Logan shook his head. “She won’t turn.”
“I understand how you feel, but she’s infected.”
“She’s a carrier,” Logan burst out. “She was infected months ago already. The virus can’t kill her.”
Jonathan stared at him. “You’re sure of this?”
“She carries the bite mark on her shoulder.”
“I see. That changes things, but we’ll still have to take precautions.”
“Yes, yes, just help her all right?” Logan pointed a finger at him. “If you hurt her, I’ll kill you.”
Dr. Lange cleared his throat. “If what you say is true, then this girl is the most precious being in the world right now. I’ll personally make sure no harm comes to her.”
Logan nodded after a long moment, somewhat mollified by his assurances. Then he looked down at Nadia. “How are you feeling, sunshine?”
“Like shit,” she said with a tremulous smile.
“We’re taking her now, Logan. We need to stitch her up before she loses too much blood.”
Nadia reached out with her good hand. “Stay.”
“Don’t worry; I’ll be right here. I won’t leave.” He winked. “I made a promise, remember?”
“I remember.”
They wheeled her away, and he sank down on the nearest chair to keep his promise. “Don’t worry. I’ll be here when you wake up.”
Epilogue - Nadia
Nadia woke up in a bed with crisp, clean sheets that smelled of lemon and disinfectant. Her muscles felt languid, and her eyes were gummy from too much sleep. She blinked and focused on the three faces hovering next to her bed. Logan, Donya, and Caleb.
She smiled. “Hiya, guys.”
All three jumped to attention, but Logan commanded her bedside. “How are you feeling today, sunshine?”
“I’m good.” She blinked a few more times as her memories of the past few days flooded back. “Aw, man. I got bit again, didn’t I?”
“Yes, you did, and it was a very stu…” Logan glanced at Donya, “heroic thing you did.”
“Yes, I wanted to thank you for saving my life, Nadia. I owe you one, and I’m sorry for all the things I said before,” Donya said while looking ashamed.
“It’s okay. You had reason to be mad.”
Logan rolled his eyes but refrained from commenting.
“I hope we can be friends.”
“Besties,” Nadia said, ignoring Logan’s snort of disgust. “Did you find your family?”
Donya shook her head. “They’re gone. Martin took me yesterday, but I couldn't find them.”
“I’m sorry.” Nadia lifted her bandaged arm and winced when sharp pains shot up to her shoulder. “Am I okay? Is the arm good?”
“He took quite a chunk out of you, but luckily it was only flesh so you’ll have full use of your arm,” Logan said. “You got a nasty infection, though.”
“Oh, thank God.” Her head fell back onto the pillow. “So I’m still immune?”
“Still immune.”
“Still a carrier?” She shot Caleb a hopeful glance.
“Sorry,” he said with an apologetic shrug.
“Damn.”
“Good news is, there’s a scientist here who thinks he can make a vaccine from your blood given enough time,” Donya piped up with bright optimism.
“Really?” Nadia stared up at the ceiling as thoughts of a possible future with Caleb filled her mind. Kissing, hugging...lovemaking. Her cheeks burned at the thought, but suddenly, the world seemed a little bit brighter. “That’s wonderful.”
“Well, time for you to rest. Doctor’s orders," Logan said with brisk impatience.
“Wait. Can Caleb stay a little while?” she pleaded.
“Him, really?” Logan asked with obvious hostility.
She grinned. “Really.”
“You know he’s not good enough for you,” Logan grumbled as he stalked out.
“No one is,” Caleb moaned once he was gone.
“That’s Logan for you, but tell me what happened after the fight. How long was I out?”
“You’ve been out three days, and a lot has happened since then.”
“Like?”
“Well, Martin and Max cleared out the last of Ke Tau’s men in town. They’re gone, and a lot of their old captives stay here now.”
“What else?”
“Martin’s going home soon. So is Josh and Jed, but they plan on opening a trade route. Martin's sending consignment of food and supplies first thing as a sign of good faith.”
“What about the Bloemfontein thing?”
“They’re still deciding on that. Most lean towards sending an envoy there, but others are against it. Suspicious and all that.”
“And you? What are your plans?”
“Me?” He gave her a slow smile that caused her stomach to do handstands. “I’m staying right here with you until we have a vaccine.”
“You mean that?”
Caleb nodded and gripped her fingers. “You’ve got a home in me, Nadia. Forever.”
Home. The word had a nice ring to it, and for the first time in her life, Nadia felt utterly at peace.
THE END
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Author's Note
So we've reached the end of Last Another Day but not the end of the adventure. Would you like to find out what happens to Logan, Breytenbach, and the others next? I'm sure you're burning to find out. If you still need convincing, then turn the page for a sneak peek at both Survive Another Day, and Die Another Day.
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Sneak Peeks
In case you haven't yet read my other dystopian series yet, here's a brief sample of the book to tweak your interest. It's a little bit different from the dangerous Days Series (no zombies for one) but who knows, it might just be right up your alley!
