Seven Point Eight: The Second Chronicle
by Marie
Harbon
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BLURB:
Seven Point Eight:
'The Truth Will Set You Free'
In the second instalment of the Seven Point Eight series, the legacy
of the OOBE project weighs heavily on the conscience of Dr Paul Eldridge. Tahra
Mamoun needs to muster all her courage and venture back into the alternate
dimensions of reality. Through a series of challenging, surreal and frightening
experiences, she comes to comprehend the destructive power she can yield and
must face her own demons in the process.
Paul continues his quest to understand the ancient knowledge of the
cosmos, while dark forces seek to hijack his research to further a secret
agenda. With their lives in jeopardy, Paul and Tahra confront their enemies
against an international backdrop featuring the pyramids of Giza and the peaks
of Switzerland.
Meanwhile, Sam and Ava endeavour to uncover their past, even though it
may irrevocably change their lives.
In a tale of courage and tragedy, love and betrayal, their lives are
interwoven around the demons of one man, Max Richardson, who'll stop at nothing
to achieve his objectives.
Written in the style of a TV series, Seven Point Eight draws together
quantum physics, psychic powers, alternate dimensions, time travel, past lives,
ancient wisdom and conspiracy in a soap opera for the soul.
It’s the ideal read for lovers of sci-fi, contemporary fantasy,
paranormal, metaphysics, ‘Lost’, ‘Fringe’, ‘Touch’, and Dan Brown books.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
EXCERPTS:
Seven Point Eight: The
Second Chronicle
Excerpt 7
The dot mutated into a
fuzzy patch that took form as it approached me, morphing into a familiar
figure. Its identity threw me, an image that awakened a dichotomy of feelings,
exciting and repelling me simultaneously. What was my subconscious trying to
tell me this time? The image of Max advanced towards me and met my bewildered
gaze, seeming so real that I could almost reach out and touch him. Yet it was a
mere representation of him, drawn directly from my mind.
Nobody spoke. I knew it
wasn’t really him, but peering into those brown eyes, he seemed very genuine,
complete with feelings and memories. He looked slightly younger, exactly as
he’d appeared to me when he brought me to The Institute back in 1962. His face
expressed accusation.
“Why have you abandoned
me?”
Although I had no reason to
feel guilty, he made me experience remorse.
“What do you mean?”
“Why are you with someone
else instead of me?” he continued, uncharacteristically open and transparent, something
the real Max could never be.
“I made a choice. Paul
gives me what I need.”
It felt strange confronting
him with the truth, yet the opportunity to have this conversation with him
unburdened me.
“You were supposed to teach
me emotion,” he said. “You can’t hide from your responsibility.”
I could barely contain my
indignation.
“I have no responsibility
towards you. It was never meant to be.”
“We all deny what we’re
required to learn in this life,” he responded. “You’re afraid to feel
vulnerable too, fearful of opening your heart.”
“I understand my emotions,”
I retorted. “It’s you who do not.”
“Then I need to be taught.”
I turned away from him,
annoyed at how he teased out some repressed anger by poking me with a guilt
stick. For a memory, his presence felt far too real and triggered a whole
catalogue of emotions. I recalled his seduction of me through gifts, and our
time in America
when he’d promiscuously vented his sexual frustration while waiting to claim my
virginity. A tear rolled down my cheek, and embarrassed, I wiped it away. He
took hold of my hand, which created a vivid touch sensation not quite like skin
on skin, but more lucid and electrical.
“Remember when you didn’t
suppress your feelings?” he said. “Remember when it was just you and me in New York ?”
I found myself at the top
of the Empire State building on that windy day in
October 1963, looking out over the city. Max stood behind me with his arms
around my waist and his cheek resting against mine. How vivid the memory felt,
as if I were there in person. I remembered that time, an ideal moment of love
and trust in my life, yet how could it be so perfect? Was my memory playing
tricks on me?
“Don’t you wonder what it
would’ve been like if things had been different?” he said softly, in my ear.
“Misery,” I answered
quickly.
“Is that what you really
believe? If I make you so unhappy, then why have you summoned me in this
world?”
I’d never heard anything so
ridiculous!
“I came here looking for my
friends, not you.”
“You’re forgetting that
memories are both conscious and subconscious. Desire is the same, we’re only
aware of the tip of the iceberg. What do you really want?”
“You are not my purpose in
life,” I said with vehemence. “You’re a distraction, a…buzzing fly that won’t
go away, you’re a…corrosive chemical that destroys everything in its path.”
He almost laughed.
“You hate with such
passion. Does Paul arouse you like this?”
I swallowed back my hurt.
“No, he doesn’t make me
hate, or make me cry. That’s why I love him.”
“Is that what you want, a
life with a man who doesn’t occasionally arouse hate, who doesn’t sometimes
make you angry, or who doesn’t bring a tear to your eye? Love is a ride that
takes you to the top of a mountain, or the depths of a valley. True love makes
you feel the whole range of emotions, not merely a select few.”
I wanted to choke back my
tears, get the hell out of this place but he leaned closer, whispering
something in my ear.
“You know, we’ve met many
times over the course of eternity. In the history of civilisation, we’re old
friends. We have baggage, we have history.”
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Marie Harbon
has worked in both the retail and fitness industry. She has a degree in sport
and fitness, and taught group exercise for several years, delivering aerobics and
Pilates. For two years, she delivered BTEC sport courses and has also
instructed dance and sport with children.
Marie is a
member of Nottingham Writers Studio, Her future plans include not only
completing the 'Seven Point Eight' series, but involve writing YA, children's
and adult books, short stories, novellas and scripts.
Aside from
writing, Marie is a self-confessed fabric geek and purveyor of beautiful, often
ostentatious bags, bustiers and clothing. She lives in the town of Eastwood,
Nottinghamshire, which is in England.
Website -
www.marieharbon.com
Facebook -
https://www.facebook.com/marie.harbon
Facebook -
https://www.facebook.com/SevenPointEightChronicles
Twitter -
@marieharbon
Thank you for hosting today.
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