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    Gates
    Gates
    Gates
    Ebook133 pages1 hour

    Gates

    By G.S. Luckett

    5/5

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    About this ebook

    Action-packed Occult/Horror Adventure! Disclaimer: Non-religious.
    Can a condemned soul become God's weapon?

    A death row inmate, known as The Brit, on an isolated island escapes from his execution during a freak thunderstorm that causes the prison to change into a paranormal place. Now, he finds himself fighting his way out and protecting the very people who jailed him. Pursued by prisoners and guards possessed by ghosts along with a mysterious inmate from his nightmares using occult powers, The Brit has to lead the others to escape in order to save their souls and possibly his own.

    ˃˃˃ Fun, Quick Series Opener - Hack Dandy, 4 Star Review
    "The Brit, a death row inmate, escapes his electric-chair execution thanks to a major thunderstorm that knocks out the power at his island-prison. The Pastor, a quasi-friend on the inside, helps him out of the chair and they seem to be the only prisoners around. The Brit has a plan to escape, which is hindered as he faces off against prisoners and inmates that are hell-bent on capturing him by the commands of the Courier.

    This was a fun read and reminded me of The Rock (1996), in that I envisioned Alcatraz and Sean Connery. But no, there are no missiles or scientists-turned-hero. There is one specific scene that ends the action-packed and brutal man-against-the-odds thriller, and flips the switch on a paranormal sci-fi tale. Don’t worry; there is still brutal action throughout.

    To tell more would risk entry into the spoiler-zone. This is the first I’ve heard of G.S. Luckett. The writing and editing are quite good and the story flows well from scene to scene. The book has a conclusion (as it should) and can stand alone as a full story.
    However, this is the intro to a set/series. A short read . Although this is subtitled as “Can a condemned soul become God’s weapon”, it isn’t a Christian or preachy book."

    ˃˃˃ Five Star Review from Readers' Favorite - Dinorah Blackman
    "If you love suspense, you're definitely going to love Gates by G.S. Luckett....G.S. Luckett is an extremely creative writer. In this book, he turns a prison into a haunted house where many macabre secrets are hidden. Gates presents an exciting but unusual plot played out by very interesting characters who are thrown together in a desperate attempt to escape a tragedy....If you've ever wondered about evil and spiritual forces, you'll enjoy this book."

    ˃˃˃ Fantastic Read! - mizztara71, 5 Star Review
    "I read this story in one sitting. The action is non-stop. The scenes are very detailed and vivid. The characters are very well fleshed out. The author did a wonderful job of humanizing "The Brit" and telling his back story. I can see why he was chosen as a Reaper. I would recommend Gates and look forward to reading the next book in the series."

    ˃˃˃ The Reaper Book #1
    This is the first installment of a series where we find out how, The Reaper, is chosen and that he does more than shepherd lost souls. He is a demon slayer, preventing Hell's war with Heaven from spilling over into our world.

    ˃˃˃ Some of God's instruments are tarnished.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherG.S. Luckett
    Release dateMar 17, 2013
    ISBN9781301360208
    Gates
    Author

    G.S. Luckett

    A little about myself. I live outside of Portland, OR. with my lovely wife and two sons. As a writer, most of my experience is with screenwriting over the last decade. I have found my strengths to be in genre films and that has transferred over into my novel writing. I would categorize my work more toward being between a novella and a novel. It is my quest to keep the writing detailed to pull you into the book’s world but fast paced to make it exciting enough to continue. I have studied at Pierce College and UCLA online, with Certificates for Writing from Pierce College. I have won and placed in numerous National and International Screenwriting competitions over the years. I am currently converting the winning scripts into Genre Fiction. Hope you enjoy.

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    Reviews for Gates

    5/5

    7 ratings3 reviews

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    • 5/5
      A dark tale of a death row inmate who faces an evil that is out to claim his soul. Can he redeem himself by saving others? A great read.
    • 5/5
      The book starts out quick and creates all kinds of questions and tension. It draws you in as you race along with the characters, some you like and cheer for and others that you'll jeer. At times i felt like I had missed something, but by the end it was a great set up for the finish. Luckett's style of writing puts you right into the action and carries thru to the end. I loved the paranormal/ghostly flashes that keep you on edge. It is the first book in a series and I can't wait for the next one. Great suspense and you'll love how the pieces of the puzzle fall dramatically but neatly into place. Maybe not a happy ending but one that creates an option for a new beginning.
    • 5/5
      If you love suspense, you’re definitely going to love Gates by G.S. Luckett. The author paints a vivid picture that offers a glimpse into how an innocent little boy becomes a hardened criminal on Death Row after witnessing the murder of his father. In prison, this man is feared and dreaded. He has a reputation for being unreasonably violent and cruel. But nobody knows what is really going on in the depth of his soul and nobody understands the pain that has tortured him his entire life. On the night of his execution, evil breaks loose and strange things begin to happen. It seems like demons take over and go on a rampage to steal, kill, and destroy. Fear takes hold of the small group that’s desperately trying to escape alive as they experience a set of supernatural events, like the dead not staying dead. They become convinced that something evil is after them, but in the midst of the chaos there is a sliver of hope as the hardened murderer risks his life to save others.

