Friends Against The World (Book 1): Bite Me

by Walters, Geneva

  “Don’t. Finish. That. Sentence.” I say harshly. “Sorry Dad, love you, bye.” I slam my hand over the power button and the radio clicks off.

  His eyes are wide as well, before motioning to remove my hand. “Sorry, I almost said too much.”

  “I really hope we got that in time.”

  “Sorry.” His blue eyes are sad, as he pulls the headphones off some stray red curls escape, the rest back in a ponytail, it grew surprisingly fast.

  “Its okay.” I breathe, then sigh. “It should be fine.”

  “I hope no raiders heard.”

  “We should tell Idris at the least, he needs to know.”

  “Yea. Fuck, I am such an idiot.”

  “No, its okay.” I place my hand on his cheek, caressing gently. “Don’t worry about that, honest mistake.”

  We get up, nodding to James and Rachel coming to take over, Idris becoming slacker with the chores schedule and letting couples do chores together. We walk hand in hand to where Idris is hanging out with Violet, everyone wearing shorts as summer had come and we just opened windows to save energy strain. The air conditioner turning on in unbearable days, Liam had installed a lot of more solar panels for the sake of ease on the electric use.

  “Don’t worry my beloved, honest mistake.” I say, finding Idris cleaning and sharpening our blades in the front hall.

  Maggie bounded in from outside, along with the four other dogs that had shown up, obviously former pets. The cats were happy wandering around the top floor of the school, someone fed them twice a day. The other dogs were a black Labrador, a German Shepard, a copper coloured Poodle, and a gray Shih Tzu. We had named them Teddy, Bear, Romeo and Scully, in that order.

  “I accidently, might have almost said something about a cure but Evie stopped me in time.”

  “He didn’t mean too, honest mistake.”

  “Its okay, I get it.” Idris waves his hand, and Violet comes next to him an sits down beside him.

  Chapter 80

  A loud bell toll rings through the halls and we all jump to attention, grabbing the blades near Idris. Anthony storms out followed by three more, Xavier, Lee, and Jessa. Anthony goes to peer out the window of the door and curses.

  “Raiders just attempted to climb the fence.” He explains, and I run to the office, grabbing the announcement system.

  A loud beep rings through the hall as I swap to using the microphone, my voice urging. “Attention team. There are raiders outside near the north fence, we request immediate back-up to the front lobby. Bring your weapons.”

  I rejoin the others, now loading their guns as we watch five more attempt the fence, throwing a stick at the trip-line. They begin to load out of their trucks, five of them, as many more faces joined them inside the fence line.

  “Fuck.” Xavier curses, loading his shotgun, as I hold my blade. “Shall I release our test subjects?”

  “Sonji, we are going to put you in charge of that. I don’t think quite yet Xavier, as with this many we should probably pick them off long range.” Anthony disagrees, and Xavier nods. “Long range, go to the barriers we set just inside the front door and just start picking them off. Xavier, trade with the gun we have on the wall, save the shot gun for close range. Liam take your sniper and get to the second-floor roof, Quiyl, you too. Phoenix and Lynx grab guns and start picking them off. Jessa and Galexai, go help those snipers reload and defend them if need be. The rest of you, just make yourselves useful, you know what to do.”

  Xavier and I run to where we need to be, and Xavier begins to pick them off after holstering his shotgun. Three falls as they group up, and some duck, starting to fire back at us. Luckily, the spot the aimed to invade only had a few trees for cover so we began to pick them off. Until more vans started to show and we began to panic. The more fell, two came at us in their place, charging forward with guns they pry from their comrades dying hands.

  “Its too much, release the infected.” Xavier declares, and Anthony nods to Sonji who take off running.

  “I hope she makes it in time, Geneva, go with her. I love you, but she might need a covering fire.” He nods to me, kissing me before undoing his holster and handing it to me.

  He is back shooting as I strap it to myself, then take off after her. She is halfway to the back door when I catch up, nodding to her. We reach the back door and throw it open, seeing a few more stealth trucks now empty of raiders, heading to our fence. I turn back, holding Sonji from running.

