Children of the Apocalypse: Mega Boxed Set
Page 1
Baileigh Higgins
Children of the Apocalypse
Mega Boxed Set
Copyright © 2019 by Baileigh Higgins
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise without written permission from the publisher. It is illegal to copy this book, post it to a website, or distribute it by any other means without permission.
This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author's imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.
Baileigh Higgins asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work.
Baileigh Higgins has no responsibility for the persistence or accuracy of URLs for external or third-party Internet Websites referred to in this publication and does not guarantee that any content on such Websites is, or will remain, accurate or appropriate.
Designations used by companies to distinguish their products are often claimed as trademarks. All brand names and product names used in this book and on its cover are trade names, service marks, trademarks and registered trademarks of their respective owners. The publishers and the book are not associated with any product or vendor mentioned in this book. None of the companies referenced within the book have endorsed the book.
First edition
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Contents
Acknowledgments
Last Another Day
Chapter 1 - Morgan
Chapter 2 - Julianne
Chapter 3 - Logan
Chapter 4 - Max
Chapter 5 - Breytenbach
Chapter 6 - Morgan
Chapter 7 - Logan
Chapter 8 - Julianne
Chapter 9 - Breytenbach
Chapter 10 - Logan
Chapter 11 - Elise
Chapter 12 - Morgan
Chapter 13 - Julianne
Chapter 14 - Max
Chapter 15 - Logan
Chapter 16 - Morgan
Chapter 17 - Logan
Chapter 18 - Big Ben
Chapter 19 - Lisa
Chapter 20 - Angie
Chapter 21 - Morgan
Chapter 22 - Breytenbach
Chapter 23 - Breytenbach
Chapter 24 - Max
Chapter 25 - Julianne
Chapter 26 - Morgan
Chapter 27 - Logan
Epilogue - Breytenbach
Survive Another Day - Bonus Novella
Chapter 1 - Brian
Chapter 2 - Lilian
Chapter 3 - Max
Chapter 4 - Martin
Chapter 5 - Maria
Chapter 6 - Angie
Chapter 7 - Meghan
Chapter 8 - Henri
Fear Another Day
Chapter 1 - Nadia
Chapter 2 - Breytenbach
Chapter 3 - Logan
Chapter 4 - Nadia
Chapter 5 - Breytenbach
Chapter 6 - Logan
Chapter 7 - Nadia
Chapter 8 - Julianne
Chapter 9 - Max
Chapter 10 - Logan
Chapter 11 - Nadia
Chapter 12 - Breytenbach
Chapter 13 - Julianne
Chapter 14 - Logan
Chapter 15 - Ronnie
Chapter 16 - Nadia
Chapter 17 - Logan
Chapter 18 - Ronnie
Chapter 19 - Max
Chapter 20 - Lisa
Chapter 21 - Ronnie
Chapter 22 - Breytenbach
Chapter 23 - Michael
Epilogue - Logan
Live Another Day
Chapter 1 - Nadia
Chapter 2 - Logan
Chapter 3 - Michael
Chapter 4 - Max
Chapter 5 - Lisa
Chapter 6 - Breytenbach
Chapter 7 - Julianne
Chapter 8 - Nadia
Chapter 9 - Logan
Chapter 10 - Michael
Chapter 11 - Lisa
Chapter 12 - Max
Chapter 13 - Breytenbach
Chapter 14 - Logan
Chapter 15 - Nadia
Chapter 16 - Mpho
Chapter 17 - Max
Chapter 18 - Lisa
Chapter 19 - Julianne
Chapter 20 - Max
Chapter 21 - Michael
Chapter 22 - Lisa
Chapter 23 - Logan
Chapter 24 - Hiran
Chapter 25 - Mpho
Epilogue - Nadia
Seize Another Day
Chapter 1 - Michael
Chapter 2 - Hiran
Chapter 3 - Max
Chapter 4 - Breytenbach
Chapter 5 - Martin
Chapter 6 - Lisa
Chapter 7 - Michael
