The Extinction Series | Book 6 | Primordial Earth 6

by Higgins, Baileigh

  The forest enfolded her in its gloomy atmosphere, and she searched the surrounding area with care. It seemed quiet enough. Peaceful, actually. Sunlight filtered in through the canopy and a soft breeze whispered through the pines. Still, she couldn’t shake the creepy vibe the place gave her.

  After a last look around, Rogue squatted down and allowed her bladder to empty. It took longer than usual. Her wounded leg caused her to shift around, and she swore when she bumped it against a tree root. “Damn it. Why do I keep hurting myself?”

  A sudden blast of wind and a passing shadow overhead caused her to freeze. “What’s that?”

  She craned her head, looking for the source, but saw nothing. A few seconds ticked by while she sat, unable to move. Finally, she jumped up and pulled on her pants. Another shadow passed overhead, and the leaves rustled. Something was in the trees, and it likely wasn’t friendly.

  That thought galvanized her into action, and she sprinted toward the vehicles. For the moment, the pain in her leg was forgotten. She burst through the trees and into the open, waving her arms. “Look out!”

  An ear-splitting shriek caused her to falter, and she looked back over her shoulder. A large shape flashed through the canopy, and its wings caused a rush of air to wash across her face. Another shape joined it, and another, and another, until the treetops shook with the force of their movements. A beam of sunlight revealed a glimpse of a long beak and membraned wings which confirmed her fears.

  “Oh, crap. It’s flyers,” Rogue cried.

  “Hurry up,” Seth said, waving at her.

  “Faster,” Jessica added.

  Tony, Imogen, and David jumped into the van, and the engine roared to life. Bear started the Jeep, while Seth and Jessica took a stand inside their seats. They aimed at the area above her head with their guns moments before the canopy exploded.

  Rogue stumbled as a tornado of winged beasts nearly pushed her off her feet, but she kept going. Seth and Jessica fired at the Pterosaurs, and a couple of bullets found their mark. Pained squawks filled the air, and one flyer crashed to the ground.

  The other Pterosaurs swooped past Rogue and attacked the Jeep. Seth and Jessica ducked down into the vehicle, still snapping off shots. Another flyer dove at Bear, opening a gash in his scalp. He swung his hammer at the creature but missed.

  The flyers attacked again, and the Jeep rocked back and forth until it threatened to topple over. Jessica screamed, and Seth grabbed hold of the bars. With a resounding crash, the vehicle flipped over onto its side. Metal screeched and glass shattered.

  Bear crawled away from the wreckage, dragging his hammer behind him. Jessica lay prone in the dust, helpless. A Pterosaur dove toward her, and Bear brained it with his hammer. It flopped about, beating its wings until it slumped into death.

  Rogue dashed into the fray and helped Jessica to her feet. “Come on. Get up.”

  “What happened?” Jessica mumbled.

  “Don’t worry. You’re okay,” Rogue said.

  “I’ve got her,” Bear said. He grabbed hold of Jessica’s elbow and pointed Rogue toward Seth. “Get him to the van.”

  Rogue nodded and ran to Seth’s side. He was already on his feet, shooting at a flyer overhead. She ducked beneath a snapping beak and tugged at his arm. “We need to get to the van.”

  “You first. I’ll follow,” he replied.

  “We go together,” she said, grabbing his hand.

  As one, they sprinted toward the waiting vehicle. Bear and Jessica got there seconds before them and jumped through the open side door. Rogue and Seth were hot on their heels, and they tumbled inside as another Pterosaur swooped past.

  Imogen slammed the door shut and screamed. “Get us out of here, Tony!”

  He jammed his foot on the gas, and the van sped up the road. For a few minutes, it was rough going. They bumped and swerved across the rough terrain, battered by the Pterosaurs. Finally, the flyers gave up the chase, and Tony was able to slow down.

  “Is everyone okay?” he asked.

  One by one, they all gave the thumbs up. They were alive, and that was enough for the moment.

  “Well, get settled in. We’ll reach Fall City soon, but in the meantime, this van is your home,” Tony said.

