The Reset Series | Book 6 | Striking

by Greene, Kellee L.

  Striking

  The Reset Series Book 6

  Kellee L. Greene

  Contents

  Books By Kellee L. Greene

  Mailing List

  1. Joss

  2. Adam

  3. Stevie

  4. Joss

  5. Adam

  6. Stevie

  7. Joss

  8. Adam

  9. Stevie

  10. Joss

  11. Adam

  12. Stevie

  13. Joss

  14. Adam

  15. Stevie

  16. Joss

  17. Adam

  18. Stevie

  19. Joss

  20. Adam

  21. Stevie

  22. Joss

  23. Adam

  24. Stevie

  25. Joss

  26. Adam

  27. Stevie

  28. Joss

  29. Adam

  30. Stevie

  What’s next?

  Books By Kellee L. Greene

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  About the Author

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, organizations, places, events and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Copyright © 2020 Kellee L. Greene

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the express written permission of the author.

  First Edition November 2020

  Books By Kellee L. Greene

  The Reset Series

  Flood - Book 1

  Sinking - Book 2

  Drowned - Book 3

  Swamp - Book 4

  Torrent - Book 5

  Striking - Book 6

  What Remains Series

  Sickness - Book 1

  Outpost - Book 2

  Infected - Book 3

  Evasion - Book 4

  Red Sky Series

  Red Sky - Book 1

  Blue Cloud - Book 2

  Black Rain - Book 3

  White Dust - Book 4

  Indigo Ice - Book 5

  Yellow Heat - Book 6

  Ravaged Land Series (1)

  Ravaged Land -Book 1

  Finding Home - Book 2

  Crashing Down - Book 3

  Running Away - Book 4

  Escaping Fear - Book 5

  Fighting Back - Book 6

  Ravaged Land: Divided Series (2)

  The Last Disaster - Book 1

  The Last Remnants - Book 2

  The Last Struggle - Book 3

  Ravaged Land: Eventuality Series (3)

  The Wall - Book 1

  The Outside - Book 2

  Falling Darkness Series

  Unholy - Book 1

  Uprising - Book 2

  Hunted - Book 3

  The Island Series

  The Island - Book 1

  The Fight - Book 2

  The Escape - Book 3

  The Erased - Book 4

  From Below Series

  Creatures - Book 1

  Desolation - Book 2

  The Alien Invasion Series

  The Landing - Book 1

  The Aftermath - Book 2

  Destined Realms Series

  Destined - Book 1

  Mailing List

  Never miss out on a new release again! Sign up for Kellee L. Greene’s newsletter and be among the first to know about all Kellee’s new books.

  And don’t forget to follow Kellee L. Greene on Facebook too!

  1

  Joss

  I couldn’t believe that after losing both Robby and Caleb, I’d managed to continue to put one foot in front of the other for as long as I had. Months had passed since they died but the pain from losing them was just as raw as the day we had to walk away from them.

  We were scared, although we didn’t talk about it. It was just the three of us… Jenna, Clover, and me. And we had no idea what we were doing.

  Robby told us to go south, so that’s what we did. The further we could get away from the war between the two towns, the better our chances would be. Not that we had great chances at all.

  I wasn’t entirely sure exactly how much time had gone by since we lost them but if I had to guess, it had likely been at least two months. Maybe three. Keeping track of time wasn’t easy. Days and nights blended together.

  Jenna’s belly was round. It was a constant reminder of what we were going to have to figure out and that time to do so was running out.

  She was both worried and frightened about childbirth. What I didn’t tell her was that I was absolutely terrified. I didn’t know the first thing about something like that and I was sure we weren’t going to just stumble into a doctor in the middle of nowhere.

  The night of the war replayed over and over every time I closed my eyes. I could still hear the wailing and scream of terror of the injured and dying.

  We should have done more to help them. Instead, Jenna and I ran. I told myself if we would have stayed, we would have died. It wasn’t like Jenna or I could have done anything unarmed and not knowing enough to determine who were the good guys and who were the bad guys.

  We were cowards. But I knew since everything happened the night the light flashed that I was a coward.

  I had been part of the problem. When I’d gone with Bill, we’d gone to their land and stolen from them. I hadn’t wanted to go and it hadn’t been the first time but it pushed the already rolling ball harder.

  There were a few moments that I’d been brave but that was all they were—fleeting moments. I needed someone like Robby to look out for me, to watch my back, but now I didn’t have anyone like him.

  It was just Jenna and me. Well, and Clover too. Somehow, we were still alive even though things hadn’t been easy. Honestly, though, things hadn’t been easy for quite some time.

