The Reset Series | Book 4 | Swamp

by Greene, Kellee L.

  I sat next to her, waiting for her body to relax.

  “I hate it here,” she said finally.

  “What she did was unforgivable.”

  “She wanted us to know she’s in charge,” Leah said. “If she wants to leave, she’ll make it happen. Maybe we should.”

  I turned slightly. “Should what? Leave?”

  “Yeah. There isn’t anything here for us except for your dad.”

  “Well, there is safety here. And food and water. Power,” I said. “What if we just stay here and keep to ourselves? You know it’s hell out there too.”

  “But she’s not out there,” Leah said looking into my eyes. “I seriously hate her and I’m not saying that out of jealousy or because she’s your ex-girlfriend or whatever. She’s a terrible, no, an evil person. Did you see the look on her face when she hit herself?”

  I looked down at my feet.

  “It was terrifying,” Leah said. “I don’t think she’s done with me.”

  “If we go back out there, I don’t know how long we’ll survive,” I said pressing my hands together. “I think I can keep you safe in here.”

  “You think? That’s reassuring,” Leah said. “It’s not that I need you to keep me safe. You know I can take care of myself. The problem is when we have no control in a situation. They’ll never listen to me.”

  My shoulders pinched with my exhale. “That’s why we need to stay away from her.”

  “And how do we do that when she’s apparently marrying your dad?” Leah asked. “This is a freaking nightmare.”

  “I could try talking with her. Maybe we can come to some sort of agreement.”

  “We already know what she wants,” Leah said crossing her arms. “She wants us gone.”

  I shook my head. “There has to be a way to reason with her.”

  “Because she’s so reasonable?”

  “I well ah…,” I stammered.

  “Talking with her didn’t work this morning, why do you think it’ll suddenly work?” Leah asked her eyes rolling in a full circle.

  I clasped my hands together. “Do you really want to leave?”

  Leah hesitated. Her shoulders slumped forward and she rested her chin on her fists.

  “No… I don’t know. I don’t think so, I guess,” she said looking down. Her eyes flicked up and she scanned the room. “How could we go back out there? There isn’t anything like this waiting for us. And if there is, who says we’ll find it? We’re stuck here.”

  “It might not be easy but we’ll make the best of it,” I said.

  “Were you always this optimistic?” Leah asked.

  “No, not really,” I said with a laugh. “I don’t even know what I was before this.”

  Leah huffed. “Because you let Eva tell you what you were.”

  “Maybe,” I said truthfully.

  “Well,” she said. “Don’t do that with me. I like you.”

  “I like you too,” I said pulling her in for a hug. “A lot.”

  Leah rested her head on my shoulder. “Thank you for getting me out of there.”

  “Of course,” I said.

  “Should we see about getting that generator going?” Leah asked. “Maybe see about watching a movie?”

  “I’d love that,” I said.

  I stood and stretched out my hand to Leah. Before she even got to her feet, a blow horn blasted repeatedly.

  “What the hell was that?” Leah asked slowly turning toward me.

  My body stiffened. “I have no idea.”

  18

  Stevie

  The young woman had hair the color of fresh peaches. The whites of her eyes were red from crying. She couldn’t have been more than a year or two older than I was. The poor thing looked as though she’d gone to hell and back. The way her eyes flicked from one of us to the next made it seem as though she was waiting for one of us to lunge at her.

  Our group was growing and I wasn’t entirely sure how I felt about it. On the one hand, the more, the better for us, but on the other hand, it was more people I would need to take care of. Another mouth to feed and I wasn’t sure I was the right person for the job.

  Gage talked to the new girl, Winter. She sniffed with every word he spoke. At one point, he asked her how she got to us but she didn’t want to talk about it. All she told him was that she’d been wandering alone since the others she’d been with had been killed.

  As the days passed by, everyone became more comfortable. Everyone fell into a routine. Lucy, Ella, and Winter became fast friends. They liked to prepare food, check on the chickens—with Gage guarding them, of course—and they’d do the laundry together. Giggling with every task.