  A shuffle of bodies followed as everyone found a spot. It was a tight squeeze with so many people plus a load of supplies, but they managed to fit everyone into the cramped space.

  Imogen shot Rogue a look and dragged her first-aid kit closer. “I’ll have a look at your ankle right after I patch up that gash on Bear’s scalp.”

  “Of course, go ahead,” Rogue said, waving her off.

  She shifted into a corner, cradling her injured foot. Now that the danger was past, it hurt more than ever. Her stomach didn’t feel so hot either, and sweat beaded her forehead. I hope I’m not coming down with something.

  “Are you okay?” Seth asked with a worried look. He touched her forehead. “You’re burning up.”

  “It must be all that running,” Rogue said with a faint smile.

  “Maybe,” he replied, clearly not convinced.

  The moment Imogen finished with Bear, he waved her over. “There’s something wrong with her.”

  “Let’s have a look, shall we?” Imogen said with a bright smile.

  First, she took Rogue’s temperature and checked her pulse. Next, she removed the bandages from Rogue’s ankle and examined the wounds. Little by little, her smile faded. “I’m afraid I’ve got bad news.”

  “What is it?” Seth asked.

  “She’s got sepsis,” Imogen said.

  “Sepsis? How’s that even possible? It’s only been a few hours,” Seth exclaimed.

  “It’s possible. She got bitten by a feral dog, and its mouth was probably teeming with all sorts of nasty bugs.”

  “Yeah, but she disinfected it straight away,” Seth said.

  “She must’ve missed something, and her immune system could be down because of several reasons: Stress, fatigue, a recent injury.”

  “Well, I’ve had plenty of that,” Rogue joked.

  “This isn’t funny,” Seth said.

  “I know,” Rogue said, shaking her head. “Why are my ears buzzing?”

  “What?” Seth said. “Your ears?”

  “Uh-huh,” Rogue said.

  “Rogue, look at me,” Imogen said. “Can you follow my finger?”

  Rogue tried to focus on the finger Imogen waved in front of her face. “I… I can’t.”

  “She’s sicker than I thought. The infection is progressing quickly,” Imogen said.

  “What does that mean?” Seth said.

  “It means, we have to get her to a hospital within the next few hours, or she won’t make it.”

  Rogue heard Imogen’s words, but they failed to rouse her. She was too tired to care, and her eyes drifted shut. With a deep sigh, she gave in to the darkness that beckoned. It welcomed her with open arms, and the world faded away.

  Chapter 21 - Kat

  Kat wiped her mouth with a wad of toilet paper. The grainy tissue crumbled into a thousand tiny pieces, clinging to her lips and dusting her navy t-shirt with gray flecks. Disgusted, she wiped the bits away and grimaced at the sour tang of vomit in the back of her throat.

  Prime City produced its own toilet paper from recycled paper, wood pulp, and water. The stuff was notorious for its poor quality but remained a prized commodity. With a muttered curse, she tossed the paper into the toilet and reached out to flush the bowl. When nothing happened, she stamped her foot. “Damn it. Not again!”

  With the influx of patients to the infirmary, the hotel’s age was showing. The electricity went first. The city had a limited capacity to begin with, and its power relied on ancient solar panel systems, battery banks, and a couple of wind turbines. None of which had been properly maintained in years. The plumbing went next. Toilets backed up, pipes burst, and the tanks ran dry as the underground supply ceased to flow.

  With everything she had to contend with daily,
Kat was at her wit’s end. She aimed a kick at the offending porcelain throne but thought better of it. Instead, she marched toward the kitchens down the hall.

  It was around six in the morning, and the cafeteria was a hive of activity. Doctors, nurses, and orderlies reporting for duty grabbed a quick breakfast to start their day. Those coming off shift slouched over the tables, almost too tired to chew. A few unlucky individuals were only halfway through their working hours and needed a stiff cup of coffee to keep going.

  Kat nodded at the kitchen’s chief cook, a man called Gregory. “Busy day, Greg?”

  He bobbed his head. “You know it.”

  “I just want some water, please. The plumbing in the bathrooms is out again,” she added.

  “In the cupboard,” he replied.

