365 Days At War Read online

  365 DAYS AT WAR

  by

  Nancy Isaak

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

  EXCEPTIONS: Brief portions of this text may be quoted for reviewing purposes.

  COPYRIGHT INFORMATION: This book is copyrighted material and must not be copied, reproduced, transferred, distributed, leased, licensed, or publicly performed or used in any form without prior written permission by its author and copyright holder. Any unauthorized distribution, circulation, or use of this text may be a direct infringement of the author’s and copyright holder’s rights, and those responsible may be held liable accordingly.

  DISCLAIMER: Further, this book is a work of fiction. Names, places, businesses, characters, and incidents are either a product of the author’s imagination or are being used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons (living or dead) is entirely coincidental.

  Copyright © 2017 Nancy Isaak

  Cover Design: © 2017 N. Isaak

  AUTHOR’S NOTES

  A QUICK INSTRUCTION:

  There are four books in “The 365 Days Quadrilogy”. All books have been written and will be released sequentially within 2-3 weeks of each other. Those four books are:

  365 Days Alone

  365 Days Hunted

  365 Days At War

  365 Days Revealed

  Because of the way the books are written, either “365 Days Alone” or “365 Days Hunted” can be read first. If you are a female, my advice would be to start the series by reading “365 Days Alone” and, if you are a male, you would probably enjoy beginning with “365 Days Hunted”.

  The other way you can enter this series is by reading “365 Days Alone” and “365 Days Hunted” side-by-side. Both books are separated by month long chapters, so some readers switch back and forth—reading the month of “November” in both books, then moving on to the month of “December”, for example.

  “365 Days at War” and “365 Days Revealed” are the third and fourth installment in the series and should be read as such.

  A LONGER EXPLANATION:

  My love for stories is unending and I absolutely adore long, rich tales that span over more than one book. That said, I also hate reading a book, only to reach the end and discover that I have to wait six months to a year for the next installment. I want to read the whole story—all at once! Because of that, when I know that a story will have more than one book-chapter, I usually wait until all the books in the series have come out before I sit down and binge-read the whole thing—which sometimes means waiting years, but I still do it!

  When I set out to write this story and I realized that it would be so long and intricate that it would encompass multiple volumes, I came to the decision that I couldn’t do to my readers what I hated having done to me. So—instead of writing and publishing one novel at a time—I sat down for a little over two years and thousands upon thousands of pages (sigh) and wrote the whole, darn thing.

  And let me just be completely honest here; it was one of the most difficult writing decisions that I have ever made. Day-after-day I would write away, never knowing if anyone would appreciate the effort I was putting in to ensure a continuous reading experience. Friends and family members, frankly, thought I was being a little ridiculous—because I was putting the continuity of the story over the financial returns of immediate publication.

  But—I’m kind of stubborn…and I was determined to take the time to write the best story I could.

  Now, the first, second, and third books have been published; the final book will follow in 2-3 weeks. So, if you want to wait until the full quadrilogy is published before you start reading—you won’t have long to wait!

  And, remember—you don’t have to read these books in the traditional way. The first and the second book can be interchanged or you can read them side-by-side, chapter by chapter. It’s your decision—whatever makes for a more enjoyable reading experience.

  Above all—please enjoy yourself. This story has been a part of my life for almost two years and I desperately want you to fall in love with the characters just like I have.

  Finally…this book, the ones that came before, and the one that follows are totally fiction.

  I mean, they would have to be…right?

  Thank you for reading my story,

  Nancy Isaak

  P.S. In regards to the private residences in these books—they are all fictitious, so please don’t go knocking on anyone’s door. Some of the public buildings and locations I have written about do exist—although I have obviously fictionalized them, which includes changes in rooms, site placements, and measurements.

  For all the Librarians—everywhere.

  You are the keepers of worlds.

  For many of us, libraries are more than just the words they contain. They are our safe places, our sanctuaries, our escape.

  And you are their guardians.

  I salute you.

  NOVEMBER

  HOW IT ALL BEGAN - Kaylee

  It began with three words…

  Shifting our existence once again—changing, morphing it into something unexpected and terrifying.

  We were the Locals.

  They were the Crazies.

  And—we were fighting for our lives.

  But, I guess we should start at the beginning.

  So, here's what we wrote in our journals, starting on that very first day—the day that Jacob took my hand in his and said…

  “RUN, KAYLEE…RUN!!”

  KAYLEE

  For 365 days, we have been separated.

  Girls without boys.

  Boys without girls.

  It was difficult, it was complicated, and—for the people I love—it was often dangerous and terrifying.

  But, we’re together now—boys and girls—back where we belong. It gives all of us hope that, somewhere, our parents and other disappeared loved ones are still alive.

  We just have to find them.

