N87 Virus | Prequel |Outbreak Kadin, Karri (best english novels for beginners txt) 📖

grabbed the smaller one by the hand and headed toward the house. The fog was clearing and the duo’s blood-stained clothes became apparent. Veronica’s heart twisted when she recognized their faces. The mother and toddler that chased her from the house.

The little one tripped over something and landed face first on the ground. It let out a small cry before the mother picked her child up and cradled it in her arms as she walked across the field.

“I don’t understand…” Veronica shook her head.

“They are still people.” Blondie sighed. “They are just sick.”

“They chased me from the house like wild animals. There is a dead man in that house that has bites taken from all over his body. This doesn’t make sense.”

“The Eaters aren’t as aggressive toward their own. I don’t know why, but I’ve seen evidence of it multiple times, so I know it’s true. They also don’t just eat people either. I saw a group break open a large can of green beans and scarf them down.” Blondie leaned against the wooden wall and stared at the duo walking across the field.

“I don’t understand.”

“No one does.”

They both went silent and watched the mother and child walk up to their front door. It took the woman a few tries to figure it out, but she was able to get the door open. She and the child disappeared inside the house.

“Mierda! They can open doors.”

Blondie nodded. She grabbed the bucket and started down the stairs. Timber followed her. Veronica pulled the loft doors shut. The barn was suddenly much darker, but the idea of leaving anything open and making it easier for an Eater to get inside sent chills down her spine. She hurried down the stairs.

Blondie sat on the hay, digging through a backpack. She pulled out zip-lock bags full of different items and laid them out next to her. She picked up a green collapsible lantern, pulled it open, and flipped it on. Next, she opened a tablet, and the screen lit up.

“Do you have an internet connection with that thing?” Veronica sat next to her. Blondie shook her head.

“Lost that ages ago. But I saved what I needed. I keep it charged with a solar charger. Look.” She leaned over and Veronica saw a map on the screen. Blondie pointed to a spot. “I’m going there. I have to find someone.”

“Who?” Veronica asked. Blondie’s eyes narrowed.

“Someone very important. I have to head that way today. Do you have a car?”

“I did. But it was one of those electric ones and it died a ways back.” Veronica said.

“My solar charger could charge a small electric car. It would take some time, but it would work. How far is it?”

Veronica glared at her and stood up. She folded her arms across her chest as blood rushed to her face, flushing her cheeks.

“Who the fuck do you think you are? You come into my space. Won’t even tell me your damn name, but you want me to give you my car?”

“Your car won’t run without me. We need each other.”

“I only need Timber. We were fine before you and will be fine after you.”

“You call this fine?” Blondie gestured around the room. “You’re hiding in a barn, for fuck’s sake.”

“A barn you just begged me to let you into!” Veronica paced back and forth. She kicked the hay at her feet, sending it and dirt flying into the air only for it to send her into a coughing fit. Anger boiled in her chest. As much as she hated to admit it, Blondie was right.

Timber sat at full attention, ears perked up, gaze shifting between the two women. Veronica squatted down and buried her head into her arms. Tears stung her eyes. Timber leaned his head across her back as if he were hugging her.

“Look, I don’t want to screw you over. If you let me use the car to get where I need to go then once we are there, I’ll give you the solar charger and you can go wherever you want.”

Veronica lifted her head. She wiped the back of her hand across her face, smearing the tears and dirt into muddy lines. She latched onto Timber and held him tightly. He rested his head on her shoulder and nuzzled into her neck. She had no other suitable options.

“Okay. That seems fair,” Veronica said.

“Good. But first you look like you could use some sleep. You sleep for a couple hours, I’ll keep watch. Then we can switch. After we both have a little nap, we can head to your car.”

“Yeah, right. What’s stopping you from robbing me?”

“Uh, besides the fact that I don’t know where your car is and the idea of trying to find it alone in this Eater infested swamp land is unappealing to me? You also have one of the biggest dogs I’ve ever seen.”

“You’ll protect me huh, perrito?” Timber licked her face. “Fine. Wake me in an hour.” Veronica curled up on the sleeping bag and drifted off to sleep.

Veronica woke to the feeling of steel jamming into her chest. Her eyes shot open to the view of a gun barrel. Bitch Barbie stood above her.

“What happened to your hand?” Blondie pointed to the bandage on Veronica’s hand.

Veronica jerked her head around looking for Timber and saw him lying in the corner. Eyes closed and body unmoving.

“What did you do to him?” Worry clutched her chest, and she felt like she had an elephant sitting on her chest, suffocating her.

“Gave him something to make him sleep. He’s not dead. Now answer the question.”

“I cut it.” Veronica said.

“Take the bandage off.”

“And if I don’t?” Veronica heard the click of the gun being cocked.

“I kill you.” Blondie’s face was stoic and unwavering.

Veronica raised her hands above her head and sat up. Her heart raced as her fight-or-flight response kicked in. She was about to die. Once she revealed the bite mark, it would all be over. What would happen to Timber?

“Promise me. No matter what happens