Chapter 8 - Hiran
Chapter 9 - Michelle
Chapter 10 - Logan
Chapter 11 - Breytenbach
Chapter 12 - Nadia
Chapter 13 - Max
Chapter 14 - Michael
Chapter 15 - Hiran
Chapter 16 - Agatha
Chapter 17 - Breytenbach
Chapter 18 - Michelle
Chapter 19 - Agatha
Chapter 20 - Lisa
Chapter 21 - Nadia
Chapter 22 - Logan
Chapter 23 - Martin
Epilogue I - Julianne
Epilogue II - Nadia
Death’s Children
Cat’s Eye - Chapter 1
Cat’s Eye - Chapter 2
Cat’s Eye - Chapter 3
Cat’s Eye - Chapter 4
Cat’s Eye - Chapter 5
Cat’s Eye - Chapter 6
Ryan’s Luck - Chapter 1
Ryan’s Luck - Chapter 2
Ryan’s Luck - Chapter 3
Ryan’s Luck - Chapter 4
Ryan’s Luck - Chapter 5
Lucy’s Chance - Chapter 1
Lucy’s Chance - Chapter 2
Lucy’s Chance - Chapter 3
Lucy’s Chance - Chapter 4
Lucy’s Chance - Chapter 5
Lucy’s Chance - Chapter 6
Dee’s Destiny - Chapter 1
Dee’s Destiny - Chapter 2
Dee’s Destiny - Chapter 3
Dee’s Destiny - Chapter 4
Dee’s Destiny - Chapter 5
Dee’s Destiny - Chapter 6
Aiden’s Mark - Chapter 1
Aiden’s Mark - Chapter 2
Aiden’s Mark - Chapter 3
Aiden’s Mark - Chapter 4
Aiden’s Mark - Chapter 5
Aiden’s Mark - Chapter 6
Laura’s Bane - Chapter 1
Laura’s Bane - Chapter 2
Laura’s Bane - Chapter 3
Laura’s Bane - Chapter 4
Laura’s Bane - Chapter 5
Laura’s Bane - Chapter 6
Vera’s Vow - Chapter 1
Vera’s Vow - Chapter 2
Vera’s Vow - Chapter 3
Vera’s Vow - Chapter 4
Vera’s Vow - Chapter 5
Vera’s Vow - Chapter 6
The Pledge - Chapter 1
The Pledge - Chapter 2
The Pledge - Chapter 3
The Pledge - Chapter 4
The Pledge - Chapter 5
The Pledge - Chapter 6 - Several months later
Bonus Short Story - A Second Chance
Dead of Night
Prologue - Cat
Chapter 1 - Nadia
Chapter 2 - Lisa
Chapter 3 - Cat
Chapter 4 - Nadia
Chapter 5 - Lisa
Chapter 6 - Cat
Chapter 7 - Nadia
Chapter 8 - Lisa
Chapter 9 - Nadia
Chapter 10 - Cat
Chapter 11 - Nadia
Chapter 12 - Lisa
Chapter 13 - Cat
Chapter 14 - Nadia
Chapter 15 - Lisa
Chapter 16 - Cat
Chapter 17 - Nadia
Chapter 18 - Lisa
Epilogue - Cat
Dark of Night
Prologue - Jay
Chapter 1 - Cat
Chapter 2 - Lisa
Chapter 3 - Nadia
Chapter 4 - Cat
Chapter 5 - Lisa
Chapter 6 - Nadia
Chapter 7 - Jay
Chapter 8 - Cat
Chapter 9 - Lisa
Chapter 10 - Nadia
Chapter 11 - Jay
Chapter 12 - Cat
Chapter 13 - Lisa
Chapter 14 - Nadia
Chapter 15 - Jay
Epilogue - Cat
Edge of Night
Chapter 1 - Nadia
Chapter 2 - Lisa
Chapter 3 - Cat
Chapter 4 - Nadia
Chapter 5 - Lisa
Chapter 6 - Cat
Chapter 7 - Nadia
Chapter 8 - Cat
Chapter 9 - Lisa
Chapter 10 - Nadia
Chapter 11 - Cat
Chapter 12 - Jay
Chapter 13 - Lisa
Chapter 14 - Nadia
Chapter 15 - Cat
Chapter 16 - Lisa
Chapter 17 - Nadia
Chapter 18 - Cat
Chapter 19 - Breytenbach
Chapter 20 - Lisa
Chapter 21 - Cat
Epilogue - Nadia
Reach - Bonus Novella
Chapter 1 - The Wait
Chapter 2 - The Outside
Chapter 3 - The Bunker
Chapter 4 - The Escape
Chapter 5 - The Fall
Chapter 6 - Rude Awakening
Chapter 7 - Narrow Escape
Chapter 8 - The Long Walk
Chapter 9 - The Wall
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About the Author
Acknowledgments
Many thanks to my family and friends for their tireless support and dedication to me during good times and bad. Also, a shout-out to Deranged Doctor Designs at www.derangeddoctordesigns.com for the epic book cover they designed for this boxed set. I love and appreciate you all!
