15 Stitches
by
Book Cover & Preview Text
>p>It was different from the bareness of a forest during winter. In woods like that, there were signs of life everywhere, and the trees didn’t look truly dead. They still had a warm brown color, filled with life, unlike the trees that were charred and black.
“It kind of feels like … I don’t know … like there’s no other life anywhere in the world,” I commented. “It kind of brings back all those stories from when we were little. You know, with dragons and stuff.” The minute the words left my lips, he stiffened. …
My eyes scanned the trees for any sign that things had changed since the fire and were suddenly drawn to something that seemed to be etched in the tree.
“Whoa, look at that! That’s really weird,” I said, approaching the strange-looking marking. The image was of two feathers—one was big and healthy, and the other looked burned. A deformed cross encircled the point where the two large feathers intersected. It vaguely reminded me of the etching that I had seen on Keith’s shelves.
Keith stared at the etching, looking completely dumbfounded, his blue eyes wide with shock. It looked like he was trying to say something, but nothing was coming out. He suddenly walked forward and slowly ran his fingers over the etching. I couldn’t help but notice the way his fingers trembled slightly.
Formats
Book Details
Recognition Programs
About the Book
Harmony Vindico has already lived through the worst nightmare of her life. As the victim of a brutal rape, she struggles to simply survive every day. When she finally returns to high school in an attempt to steer her life back to normal and escape her dysfunctional family, she strikes up a friendship with Keith Draykon, an introverted transfer student with startling blue eyes. But there is only one problem—Keith is far from normal and, worse, hiding a dark secret.
As they begin work on a school ecology project together, Harmony tries to ignore the premonition that something horrible is about to happen—even the fact that Keith’s pupils seem to sometimes morph into strange shapes. Even so, it isn’t long before Harmony realizes that her old crush, Damon, and current crush, Keith, are not really who they say they are. Suddenly, Harmony finds herself in the midst of an ancient feud between two species. The battle’s outcome will eliminate one of the races from the face of the earth forever.
In this exciting fantasy novel, two teenagers reveal their true identities, propelling Harmony into a dangerous journey as the last hope to save the world—and Keith—before it is too late.
About the Author
Rita Baorto, a junior in high school, has a passion for fantasy literature. She lives in New Jersey with her parents, brother, and sister. This is her debut novel.