  Kieran was like their boss, telling them both what and how to do things. Josh worked with Shawn and Gage to bring as many supplies as they could. One of them always held the gun and nothing more. It was their job to protect the others.

  Noah’s health improved daily. He spent most of his time writing in a notebook or reading books.

  I didn’t feel as though I did much to help. I walked around answering questions and directing everyone but it took all my time. Some days I didn’t even eat until it was dark outside.

  We’d fallen into a perfect routine. Days blended into each other.

  The lions hadn’t returned but we didn’t let our guard down.

  One morning I didn’t get out of bed. I was tired. Everything had finally caught up to me.

  I was the leader. I had to constantly make decisions and choices and it was exhausting.

  There was a knock at the door which, of course, I had expected.

  “Come in,” I said.

  I was expecting Gage but it was Shawn that stepped into my room closing the door. He leaned back against the wall, crossing his arms.

  “Sleeping in?” he asked.

  “I guess so,” I said.

  His eyes narrowed. “You’re not sick, are you?”

  “I feel fine,” I said pulling the covers up to my shoulders.

  “So, what’s going on then? This isn’t like you,” Shawn said.

  “Shawn,” I said with a groan. “I’m tired.”

  Shawn snorted. “That’s what Gage said you’d say.”

  “Gage is smart. Listen to him.”

  “Here’s the thing though, you’ve been tired since the day I met you,” Shawn said.

  “All the more reason to catch up on some sleep now.”

  Shawn pressed his lips together. “Yeah, that’s what I’m confused about.”

  “What?” I asked humoring him.

  “Why now?”

  “What a ridiculous question,” I said with a yawn I tried to swallow down.

  Shawn chuckled. “If I didn’t know better, I’d think you wanted me to leave.”

  “The exit is the same as the entrance.”

  “Gage wanted me to check on you,” Shawn said. “He worries about you.”

  “I know,” I said. “Just tell him I’m fine.”

  Shawn laughed and took a step closer. “He said you’d say that too.” He looked down at his hands. “I’m going to be honest with you.”

  “Good?”

  “I’m worried too.” Shawn sat down on the bed.

  It made me twitchy to have him so close. And recognizing that feeling made me angry… frustrated.

  “There isn’t anything to worry about,” I said scooting slightly away from him. I was trying to make it look like I was giving him more space. “It’s just hard. I never expected all this.”

  “I think it’s because you’re always so calm, cool, and collected,” Shawn said.

  “I’m none of those things on the inside,” I admitted as I hugged my knees to my chest.

  Shawn’s head bobbed up and down. “The only time I saw you not be those things is when Gage went after Brooklyn. You really like him, huh?”

  “Shawn,” I said daring a glance in his direction. “He’s like a brother to me. We’ve been through a lot together. He couldn’t see after t
he flash of light. We took care of each other.”

  “I can take care of you too,” Shawn said.

  My pulse quickened. What was happening? And why did it make me nervous when Shawn was close?

  “I don’t need people to take care of me,” I said.

  “You think it’s your job to take care of everyone else,” Shawn said.

  “It’s what I’ve been doing for my entire life. Forgive me if I just wanted to take a small break.”

  My heart leaped into my throat as I remembered what happened the last time I took a break. I’d gone to the beach and the sky exploded.

  I pressed my palms to my face. “Ugh, I’m not going to be able to fall back asleep now anyway.”

  I threw the blanket to the side and swung my legs over the side of the bed. The shorts I was wearing were soft but probably a size too small… same went for the tank top I was wearing. I didn’t realize that I must have looked like a clown until I caught Shawn staring.

  “Privacy?” I asked crossing my arms over my chest.

  “Stevie, come on,” Shawn said holding up his hands as he approached. “Go back to bed. I wasn’t trying to make you feel bad.”

  “You didn’t,” I said stepping to the side. He mirrored my movement. “Shawn!”

