by Sean Platt
There are others here, but I’m not sure how many, because one name is instantly at the top of my mind — my father, Ben Shepherd.
I get up, get dressed, and head out of the room into the winding labyrinth of stone passageways, following Clifton’s instincts.
Nobody else is awake.
I turn down several hallways, descend a crumbling stairwell, the path illuminated by lights along the stone ceiling running every twenty feet or so between large swaths of darkness.
Finally, I find the gray metal door I’ve been looking for, in the concrete wall just like the others.
I knock three times, sharply.
The sound echoes off the wall.
A slot in the door opens, and I see a man’s sad blue eyes looking back in the dim light beyond the door.
His voice is groggy. “What is it, Fixer?”
“I need to talk to you. It’s urgent.”
He opens the door and I see a man in his late forties, wearing a thick cotton jersey and jeans, hanging loose on his body. His dark hair, with strands of gray, runs just past his shoulders, curling at the ends. His eyes are faint blue, looking like they’ve been subjected to more than one lifetime of sorrow. His beard is scruffy and his face gaunt.
And now that I’m staring at him, it’s hard to believe I could have ever forgotten him.
Memories course through me, bits and pieces, but definitely memories of him, of us together.
“Dad.”
“What?” he says, stepping back, confused.
“It’s me, Ella. Oh, my God, I’ve finally found you.”
My father backs up even further in his little room — less cluttered than Clifton’s — and bumps into his bed.
He collapses on top of it, then sits straight up.
His eyes burrow into mine. “What are you talking about, Clifton?”
“It’s me, Ella. I Jumped into Clifton’s body. I’m back.”
His hand reaches under his pillow.
And then his gun is on me.
He stands, eyes glaring, mouth twisted. “Bullshit.”
He puts the gun in my face.
Now I’m backing up.
Why doesn’t he believe me? How can I convince him?
I put my hands in front of my face. “I swear, Dad. It’s me. How can I convince you?”
I realize my error. I doubt I’d remember anything, even if he were to quiz me.
“You can’t convince me. You’re not Ella.”
“Why is that?”
“Because I buried Ella years ago.”
TO BE CONTINUED…
The story continues in The Fall - turn the page to find out more.
WANT TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
One more day in a body that doesn’t belong to me. Another day further from a life I can't remember.
I am a Jumper. I wake up in a new body almost every day. I don’t know why this is happening. I have no memory of my life before.
But I’ve found the one person who can help me, and the last person I ever expected to see. He knows exactly who I am—because he buried me years ago.
Finally, the secrets of my past will be unlocked.
But will I survive the truth?
THE SERIES CONTINUES IN BOOK FIVE:
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Sean Platt & David W. Wright
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ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Sean Platt is the bestselling co-author of over 60 books, including breakout post-apocalyptic horror serial Yesterday’s Gone, literary mind-bender Axis of Aaron, and the blockbuster sci-fi series, Invasion. Never one for staying inside a single box for long, he also writes smart stories for children under the pen name Guy Incognito, and laugh out loud comedies which are absolutely not for children.
He is also the founder of the Sterling & Stone Story Studio and along with partners Johnny B. Truant and David W. Wright hosts the weekly Self-Publishing Podcast, openly sharing his journey as an author-entrepreneur and publisher.
Sean is often spotted taking long walks, eating brisket with his fingers, or watching movies with his family in Austin, Texas. You can find him at [email protected].
David W Wright is the co-author of several horror series, including the bestselling Yesterday’s Gone and WhiteSpace, as well as the disturbing standalone books, 12 and Crash.
Dave is also the curmudgeon co-host of the weekly Self-Publishing Podcast, he invites listeners along on his journey toward better health on the strikingly personal The Walking Dave podcast, and regularly rants about his many pet-peeves on the ridiculous podcast Worst. Show. Ever. (which should never be listened to by anyone, ever).
Dave is an accomplished and intermittent cartoonist who lives in [LOCATION REDACTED] with his wife and son [NAMES REDACTED]. Dave cultivates the perfect level of paranoia and always carries a decoy wallet in case he gets mugged. You can stalk him at [email protected] or visit his personal blog at www.davidwwright.com.
For any questions about Sterling & Stone books or products, or help with anything at all, please send an email to [email protected], or contact us at sterlingandstone.net/contact. Thank you for reading.
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Deviant
Dedication & Copyright
Deviant
Prologue
 Chapter 1
 Chapter 2
 Chapter 3
 Chapter 4
 Chapter 5
 Chapter 6
Epilogue
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About the Authors