Here's a sneak peek at the first chapter and blurb. The book is available here: The Black Tide - Remnants
Fight for those you love
Besieged by guilt and saddled with the care of her little sister, Ava struggles to cope with the demands placed upon her young shoulders. When an unstoppable disease sweeps across the globe, decimating the population, her life takes a terrifying turn for the worse.
Threatened with starvation, enslavement, and exile, life becomes a daily struggle for survival. Driven by the need to protect the only family she has left, Ava searches for salvation, a safe haven for them both. But with each passing day, new enemies appear while the people she trusts are swept away on a tide of blood.
A New Adult Dystopian Novel about one young woman's struggle to not only survive but thrive in even the most difficult of situations while learning who she really is and what she is capable of.
Chapter 1 - Sample
I took the loaf out of the bread bin. It was moldy. Fuzzy patches of white had sprung up around the edges, intensifying to blue-green in places. I picked it off with my nails and popped three slices into the toaster. With any luck, it would taste all right, and nobody would notice. I wrapped up the rest and put it away. Only two slices left.
“Lexi, are you ready for school yet?” I called. Silence met my ears. “Lexi, we're gonna be late!
”
“I'm coming; I'm coming.” She flounced into the kitchen, dragging her school bag behind her like it was filled with cement.
Flopping down on a chair she stared at me, her expression baleful. My little sister was not a morning person. I made her a cup of tea with heaps of sugar, hoping to perk her up. At least, we still had a lot of that.
I gave her a quick once over and sighed. Her dark brown hair curled out in all directions, the ponytail sagging beneath the weight of the thick strands. “What the hell happened to your hair? Did rats try to eat it? What will your teachers think?”
“What does it matter? I'm like the only one there.” She crossed her arms and pouted, bottom lip stuck out as far as it could go.
“That's not true. There are still lots of kids in school.”
“Is not. Even Jenny's mom is letting her stay at home now.”
“Who's Jenny?”
She looked at me with disdain. “Jenny's my BFF.”
I snorted. BFF, indeed. Kids. “Well, you heard what Dad said, Lexi. You're going to school.”
She stuck her tongue out before slumping forward onto her arms. I knew how she felt. I also hated school as a kid. Now I hated work. Same thing, different day.
The bread popped out of the toaster, and I grabbed the margarine tub. Crap. It's empty. I scraped the last bit out and stretched it over a slice. Putting it on a plate, I handed it to Lexi. “Eat up. We're leaving in five minutes.”
She eyed the single slice of toast but didn't complain. “Where's yours?”
“I've got my own, don't worry.” I picked up the second slice and waved it at her then crammed it into my mouth, swallowing the dry mush with a sip of tea.
“Do I get lunch today?” Her face was hopeful, and my heart clenched as I studied her pale face and dull eyes, the ordinarily creamy skin like curdled milk.
I tried hard to stretch our meager supplies and when possible gave her extra, but she was always hungry. We all were. It made me feel helpless. Reaching into the cupboard above me, I popped out three multivitamins and handed her one. It was one of the few perks my job provided.
“Sorry, sweet pea. Not today. But I'll see if I can buy more food after work, okay?” She nodded and ate the last of her toast, swallowing the pill with a grimace. I copied her, worry consuming my mind.
The shops were running dry. Food deliveries had slowed, and prices had soared to astronomical heights. Never rich to begin with, we now struggled to put food on the table.
My dad walked into the kitchen, “Morning, kids.”
“I'm not a kid anymore,” Lexi complained. “I'm ten years old.” She held up both hands for emphasis.
He rolled his eyes and laughed, ruffling her messy hair.
I handed him the last slice of toast and a cup of tea with his vitamin. “Here's breakfast.”
My dad took it with reluctance. “Have you and Lexi eaten yet?”
Oh, Dad. Always worried about us.
“Yes, we have. We're running low on supplies, though. I'll see if I can get more after work.”
He nodded, fishing in his pockets. “Here. I got paid yesterday. Buy as much food as you can. It's the last.”
He handed me the notes. It was a pitiful amount, the few hundred rands now meaningless in the face of the growing economic crisis.
“What do you mean last?” I took in his rumpled appearance for the first time. “Aren't you going to work today?”
“The mine's closed, Ava.” He ran a trembling hand through his hair. The news had hit him hard. “They ran us off yesterday. Told us to get off the property. They even had the police there. People were screaming, fighting...”
“God, why didn't you say something earlier?”
He shrugged and looked away. “I'll look for another job.”
My father would never find another one. We both knew that. Unemployment had skyrocketed. This was a massive blow for us, but I didn't want to rub it in any further. “It's okay, Dad. We'll be fine, you'll see. I've still got my job.”
“Yes, but I worry about you, Ava. Working in the pharmacy is dangerous. What if someone who's got the sickness goes there? What if you get infected?” His eyes fixed on mine, concern showing in every tired line of his face.
Lexi followed the conversation without saying a word, her honey-brown eyes flicking back and forth between Dad and me like it was a tennis match.