  “Anthony, more raiders, get backup!” I shout down the hall, before turning, pulling the shot gun and cocking it.

  A loud bang sounds as I fire at them, Sonji helping by firing her handgun. We take down a few raiders before Lynx and Lee join us, laying down covering fire as we run for the cage. Sonji quickly takes the key and attempts to unlock it, her hands shaky. She screams as she gets a bullet to the arm but manages to undo the lock. She throws open the gate and then sways from blood loss. I grab her and drag her back, limp from blood loss. I toss her body towards Lynx, who catches her.

  Chapter 81

  A sharp pain sinks into my shoulder and my eyes widen as I realize its teeth. I shove Lynx, Sonji and Lee back through the doors and slam it. The wail of the infected rings in my ears as its forced to release my shoulder, and Lee widens as he sees what’s behind me. My eyes grow misty before I feel my emotions shut down, dampening with the determination to keep my friends safe. I use my gun to jam the door and then pull out something I swiped from the front, a small bomb. Leveling my gaze on the raiders trucks I begin to sneak across the field, watching the twenty or so infected rush the raiders, and surprisingly, leaving me alone.

  “Fucking kids had them as a captive!” A raider calls out, screaming in agony as one bites him on the side of the neck, blood gushing and dripping down his neck.

  I drop to my knees and slide the bomb under the truck in the middle, setting it and running back towards the school, ducking behind the stables James and Anthony built for the horses. I whimper in pain as my shoulder burns, and I feel some despair break through my determination. A boom shatters the screams of the raiders as the bomb blows, I notice it taking down all the trucks.

  Lee’s face is still visible through the backdoor window, and I notice him give me a sad thumbs-up. I nod to him, and then begin to sneak around the side of the school to the front, only holding my knife now. I hear the raiders and my friends exchanging fire, then a loud boom sounds. One of the raiders had stepped on a mine and blew half of them sky high, including most of their trucks.

  My friends begin to have the upper hand, and I smile, happy that they will at least survive. I fall to my knees as the fire spreads down my back and around the front, groaning low in pain. I drag myself to the corner of the school and see my friends take down the last raider, and I smile happily. The infected all rush to the dead bodies, leaving me alone.

  “GENEVA!” Xavier shouts, his voice raw with horror.

  “Here…” I mumble, not having enough strength as the fire overtakes my thoughts, barely coherent.

  “Holy fuck!” I hear Anthony curse from near me, then softer as he turns to shout. “Xavier, over here!”

  “No, stay back.” I wave weakly, managing to pull myself up to face him, imploring him. “Please, I don’t want to hurt you. End me.”

  “Oh Eva, I could never do that.” Anthony says, his voice desperate and upset.

  His green eyes are shining in sadness as Xavier joins me, his knees giving out as he is careful not to touch as he sees the bloody wound. “Xavi, don’t. Don’t try to save me, I don’t want to hurt you.”

  “Oh Evie, you can’t ask me to do that.”

  “Please.” I say simply, his eyes level with mine. “Promise me?”

  He stays silent, Quiyl and Violet joining the two others. I start to get anxious having that many healthy people around me and start to try to drag myself away, my whole body screaming in protest.

  “Evie, you cannot ask us to promise that. We are your friends, we don
’t want to hurt you.” Violet says, her voice determined but her eyes showing how much she is hurting.

  “Vi, you know that you can’t save me. Just make it easy, I won’t feel anything.” I comfort, my voice rising in strength as the fire subsides for now. “It would be better than me turning and hurting you. I love you guys, keep fighting.”

  Liam and Lee come around the corner finally, wiping the ends of their guns and holstering them, their eyes levelling on me, emotions unreadable. My eyes begin to close as I feel my mind start to shut down, a daze covering my thoughts. Their voices become unrecognizable as the infection begins to take hold. I feel something slam against my head before it all goes dark, and my last thought is ‘they are safe now’.

