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

she tried to pass him to get to her son. He pulled her by the hair and forced her face to his. He sunk his teeth into her cheek. Veronica fell to her knees. The dog stopped barking and whimpered. Amy screamed like a pig at slaughter. She kicked and swung at Dustin, but nothing slowed him down. Soon she stopped moving and her husband pulled his face away from hers. Her skin hung from his lips, his face covered in dark blood and chunks of flesh. He dropped her to the ground and turned his attention to the street. He started walking down the road in the opposite direction from Veronica. Veronica kept her hand clasped over her mouth, afraid of what would come out if she let go. Once Dustin was out of view, she released her mouth and a scream erupted from her. She lifted herself up on wobbly legs and ran back home.

Once safely in her house, Veronica locked the door and pulled all the curtains shut. She hurried around the house and checked the locks on all the windows twice. Alejandro was still asleep on the couch. Veronica locked herself in the bathroom and cried. She didn’t want Alejandro to wake because of her sobs. She splashed cold water on her face and fought against the growing fear in her gut. Alejandro’s agonizing moan broke the silence in the house. She rushed from the bathroom.

Alejandro was trying to sit up on the couch. Veronica hurried to his side and helped him. She placed her hands on his chest to steady him, and something warm and wet fell on her skin. Red blood speckled her arm. She gasped and Alejandro looked up at her. The whites of his eyes were red with blood. It pooled at the corners and ran down his cheeks.

“You need to call your brother.” His voice was coarse.

“We need to get you help.” She fell to her knees in front of him.

“There is no help for me. But there is for you. Call your brother. He can get you help.” Alejandro squeezed her shoulder.

“He hates me. He will not help me.” Veronica rested her head on his thighs and he ran his hand through her hair.

Suddenly Alejandro’s body convulsed with a coughing fit. Veronica grabbed the tissue box from the end table. Dark mucus and blood spewed from his mouth onto the wads of tissue in Veronica’s hand. She picked up the bottle of water and brought it to his lips, but he pushed it away.

“Marc doesn’t hate you. He’s mad at you because you threw away your relationship with him over a terra-cotta-colored bridesmaid dress.” Alejandro wiped the blood from his mouth using the back of his hand.

“I look awful in terra-cotta! Everyone does! It was selfish of Misty to pick that fucking color.” Veronica threw the dirty tissue onto the coffee table.

“You were the selfish one. It was their day.” The words came out in a pressured whisper before Alejandro fell back onto the couch, struggling to breathe. His eyes rolled back and blood ran like a river down his face.

“I’m sorry! I’m sorry!” Veronica held his face between her hands. “I love you. Please, don’t leave me. I don’t want to live without you, Mi Vida.” Alejandro started coughing again, and she rolled him onto his side just as the globs of blood and mucus sprayed from his mouth. He took a deep, rattling breath and rolled himself back onto his back. He opened his eyes, his pupils barely visible under the thick layer of blood. The black veins had extended up his neck now, consuming most of his body. He clasped Veronica’s hands in his, squeezing them tightly.

“Call your brother. He has connections that can help you survive. He loves you. Let down your wall. Let people in. Let them love you and love them back. You can’t go through life burning bridges out of fear of being let down. It has made you selfish, which makes you cruel. You won’t survive alone. And I won’t be here to help pick up the pieces anymore.” Tears streamed down Veronica’s face. Blood flowed from the corners of his mouth now. Alejandro opened his mouth to speak again, but only a gurgling sound came out.

“Shh, Mi Vida. It’s okay. You don’t have to talk anymore. Close your eyes and rest now. I love you. I love you so, so much.”

“Mi Amada…”

“Shh, Alejandro.”

“Call him…” Blood poured from his mouth onto his chest.

“Yes. Si. I will. I’ll call Marc. I’ll apologize. I’ll do it. Rest now. I love you. I won’t leave you. I’m right here.” Alejandro clenched her hands and stared wide eyed in her direction but didn’t focus. A thick stream of red covered his eyes.

“I’m here. I’m here. Shh. It’s time to rest. It’ll be okay. I’ll be just fine. You rest now.”

“Survive….” Bloody bubbles popped at his lips as he exhaled for the last time and his body went limp. His wide-eyed, crimson stare still angled in her direction. Veronica collapsed on his chest. She held fists full of his shirt until her knuckles turned white. Her cheek stuck to the sticky blood that drenched his shirt. Tears clouded her vision, and she clung to his body until her tears ran dry and Alejandro’s body was cold like it had never contained the warmth of his soul at all.

It was pitch black outside when she finally pulled herself from Alejandro’s body. She peeled his shirt from her face, leaving behind a dry bloodstained imprint of the fabric across her cheek. She stretched her legs out in front of her. They had fallen asleep hours ago and she could barely feel them.

Veronica fell back on the floor, staring up at the avocado green ceiling fan slowly spinning above her. She’d hated that fan ever since they moved in. She pulled herself up on wobbly legs and stomped over to the coat closet. Burning rage ignited in her,