  * * * *

  On my knees in the middle of the high school football field—waiting to be executed by Tray—had to have been one of the lowest moments in my life. Without a doubt, I was certain that I was about to be killed. When I heard those clicks from the empty revolver, however, and realized that I still had a chance, I felt a sudden flare of hope.

  But—when I turned and saw Jacob—my hope transformed into certainty.

  That the one boy I truly loved should be there—that he should come to me and hold out his hand.

  Fate…

  I had absolutely no doubt.

  There would be no dying that day.

  * * * *

  Unfortunately, nobody had told Brandon Keretsky.

  He started toward Jacob and me, sword held high, ready to swing it toward our heads. Beside us, meanwhile, Tray was yelling for someone to bring her a gun that actually had bullets.

  All around us, boys were popping up out of nowhere, appearing suddenly along the stadium’s perimeter and in the stands. The scene became chaotic as the guys appeared in spaces girls were already occupying.

  There were screams and screeches, yells of anger and frustration.

  Girls pushed guys out of their laps, while guys fell onto their faces or threw girls onto the ground to gain space; punches were thrown, kicks connected with shins and groins, blood began to flow.

  To my horror, one guy in the stands, dressed only in jeans and riding boots, leaned over and bit Rachel on the shoulder. Beside her, Sue lashed out, punching the guy in the side of his head. Moments later, the three of them disappeared from my sight as a young boy tumbled down from the top of the bleachers, causing others along the way to rise up and flee—obscuring my view.

  * * * *

  “Brandon, no!” It was Jacob who had yelled.<
br />
  I turned to see Brandon even closer than before, pushing through the ever-increasing crowd of kids now surging out from the stands and onto the field.

  “It’s over, Brandon!” cried Jacob. “Can’t you see that things have changed?!”

  “Nothing’s changed,” hissed Brandon, not slowing at all; if anything, he moved even faster, punching a kid in the gut whose only mistake had been trying to run past him.

  The boy fell to the ground, his body keeling over in such a way that it blocked Brandon’s path.

  * * * *

  “I want a fricking gun…is it too much to ask, just one fricking gun!” This was Tray—pushing at girls as they raced by, grabbing others to quickly frisk them for weapons.

  Jacob tugged on my hand, pulling me toward the main gate. “Come on, Kaylee! We need to get out of here…now!”

  “No, no!” I cried, wrenching my hand out of his. “We have to get the others first!”

  Without even looking back—trusting that the boy I loved would follow—I ran across the field to where I knew Jay, Jude, Peyton, and Cherry were still duct taped and shut up in the cage.

  There were even more kids on the field now—both boys and girls—running this way and that. They seemed to be trying to escape other oddly-dressed and tattooed boys who were chasing them.

  Like wild, depraved chimpanzees, these fierce boys jumped up and down as they ran after the kids, squealing in excitement. One reached out and grabbed at me as I came near.

  Immediately Jacob shot by me, his shoulder down, pushing the kid to the ground.

  “Hurry, Kaylee!” Jacob yelled at me.

  I ran even faster, sparing barely a fraction of a moment to look behind me. Brandon had disappeared into the crowd of kids flooding onto the football field. I could still see Tray, however, but even she was having difficulty maneuvering through the crowd toward us.

  She was definitely trying, though.

  * * * *

  As Jacob and I reached the cage, shots broke out.

  It appeared that more than one person was shooting guns over near the stands. Pandemonium reigned as boys and girls stumbled and fell, jumping down two or three levels at once, trying desperately to reach the field. They pushed and shoved at each other, not bothering to help anyone that fell—merely jumping or stepping over the flailing bodies.

  * * * *

  “Kaylee…I’m sorry!” cried Rowena, as I pushed her away from the cage door she was guarding. “I didn’t want to do it. The Foxes made me.”

  In response, I punched her in the nose; she went down, blood flying in all directions.

  “Sorry, Rowena,” I barked at her. “But I did want to do that!”

  * * * *

  Once inside the cage, I pulled the duct tape off of Jay’s wrists and mouth.

  Meanwhile, Jacob had entered behind me and was working at freeing Jude. A few feet away, Peyton had already somehow freed herself and was tugging at the tape on Cherry’s wrists.

  “We need to move fast!” Jacob told us. “There are too many people at the main gate—they’re bottlenecking—we won’t get out that way. So, we’ll head to the gate on the other side of the field.”

  * * * *

  “Ohmigod…it’s Jacob Riker!” whispered Jay, as we stepped out of the cage. “He’s actually here!”

  “I know,” I grinned, whispering back. “And he knows who I am!”

  And—even amid all the chaos and terror that was going on around us—Jay and I held each other’s hands and gave a little-girl squeal of delight.

  * * * *

  “Up there,” pointed Cherry. “See them?”

  It was two guys, racing down the hill above Agoura High—as if descending from the giant ‘A’ the school had placed there. They had rifles in their arms and they were shooting as they ran.

