by KM Fortune
ENDURANCE
Table of Contents
Title Page
Endurance (Forever Winter, #10)
CHAPTER 1
CHAPTER 2
CHAPTER 3
CHAPTER 4
CHAPTER 5
CHAPTER 6
CHAPTER 7
CHAPTER 8
CHAPTER 9
CHAPTER 10
CHAPTER 11
CHAPTER 12
BOOK XI: DEFIANT
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Books by KM Fortune
Forever Winter
1 - Awakening
2- Survival
3 - Discovery
4 - Judgement
5 - Tolerance
6 - Revelation
7 - Undaunted
8 – Concurrence
9 – Tribulations
10- Endurance
11 – Defiant
12 - Commitment
Forever Winter
ENDURANCE
by
KM Fortune
THIS BOOK IS A WORK of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
COPYRIGHT © 2018 KM Fortune
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever.
20170215
Thank you for your interest in Endurance.
THIS BOOK IS INTENDED to provide you a short ninety-minute escape from reality. Although it is a compelling story unto itself, the book, Endurance, is the tenth installment in a multi-part epic dystopian novel known as Forever Winter.
JOIN MY MAILING LIST and get updates on other releases and promotions. Visit my website at www.kmfortune.com/signup.
I SINCERELY HOPE YOU enjoy Endurance. It was a pleasure to write. If you find time, a review, or even better, a referral to another reader, is always appreciated.
Please enjoy!
FOREVER WINTER
DON’T MISS WHERE IT ALL BEGAN
BOOK I - AWAKENING
Raven Winter is revived after being frozen in the ice for generations. As she heals and strengthens, she learns of her terrible new reality. Nuclear war has decimated the world and outside the walls of the underground facility where she is trapped is a wasteland in which only the most cunning survive. Her keeper, Matthew, is shocked to discover his female specimen is not only awake but also intelligent enough to speak. In his world, women are not man’s equal but instead are banished as agents of sin. To save her from termination, he devises a plan to set her free.
BOOK II - SURVIVAL
Raven Winter has escaped and fights to stay alive in the frozen mountain wilderness. Trapped in a cabin with a corpse, it takes all her wits and inner strength to persevere against the elements. On the harsh plains below her, a tiny young woman named Kit uses her prowess to find supplies for her clan. When she is forced to flee from mutants to the mountains, she discovers Raven. Not knowing what to think of the odd stranger, Kit stays hidden and watches, growing more and more puzzled about where the person came from. Inside the underground colony, Matthew survives even though his laboratory is taken from him for helping Raven escape. His punishment is made complete when he is sent to be a recruit with the Patrols.
BOOK III – DISCOVERY
Raven Winter has traveled The Old Road in search of other humans. Her trek is difficult and threatens to overwhelm her with loneliness and thirst. Along the way, she battles a cat mutant, who decides to track her in the hope of getting revenge for Raven’s actions. Following closely behind is Kit, the small, young woman who continues to be intrigued by Raven’s strange arrival on the wasteland Kit calls home. In the end, Raven perseveres and meets a young man named Blaze, a human nomad, who is shocked to meet a beautiful stranger on the high desert plains. However, Willow, the clan’s leader wants nothing to do with the stranger and refuses to let her join them. As Raven’s adventure transpires, Matthew, the ex-scientist in the colony called Eden, battles for his own survival among the ranks of the Patrols. When others find he is the man who let the “witch” Raven escape, he must lean on his new skills to endure his plight.
BOOK IV - JUDGEMENT
Raven Winter, after saving their leader’s life, has been accepted into the human nomadic clan, but danger follows close behind her. As she builds their trust, the people learn from Kit the worst kind of trouble is coming, and they must flee their shelter under the relentless hunting of the Patrols. Matthew, who was forced to serve as a member of the Patrols, searches for Raven knowing he must find a way to protect her as the Patrols ravage the land. During the raids, two members of the clan, Willow and Dawn, are kidnapped, but Raven devises a plan to get them back. Even though the mission to save the two women is successful, they pay a high price and find out the little girl, Mouse, has been taken. All the while, the nomads are hunted by Hector, the cat mutant, with an agenda of his own.
BOOK V - TOLERANCE
Raven Winter is kidnapped by Hector, the cat mutant. Thinking Raven is a witch who can help him regain status back home, Hector is on a mission to get her there. Raven’s only hope is Kit, who follows close behind the pair waiting for an opening to stage a rescue. Willow, Blaze, and Matthew are travelling the other direction as they seek help from a different clan who live beside a mountain lake. When a blizzard slows everyone’s plans, the groups find shelter and wait out the storm. After surviving mother nature, Willow and the others continue their journey, only to face wolves and almost certain death. All the while Raven and Hector learn more and more about each other as they take up their travels once again, yet it is not until they are ambushed that Raven has the biggest surprise. Hector is a prince.
