The Writer's Voice Entry: VALUED

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Title: VALUED
Genre: YA Fantasy


QUERY

Sixteen-year-old Ilan has to kill his best friend, because he signed the resurrection agreement.

He doesn’t remember ever signing that document or agreeing to kill anybody after his death. But the resurrection agreement states: one must kill to live again and his designated target is his best friend, Sara. Since his name is on the dotted line, no amount of pleading can revoke the deal. Until he kills his target, Ilan’s debt cannot be paid, and if his debt isn’t paid, predators will reclaim the life he owes.

Unless his sister, Eris, protects him. Sure, her specific demands and her constant threats drive him insane, but her ruthlessness is a minor price to pay for her protection. So is biting his tongue after he witnesses Eris murder a target in the woods. She is the only one who can stall the predators since she already repaid her debt.  But when the predators outnumber them, Ilan knows Eris can’t defend him forever. And like her, he’ll have to complete his end of the resurrection agreement.

Kill Sara, or die for good.

VALUED is a YA fantasy complete at 62,000 words and would appeal to readers of PROXY by Alex London and REBOOT by Amy Tintera. I am an active member of SCBWI. Thank you for your time and consideration.

FIRST 250 WORDS

Two options: run or die.

These predators seemed faster. Hungrier. Even more eager to rip Ilan to shreds. Their icy breath stung the back of his neck as he dashed through a clearing. His lungs burned, his legs ached, but he kept his eyes on the back door a few feet ahead. The gateway to his temporary hideout.

He slammed his body against the door, using every remaining bit of strength he had to break in.

It didn’t budge.

“Eris?” he yelled, pounding the window beside him. His fists throbbed as he called his sister again. And again.

No answer.

Ilan scoured the ground, searching for something, anything to get inside. A spare key would’ve helped. One hidden underneath a rock or buried in the dirt. But Eris should’ve been home, she should’ve been there to protect him from these animals. She always had before since that was her routine.

Spot the predators. Destroy the predators. Protect him at all costs.

So where the hell was she now?

The growls behind him grew louder. After finding a heavy rock nestled in the dirt, he hurled it at the window. The glass shattered to pieces.

He jumped inside, until a force tugged at his ankle, dragging him away. Glass shards sliced his hands as he gripped the ledge. He screamed, though no one was around to hear him.

Without Eris to defend him, he wouldn’t have a chance to escape, to survive. Death was the only option he had left.