Savage Run Book III

By E. J. Squires

Heidi has made in through the second of the grueling obstacle course phases and is ready to embark on the third. If she completes this round, she will finally receive her freedom. However, the closer she gets to the finish line, the more grueling things become. Not only does she have to fend off constant harassment from one of the competitors, but she suspects that President Volkov might be trying to dispose of her by making it look like she died in an accident. She is so close to receiving her freedom, but will she die before she attains her dream?

• Language: English
• Publisher: E. J. Squires
• Release date: Mar 18, 2015
• ISBN: 9781310211072

Book preview

Savage Run

Book 3

E. J. Squires

This is a work of fiction.

Any characters, organizations,

and events portrayed in this novel

are either the products of the author's

imagination or are used fictitiously.

Second Edition Apr, 2015

Smashwords Edition

ISBN-13: 978-1508942443

Smashwords Edition

ISBN-10: 1508942447

Ebook ISBN: 9781310211072

Copyright © 2015 E. J. Squires

All rights reserved.

Other books by E. J. Squires:

Savage Run 1

Book 1 in the Savage Run Trilogy

Savage Run 2

Book 2 in the Savage Run Trilogy

Wraithsong

Desirable Creatures Series, Book I

(Now available)

Blufire

Desirable Creatures Series, Book II

(Now available)

Álfáblot

Desirable Creature Series, Book III

(Coming Soon)

Winter Solstice Winter

A Viking Blood Saga, Book I

(Now available)

Summer Solstice Summer

A Viking Blood Saga, Book II

(Now available)

Midgard Fall

A Viking Blood Saga, Book III

(Coming Soon)

Trepidation

White Witch Black Warlock Series, Book I

(Coming Soon)

For more information, go to:

http://ejsquires.com

Chapter 1

Early the next morning, I find my last Savage Run uniform hanging on the inside of my door. The green, tight-fitted, one-piece garment has black stitching, a yellow saber-toothed tiger's head printed on the front, and my name written on the back. I squeeze into the ensemble, the stretchy, silky material smooth against my skin. Thankfully, now that the news about me is out, I don't need to wrap gauze around my chest, squashing my breasts flat.

Right as I finish zipping up the front, there is a knock at the door. I open it, and on the floor in front of me lies a turkey Panini, a banana, and a glass of apple juice. I pick up the tray, close my door, sit down on my bed, and eat my breakfast in silence.

I realize I should be so nervous that the thought of food repulses me, but instead, a sense of peace and satisfaction overwhelms me. I did the right thing by revealing who I was and by making the decision to continue Savage Run. If I make it through this last phase, not only will I have my freedom, I will also be able to help Gemma. If I die, at least I can say I left this world fighting for my life and not shrinking from my fears.

I’m sure the peaceful feeling will vanish quickly once reality hits and I’m in the thickest. For now, I will enjoy this moment.

When I get outside, raindrops speckle my cheeks. Timothy, Arthor, and Danny stand in the middle of the road and are talking to one another. Johnny stands several feet away with his legs wide apart and his arms crossed in front of his chest as if he owns the place. He’s staring the three down, his eyes squinting with repulsion, a sour expression on his face. What is he scheming? All I know is, it can’t be good.

Nicholas and Mai stand at the bottom of Nicholas’ townhome stairs and are talking in fervent, hushed voices. They don’t seem to notice that I have come outside yet and I take the opportunity to inch closer to see if I can hear what they are saying.

Mai whispers, Why did she have to leave? When she was there, I knew where I had her. She was safe.

When she was there? Who is 'she' and where is 'where?' I knew where I had her? Who are they talking about?

You of all people, Nicholas says in an angry tone, should know that freedom is more important than being safe. Just like you, she would have died had she stayed.

Mai is silent for a moment. This complicates everything, she says, shaking her head.

Are they talking about…me? I move my head discreetly in their direction, but then Nicholas notices me.

Heidi. Good morning, he says, glancing at Mai.

Without even greeting me, Mai turns away and walks directly over to Arthor and starts talking to him. I'm not quite sure what to make of her behavior and I’m still confused about their conversation. Does she know me from somewhere? No, she couldn't, could she? Besides, she wouldn't keep that from me, would she? I look at her again, but she has her back to me so I am unable to read her expression.

Listen up, everyone, Nicholas says. The others gather around except for Johnny who remains standing where he is. Mai's gaze is still away and slightly down. I focus on what Nicholas says instead.

In this phase, you'll be competing in the volcano lands, Nicholas says. And make no mistake: this last phase is the mother of all competitions. In round one, you'll hike Mount Savage. In round two, you’ll crawl through the Caves of Choice, and in round three, you'll brave Savage Jungle and fight your way through a deadly obstacle course. As you already know, all three rounds will take place in the O-Region.

The thought of creeping through caves makes it difficult to breathe. And for good reason.

When I was five years old, my father locked me in the chest he keeps next to the couch. He wanted to teach me a lesson because I had overslept that morning, so he bolted me inside of it the entire day without food or water.

Not having food or water wasn’t too bad. I was used to having an empty, gnawing belly and parched lips. But as the day went on, I started to think he was planning on keeping me in there forever. I screamed and pleaded and cried for him to please let me out, but when I did, all I got in response was a shut up and a I’m teaching you a lesson, you lazy piece of shit.

When he finally let me out late that evening, I had passed out, so he threw me in a tub of ice-cold water to wake me up.

Since then, whenever I'm in an unusually tight space, my hands turn sweaty, my heart thumps like an irregular drumbeat, and I start to hyperventilate.

I have no idea how I will get through it all. I just hope the caves are wide enough so I don’t have a panic attack. But if they aren’t, as Gemma’s mother so frequently says: if you can’t, you must. And this I must.

After Nicholas gives us the number of our assigned aircrafts, we start down the hill toward the office where our transporter waits. No one speaks a word, and I’m certain the guys are probably thinking about ways to avoid Johnny once we get out there—I certainly am. Just stay away from Johnny and stay alive until the end. Those are my goals.

Once we arrive at the transporter, we get inside. At the beginning of this program we needed several vehicles to fit all the participants from Culmination. Now we only need one.

A frightening thought pops into my mind. With the rate everyone is dying at, will any of us make it out alive? Will any of us gain our freedom? Suddenly, I get the sickening feeling President Volkov is just trying to kill off those who have the courage—or audacity—to believe in liberty. Is that what he’s doing, actually trying to eradicate us? Maybe no one will survive. Maybe the Savage Run program is nothing but a camouflage fairytale meant to eliminate inferior class citizens who dared to believe.

But—no. With all the benefactors and countries involved, President Volkov would create a hell of a problem for himself by doing that. Being a man with so much experience and so much power, he wouldn’t do something so foolish.

On our way, I notice that about half a dozen drones are following us. I wish I could get rid of them somehow, those pesky little things. I try not to look at Johnny, but it's difficult to avoid his prying eyes. I look at Mai, but her eyes are down and her brooding demeanor has me feeling anxious. When I look at Nicholas, a dull ache spreads through my chest. No matter what I do today, relief will not be found.

Chapter 2

Five gray cargo aircrafts wait