This is the first page of my JANO project. Keep in mind that it is very rough. My working title is either Rooftop Angels or The Rooftop of Hell.
Chapter
1
1
Her head hurt. Something assaulted
her sense of smell. She wrinkled her nose when she tried to move. A sharp jab of
pain traveled up her hip. The floor where she sat was compacted dirt. Even in
the dim light that seeped through the ragged covering over the window, Tessa
knew she was no longer home. But where was she? How did she get here? Why were
her hands tied with something that looked like baling twine? Her eyes felt
puffy. Did she have allergies or had she been crying? She tasted salt as her
tongue ran across her lips. They were dry, maybe cracked.
her sense of smell. She wrinkled her nose when she tried to move. A sharp jab of
pain traveled up her hip. The floor where she sat was compacted dirt. Even in
the dim light that seeped through the ragged covering over the window, Tessa
knew she was no longer home. But where was she? How did she get here? Why were
her hands tied with something that looked like baling twine? Her eyes felt
puffy. Did she have allergies or had she been crying? She tasted salt as her
tongue ran across her lips. They were dry, maybe cracked.
She was not alone. Who were the small
people cowering along the wall near her? Something hard and round moved on her
shoulder. Tessa flinched away in panic as the downward movement landed a small
child in her lap. The little one smiled up at Tessa before snuggling back
against her shoulder.
people cowering along the wall near her? Something hard and round moved on her
shoulder. Tessa flinched away in panic as the downward movement landed a small
child in her lap. The little one smiled up at Tessa before snuggling back
against her shoulder.
The child had light colored eyes and her
skin was neither tan nor white but something in between, as if she’d spent a
great deal of time outdoors. She smelled liked boiled onions or was it cabbage?
The overpowering scent of wood smoke confused not only Tessa’s sense of smell
but her ability to piece together the events that led her to this point in
time.
skin was neither tan nor white but something in between, as if she’d spent a
great deal of time outdoors. She smelled liked boiled onions or was it cabbage?
The overpowering scent of wood smoke confused not only Tessa’s sense of smell
but her ability to piece together the events that led her to this point in
time.
Panic began to race through her body as
her heart accelerated. Even though her arms and legs felt cold, sweat beaded up
on her neck and forehead. Her hands sensed a sticky covering. Lifting them, Tessa
adjusted them so that the ribbons of light could fall across her palms.
her heart accelerated. Even though her arms and legs felt cold, sweat beaded up
on her neck and forehead. Her hands sensed a sticky covering. Lifting them, Tessa
adjusted them so that the ribbons of light could fall across her palms.
Blood. Her hands were covered in blood.
Whose blood? Was that why her body ached? With urgency she rubbed her hands
against the torn robe she wore. The fibers, rough and shaggy pulled the blood from
her hands as she frantically rubbed them back and forth. The child’s head grew
heavy against her shoulder. Tessa wanted to check herself for open wounds.
0 Responses
Love this opening. So many questions to be answered.
My goodness, what drama and conflict–and I love the contradictory choices for working title 🙂 Good luck with this!
Great opening! I enjoyed hearing it at the Sleuths' Ink meeting on Saturday.
Very gripping! Great opening, and I'm ready to read more.
Great opening and I love your title choices.