BOOK VI – REVELATION
Raven Winter and Kit continue their travels to Hector’s home only to arrive and discover Hector’s father, the king, is in a coma. Soon they find themselves at the mercy of the evil Prince Edward, where only the kind and beautiful Queen Helen stands between them and grave danger. Meanwhile, Matthew, as a prisoner of the clan by the lake, uses his skill learned while in Eden to save a mother and child, as well as his own life. Even though the clan will now accept him, he chooses to follow Blaze who leaves the clan’s lodge to go seek more help at the forbidden city. Although new adventurers join them, Willow stays behind.
BOOK VII – UNDAUNTED
Raven Winter and Hector have arrived at his home, the kingdom of the cat mutants. While there, Queen Helen befriends here, yet before she can help Raven, Kit uncovers a secret. Before Raven and Kit can explain, they are labeled as assassins and forced to flee the city. Only through the queen’s help do they make it out of the valley and continue their adventure toward the forbidden city. Hector remains behind and his love for Helen is rekindled. Blaze and Matthew continue their search across the wasteland, hoping to find Raven at the forbidden city, while Willow travels to the Great Cave to save Hannah.
BOOK VIII – CONCURRENCE
Raven Winter has arrived at the forbidden city and met The Duke, only to find the focus of the city’s entertainment is pitting man-against-man in Fight Night. When faced with saving the lives of her friends, or saying yes to The Duke’s proposal, Raven does what she must and accepts his offer of marriage. Up on the mountain, Willow captures Gabriel and he is surprised to learn she is seeking the little girl, Hannah, who is being held in Eden. Although mortal enemies, the two
find a way to work together in order to get what they both want – to protect the child. At the same time, Hector and Helen are forced to flee the kingdom, but Hector vows to return once he has rallied his forces.
BOOK IX – TRIBULATIONS
Raven Winter is engaged to The Duke and her friends Blaze and Matthew are sent on a quest to Area 51 to retrieve information, which could cure the plague. While the men are on the road, they encounter cat mutants Hector and Helen along the way, with a new and strange little man named Simon. Everyone agrees to join forces. Gabriel and Willow attempt to access the colony, Eden, but are thwarted when Willow sees the evil platoon leader and the traitor for her clan, Blue, outside the gates. In her anger, Willow ruins Gabriel’s plan and the two of them have to flee out of the mountains.
AND NOW THE JOURNEY CONTINUES
Forever Winter
BOOK X – ENDURANCE
CHAPTER 1
Raven was exhausted. The fights had gone on and on. She had not realized how much she disliked watching people punch and kick each other, but now she was sure it was not her thing. If I never see another fight it will be too soon, she thought, which she realized was a bit of a problem, considering it was the favorite pastime in the city of Reno. Not to mention my fiancé‘s. The whole thing made her stomach ache but at least for now the fights were finally done, and The Duke was escorting her out through the masses. Through the windows of the lobby, she could see the first hint of daylight and realized it really had been an entire night. As they drew near to the front door, Raven saw a sign for a restroom pointing down a hallway, and she realized she would enjoy a private moment to catch her breath. Hours playing nice at The Duke's side were tedious. With a hand, she touched The Duke's arm and pulled him to a stop. He paused and looked down at her. "Yes, dear?" he asked.
Raven nodded her head in the direction of the sign. “I need a moment. Do you mind?” she asked.
“Wouldn’t you rather wait?” The Duke asked.
“I’d rather go now,” Raven answered.
“Well, you can’t go down there on your own,” he said. With a wave of his hand, he called over one of his henchmen. “Escort her down to the ladies’ room.”
Raven blanched. “He’s not coming in with me,” she said. The Duke paused with a frown on his face.
"Fine," he said and looked at the man. "Don't go in with her. But clear the room. And if anything happens to her ..." The Duke did not bother to finish. The henchmen nodded slowly, and Raven could read in his eyes he knew precisely what The Duke was threatening.
“Thank you,” Raven said with a warm smile at The Duke and then crossed the lobby with her guard right behind her. People already recognized her and stepped out of the way as she passed. The looks were mixed. Some people seemed almost hopeful, while others looked at her with distrust and even one or two with malice. What do they think of me? she wondered. Some stranger coming in here almost overnight and sweeping their leader off his feet. Raven almost laughed. It was all so crazy.
The hall was longer than Raven expected and they turned the corner just as they passed the men's room. Seeing the women's bathroom straight ahead, Raven kept going when suddenly, she heard extra footsteps behind them. She stopped to look back. A different man, this one with a shaved head, was standing there. He paused and looked at the ground near his feet. The Duke's man stopped and filled the hallway. "Hey," he said to the stranger. "You need to take a hike." The man did not seem to register the words, and to Raven, it almost appeared the stranger was praying. Then she noticed the dark angel wing tattoos crawling up his neck. Raven's guard became angrier, and he stepped closer to the man. Sensing real danger, Raven started to speak up as her protector reached out and grabbed the stranger by the shoulder of his leather jacket. "Hey," the guard said. "Are you deaf or what?" In a flash, the tattooed man revealed a knife from under his coat and jammed it into the stomach of Raven's guard. There was a gurgle and Raven watched as the man slipped to his knees. The stranger tossed his victim aside and held the now bloody knife toward Raven. Raven took a deep breath and was about to scream when the stranger shook his head.
