Strike Three Novels & Stories

The problem wasn’t over yet, but at least he’s gone for now. I turned slowly to face him again. His gray eyes, sharp and cold, were fixed on me. For a split second, I felt exposed, like he could see straight through me and through my thoughts. “I… thank you,” I said quickly, bowing and forcing a smile. “And… I’m sorry for the trouble.” “That’s the third time,” he murmured, almost under his breath, before turning and walking away. I stood frozen in time for a moment, watching his facade fade down the hallway. The words echoed in my mind. The third time? My pulse skipped. Does he actually remember me? My chest tightened as I realized what just happened. Or am I just possibly overthinking thing

“ Good job Red, continue scoring through the rounds and that 1 million dollars is yours. “ Chad told her. “ Now return to your dorm and get some rest, eat some food and prepare for the next round. “ Thane rubbed his palms, “ And I assure you, round 3 is nothing like you expect. “ ************** The Macmiller Triplets once again gathered for their annual game planning. The recent issue with Stacy Green had sparked anxiety between them since it came unexpected. “ So we were busy tampering with a pregnant woman? “ Klein asked. “ Wouldn't be the first time. “ Thane replied. “ Regardless that the girls wouldn't believe that we impregnated her, it is still bad news for us. “ Chad added. “ And that

I gave a soft, bitter laugh and slowly slipped our documents back into my pocket. “This makes ninety-nine.” “What?” “This is the ninety-ninth time we’ve tried to get our marriage registered.” I turned toward the subway entrance. “And the ninety-ninth time you’ve left me hanging because of him.” I heard her heels stop on the pavement, then suddenly start running after me. “The first time, you bailed on our trip because he was on the night shift and scared of the dark. You took a red-eye flight just to be with him. “The second time, we were practically at the door of the courthouse. You heard he fainted from overwork and left me standing in the snow alone for an entire day.”

“Also, it seems Patrick and his son, Hector, are dead as well. “As for Tre-strike… If he comes to Clouspring to avenge his brother, there’s no telling who’s going to walk out of the fight alive.” “That can’t be possible, right? You’ve overestimated Kayson, Father.” Hogan could not refrain himself from querying, “Tre-strike has been growing more and more powerful over the past decade, and no one can survive a third strike from him.” “Go and do it when I order you to do something. Stop talking nonsense!” Bradley said sternly, “Even though you’re the patriarch of the family, I believe that I still haven’t lost all my authority in speech, right?”

"There are just way too many attractions in Hormea. You won't be able to see it all in one trip." Kerrigan looked at me with increasing longing in her eyes. Soon after she left, Carl came to me, complaining. Day in, day out, he would give me angry stares, as if I had stolen something precious from him. I had no choice but to persuade him patiently. "At your age, it's best for you to find a partner your age in school." Unfortunately, he just refused to listen. All the while, I would have intimate sessions with Kerrigan on an almost daily basis. Eventually, we tried a variety of positions and styles, deepening my relationship with her.

To leave marks that fade just in time to avoid questions. The second strike followed before I could recover, and by the third strike, my legs were trembling. Madam Istrell’s voice is calm as she recites, I am guessing that’s the protocol. “This is for forgetting your station.” Another strike. “For allowing attention you did not earn.” Strike. “For threatening palace stability and challenging hierarchy.” Strike. My vision blurs. I grit my teeth, refusing to scream. I will not give them that. By the sixth strike, something inside me cracks, not my bone or muscle; something deeper in me, and the room tilts as if I were being turned upside down.

“Three on one is a confession, not a threat. You’re still afraid to take the loss clean.” Joren’s eyes narrowed. The first strike came from the left—fast, aimed at the knee she had used against him in the evaluations. Phyna turned it, stepped inside the arc, and drove an elbow into the attacker’s ribs hard enough to fold him. The second friend came in high. She slipped the cut, caught the wrist, and used his momentum to send him stumbling into Joren’s line. For a moment the three of them tangled. She used the moment to break the circle and gain open ground.

Elijah I smacked her rounded ass with my hand, moving from one side to the other. She didn't bother reacting in any manner. As I took a step back, I noticed she dared to dart a glance in my direction. "One hundred thousand dollars is a hell of a lot of money," I said gruffly. She remained as quiet as before. Whoever she was protecting must be worth the wrath she had to know was a possibility. "Thirty strikes should be a reminder that stealing from someone is a horrific crime."

Even Greg and Damon snapped their heads up, their faces draining of color, their eyes wide in disbelief. Shawn’s gaze darkened, his fingers curling tightly by his side, as though he were fighting to restrain himself from an outburst. One thousand strikes… that was enough to kill someone! Ricky lazily flicks his wrist as if casually tossing the words aside, then adds with malicious glee, “But don’t worry too much. I’m not the kind of person who likes to make things too difficult." He grinned wickedly. "So, this time, we’ll have three people take turns beating one.”

Blake scanned my face and I could tell he wanted to say something else. “What is it?” I asked him, panicking. “Nothing it's nothing. Let’s eat". “Is she here?” I whispered as we walked up to the pit. “Oh god no" Blake laughed “they hate each other". “Not that much to have three kids" I muttered as Stacey waved to me.