  She grabbed a bottle from the cabinet and took a deep swig. The lukewarm liquid tasted like sand, and she guessed it was well water, but it removed the rancid taste from her mouth.

  Next, she grabbed a bottle of disinfectant, cleaned her hands, and pulled on her gloves and mask. “I’ll see you later, Gregory.”

  “Have you eaten?” he asked, halting her in her tracks.

  “No, but I’m not hungry,” she answered with a grimace. The mere thought of food was enough to set off her morning sickness again, and the smells wafting from the cooking pots weren’t helping either.

  “Eat,” he said, leveling a stern look at her.

  “I promise I’ll grab something later, but I’m needed at the morgue first,” she said.

  “You’re needed here too,” he said. “We have almost no food left, the water is brown, and the fridges keep packing up. That’s on the off chance that we actually have power.”

  Kat stifled a groan. “I’m working on it. I promise.”

  “Work harder.”

  Kat fled before anyone else could corner her and took the steps down to the basement. She hated going to the morgue but could put it off no longer. She was still several yards away from the entrance when the stench hit her in the face. Her stomach heaved, and she gagged as the noxious smell invaded her nostrils. Even the mask didn’t help.

  “I told you it was bad,” a strident voice said.

  Kat looked up into the eyes of Nurse Harris and winced. The woman’s dark brown eyes were narrowed to slits, and her mocha-colored skin was flushed with heightened emotions. She resembled a spitting cobra, prepared to strike at anything within reach.

  “I’m sorry, I didn’t know,” Kat said.

  “I told you days ago already. Days,” Nurse Harris cried. “I can’t work like this. It’s inhuman.”

  “I… I didn’t know it was this bad,” Kat amended, fighting to keep down the water she’d drunk earlier. Her eyes burned, and she dragged her shirt up over her nose. “What’s going on? What’s the problem?”

  “What’s the problem?” Nurse Harris repeated, flinging her arms in the air. “Everything!”

  “Start from the beginning,” Kat suggested.

  “We can’t cope with the number of dead. There are too many. They’re stacked up to the ceiling,” Nurse Harris said.

  “Oh, my God. I didn’t realize,” Kat said in a placating tone, but Harris was having none of it.

  “That’s the problem. You’re too busy up there in the fresh air catering to the living. Meanwhile, down here, it’s just me, three orderlies, and Dr. Brown. We’re understaffed, overworked, and sick of it,” Harris continued. “To make matters worse, the power is out, which means we can’t cool the bodies. I’m stuck with a morgue filled with bloated, rotting corpses.”

  “I’ll get you more hands to lighten the load,” Kat promised.

  “When?” Harris demanded.

  “Right now. Give me thirty minutes,” Kat said, backing away from the morgue on wobbly legs. The stench was more than her delicate stomach could handle, and she was prepared to barter her soul for a measure of relief.

  “And what about the bodies?” Harris asked, stalking her down the hall with relentless determination.

  Kat sighed. “I didn’t want to do this unless absolutely necessary, but we’ve reached the point of no return.”

  “Yes?” Harris prompted.

  “We need to burn the bodies,” Kat said.

  “We’re already doing that, but it’s taking too long. They keep piling up,” Harris said, throwing her hands in the air.

  “We need to burn them all together.”

  “Like a mass grave?” Harris asked.

  “Exactly.”

  “Well, I’m all for it if you could provide a suitable site, the wagons, and the labor to load and offload the bodies.”

  “I’ll see to it.”

  “And… you’ll have to handle the angry relatives,” Harris said, her eyes glittering with satisfaction.

  “I know,” Kat said. Already, she could envision the trouble a mass burning would bring to her door. But there was no choice. It had to be done. “I’ll see to all the arrangements.”

  “See that you do,” Nurse Harris said, her arms on her hips.

  Kat turned away and ran down the hall, relieved to leave Harris and the smell behind. She went straight to her office and slammed the door shut. After a few deep shuddering breaths, she opened it again and called to a passing orderly.

  “How can I help you, ma’am?” he asked, his expression harried.

  “I’m sorry to add to your duties, but could you ask Sandi to come here right away?” Kat said.