Last Another Day
Chapter 1 - Morgan
The steady thudding of his fists on the door had become a part of her. Like the beating of her heart, she relied on the sound to keep her sane. It prevented her from screaming, reminding her she was still alive. For the moment, at least.
For what seemed like an eternity, Morgan huddled in the shower. With her arms wrapped around her knees, she listened to the constant crashes interspersed with frustrated hisses. An occasional drop of cold water from the shower head dripped onto her back. She might have sat there forever if a new sound hadn’t joined the first.
“No! No, no, no,” she cried, jumping to her feet.
The wood was splintering around the lock at a rapid rate. It wouldn’t last much longer. Raging adrenaline triggered a desperate need for survival. She scanned the small bathroom for a weapon. Her eyes landed on the shower rail.
Morgan grabbed it and shook off the curtain, ripping the plastic stoppers from the ends. She barely had time to ready herself before the door burst inwards with a shuddering crash.
Immediately, Brian was upon her, moving fast with hands outstretched and teeth bared in a vicious grin. Growls sawed through his throat, and his eyes were bloodshot and crazed. She gripped the rail and thrust it into his chest. He staggered, regained his balance and lunged again.
Morgan gasped, stumbling backward. Her mind slipped into pure terror. It was a scene from her worst nightmares. Again, she stabbed him with the pipe, but the blow skimmed off his shoulder. He grabbed her, digging his fingers into her arms with brutal strength while snapping at her face.
She pushed against his chest with the pipe held in both hands as a shield, trying to keep those teeth at a distance. He slammed her up against the wall. Pain exploded through her head as it smashed against the tiles. He had her in a death grip, bloody lips a mere breath from her face.
“What’s wrong with you?” she screamed. “Please stop! It’s me, Morgan.”
Time slowed as she stared into his eyes, searching for a sign that he was still human, still the man she loved, but his eyes were empty. Brian was gone.
Fear and determination lent her strength. With a great shove, Morgan pushed him away, kicking him in the stomach to gain distance. She lifted the rail and used it as a spear, aiming for his throat.
The metal end tore into the soft flesh, impaling him. Clotted, black blood spurted from the wound and splashed onto her chest. She pinned him against the opposite wall and slid him around like a dog on a leash until she stood with her back to the broken bathroom door.
Her newfound strength waned. With no idea what to do, Morgan bolted. Her bare feet slapped a staccato beat on the floor, echoed by Brian’s heavier tread. She slid around a corner and headed for the front door, silk pajamas billowing behind her. She slammed up against it and tore at the deadbolt with frantic fingers. With seconds to spare, she unlocked it and stumbled through, pulling the door shut as his body connected with a crash.
Morgan stumbled back on legs turned to water and stared at the peeling paint on the wood. Brian growled with anger, and she flinched as the now familiar beat of his fists filled the air. However, the bathroom door had been locked while the front door was not. The seconds ticked by as she waited.
Waited for him to open the door.
Waited for him to find another way out.
Waited for death.
Her husband had turned into a monster, and nothing made sense anymore. After a while, however, it became evident he didn’t know how to turn the knob. Nor did he have the intelligence left to look for another way out.
