Fates Choice — Melissa Ann

Ever wonder what would have happened if you had just told that person you loved them? Ever wonder what would have happened if you had gone right instead of left? Ever wonder what paths you could have gone down, had you only known there was a choice? Zoey Blackthorn never did. She was happy with her life, and even though she was dealing with being kidnapped, and everything changing, she was sure this was the only path she should be on. She certainly never thought that one night at a party, someone else's choice would change her life forever. Now because someone else went down a different path, so did she. Her life could have been completely different. Now she sits here with two mates wondering which is the right choice, and how this could have happened. Was both an opinion because that didn't sound too bad. No Zoey needed to choose, but which one was the right choice? Was it the man she had known all her life, or the new handsome stranger? Teaser:The basement is dark, and I look for the emergency flashlight I keep on the wall. Feeling along at the bottom of the stairs, I wait for my hand to touch the cold metal. I find it after what feels like forever, and turn it on. A little light helps. I grab the box of tablecloths I put on the floor at the base of the stairs, and head over to the cupboard. I try to hold the light while putting away the freshly laundered white tablecloths. This seems to be taking forever, and it feels like it is getting darker. I can hear the wind howling outside, and a sudden shatter of glass. The wind must have blown something into one of the windows. Just what I need, a broken window. I take the flashlight up the stairs with me to inspect the broken window. A gust of wind comes through the window, and blows the door shut. I jump because the sound of the slamming scares me. I sit on the stairs, and regroup.'I smell smoke, Zoey.' Riley is right, I can smell it too. Have I been that distracted by my own shit? I get up, and rush to the door. I touch the doorknob, and the metal burns my palm. I shine the light down to the door frame, and smoke barrels underneath it. I am in trouble here. The storm must have started a fire somehow! I have to mindlink someone.I am starting to get dizzy. I cough, and head to the lowest, furthest point from the door. I cover my mouth with a napkin from the cupboard. Looking around I realize that if the fire reaches down here, I am surrounded by cotton and boxes. This basement will go up like a roman candle. Zoey? Are you in the restaurant?Yes, Stephen! I am trapped in the basement. The room is full of smoke, and I start to pass out. HELP ME!