  He laughed.

  I scowled.

  Shawn placed his hands on my shoulders and turned my body back toward the bed. I felt like smacking him but I was too tired to put up a fight. It was hard to let someone guide me. Move me. Tell me what to do.

  My shoulders tensed as I slowly faced him. My heart jumped when my eyes locked with his. I felt like I’d moved to the corner of the room and was watching us from the outside of my body.

  The way he looked at me made my skin itch. It also made me feel sweaty. I wasn’t sure who I was when I looked into his eyes.

  “Are you okay?” Shawn asked his brow wrinkling slightly.

  “Yeah. Perfectly fine,” I said.

  “You turned white.” Shawn reached out and lightly touched my forehead with the back of his hand. It felt like sparks ignited all over my body. “Whoa.”

  It was like he’d felt it too. I couldn’t hold his gaze. My eyes moved down to his lips.

  Shawn’s fingertips slid along my jaw… his thumb gently stroked my cheek. I couldn’t find enough oxygen. The top of my head and the back of my neck tingled.

  He inched closer. It looked like he was in pain. I felt like I was in pain.

  The tension was almost unbearable. If I wasn’t so tired, I’d pull away from him but I was weak… and curious. I wanted to know what it would feel like to kiss him.

  Our lips barely touched. It was like a rush of electricity jolting through my veins.

  My body came alive.

  I wrapped my hands around his neck, twisting my fingers into his thick hair that had grown so long it was two inches away from touching his shoulders. I aggressively pressed my chest against him.

  Shawn was like a drug. I couldn’t get enough. I wanted more.

  I pushed him onto the bed. He looked up at me. His eyes were bright and his lips curled at one end.

  The sounds in the hallway shattered the trance-like state I was in. I turned and faced the door.

  Shawn reached forward and grabbed my hand. Either he hadn’t heard Kieran’s voice or he was ignoring it.

  “It’s too much, Joshua!” Kieran shouted. “I can’t even stand to look at you. You disgust me!”

  I didn’t take Shawn’s hand. Instead, I soundlessly walked over to the door and pressed my ear against the wood.

  Footsteps raced down the hall. Glass shattered as something, a vase perhaps, was thrown against the wall. Or perhaps someone’s head.

  “Get out of here!” Kieran shouted.

  Shawn was behind me, less than an inch away. I could feel his breath on the side of my neck but I ignored it and opened the door.

  “What’s going on out here?” I asked but Kieran slammed her bedroom door. I only caught a glimpse of Josh as he dashed down the stairs.

  I started after him but Shawn pulled me back.

  “They’re fighting,” Shawn said. “They do that a lot if you haven’t noticed.”

  I hadn’t really. Or if I had, I pretended I hadn’t. Seconds later, the front door closed so hard it shook the whole house.

  “It seemed bad,” I said. “I just want to check on him. Get him back inside.”

  “But, Stevie,” Shawn said.

  “Sorry,” I said over my shoulder. “He can’t be out there alone.”

  My eyebrows squeezed together and his shoulders slumped. He knew he wasn’t going to change my mind.

  I chased after Josh. Somewhat mad at myself for leaving Shawn behind but also somewhat relieved because suddenly, I could breathe again.

  At least, until I remembered that Josh had done something careless.

  I stopped at the window. My fingers trembled as I pressed them against the windowpane.

  It took me several seconds to locate Josh. He was stomping through the puddles and thankfully not far from the house.

  But he wasn’t alone.

  19

  Joss

  Robby looked out the little peephole at the top of the door. He looked at me and shrugged.

  “Hi,” the young woman with a bandanna over her head said. She kept her eyes down. “I have your things.”

  “Oh, thanks,” Robby said taking two paper bags from the girl.

  I could see over her shoulder. There was another girl with a similar bandanna on her head across the hall at Caleb’s door. She handed him a pair of bags as well.

  He saw me and gave me a quick smile. I hadn’t been able to return it before Jenna stepped out into the hallway and followed the girl toward the stairs.