  Chapter 82

  Xavier’s Point Of View

  My mind is overtaken with panic as I watch the girl I love begin to become something else, then Dustin makes the decision for everyone. He walks over, and people protest, wielding his gun and smacking her in the head with the stock of it, cracking against her skull and her eyes drop shut. She collapses like a rock to the ground, and we breathe a collective sigh of relief. My chest tightens, and I see Jessa come up beside me, her eyes hopeful as she met my desperate ones.

  “We are so close on the cure. If we can delay the decaying process, we might be able to complete it and save her.” She explains, and my mind attempts to grasp that thread of hope as my sense of reality tried to crush it.

  My eyes look over her body, slumped on the ground, and my mind tightens the hold on the hope. “Alright, lets clear out what we don’t need from the freezer and crank it to near max. We want to slow her down, not freeze her. I will go get gloves and a stretcher. Idris, can you arrange teams to help stabilize Sonji and start the freezer. I will prepare to bring Eva down.”

  “Alright, you heard the man! Group up!” Idris said, and then began firing off rapid orders.

  I leave to go grab a big lab coat and tuck gloves overtop. Sonji is being worked on by a few people, looking better. I grab a stretcher and then look at it again, wondering how I will get it down the stairs. Lee comes up beside me and nods, and then we go to get her. I drag her body onto the stretcher and we carry her back inside, Lee careful to take the end I hadn’t touched.

  We hurry to the back stairway and Liam holds open the door. “Its on, and Lynx threw medical supplies in there. Idris is willing to give a hand cleaning the wound, and Jessa is already working on the cure again. She gained an idea, so I just let her do it.”

  “Thanks, dude.” Lee says, and we rush down the stairs.

  Idris is standing outside the freezer, the boxes of food outside. Lee and I rush in, and Lee leaves as Idris takes his place, snapping gloves on. I flip open the medical kit and unwrap a few cleansing wipes, beginning to sanitize the wound and remove the pus and blood. Idris helps me remove all the bad stuff, before pulling me away from her.

  “We should be out of here before she wakes. You need to go work on the cure.” Idris comments, and I cast one long last look and her limp form, then letting him tug me out.

  The freezer door slams shut, and I stare through the small window for a moment before turning on my heel and walking to the stairs. Idris follows along silently, and I choke down a sob.

  “I’m scared man.” I comment forlornly, and Idris murmurs to himself before talking to me.

  “You have some of the best minds I can think of on hand right now. You can take whoever you want and work until you’re tired but swear to me you will sleep.” His tone is begging, and I give the obligatory nod.

  “I will do my best.” I sweep into what I now think of as my office and see Jessa and Galexai working on Sonji. “Get someone to watch the freezer, I want to know when she wakes.”

  “Sonji is doing better, we found out a compatible blood type in our storage.” Jessa mumbles to me, and I pull out all our research and the precious last few vials of untainted.

  I begin to refer to the binder and work through what might be missing. I work long into the night with Jessa and a few others. We just began listing suggestions, and Sonji woke halfway in the night and rapid-fire offered suggestions, before Lynx gave her morphine to allow her to rest. The light of dawn raised above the horizon when Anthony found me, bent over the desk, my head in my hands as the writing blurred in front of me.

  “Xavier, I know you are desperate, but you won’t save her if you aren’t rested.” Anthony tells me, coming to lay a hand on my shoulder. “We all are worried, but you won’t figure it out if you are dead tired.”

  My head hits the table as I fall asleep sitting, then I jerk back up, seeing Anthony look at me in concern. “Fine, I will go to bed. Wake me up in four hours.”

  I growl as I slam the door, walking to Geneva and I’s room. Her book boxes are folded now, she had put them away over a few nights, telling me some of her favourites. I grab one, collapsing onto the bed, hugging her pillow and leaning the book on it. My eyes close before I even finish a page, pulling the pillow closer, her smell being the last thing on my mind as I pass out.

  Chapter 83

  “Xavier!” A voice shouts me awake, and I jump. “We found the missing ingredient!”

  I blearily wake up, my eyes catching Violet who is standing in the door. “What?”

  “It was ‘O’-negative blood. It eats all the other cells and finally clears the infection.” She explains, and excitement wakes me up. “We used a bit of your stored blood, but it seemed to work well, and then we tested it on infected blood and it clears it.”

