Well into Chapter 4

I've done some work to Chapter 3 to fix some of the pacing problems, adding a lot more to the scene at the pool. I think it reads a little better now; plus, it fills in a little more information about what they are doing with the hybrids. I do make mention of 6104 and I'm not sure if the reader has the patience to wait for the explanation of who 6104 is in the first part of Chapter 4. I'll need to ask my awesome reader-friends what they think.

Chapter 4 is now 2,850 words in. I reworked the opening, adding more to set the time (three months later, making it near the end of December), place and situation. Made first mention of the "shoulder implant"-- this is one of the things they did to him when they knocked him out at the end of Chapter 3. Tweaked the Jacob part a little. I hope I'm not being pretentious by adding the "Triumph and Disaster" line to his little joke; I'd hope it would make people want to find the poem themselves, but maybe it's too much to ask. I need input.

Zachary has just been introduced to the group and they're reacting differently than he'd expected. He's nervous. Why is he nervous? Why are these particular people here? What do they want? Why is Zachary such a shock to them, when they clearly knew about the others already?

At this point, we need explanation of what the next step is. Clearly the "Coalition" (needs new name!) has a plan, another phase. So let's introduce it to Zachary now. Let's set the stage for action, something bigger.

I estimate that by the end of Chapter 5 the latest, he will be off the Island. And we'll hopefully know about Zoe.

I can't WAIT to get to Zoe!! I don't know how it's going to go anymore. One way or another it will be so much fun to get back into her again. I always loved writing Zoe.