“I won't, Dad. I'm careful. We all are.” I pulled a set of gloves and a face mask out of my handbag and waved them at him. “Besides, I can't quit. We need the money. Now more than ever.” To tell the truth, I was terrified I'd get infected. But we had to eat.
He nodded. “I know, but I still worry.”
This I knew all too well. Ever since my mom died in a car accident two years ago, he clung to us with desperate intensity. My dreams of going to University quickly faded in the face of his need, and Lexi was so young; she needed me to look after her.
“It'll be okay, Dad. You'll see,” Lexi piped in with the optimism of youth.
I looked at her and remembered what we had talked about earlier. “I'd be more worried about Lexi if I were you. She shouldn't still be going to school. It's too dangerous.”
“I don't want her to stop going unless there's no choice, Ava. She needs the routine, a sense of normalcy. We all do. Besides, the Principal assured me they're taking precautions.”
I wasn't so sure of that. What would a principal know? Hundreds of millions of people across the world were dead, with more dying each day as the disease progressed. Asia and most of Europe were in flames, America had closed its borders, while Africa was a bloodbath. The only thing that had saved our asses thus far was an airport strike over wages. It had prevented the Black Tide from spreading here before the WHO could issue a global alert.
Still, it had spread to our central cities, sneaking a ride in on the backs of refugees entering the country illegally. Hospitals and clinics had distributed antiretrovirals from stores initially meant for HIV positives. While it couldn't cure the disease, it did slow it down at first. Until the virus became resistant. Now it was speeding up. How much longer did we have before it showed up in our town? A week? Two weeks?
“But Dad,” Lexi whined.
“I don't think...” I began.
“We'll see how it goes, for now, okay?” He held up a hand to forestall any further objections, and we reluctantly subsided. He could be very stubborn when he felt like it, a trait he had passed on to both of us in spades.
“Fine. If you say so,” I replied, not bothering to hide my irritation. “Let's go, Lexi. Have you got your jacket? It's freezing outside.”
“Got it,” she replied.
She kissed Dad goodbye, but I walked out after giving him a nod, annoyance fueling my actions. Why did he have to be so stubborn? I ignored the twinge of guilt I felt at the defeated look on his face and stepped outside.
Our feet crunched over the grass, frost glittering in the early morning sun. I hurried to my car, a rust bucket as old as the hills. The doors creaked as we got in, and I suppressed a grin at the look on Lexi's face.
“Why does your car have to be so old? The other kids at school laugh at me.”
“You can always walk. A second class drive is better than a first class walk.”
Lexi rolled her eyes at that but refrained from saying anything. I loved these moments. Moments when we could act normally. Like the Black Tide had never happened and we were just two sisters, bickering and teasing each other.
I turned the key in the ignition. The old girl groaned loudly but refused to start. It took several more tries before she caught, and a cloud of white smoke billowed from the exhaust, much to Lexi's disgust.
The petrol tank was low, and I smothered a sigh of despair. Fuel cost a fortune, but I needed it to get to work. It was too dangerous to walk nowadays.
The cold cut like a knife, so I cranked up the heat. Our breath puffed out in little clouds of mist, and my fingers felt like ice, the knuckles r
aw and chapped. Winter was never my favorite time of year.
A look in the mirror confirmed that I looked as bad as I felt. The recent rationing had whittled down my heart-shaped face to a sharp point; the cheekbones were prominent and my skin as white as snow. Dark green eyes gazed back without their usual vigor, and I resolved to get more sleep that night. Maybe even a decent meal.
I glanced at my handbag with longing. Nestled inside was my last box of cigarettes which I rationed with ferocious intensity. It was unlikely I'd be able to afford more. A terrible habit, one that both Lexi and my dad hated, but I couldn't help myself. For now, I ignored the craving, turning my attention to the wheel.
On the way to school, I turned on the radio, flipping between stations hoping for good news. No such luck. The situation was getting worse, not better. “Fuel and food prices continue to rise in the face of this ongoing crisis. All South Africans are advised to stock up on essential items and stay indoors.”
“Stock up on what? The shops are empty,” I shouted at the radio then closed my mouth when I noticed Lexi's stricken face. “I didn't mean it like that, sweetie. I'll get something after work. Don't you worry about it.”
She nodded but whether she believed me was a different matter.
“The virus spreads through physical contact. Wear a mask and gloves in public at all times. If you or a loved one exhibit symptoms, report to the nearest hospital or clinic for treatment.”
I snorted. Treatment? What treatment? There was no treatment. Once you got it, you died.
“The disease first presents itself with typical flu-like symptoms. Fever, fatigue, coughing, sneezing, and headaches which progress to vomiting, diarrhea, bleeding from the gums, ears, nose...” The litany of horror continued, and I switched off the radio. It was depressing, and we'd heard it all a thousand times by now.
Live Another Day (Dangerous Days - Zombie Apocalypse Book 4) Page 18
