Glory (Book 1)
too. Now he knew that wasn't the case.
    Adam looked at the girl on the bed. She was crying. She couldn't have been much more than ten years old. He felt a rush of anger run through him.
    Adam ran over to the man on the floor and kicked him. The man hadn't expected it, so he hadn't been able to block it. It connected with his stomach. He crouched over.
    "What the fuck was that for?" the man asked, breathless.
    "What the fuck? What th e fuc k ?" Adam kicked him again.
    This time the ma n wa s able to block it. He scurried to his feet.
    "I was just havin' a little fun," the man said, defensively.
    "Get out!" Adam screamed. He pointed to the door.
    The man raised his hands, pleading. "Come on, man. We can share her. I don't mind."
Adam threw his flashlight at the man. There was a loud crack as it bounced off of his shoulder.
    "What the fuck? I said we can share her. Don't be so fuckin' greedy."
    It was then that Adam remembered that he was also carrying a knife. He held it out toward the man.
    "I said get out!"
    The man didn't argue. He scurried past Adam and out of the room. "Fuckin' prick," he said as he went. "Was just trying to have a little fun!"
    Adam felt his anger continue to rise. He grasped the knife tighter and it took everything he had to stop himself from stabbing it into the man as he ran away. He followed him out of the room.
    The man didn't look back at him. He made his way to the door and left.
    Adam went to the door next and locked it. He felt like punching something. Anything. But he needed to check on the young girl.
    He walked back to the bedroom. The girl was lying on the bed, curled up into a ball. Her arms were wrapped tightly around her shoulders.
    Adam stood in the doorway.
    "It's okay," he said softly.
    She looked up at him, sheepishly. She was expecting another attack.
    "I won't hurt you," Adam said.
    She didn't look so sure.
    Adam walked over and grabbed the blanket. It had been lying on the floor. He put it over the top of the girl. She clutched onto it tightly. He could see that she was starting to feel a little bit better.
    After a while, Adam spoke.
    "My name is Adam," he said. "What's yours?"
    The girl looked at him. She had stopped crying but her eyes were still red.
    "I'm Shelly," she said.
    Adam smiled. "It's nice to meet you." He held his hand out to shake. She didn't grab it in return. "Why don't you take some time," he added. "I'll wait for you in the living room whenever you're ready."
    Shelly nodded her head.
    Adam left the room, closing the door gently behind him.

Chapter 2
    Jane walked down her staircase and entered her front hallway. She had her backpack slung over her arm. She had packed it with some clothes. Had put a few knives in there also.
    In her hand was a baseball bat. She had found it in the basement. After her encounter with Harold, it seemed like a good idea.
    She made her way toward the back door.
    She looked around as she passed her living room, the place where she used to play with her daughter, where she used to watch television with her husband.
    She had had a good life.
    Memories of that life kept coming back to her. Phil trying to put together the entertainment cabinet. Becky learning to stand up. Jane eating popcorn as she watched a scary movie.
    Now there would be no more memories made here. Her life in this house was over. Her life, as she knew it, had changed.
    She forced herself to turn away. There was no point in thinking about those things. She had to focus on the present. She needed to concentrate on survival.
    She went to the back door and looked cautiously through its window once she got there. She didn't see anything outside.
    She opened the door slowly and listened. There was nothing out of the ordinary. She could hear some birds singing in the trees out back. She could hear wind rustling through the leaves.
    Jane waited a moment and took it all in. She took a deep breath, tried to calm herself, then she stepped out of her house and onto her deck. She

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