Excerpt of Souls Entwined by Anne B. Cole

Excerpt from Chapter Two of Souls Entwined

Not a sound was heard as Sam’s eyes snapped open. Under
the branches of the
downed tree, Purple Shorts began to stir.

“Sorry, are you okay?” Sam gently lifted his weight off
her.

“I think so,” she replied faintly. Sam released his hold
on her shoulder,
amazed her face wasn’t scratched. He wondered how bad he
appeared.

“Do you think you can stand?”

She nodded. Together they rose to their feet, easily
stepping out from the
tangle of branches. Eyes growing wide, she began to sway.

“Sit,” Sam commanded, steadying her.

“No, look!” She pointed.

Sam gazed over his shoulder. His mouth fell open. Beneath
the tree, their
bodies lay, motionless.

“Are we . . .” Purple Shorts began, but Sam shook his head
slowly.

Before she could say more, he interrupted, “I don’t know.
Do you feel—”

“Dead?”

He scanned the area for help. Everything around them was
still, as if they
were watching a movie and someone hit ‘pause.’ No wind, no
sound, no
movement. He flinched when cold fingers clutched his hand.

Squeezing gently, he lifted her hand in front of their
faces. “Can you feel
this?”

Purple Shorts nodded.

“I don’t think we’re dead,” Sam whispered, gazing into her
blue eyes.