Braindead + Writer's Block = A Very Difficult Night

I've been working on Night Song for a few hours now, but I made the mistake of taking a break to eat dinner. Now I'm tired and don't feel like working anymore, and my writer's block is refusing to budge. Sadly, I know what I need to write, but I just can't bring myself to do it (I hate writing fillers, but they're a necessary evil).

Anyhow, I haven't really given any excerpts (except on GoodReads) so I thought I'd put a little here.

This is the first part I've written from Caleb's point of view. So far I've worked only with Anya, the main character (for more about Night Song and the entire Bishop Falls series, click here). The excerpt is from the beginning of chapter five, and I should warn you that it's very rough around the edges. I just wrote it today and haven't done more than read over it once.

Enjoy!



Night Song
Chapter Five Excerpt
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Caleb's fists strangled the steering wheel until he heard the metal groan. Resisting the urge to turn around and go back to Anya, he pulled out onto the highway, refusing to look back at the Howard house.

What the hell was he doing?

When he'd seen the pickup, he should have done just what Anya said—keep driving and pretend he hadn't seen her. At the time, he'd told himself it could be Mrs. Howard needing help, but that had only been an excuse. The little old lady didn't fear them the way some of the people in town did—it was why he’d chosen to take Anya there when he’d found her on the beach—but she had no reason to come looking for them.

Anya did. He'd intentionally stayed clear of any place she might be, resisting his every urge to go see her. He'd even gone so far as to ignore the ocean's call. That had been a nearly physical pain.

Realizing his idol was still visible, he tucked the crystal back into the neck of his shirt. It must have fallen out while he was losing his mind. It had been a wake-up call to find her touching it—a reminder of why he'd chosen to avoid her in the first place. He wasn't like Trevor. He and Clara had made a vow never to involve outsiders in things they could never really understand.

And now he'd gone and done just that. What was worse, he'd involved Anya, the one even Trevor wanted to avoid. For her to be near them would be more than just a danger to her; it could cause serious problems for them if the police decided to intervene and found a connection between her and the Children.

He closed his eyes briefly. When she'd asked about the "Pendle Kids" he'd nearly had a heart attack. If she never found out, he could still sever ties with her. He'd been so relieved when she'd said she knew nothing that he'd almost took her in his arms right there.

The thought brought back the memory of her, her scent as sharp and clean as a summer breeze. He'd almost done something they both would regret, and she sure as hell hadn't been trying to stop him.

With a sigh, Caleb ran a hand back through his hair. She'd been soft and compliant, bold and demanding. It was an intoxicating mixture that had him breathing harder with the memory. Anya appeared fragile, with her blonde hair that was nearly white and pale-green eyes, but there was also a hidden strength in her.

Like the wind. She reminded him of a breeze that could be light and teasing if it chose, but could turn into a hurricane force at a whim.

Like Clare.

That stopped him dead. That was who Anya reminded him of. The two were so similar, and yet on opposite ends of the spectrum. And he'd made a promise to Clara.

He couldn't be involved with Anya anymore. It was wrong. He would have to do everything in his power to make her think he didn't care. Maybe he'd pretend he’d just been using her. That would be enough to make her hate him, wouldn't it?

Make Anya hate him? Caleb flinched as something inside him went cold.

It was too late for that. He couldn't bring himself to do it. It was selfish, but he wouldn't go back to avoiding her.

He was going to break his promise. The realization of what that meant left him adrift, alone. Clare was the only one who knew him—really knew him—and he was going to betray her for someone he'd met only a week ago.

Clare would understand. That was the worst part. Clare always understood, even if she didn't always agree. She would take his decision in passing and consider their promise null and void.

Caleb sighed again. He wouldn't tell her just yet. He'd focus on fixing the old pickup and decide what to do when that was out of the way. If he was lucky—or maybe unlucky—Anya would come to her senses or hear some rumor that sent her as far from him as possible.

Caleb pulled into the clearing and parked near the old, abandoned church. Whatever happened, he’d worry about it when the time came. In the meantime, he’d work on the problem at hand—making sure that monster of a pickup didn’t get Anya killed. With that thought in mind, Caleb flipped open his phone to call Trevor. He couldn't keep Anya at a distance, which meant he'd have to keep her close.

If for no other reason than to protect her from his demons.