      G.S. Luckett is an extremely creative writer. In this book, he turns a prison into a haunted house where many macabre secrets are hidden. Gates presents an exciting but unusual plot played out by very interesting characters who are thrown together in a desperate attempt to escape a tragedy. Luckett uses one’s natural distrust of prison guards to create a story in which nobody can be trusted; not even one’s own shadow. As the plot thickens, the bad guy is transformed into the only hope of survival and his true nature is revealed. Gates is a story that confirms appearances can be deceiving and that there’s much more going on around us than meets the eye. If you’ve ever wondered about evil and spiritual forces, you’ll enjoy this book.
      -Reviewed by Dinorah Blackman for Readers' Favorite

    Book preview

    Gates - G.S. Luckett

    CHAPTER ONE

    He woke up to the water. The sound of it crashing against the rocky shore below and the feel of it wrapped around him. He tried to find the air in his lungs, but only the water replaced it.

    Breaking the surface, he gasped for air. Donned in the prison-issued rain poncho, the inmate waded through the water to get back on solid ground, if you could call it that. A thin film of runoff saturated the ground, flowing down the rock slopes into the ocean. The rain continued to beat down on his shaved head. It reminded him where he was.

    Rain, it fucking figures. I thought it'd be warmer, his thoughts reasoned.

    Nothing good comes from the rain.

    Thunderclaps sounded overhead. The light illuminated the island. The inmate stood on top of a rocky cliff. Waves crashed against the rocks below. Their sound was only dwarfed by the thunderclaps above. The prison number on the back of the poncho read U877 and that was how he knew himself. Number U877, The Brit, as other inmates coined him. He had all but forgotten his real name. Here at Crenshaw prison, there were no real names. He had been here far too long.

    The flashing lights from below the overlook caught the attention of U877. Department of Prison vehicles and medical units blockaded the main gate. Tactical teams brought out body bags, heavy with the dead. More units approached from the dock. U877 spotted more ferries unloading. He glanced back to the trucks full of body bags.

    You want out, don't you?

    Bags waited in the rain for the next empty truck from the dock. Two medics lifted a bagged body from a gurney onto the ground. As the men moved out, U877 saw his opportunity. He quickly scurried to the line of black bags, scanning the officers as he went unnoticed. He found the bag closest to the bushes. The body had to go somewhere. Kneeling down, wiping the rain from the top the bag, he pulled the zipper open. His eyes searched for anyone unlucky enough to see him.

    U877 opened the flaps of the bag. The corpse was exposed to the rain.

    No.

    Jamie Navarro, a raven-haired female guard appeared. She still wore her bloodied uniform. He touched the cold skin of her face. His head hung low over her body. Lifeless, she stared at him, with unmoving doll eyes. Just hours earlier, those same eyes were bloodshot from an evening of drinking to forget, followed by a sleepless night of dreams that would not let her.

    ****

    The sun was bright and the skies clear as far as could be seen. A ferry moved over the turbulent waves of the bay, headed toward the island. The water never seemed calm. The coffee Jamie drank on the rough ride to the island was challenging and did little to help her wake up but she could not miss work. She was already on the warden's shit list.

    The boat docked with a thud. Navarro joined the exiting passengers, as they were cattled through the security checkpoint. The crowd filled with the typical people, the morning shift of guards, cooks, and maintenance personnel. Toward the front of the line, something caught Navarro's attention, a tall blonde woman. Her hairstyle and clothing looked expensive. She definitely was not the typical prison visitor. She had two men standing with her, as the guard at the checkpoint searched through their bags. To add to this, she was pissed and did not care who knew it.

    Do you have any idea who I am? the woman barked.

    She stood with her arms crossed and her hip cocked to the side. Her foot tapped rapidly as she glared at the guard's nametag. It read Kelby. He was a middle-aged portly man. His button up uniform shirt stretched against his belly. The blonde-haired woman could not help but stare at the bad comb-over on top of his head. She fidgeted with her watch.