  Jenna and I had managed to find an abandoned two-story house. We’d been hiding there for some time, mostly because we’d found a small stash of food. It wouldn’t last and eventually, we’d have to move on.

  My clothes fit looser. I always made sure Jenna had enough before taking my portion. Or I lied about how much I’d eaten. Jenna was eating for two. She needed it more than I did and I didn’t have much of an appetite after what had happened to Robby and Caleb.

  Sometimes it was hard to even accept that they were gone. I’d turn around, wanting to tell Caleb something but it would just be Jenna sitting there hugging herself.

  “Another downpour,” Jenna said at the window. She was under a heavy blanket, lightly rocking herself back and forth as she stared out at the hypnotizing rain.

  “Good,” I said settling down onto the sofa. I found it a bit easier to relax when the rain was falling in thick sheets.

  Jenna raised a brow. “Good? Aren’t you sick of the rain?”

  “Of course, I am,” I said. “But like I’ve told you before, I like to think no one would be out there traveling when it’s coming down like this.”

  “There isn’t anyone left,” Jenna said.

  We hadn’t seen anyone since leaving the town, which, of course, was a good thing. At least I thought it was. I mean, we couldn’t trust a stranger. Not again.

  In the first few days, we were worried people from the town or resort were behind us… coming for us. But day after day, we were further and further, and no one came.

  Most of our days since were quiet and boring. The only noise was that of our pounding hearts. I couldn’t relax
. I would always be looking over my shoulder and sleeping with one eye open, which was taking a toll on me.

  “I’m cold,” Jenna said adjusting the blanket, pulling it higher over her shoulders.

  We’d figured out how to start a fire in the fireplace but it made me nervous. Not only did I worry about smoke being seen in the sky, I feared we’d run out of wood.

  Being cold and bored was something we were used to but it wasn’t a comfortable feeling. Jenna looked at me and frowned.

  “What’s wrong?” I asked.

  “I have to pee again,” Jenna said.

  “Didn’t you just do that?” I asked.

  Jenna pressed her lips together. “The baby is sitting on my bladder.”

  “Okay, okay. Want me to come with you?” I asked.

  “Thanks,” she said.

  Neither of us liked being alone.

  I stood outside the door, crossing my arms as I waited. Every time seemed to be longer and longer but it wasn’t like I had anything pressing to attend to.

  “Okay,” Jenna said brushing her hands over her clothing. “The buckets need to be switched out.”

  “I’m sure the other one is filled,” I said. “Can I get you something to eat?”

  I worried about Jenna not getting enough food. We’d been lucky to find vitamins in the cabinet. They were expired but I hoped that they would help to some degree. I gave her one every few days and she didn’t complain.

  “Pasta?” Jenna asked.

  “I’d have to start a fire,” I said.

  “Maybe we should,” Jenna said. “The baby wants something warm. I think he or she is cold.”

  I cocked my head to the side. “I think you’re cold.”

  “I am,” Jenna said puffing out her lip.

  “Okay,” I said. “Pasta with old pasta sauce it is.”

  “The homemade kind in the unlabeled jar or the labeled, name-brand, potentially expired one?” Jenna asked.

  I exhaled slowly. “Which do you want?”

  “The homemade one,” Jenna said.

  We walked to the kitchen together. Jenna leaned on the counter, watching as I grabbed the pot and an opened box of pasta.

  “Can you get the bowls?” I asked.

  “Sure,” Jenna said.

  There was a sound that caused her to pause. At first, I thought it was just the bowls clanking together but the look on her face made me quickly realize she hadn’t made the noise.

  After we’d run off from the war, Jenna had a gun. When she’d tried to shoot a small bear, we learned it was empty. Sometimes I wished we would have kept it in case we ever came across any ammo but it wouldn’t have mattered. In all our travels, we hadn’t found any.

  Jenna reached over and grabbed a knife. She held it out in front of her.

  “What is that?” I asked in a voice softer than a whisper.

  She shook her head.

  It sounded like someone was at the window. I set down the pasta but not the pot. When I realized it would be enough if there was an intruder, I grabbed a knife in my right hand.

  Clover’s feet lightly tapped the floor as she came into the kitchen to see what we were up to. I wanted to blame the sounds on the cat but when I heard the heavy clank again, I knew it hadn’t come from her.

  Someone was outside.

  2

  Adam

  It felt like everything that had happened to me since the flash of light was out of my control. I was just along for the ride.

  It didn’t matter what choices I made, they were always the wrong ones. All I wanted was to find a way to keep Leah safe but even that was something I constantly failed at doing.