  “Really?” I spring up, not realizing I had stripped my shirt off in the night, and Violet covered her eyes.

  “Goddamn man, just go figure out how to save my best friend.”

  I grab a shirt and throw it on, opening the door in one move. I run down the stairs to find Lynx and Jessa filling a syringe with a dark greenish-red liquid.

  “I see you heard.” Jessa says, then she turns to me with a serious look. “We only have three vials left, we are going to store them safely while we figure out how to make more.”

  “You guys are wonderful. Who did it?” I take the precious syringe, and Sonji raised her non-injured hand.

  “After I woke up I suggested it, and it worked.” She cheers, and Lynx laughs.

  “Well, I am going to grab Liam and Lee, for back-up.” I tuck the syringe into a hard case, then track down those two.

  They were hanging out with Galexai and Quiyl, who wave them off as we head to the basement. As I walk to the freezer I see Dainan standing besides, who nods to me. I look in, seeing the bed empty.

  “I thought I told Idris to let me know if she wakes up.” I growl, and Liam shrugs.

  “You needed to relax, Idris ordered no one tell you.”

  Suddenly, Geneva’s contorted face slams against the glass, her mouth open in an inhumane wail. She scratches at the glass and I feel sadness fill me, seeing what it became of her. As she stalks away I notice the wound has been ripped open, pus leaking from it and bloodstains all the way down her back. I turn to Liam and Lee who look on, concerned.

  “How are we going to pin her down?” Liam comments, and I step back for a moment to think.

  “Turn down the temperature, so she slows down.” I say, and Dainan does so. “Now we wait.”

  Dainan brings us chairs, and we wait for half an hour. The banging from inside slowing to a stop, and the last time I peek in I see her slumped against the far wall. I motion for the others to join me and slide the door open. She groans, looking to me with dead eyes and attempted to snap at me, her body betraying her to the cold. Lee and Liam grab her arms with gloved hands, exposing her left elbow to me. I plunge the needle in and press the plunger, watching the liquid drain into her, hoping.

  After I finish we release her, and she begins to seize. We can’t touch her without risk, so we pull her with her shoes away from the wall and stand back, myself wincing as her limbs hit the floor. She shudders to a stop, her eyes rolling back. Liam and I haul her back onto t
he stretcher and tie her limbs to the bars of the stretcher, laying a chest strap across her. I wheel her out into the hall and we step back to wait.

  Chapter 84

  Geneva’s Point of View

  My arms feel like lead as I attempt to twitch them. My chest feels tight and I panic, my eyes flying open as my chest constricts in panic. My sight is blurry, and I see brown, my breath emptying from me as I try to figure out where I am. Firm hands press my upper arms into the mattress and my back screams in pain, ripping a wail out of my throat.

  “No please! I don’t want to hurt them!” I scream, and the hands lighten up, the voices changing to happy as I come back into focus.

  I blink the blurriness away from my eyes to see Lee and Xavier staring at me in astonishment. The gray walls of a corridor I don’t recognize surround me, large, florescent tube lighting causing me to squint my eyes.

  Anger overtakes any other thought as I realize I am not dead, I could still hurt more people. If that was the case, why am I sane, was my last thought before I was surprised with a gloved hand caressing my face and I look into my beloved’s eyes, one look melting my thoughts away.

  “Evie?” He asks cautiously, dark bags under his eyes.

  “Xavi….” I mumble, attempting to move my arms but cannot. “As much as I love to see you, and I don’t really want to ask this question, but why am I alive?”

  “We found a cure, Sonji saved your life. Just as you saved all of ours. I love you.” He says, then motions to everyone else, Dainan, Lee and Liam come into view.

  “Hey lady, good to see those baby blues.” Lee flirts, and Xavier smacks him gently.

  “My girl, now let’s go make sure she isn’t going to infect us all.” Xavier protects, then Dainan picks up the other end.

  I test my bounds as they walk up the stairs, and then sigh loudly, wincing, noticing my back still hurts. “So, since I was infected I assume my back is still fucked?”