Dangerous Nights: Boxed Set (A Zombie Apocalypse Thriller Books 1-3)

by Baileigh Higgins

  Nadia nodded. “Okay.”

  And indeed, Thelma almost crushed her in her arms before showering her with little treats such as chocolates, bath oil, lip gloss, and hand cream. All of which was hard to come by in the post-zombie era.

  Steward was there too, as shy as ever. He did manage to thank her though, and even showed her a picture of his new girlfriend which came as a huge relief. She’d secretly worried he still had a crush on her, and it was nice to see him moving on.

  After that particular visit, Nadia called a halt. She needed some time on her own to heal and process things. Lying in bed on a perpetual high was a great time to say goodbye to old hurts like her mother and Bobby, Brandon, her first love whom she’d accidentally infected, Caleb, her true love, but most of all, Logan. Logan who’d saved her life and her soul. Logan who’d loved her without reserve even when she least deserved it. Logan who stuck by her through thick and thin. Finally, Logan who’d sacrificed himself so she could live.

  Nadia stared into the dark, a single tear rolling down her cheek. “Goodbye, Logan. I’ll miss you, but I’ll see you again one day.”

  She did receive one more visit in the form of Dr. Lange. “Good morning, Nadia. I come bearing great news.”

  Nadia’s ears perked. Great news? From Dr. Lange? That could only mean one thing. “You’ve got a vaccine?”

  Dr. Lange hesitated. “In a way, my dear.”

  “In what way?” she asked, her high hopes sinking to the floor faster than a lead balloon.

  “Do you remember Aiden, the boy who’s immune?”

  Nadia frowned. “Yeah, he’s one of Cat’s friends. They stayed together on the farm.”

  “You see, unlike you who is a carrier of the virus, passing it on to others, his body can fight it off, even kill it.”

  “Yes? So?”

  “I’ve managed to manufacture a vaccine that will suppress the virus in your body, allowing you to touch and be with others in a normal way.”

  “What? Are you serious,” Nadia asked.

  “Utterly,” Dr. Lange said. “But there’s a drawback.”

  Nadia sighed. “What is it?”

  “You’ll have to take it every day for the rest of your life. No more wandering around for you. St.Francis will have to be your permanent home. Also, this drug will be near impossible to produce on a mass scale which means it will only be available to a few people who really need it…like you.”

  “I see,” Nadia said, slightly deflated as her hopes for a zombie-free future for them all vanished. Still… “I can live a normal life?”

  “Yes, dear. You can.”

  Dr. Lange left, and Nadia sank back onto her cushions, speechless with shock and happiness. The doctor might not have cured zombies or saved the human race, but he’d found a way for her to live as she was meant too. “Thank you, Dr. Lange.”

  ***

  Another two days passed before Nadia awoke one morning, fresh and clearheaded. A nurse helped her bath and dress, and she felt ready to face a day outside of the confines of bed. “Can I walk around a bit, please?”

  “Yes, you can. Just take it easy at first and rest often. You’re still weak,” the nurse agreed.

  “Thank you,” Nadia said, prepared to leap out of bed.

  “Whoa, cowboy, or should I say, cowgirl? Breakfast first,” the nurse insisted.

  Nadia groaned, but she was hungry so wolfed down her toast and eggs in record time followed by milky tea which she despised. Who drank milky tea? Seriously?

  The first few steps were tough, her legs wobbled and so did the room, but she soon got used to it, and then nothing could stop her. Three hours later, she stood outside in the garden staring at the ocean in the distance. As always, it soothed her soul and eased her loneliness.

  Someone behind her cleared their throat. “Are we interrupting?”

  Nadia froze, placing the voice immediately. She turned so fast she almost fell and ripped out her stitches again. “Lisa? Cat?”

  And indeed, it was them. In the flesh and smiling like naughty schoolgirls. “I can’t believe it’s you!”

  “It’s us all right,” Lisa said.

  “Looking better than ever,” Cat confirmed.

  “Actually, you both look like shit,” Nadia pointed out, her eyes jumping from a black eyes here to a split lip there. “But you’re still beautiful to me.”

  The three drew together in a group hug, crying and laughing and jumping up and down with glee until it was all one garbled, bleary mess. At last, they calmed down and found a seat in the garden to rest upon while Nadia shared her story. Once she was done, it was the other two’s turn, and when all was said and done, an awkward silence fell.

  “So, what happens now?” Nadia asked.

  “I am the newly elected leader of Queenstown along with Trevor. We plan on getting married next week, and we’re also looking into adoption,” Lisa declared.

  Nadia gaped at her. “Married? Where?”

  “We’ll tie the knot on the beach, romantic, right?” Lisa said. “And then we’ll head back and rebuild Queenstown one brick at a time. I’ll miss you guys, but I promise to come visit all the time. We’re opening a trade route between us, after all.”

  “I’m so happy for you,” Nadia declared, drawing Lisa into a tight hug. “What about the Ravagers?”

  “The worst of them are facing trial, and they’ll likely be executed for their crimes. The rest will be given a choice. Stay and rebuild or leave and never come back. Neil as well,” Lisa said. “Oh, yeah, before I forget, Julianne is throwing a retirement party for the Zomketeers tonight.”

  “What? Who gave them that stupid name?” Nadia asked.

  “You did. They know the Zomketeers was like your baby, and you’re really sad to see it go. Hence the party.”

  Nadia gaped at them. “You cows!”

  They laughed at her.

  “Oh, come on, admit it. You loved being a Zomketeer,” Cat said.

  Nadia rolled her eyes. “Maybe a little bit.”

  “I knew it!” Cat crowed.

  Nadia waited her out before changing the subject. “What about you, Cat? What are your plans. We’ve heard Lisa’s.”

  “Me? Oh, I’m staying right here where I belong with my best friend in the whole wide world,” Cat declared. “My mom is loving this place. She’s already shopping for a house on the beach.”

  “Awesome. Planning on getting married too?” Nadia asked.

  “Are you kidding?” Cat asked. “I just killed my fiance. Marriage is not on the cards for me, at least, not for a long time. What about you, Nadia?”

  “Me?” Nadia smiled, and her eyes found the ocean. “For the first time in my life, I’m at peace, and I mean to keep it that way.”

  The End.

  I hope you enjoyed this boxed set. If you did then turn the page for a sneak preview at The Black Tide Trilogy, a thrilling post-apocalyptic boxed set.

  Do you want more?

  So we’ve reached the end of the Dangerous Nights Series, and I really hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. If you did, please consider leaving a review as that makes it so much easier for an author like me to reach more readers like yourself and to keep writing.

  Please not, this is a spin-off series from the Dangerous Days Series. I you haven’t read it yet, you can get it here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07KXWFCS1

  Plus, there’s plenty more where this came from. Keep turning the pages for a sneak peek at The Black Tide Boxed Set, the full series now available in one place!

  The Black Tide Boxed Set - Available Here

  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B078Y4TBRG

  The Black Tide - Remnants

  Prologue

  The Black Tide. That’s what they called it. Incurable. Unstoppable. Terrifying.

  It began in China then spread throughout Asia and Eastern Europe, rolling across the continent like a tidal wave, killing everyone in its path. The death toll climbed, reaching hundreds of millions
within weeks.

  The rest of the world mobilized, but despite all efforts to stop it the Black Tide kept coming.

  When the disease finally reached my home, the borders of South Africa, we thought we were prepared.

  How wrong we were.

  Chapter 1

  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 raw 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.”