her legs wouldnât budge. She tried to reign in her runaway heartbeat, to squash the irrational fear that was hollowing out her courage. The clone took another step, its nostrils flaring as it leaned toward her face and inhaled. Its lips tightened, and when it let the breath go Brooklyn could see the delicate curve of its cupids bow quiver.
âYou,â it breached the space between them, cheek brushing against Brooklynâs face as it whispered against her ear, âYou are a force, a goddess among simple creatures.â
The fear buried inside her launched into her throat and Brooklyn lashed out, shoving the clone backward. She raised her fist, aiming it directly at its jaw.
Its long fingers gripped her hand, catching the punch before she could land it. Her wrist crumbled. Her eyes watered. She felt all the strength in her body push toward the surface, but it was no use. The clone, stronger than anything sheâd encountered before, slammed her smaller frame against the wall. It held her arms above her head, fingers latched around her wrists, its other hand snatching her jaw like a bear trap.
âWe could take it all,â the cloneâs mouth moved against her temple, lips scorching a trail down to her chin. âYou and I, we could lead them all. Start over. There are enough of us.â
âWhat are you?â Brooklyn whimpered, kicking her feet against its shins.
Her strength was nothing against Porterâs clone. Her fear evolved into dismay, and then into hysteria. She thrashed. Her breath was hard to catch as the heated press of the cloneâs body held her to the wall like she weighed nothing.
The hand wrapped around her jaw moved down to grip her waist, and the clone laughed, eyes leaving burns on her wherever they settled. It closed the space between them, taking her lips in a searing kiss. She recoiled and slammed her teeth into its lip until she tasted blood.
Shouts came from every direction. First she heard the clone, its voice hot against her mouth, licking blood off her lips, âMy brother is a lucky man, Brooklyn. You are incredible.â
Next Brooklyn was falling, her body a heap, shaking on the floor.
Michelle burst through the door, a mobile radio in her hand. âAsset 0 is out of containment!â
Taylor Brooke is the author of the upcoming sci-fi adventure trilogy The Isolation Series. She started out as a freelance makeup artist, and quickly discovered her love of elves, zombies, mermaids, kaiju, and monsters of all kinds. After receiving eight professional certifications in special effects makeup, working on countless projects, and fleshing out a multitude of fantastical creatures, she turned her imagination back to her one true love- books. Taylor has had a knack for writing since she was a little girl, and received recognition for her skills throughout grade school and junior college. When sheâs not nestled in a blanket typing away on her laptop, she can be found haunting the local bookstore with a cup of steaming hot tea in her hands, scanning the shelves for new reads, or hiking one of the many mountains that surround her home in Oregon.
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