    We need to hurry this up, she said.

    Standard procedure ma'am, Kelby grinned.

    Navarro worked her way to the front line. She knew why this woman was here. Best to stop the fight before it starts.

    You really love your job, said the blonde-haired woman.

    The disdain was thick. Kelby smiled and continued with his search silently.

    I am Deborah Sehak, she announced.

    Then she glared at him and she announced.

    Channel Six News.

    Guard Kelby stopped searching her bag.

    That's better, she sighed.

    Guard Kelby picked up her briefcase. The inspection continued. He removed a recorder and papers from the briefcase.

    You are joking? We were invited, her voice rose.

    Deborah glanced to her cameraman and sound technician behind her.

    Standard procedure Ma'am, Kelby replied in a monotonous fashion.

    Hey Bill, what's shakin'? Navarro exclaimed.

    She excused herself, moving around patrons in the line. Kelby spotted her moving and shook his head. She was pressed for time and he could tell.

    Jamie, you know you can go straight to Cathy's booth, he yelled to her.

    Why can't we just go to Cathy's booth? Deborah asked.

    Privileges with the job, he answered.

    Jamie walked past the news crew.

    He hated your exposé on lazy prison screenings, Jamie told Deborah in passing.

    Deborah’s eyes burned at Guard Kelby.

    Well Bill, is it? Deborah huffed. I guess we have a little slice of power today, don't we?

    Guard Kelby flashed his tobacco stained teeth in victory.

    ****

    Navarro stepped into Cathy's view. The older black woman in the booth looked over the top of her wired glasses with a frown on her face. Her brow furrowed.

    Why are you here today? She carefully emphasized each word.

    Jamie set her duffel on the floor.

    Got bills to pay, Jamie answered.

    She slid her I.D. under the safety glass. Cathy did nothing to retrieve her card.

    I mean why tonight, Sweetie?

    Jamie stared through the safety glass of the booth.

    I tried booze last night, but it didn't work. I don't have sick time left or vacation for that matter. If I'm not here, I'm nowhere. Besides, if you're in a prison you might as well be paid to be here, she confessed. I also think I'm on Rurik's shit-list.

    Cathy scanned the I.D. and slid it back under the safety glass.

    Name someone who ain't, Cathy replied.

    Navarro picked up her bag and looked at her watch disgusted by the time. She passed Kelby. He had all of the crew's audio equipment on the floor.

    It's just sound equipment, Deborah explained.

    Navarro felt sorry but had to take care of her own problems.

    I logged the ferry as late. It will probably be the last one tonight. They say a storm is coming. Better enjoy the sun, Cathy noted.

    Navarro smiled back at her on her way out.

    I'll cover any shift you want, she said.

    Don't you worry, just get your visit to the chapel, Cathy replied with a wave.

    Navarro hurried off the dock onto the shuttle. She glanced out the window as she took her seat. Cloud cover darkened the horizon off the mainland. She studied it through the glass. Curious, she had never seen a front move in this quickly. She hoped it was gone in twelve hours. An overnight would only make this day worse.

    ****

    Classical music echoed down a long hall. The source of the music was a solid hardwood door - oak, most likely, and handcrafted. The gold plate secured to the door read, Warden Nathaniel Patchell. The door itself did little to contain the music's volume but this was his place. His sanctuary or 'throne room' some might say. That was if, you were in his world. Inside, the room was lit only from sunlight through a small window high on the wall and a single desk lamp. Next to it, a plaque held a baton that read: Firm Discipline Breeds Firm Control. This man loved having things written out, especially pertaining to himself.

    Across from the desk, badges and awards hung on the wall leading to a large aquarium. Warden Patchell stood feeding the fish in the tank. He wore a clean, pressed, tailored gray suit and his hair was a gray buzz-cut. Eyes wrinkled behind his glasses.

    Rurik stood attentive in the corner by the oak door. His uniform was starch pressed to match his stature. A man built to be feared by the inmates.

    You wanted to see me? He interrupted the music.

    Patchell continued to tend to his fish.

    Rurik checked his watch. He knew this game and was less than fond of it. He would play. This man was his ticket to bigger things and the only superior he had in this place. Why rock the boat? The warden hardly left his throne room. Yet, Rurik had better things to do than wait for some self-indulging speech.

    You said three-thirty, Rurik reminded him.

    The music continued. The second hand swept by on the clock above the desk.

    It's three-twenty-nine, as I am sure that you can see, Patchell explained.

    He placed

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