  “I think they’re from my tribe,” Jacob speculated. “But I’m not totally sure, so let’s get a move on it.”

  We ran together—Cherry, Jude, Peyton, Jay, Jacob, and me—holding each other’s hands, so that we wouldn’t be separated by the surging crowd.

  At one point, I looked back and realized that it had been a good decision not to attempt to reach the main gate. Someone had shut and locked it and kids there were now piling up, one on top of the other, desperately trying to escape.

  BANG, BANG, BANG!

  “There are shooters up on the stands!” yelled Jay. “See them…they’re wearing masks!” She pointed to three guys straddling the back wall, high up above the crowd—as if they had climbed up there from the street side. The guys all had rifles and were taking potshots at the kids racing around the football field.

  “Over there on the roof of that portable,” warned Cherry. “There’s another masked guy there with a rifle!”

  “Just keep moving!” I yelled, pushing a guy with a tattooed chest and a faux-mohawk out of my way. “Don’t look back anymore—just keep running!”

  * * * *

  We were ten feet away from the side gate when Brandon Keretsky suddenly pushed his way out from the crowd in front of us, holding his sword in his hands. He was breathing heavily, sweat running down his bald head, teeth bared at us in fury.

  “Jacob,” he growled, “me and you haven’t danced, yet, bro.”

  Immediately, Jude pulled away from our group—stepping between us and Brandon. “Hey, dumbnuts. See you got a new look. It’s stupid, by the way.”

  “Jude!” I yelled. “No!!”

  But—she didn’t move.

  “Get everyone moving, Kaylee,” she ordered. “Let me dance with Brandon for a while…maybe bloody his nose again just for fun.”

  “Is she serious?” said Brandon, actually looking confused. His sword lowered slightly and I took the moment to push Cherry and Peyton toward the gate. “Go!” I yelled.” You, too, Jay!”

  The three of them ran off quickly.

  Beside me, Jacob reached out to push Jude out of the way. She merely shrugged him off. “Today’s my 18th birthday, Jacob—and we all know what that means. So, let me have this present, why don’t you?”

  Brandon still wasn’t moving.

  “Jude Engel?” he murmured, still not quite believing what he was seeing. “Like in Jude-the-Rude?!”

  Jude ran her hands down her now slim, muscular body. “I know, right,” she said, proudly. “Somehow I got hot and you got uglier…sorry, dude.”

  “You bitch!” Brandon snarled. And he dropped and kicked his leg out and around, pivoting so it hooked behind Jude’s legs. She went down—onto her back, her head hitting the ground…hard.

  Immediately, Brandon leapt forward, slamming his body full-length onto Jude’s. From where I stood, I could hear the ‘oof’ as Jude’s lungs were compressed and the air fled from her body.

  * * * *

  No matter how much I wanted to run off with Jacob, there was no way that I was going to leave Jude to fight Brandon alone.

  Twisting my arm, I pulled sharply, freeing myself from Jacob’s grasp.

  “Kaylee, no!” Jacob reached out for me, but he was too late. With a yell, I jumped onto Brandon’s back, my arms snaking around his neck.

  “Let her go, you bully!” I screamed.

  As easily as ridding himself of a gnat, Brandon stood up and threw me to the ground next to Jude. “Well, would you look at that?” he grinned, pointing his sword down at me. “Two for the price of one. Except you, young Kaylee…you, I think I’m going to keep.”

  “Not while I’m still alive!” Jacob charged in, his head down low, barreling right into Brandon’s midsection. The big guy went over with a thud, his sword flying to one side.

  “Quickly!” yelled Jacob, holding out both of his hands. Jude took one and I took the other, and he yanked us onto our feet.

  Moments later, we were all racing toward the gate.

  * * * *

  Cherry, Peyton, and Jay were waiting at the side gate, worriedly scanning the chaos in front of them.

  Jay saw us first. “Kaylee…o
ver here!”

  We raced toward them, pushing our way through the crowd.

  As we ran, Jude reached out and smacked me on top of my head. “You should have left me, Barbie,” she scolded. “It’s not like I’m going to be here in a few hours anyway.”

  “Shaddup!” I snapped. “We don’t leave family behind!”

  * * * *

  The bullet came from behind us—slamming into the ground at Cherry’s feet.

  We all spun around—expecting Brandon—only to find a Hispanic kid, his face marred by a long scar, aiming an enormous gun at us.

  “Say hello to my little friend,” he taunted.

  But before the kid could fire, an arrow came sizzling through the air, burrowing itself halfway up its shaft in the Hispanic’s shoulder. With a screech of pain, the kid dropped his gun and fell to the ground.

  Peyton immediately raced forward and scooped up the gun, stopping only to deliver a solid kick to the kid’s groin.

  “Say hello to my Jimmy Choo’s!” she snapped at him.

  The guy’s only response was to curl up in a fetal position, moaning.

  * * * *