  Robby’s eyes followed her for a moment. “Where’s she going?”

  “To see the doctor,” Caleb said.

  “Shouldn’t you go with her?” I asked.

  Caleb pressed his lips together. “They prefer to see her alone.”

  “I don’t like it,” Robby said.

  “She’ll be fine, sir,” the young woman said without looking up. “It’s for privacy reasons.”

  “He’s her boyfriend,” I said.

  The young woman flicked me a quick glance. “They’ll ask her if she feels safe and things like that. If he were there, she might not give an honest answer. This is standard practice.”

  “That doesn’t really make me feel much better,” Robby said.

  “Jenna was okay with it,” Caleb said.

  “Have a good day,” the young woman said before turning away from us.

  Robby didn’t respond. My mouth opened but nothing came out.

  “Let us know when she gets back,” Robby said.

  “I will,” Caleb said with a nod.

  Robby slowly closed the door and carried the bags over to the table by the window.

  “I guess if we’re going to stay here, we need to try to feel comfortable with things,” I said mostly attempting to convince myself.

  “Maybe,” Robby said reaching into a bag. He pulled out a soft, thick-striped black and white light sweater. “This is probably for you.”

  He switched over to the other bag. I started digging inside the one that was intended for me. There was a pair of dry pants and underwear too.

  “They accurately guessed my size,” I said surprise wrinkling my brow.

  I pulled out a notebook with a black cover. It reminded me of the one Liam had… the one they’d taken from me, even though I couldn’t remember exactly when. Robby had one too.

  “I’m to help the patrol officers in town,” Robby said staring at the first page. “What does yours say?”

  My fingers fumbled as I tried to flip the notebook open. “Inventory and supplies.” My arms felt heavy. “Someone will come for me in the morning.”

  “Me too,” Robby said.

  “Do you think we’re okay here?” I asked.

  “I don’t know but I su
re hope so,” Robby said. He grabbed my hand and I looked up. “If you want to go.”

  My eyes focused on a stain on the carpet. “We can’t do that to Jenna.”

  “Be honest, the truth is you wouldn’t leave without Caleb and Caleb would never leave Jenna behind,” Robby said placing his thumb under my chin. He forced me to meet his eyes.

  “Yeah, so,” I admitted.

  “I just want you to know you can be honest with me,” Robby said. “Why do you think I wouldn’t understand that?”

  I exhaled slowly. “It’s not that I didn’t think you’d understand… it’s just that I… I… it’s hard to explain, I guess.”

  “I know you’re friends and how important he is to you,” Robby said stroking my jawline.

  “Then you know why we’re here. Whether or not that’s a good thing, well, that remains to be seen,” I said.

  “Shall we eat?” Robby asked.

  I chewed my lip as though it were a small piece of gum. “I’d rather get out of these wet clothes first.”

  “I like the sound of that,” Robby said leaning closer. He kissed my cheek.

  A shiver ran down my spine and I automatically leaned into him. His lips grazed my skin until he made his way to my waiting mouth.

  The kiss was soft. Sensual. It made me feel like I was floating on air.

  “Did you lock the door?” I asked in a voice that almost didn’t exist. I was afraid of ruining the mood but at the same time, I wasn’t entirely sure someone wouldn’t just barge in at any moment.

  “It’s locked,” Robby said his breath danced across my lips, cooling them.

  “They could come back,” I said.

  Robby’s lips curled into a smile. “Let them.”

  His hands slid down to my waist. He tightened his hands and lifted me off my feet, carrying me the few short steps to the bed.

  The mattress squeaked as our weight crashed down. I smiled but Robby didn’t stop sliding his hands over every inch of my body.

  “Let’s get these wet clothes off.” Robby’s voice was raspy.

  “The sooner, the better,” I said.

  Robby grabbed the hem of my shirt and pulled. The wet fabric clung to me, not wanting to let me go. A chill zapped me after I wiggled free of the wet clothes.