  “Sandi?” he said with a frown.

  “You’ll find her at reception. She’s pulling a double shift, but I need her here,” Kat explained. “Sandi Green. Please, it’s important.”

  “Alright, ma’am. I’ll find her for you,” he said with a brief nod.

  “Thank you.”

  The orderly rushed off, and she sank into her chair with a groan of relief. The pressure was becoming too much. Every day, something new cropped up, adding to her workload. Plus, with Callum gone, she found it harder to cope. Still, she refused to give in to her weakness and repeated her old mantra. “Not today.”

  A knock on the door introduced Sandi, and Kat waved her to a seat. “Sit down, my dear. You look tired.”

  “No more than you,” Sandi replied, taking the chair opposite Kat. “What’s wrong?”

  “I’d do it myself, but I simply don’t have the strength,” Kat said.

  “How can I help?” Sandi asked with an earnest expression.

  “We need more orderlies down in the morgue. At least three,” Kat said.

  “That will be hard, but I’ll see what I can do.”

  “Right away, please,” Kat said. “Unless you want Nurse Harris rampaging through the infirmary.”

  Sandi winced. “I’d rather not.”

  “I also need Bruce to choose a site for a mass cremation,” Kat explained. “There are simply too many bodies piling up and creating a health hazard. We’ll also need wagons and volunteers to facilitate the process.”

  “What about the families?” Sandi asked.

  “I’ll see to them,” Kat said.

  “Actually, I have a better idea,” Sandi said.

  “I’m all ears.”

  “Why not ask Patti or Moran to make an official announcement? Any complaints can go directly to the council.”

  “It would add to their burden,” Kat said, “but we’re already stretched to the limits here.”

  “Exactly. I’ll see to it right away,” Sandi said, pushing back her chair.

  “Thank you. I don’t know what I’d do without you,” Kat said.

  “Your baby is the most important thing right now. You can’t afford to overtax yourself,” Sandi said. “Dr. Bloomberg was most insistent.”

  “He spoke to you?” Kat said with a faint smile.

  “He did, and I’m happy to help,” Sandi said. “In fact, why don’t you lie down for a bit? You could use the rest.”

  “I could say the same to you,” Kat replied.

  “I’m okay,” Sandi said. �
�I’m young and strong, and I’ve got Paul to help me.”

  Sandi took her leave and left Kat behind with a sense of loss. Sandi was right. “I’m not so young anymore, and Callum isn’t here to help me.”

  After a few moments, she shook off the morbid thought. Self-pity wasn’t her forte. Nor was sitting around doing nothing. She dragged a pile of paperwork closer and got lost in a maze of administration, enough to keep her business for hours.

  It was early afternoon before Kat noticed a persistent cough. It grew worse until it wracked her entire frame. Gasping for breath, she pulled off her mask. Crimson blood speckled the cloth, and horror froze her to the spot. No. It can’t be.

  She thought back over the past couple of days. Suddenly, the constant headache, feverish nights, and stomach pains swam into focus. What she’d dismissed as symptoms of stress, fatigue, and morning sickness was actually far, far worse. She had the Red Flux.

  Epilogue - Seth

  After a brief discussion, the group decided not to overnight. Instead, they’d push onward to Vancouver despite the danger. Tony and Bear took turns at the wheel while Jessica navigated. She knew the terrain close to the city, and they made good time despite the darkness. Fortunately, it was a clear night, and the vehicle’s lights worked just fine.

  Throughout the long hours, Rogue never regained consciousness. She tossed and turned, crying out in pain at intervals. Her fever spiked, and her lips cracked with the fiery heat that radiated from within her veins.

  Imogen did her best to treat Rogue with what medicine she had, but admitted it wasn’t enough. “It’ll buy her some time, but that’s it. She needs a hospital.”

  “Then we’ll get her to one,” Seth said with grim determination.

  He refused to budge from her side and watched her like a hawk. Every moan that fell from her lips hurt more than the last, and his desperation grew with each passing moment. Angered, he turned on Tony and Bear. “Can’t you go any faster?”

  “They’re doing the best they can, Seth,” Imogen said.