  Why she stayed with me, I couldn’t even guess. Really though, what choice did she have? We hadn’t seen anyone else since we’d left the resort.

  Leah and I had been traveling on and off, mostly on, for months, heading in what I hoped was south. For days after we’d left, we ran. Desperate to get away from the resort as fast as we possibly could.

  We hadn’t stayed anywhere more than a few days at a time. I was constantly looking over my shoulder to make sure we weren’t being followed.

  Even though Eva was dead, I couldn’t relax. It didn’t matter how far we’d gone, it never would feel as though it was far enough.

  I feared we were being hunted for the deaths of Eva, the guards, and my dad. They’d want to get their revenge. There were people at the resort that followed Eva around like lovesick morons who didn’t know better.

  No one knew what she was capable of… the kind of person she really was. But I knew. She was dangerous… selfish. Pure evil.

  The people at the resort would blame us for what had happened. Especially when they discovered we were gone. They wouldn’t realize that it was Eva that was to blame.

  Of course, I had no idea when the people from the resort would have returned from their war. It probably hadn’t taken them more than a night to conquer the town they believed was stealing from them. What they should have done was talk to the people from the town and try to figure out a way to work together.

  All of us that were left should have been working together. Instead, we were on our own. Desperately trying to find somewhere we could be safe.

  “There isn’t much here,” Leah said shoving a few things into a backpack.

  We both had a gun but even though we were armed, I still didn’t feel safe. It was just a matter of time before I’d have to use it and would it be enough? Having the gun was better than nothing, so I couldn’t complain.

  “There isn’t much left anywhere,” I said. She stopped what she was doing and stared at me. I looked away. “Sorry.”

  She shook her head and got back to packing. “You don’t have to apologize. I just don’t need a reminder of how dire our situation is. Trust me, I already know.”

  Leah pulled the backpack over her shoulders. She walked over handing me the second pack and placed her hand on my shoulder.

  “Let’s get back out there,” she said looking into my eyes. I could see how much she cared about me. It was a little sparkle that glimmered when our eyes connected. “We’ve stayed here long enough.”

  We’d spent two nights in the waterlogged trailer catching up on sleep. It didn’t matter, though, because I was still exhausted.

  The sky was light gray, the only indication that it was morning. The rain didn’t stop. The clouds covered the sky, leaving us in perpetual darkness… only the shades of gray varied depending on the time of day.

  The night was black—pitch black. I hated the night. The darkness, however, kept us hidden.

  “Maybe we should stay another night or two,” I suggested.

  “We need to keep going. If we ever find a place with tons and tons of food, then we can stop for longer,” Leah said walking to the living room. She tried to stuff a soft blanket into her pack but it didn’t seem to fit. “Until we find the end of the rainbow, we have to keep going.”

  We’d been heading south for so long I figured we’d eventually hit water or maybe circle right around the earth, bringing us back to where we started. I wasn’t entirely sure what we were looking for but I told myself we’d know it when we saw it.

  But with every step, I lost hope we’d actually find something where we could stay. What choice did we have? We had to keep looking.

  Leah and I had needed to ration food. We never had enough. I didn’t mention it to her, surely, she’d noticed but Leah’s hands were skin and bone.

  I probably didn’t look any healthier. We were slowly turning into skeletons, which was why we had to find something… somewhere… soon.

  I wanted to do better for Leah. I didn’t want to be a disappointment to her. Eva was right about everything she’d ever said about me. I was a failure. I was letting Leah down. Hell, she took better care of me than I did of her.

  Of course, she didn’t say that. But I knew it.

  “Almost ready,” Leah said.

  I looked around the trailer. It wasn’t
bad… it was small and wet but it kept us out of the rain.

  A yawn widened my mouth. I tried to cover it but I wasn’t fast enough.

  “I wish you slept better,” Leah said.

  “Me too,” I replied.

  She crossed her arms and pressed her lips together. “Maybe we should stay another night.”

  “It won’t matter,” I sighed.

  “But I thought you wanted to stay longer,” Leah asked cocking a brow.

  I gave her one of my best smiles. “I just hate walking in the rain.”

  “You could sleep. I could stay up and keep watch,” Leah said. “Maybe that would help. Maybe then you could—”

  “I think we should just go,” I said. We needed to find more food. My tiredness and my comfort level weren’t important. Getting food for Leah was what was important. “I’ll sleep when we find the next place.”

  “Ha,” Leah said dismissing my words with a wave. “You have everything?”

  Leah patted her hands on herself, first checking for the backpack, then checking for the gun. She walked over to me and helped me slide the backpack over my shoulders. Her arms wrapped around me and she kissed my cheek as her hand glided to my back.