Excerpt from J.A. Saare’s Crimson Sunrise

We managed to get some snippets from J.A. Saare’s follow-up to Crimson Moon, titled Crimson Sunrise, when we had our group read chat at the end of August.

Today she revealed a bit more. Below is the inside cover excerpt for the forthcoming novel. Saare says it comes with the caveat that some of the language may change for the final version.

From Crimson Sunrise:

My vision became focused despite it all, allowing me to see everything. I knew these would be my final memories. I felt the warm salt of tears against my mouth and experienced the cruel absolution of saying good-bye.

The water came closer and closer, until I felt the freezing chill of blanketed wetness enveloping me. I gasped without making a sound as they pulled me into the murky water, staring down at the waves that distorted with their frantic movements. They pushed my head toward the surface, revealing the reflection of a terrified girl who was too young to die but was unable to change what loomed ahead.

The cold bite of water inside my nose and mouth silenced any protests. I struggled futilely, attempting to break free of the hands pressing against my shoulders and head. My lungs protested, demanding essential oxygen, burning miserably with the need to breathe. I held my breath, feeling the fire in my chest as my body screamed to take what was necessary to live. But there was no air to be found.

When I inhaled, I knew I would die.

I fought the need until I had no choice but to drag the water into my lungs. Raw and inexplicable pain radiated inside my chest, flooding my throat, nose, and mouth with an ice cold weight. I choked on the liquid, entering some strange, agonizing spasm that I couldn’t control.

Images flickered through my mind in those last seconds, my life remembered in frames — my mother, father, grandmother, Sammie, Trent, Sarah, Derek, Beverly, Chris, and finally, Caleb.

My final thought was of drowning, but not in water. I chose to swim in the deep indigo pools I loved so much, following the swirling currents down into the pupil until there was nothing but complete blackness.

Then the pain was no more.

Is it just me or does it sound like this is others killing Emma to make her a vampire? Hit the comments with your reactions.

If you want to see additional sneak peeks, including the back cover blurb, visit Saare’s blog. (Her vlogs are pretty amusing.)

Related posts: Crimson Moon review and Q&A with J.A. Saare