In the fresh air, Morgan fought to gain control of her body. Her heartbeat slowed, and she noticed her surroundings for the first time. Standing there on the front patio in her pajamas, she shivered and folded her arms across her body. What the hell is going on? What happened to Brian?
Until today, Morgan would never have believed him capable of harm. With searching fingers, she touched the marks his hands had left. It hurt, the flesh bruised. The back of her head was tender and swollen.
Morgan turned and stared out into the street. It was chaos. The whole neighborhood was going to hell. She stumbled across the lawn to get a closer look. Were there more people as sick as her husband? Was this a disease? Something that drove them crazy? It was the only explanation her frozen mind would accept.
Whatever it was, it was spreading with the ferocity of wildfire. A car sped around the corner, tires screeching. The driver never spared her a glance, and she was too numb to care.
To her left, a trio of sick people cornered a woman and ripped away at her flesh. The agonizing screams tore at Morgan’s heart before they were abruptly cut off. More bodies lay scattered around on the immaculate green lawns of their front yards.
A corpse stirred and rose to its feet. A man. He stood there, strips of flesh hanging off of limbs covered in blood. His intestines dragged on the ground as he staggered around. Morgan reeled, vertigo making her sway. It can’t be. He can’t still be alive!
Dogs barked at the monsters that used to be their owners until they too died in a welter of howls. Wincing at the distressing sounds, she realized anything and everything that moved would fall victim to these things. Further up the street, shots rang out. Through her f
ence, she glimpsed a man herding his family into a car.
Morgan knew she should move, but her limbs remained frozen to the spot until something caught her eye. One of the walking dead clawed at the palisades bordering her lawn. It rasped through a ruined throat and reached out a bloody hand as if in supplication. Behind it, two more had noticed and followed. I’m being surrounded!
This thought galvanized Morgan into action, and she sprinted around the house to the backyard. Brian’s truck was the only realistic means of escape. She ran to it and reached for the handle, crying out in frustration when she realized it was locked.
“Shit, where are the keys?” They hung on a board in the kitchen. “I can’t go back in there.”
She had no choice, though. Maybe if she moved fast enough, she could grab them and get out while Brian still hammered on the front door. Luckily, the back door was unlocked owing to her clandestine smoking habits. She had snuck out for a quick cigarette that morning while he still slept.
Before her nerves could fail, she rushed into the kitchen and ran to the board, searching for the keys. From the front of the house, she heard Brian’s growls pause before they resumed in heightened pitch as they headed her way.
Morgan ran trembling fingertips over the keys, and heart hammered in her chest until she found the right ones. Grabbing them, she turned to run but fumbled her grip. They clattered to the floor.
“Fuck,” she cried, scrambling around on all fours.
The slap of Brian’s feet on the kitchen tiles caused her heart to stutter. She snatched up the keys and lunged outside. A brief glimpse of his pale, inhuman visage tore at her as she shut the door in his face. Morgan crumpled to her knees with a cry. “I can’t do this. I can’t.”
She reached up and laid a hand on the wood. It shivered beneath her palm from the force of his blows. “Brian, please come back. What am I supposed to do now?”
She was ready to give up and slumped down, but a voice from within nagged at her. Get up. Run.
“I can’t,” she whispered.
Do it. You can’t give up now. What about your family? Your friends?
“Oh, my God. Mom. Dad.”
Morgan bolted for the truck, barely noticing the gravel cutting into her bare feet. She pushed the remote button to unlock it and jumped in. After a deep breath, she turned the key in the ignition and shifted into gear.
At the gate, a mob of infected had gathered. They clawed through the gaps with creepy yearning. She hesitated. They were people, after all, but they also blocked the exit. This left her no choice. She had to go through.
“Here goes,” she said and pushed the remote button.
The gate opened, and they flooded inside, swamping the car. They beat on the windows and climbed onto the hood, crawling over each other like insects. She shuddered in disgust as one licked the window next to her face, leaving a smear of bloody spittle behind. For once, she was grateful she’d never gotten to know her neighbors.