Here's a little more from my YA paranormal thriller After Me. (You can catch up on the earlier excerpts here.) Last week Jada discovered that she won't be going on to The Great Beyond just yet because there's an administrative hold on her Afterlife Account. She has to serve time as a Transdead Trustee in order to clear her account, and here's what she has to do.
I took the papers she handed me and scanned the one on top, then I looked at her as if she were crazy and said, “I have to track down predators until I find the one who killed me? Are you kidding me?”
“Another pointless question, Miss Gayle.”
I threw the papers down on the counter and said, “Okay, then here’s a question for you. Why do I have to go back as some kind of psycho zombie chick as punishment for what that sicko did? He’s the one who should have to pay for it, not me!”
“Oh, he will, make no mistake about that. Your job is to bring him to justice sooner than he expects, possibly putting others like him out of commission along the way.” She pointed to a yellow box of text at the bottom of my assignment page and said, “And you’re not being punished, you’re paying an early termination fee. As are all Transdead Trustees, you’re being sent back to complete what was left unfinished in your life.”
Next Sunday Jada finds out exactly why she's obligated to clear her account. Can't wait? You can buy After Me here. And please also check out the other Snippet Sunday folks and the Weekend Writing Warriors. Something for everyone among these talented writers!
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How like a bureaucracy -- to screw up someone's life and then set conditions for letting it get fixed again.
ReplyDeleteAh, the cold,calm logic of someone with complete power. No matter how you argue, you have NO CHOICE!
ReplyDeleteYou have me hooked, Joyce.
"early termination fee." That's coldblooded, but I see the logic. At the same time, Jada is right- it really doesn't seem fair.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Ed!
ReplyDelete(I am truly loving the bureaucracy of the afterlife. It cracks me up every week.)
Really loving this story and each new snippet just heightens the fun. Can't wait for more!
ReplyDelete"early termination fee" HA! I love this. Clever way to put that she has unfinished business--even if she doesn't think so yet.
ReplyDeleteThis is so outrageously hilarious. It really is like trying to deal with the government! Love where this is going.
ReplyDeleteClever & amusing!
ReplyDeleteIt does seem a little like a punishment, but maybe it's a second chance.
ReplyDeleteDing, ding, ding! Give the lady a prize. ;-)
DeleteCaitlin may be right. Not punishment but a second chance.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely agreeing with Ed for the most part, but also with Caitlin. Either way, it sounds like our hero is in for a difficult ride! Because there's no way this is as easy as her instructor is making it out to be.
ReplyDeleteOh now that's an interesting twist! I don't know about her, but if I was getting the chance to put my killer out of commission I'd both be jumping to start, and scared out of my boots. She can't die again, right? If she can't die again then she's got nothing to worry about. This just really got interesting! I'm hooked!
ReplyDeleteDon't worry, she eventually warms up to her Zombie Girl gig. ;-)
DeleteNice explanation for a intriguing situation. I like it!
ReplyDeleteLove this snippet and the image of the MI6 type of assignment being given out.
ReplyDeleteGood news from this departmentalized after-death organization. And how will she deal? Hmmm... very intriguing snippet.
ReplyDeleteThat sounds crazy, and dangerous. I'm not sure if catching bad guys was part of her life plan. I'm wondering if she can be hurt again by the guy who already killed her, or another.
ReplyDelete