Right now, my book is being edited by my editor, but the opening has already been fully polished, so here's a peak of what the book's going to be like. 

James forced down another mouthful of fish stew, grimacing at the rancid flavor. How he loathed the stuff. But for now, he had to force it down. The alternative was starvation.

While he finished his stew, James flicked on the TV and was greeted by the news channel.

The news person—a barbie doll-like woman with stunning pink hair—stared unblinking at him through the TV screen. "Despite our hopes, waves of Blackbeards swarm New California as President Ven Kestar continues his program to—"

James shook his head and shut off the TV. There was no point in sticking around for footage of victims lying on the ground. Emaciated bodies with swollen tongues, white skin, and, of course, the tell-tale bite mark. Plenty of these images were already burned into his brain.

He choked down the last dregs of stew, crept past the bedroom door where his mom and sister lay sleeping, and slipped out the front door.

It was still dark out, the sun hidden beyond the horizon. A chill crept under his jacket, so he tightened it around his shoulders. He took a deep breath of the briny ocean air, then exhaled and set off at a run.

As he jogged along the beach, his eyes traveled over the many shells, branches, and bits of rubbish that had been washed ashore. Nothing new, or, at least, nothing unusual.

Since his father's death, fishing had become a chore. The grueling hard work and repetition of each day stole away the pleasures he remembered from childhood.

He dragged the decrepit boat down to the surf and left it half-submerged, waves lapping at the barnacles.

James was about to board when he sensed movement behind him. He whirled around, but it was only his little sister, Rose. She scampered toward him, brown braids flying.

"Rose! What are you doing? Get back inside." His mind flashed to the earlier reports of Blackbeard infestations.

Undeterred, she ran closer. "I want to come with you."

"Fishing?"

She nodded. "Please?"

"Sorry," said James. "But Blackbeards are everywhere. And besides, you've got school." Rose's face fell, but she didn't argue.

"Hey." He poked her in the belly. "Cheer up. After school we can play checkers."

Her eyes lit up.

"Now go back to the house and get ready for school."

Despite his promise of games later, her shoulders slumped as she trudged back to the house. He watched her until she was safely back inside, then shoved the boat into the water and hopped aboard.

The spray of surf caught him in the face, stinging his eyes.

His arms burning, James put his back into the oars as he found his rhythm.

Once he reached deep enough water, he dropped his nets and continued forward slowly, the nets trailing behind like a comet's tail.

He yawned and smiled. His life may have been filled with hardships, but there were still peaceful moments like this—sunrises to watch, birds to hear.

A half-hour passed as he continued into deeper waters, occasionally making sure his nets hadn't tangled.

He was readjusting one of the nets when a wailing, screaming siren pierced the air, sending his heart into a wild rhythm. Damn it!

He heaved his nets into the boat, sending water spraying everywhere. The nets wriggled with fish as he hastily shoved them out of the way. What was going on?

As soon as the nets were onboard, he turned the boat around, rowing as fast as he could. Water flew into the air as his paddles struck the surface.

James was faced with a moment of indecision. He had to get Rose and bring her to the Hub. But would she be at school yet? Or would she still be home?

School, he decided, as he hauled his boat onshore.

Scrambling in the wet sand, he dashed along the shore. The school was located a quarter-mile away—an easy run.

He took the dirt road away from the beach and sprinted down it—breath in rhythm with each stride.

* * *

He found the school frantic with activity. Terrified parents and siblings grabbed kids and fled in the Hub's direction. The crowd pressed in, and he had to fight to move forward.

Rose stood by herself, leaning against the concrete wall of the school. He raced to her side and immediately noticed the tears running down her cheeks.

"What's wrong, Rose?"

"I hurt my leg." Her lip trembled.

"Sorry about that, but we've got to go." He scooped her into his arms and turned around, pushing his way through the crowd.

James ran toward the Hub. Despite the seriousness of the situation, Rose giggled when his hair fell in her face. When Rose laughed, you had to laugh. She had such a sweet, delicate laugh: like the tinkling of bells.

Her laughter calmed him, but he glanced nervously at the sky, hoping the sirens hadn't announced a bombing.

He scanned the crowd, hoping to see someone who looked on top of matters. No one seemed to be in charge. Where were all the teachers? Shouldn't they be keeping everyone organized?

No. They would have fled the second the alarm sounded.

It was only a few hundred yards from the school to the Hub, but fear weakened him. When he finally reached the Hub, Rose clinging to him, he was gasping for breath.

Kops—Keepers of the Peace— had surrounded the large, worn-out building. They were attempting to hold back the crowd and allow people to enter in an orderly fashion.

James shoved his way toward the entrance, and a Kop waved him through.

James turned up his nose as he entered the outer room. This was where he and the other fishermen delivered their catch each day and where it was processed, shipped off, then redistributed. Though there was no fish this early, the smell still pervaded the air. He quickly moved through the room and into the next.

His mom stood in a corner of the crowded room, her eyes darting back and forth. James made eye contact with her, and she gave a relieved smile. He carried Rose over and set her on the ground. His mom took one look at her, and her face lost all color.

"What, mom?"

With a trembling finger, his mom pointed at Rose's ankle. There, right below the cuff of her pants, was a swollen red mark.

Rose had been bitten.