“One sound and I will gut you like a fish,” he said in a whisper. Raven stopped herself.
“What do you want? she asked.
“For you to come with me,” he answered and moving quickly, he grabbed her arm and started to drag her back in the direction of the men’s bathroom. As they went through the door, Raven was alarmed to see the room was unoccupied. On the back wall was an open window. With a push, the stranger sent her stumbling toward it. “Climb out,” he ordered as he wiped the hand he had touched her with on his pants. Raven paused and turned to look into the man’s eyes. She lifted her chin.
“The Duke will have you killed for what you’re doing,” she stated. “But if you stop now, I will see you are given mercy.”
The man chuckled. “Already the serpent working her magic, I see,” he said. “Just as The Creator always preached to us.”
Raven frowned. What is he talking about? she thought, and then it dawned on her. She felt fear start to crawl up her spine. "You're from Eden," she whispered in shock. "And you're taking me back there." The stranger nodded.
“Good guesswork,” he snarled. “Now get through that window. It’s time I went home.”
WILLOW SAT BESIDE GABRIEL in an uncomfortable position within the tiny crevice where the two of them had hidden. It was impossible not to be pressed up against Gabriel's side, and she could tell he was unhappy about it. Better than being dead, Willow thought. They had spent the night there with weapons at the ready. The voices of their pursuers had grown quite close at one point, but luckily, as it became darker with night falling, they went undetected. Now, as a hint of daylight started to creep into the opening of the cave, Willow felt relieved. The platoon leader and the others were momentarily gone. But for how long? “Will they come back for us again today?” Willow asked.
“Yes. If I know the platoon leader as well as I think I do, they will most definitely be back,” Gabriel said. “We can only hope they went to the colony last night and did not camp nearby. It will give us a little time to escape.”
Willow nodded her agreement. "So, we get out of this hole, regroup, and then what do you think? Try another entrance?" she asked. Gabriel frowned. Willow did not find it reassuring. "That's all you got?" she asked.
“Well,” Gabriel answered. “You didn’t exactly help the situation when you rushed in and tried to kill the platoon leader.” Willow puffed out a frustrated breath. She knew he was right, but she had no regrets. Other than not having killed him altogether. At least the traitor Blue received his justice.
“I won’t apologize,” Willow said. “He ruined my life, murdered my husband, and was a horror to those most precious to me.” She saw Gabriel pause to look at her. A flicker of emotion crossed his face. Was that a hint of regret? she wondered. Willow was not sure how to feel about it. Gabriel was still the enemy, and someday soon, she intended to kill him. As if sensing her thoughts, Gabriel sighed.
“I have an idea,” he said. “We need to go and find the woman who is responsible for all of this.”
“Raven?” Willow asked.
Gabriel nodded. “It is the one thing we can barter for the girl.” Willow did not like the sound of what he was proposing, but she was smart enough to know when to keep her mouth shut. She agreed with at least one thing he said. They needed to go and find Raven. What they did afterward would have to wait and see.
“Do you know where she is?” Willow asked.
“Yes,” Gabriel said. “She’s at the forbidden city. That is where we need to go.”
CHAPTER 2
Matthew sat in the passenger seat of the minivan as the group caravanned across the desert. As he watched out the hole where the windshield should have been, he saw Simon on his motorcycle in the lead come to a rapid halt. Going into a slide with dirt flying, Kaleb had to slam on the brakes of the van to avoid hitting him. As the van squealed in prote
st, Matthew felt Blaze, who was riding behind him, crash forward into Matthew's seat. "I'm going to kill that guy," Matthew heard Blaze mutter.
Suddenly, out the passenger window, Matthew saw the Humvee was driving off the road next to them. At the same time, he could hear Simon yelling at the top of his lungs for Hector to stop. Turning to watch, Matthew was sure for a moment the vehicle was going to plow into Simon. Braking hard, the vehicle stopped within inches of the strange young man. Hector jumped out of the Humvee and stomped up to Simon. "I almost killed you," he roared. "Maybe that would've been for the best. Because now I'm gonna murder you anyway." Matthew watched Helen get out of the vehicle and come up beside Hector and Simon.
"That's enough, Hector," she said gently. "I'm sure he has a good reason." She looked hard at Simon. "Right?" Simon, with his face pale under the dust, nodded.
"Most precisely," Simon said. "Continuing on your trajectory would have ended in disaster. Not only to your vehicular means of transportation but also to your continued feline well-being. Although considering you're unpleasant disposition after the acrobatics I displayed, I am not convinced it was worth risking my skin. If not for the kind Helen and the unsuspecting two young men innocently riding in the backseat, I might not have bothered." Matthew watched Hector shake his head with a perplexed look on his face. The twins had come up to join them.
Brody looked at Hector. "I'm guessing you were just insulted," he said.
"But who really knows?" Toby added.
As the banter continued, Matthew opened the passenger door and stepped out of the van. Kaleb and Blaze followed suit, and the three men walked over to the group.
