[ORIGINAL DRAFT SAMPLE] She is twenty-nine when the FBI comes for her, but Catherine Themis was only seventeen, grieving and naive and angry, the first time she wiped someone else's blood from her fingers and felt the snake rise in her chest. She was seventeen when she stepped into the dark and never looked back. ***** By day, Catherine Themis is an unassuming civilian administrator for the Dedwich Police Department, but by night, she is a notorious vigilante known as The Hangman. Struggling with her violent urges and the psychological cost of her actions, Catherine becomes the target of an obsessive serial killer and a relentless FBI agent, and as the hunt for the Hangman intensifies, Catherine must decide which life she wishes to live and what she values more: vengeance or her fading humanity? A psychological thriller in the vein of MINDHUNTER and HANNIBAL, SERPENT HEART is a deep-dive into the life and history of a conflicted vigilante forced to confront her inner demons and evade a national manhunt. Catherine questions the efficacy of her own convictions as the FBI closes in and a vindictive murderer puts her family, love, and identity in jeopardy. With everything on the line and time running out, who will Catherine Themis become? --- [[AVAILABLE ON AMAZON]] [[REMOVED 24 DEC 2021]] [[2019 Watty Winner - Mystery & Thriller]]

I pushed away from the dinner table and stood up really fast, then bolted for the door. I couldn't just stay here and listen to him tell me he was leaving, I just couldn't deal with it. Tears start running down my face just as I reach the edge of the grass and sidewalk about to enter the street, but arms wrapped around my waist and I collapsed into them."Baby girl, I'm so sorry." He sounded as heartbroken as I am "I really am, I wanted to tell you first. Before I had to tell very one like that, I don't want you crying like this. It breaks my heart." "I still remember the time I lost you in the woods." "You had no idea how scared I was because I lost you. I thought I lost you for good, that I wouldn't be able to find you, ever." I leaned my head into his chest."Every time I called your name I got more scared that I wouldn't find you, but then I did. I found you. You were huddled up crying against a tree trunk, you didn't even know it was me till I called your name.'' "The way you looked at me after that, made me want to never see you cry again. So I promised myself I would do everything in my power to keep you from crying, and I did a good job. Until now, that is. Not only did I not keep you from crying, but I'm the reason." he says, his voice barely above a whisper. His eyes shining with tears. "You also promised never to leave me." I whisper as I'm finally able to talk, my lips quivering. "I know..." "You promised!" I shout, he holds me tighter. "I know... I know, and I'm sorry. I never meant to break that promise either." ~ Tyler and Dakota have been best friends since either can remember, even with a 2 year gap in their age. But what happens when Ty leaves and joins the military, and leaves Kota behind? Something he promised he would never do? Will it wreck their friendship for good, will they be able to repair it? When Ty comes back, Kota is in a terrible situation. Will Ty be able to protect her? © 2013 Kenzie Elaine (Wattys13)