Contamination Box Set [Books 0-7]

by Piperbrook, T. W.

  She didn’t even have a picture. She’d have to go back and get one. Sometime. Somehow.

  But right now, she had more immediate concerns. She needed to find Noah.

  Caddy blew past the trailers, veering around the first row of tents and making her way to the western fences. The campsite was larger than she’d thought. Although she could see the white tents the woman had described, they seemed miles away.

  The area was teeming with soldiers. She slowed her pace and avoided eye contact. The last thing she needed was to be stopped and turned away. A few of them wrinkled their brows, but she kept on, acting as if she had every right to be there.

  She wasn’t sure what their restrictions were, but she wasn’t about to ask. When she reached the first of the tents, she peered through the flaps. Inside were several rows of cots. Most of the patients inside were hooked up to IVs; many were unconscious. She scanned the faces, her heart lurching, suddenly certain she was too late.

  After staring for several seconds, she moved on. She’d only walked a few steps when she bumped into a nurse in a white uniform.

  “I’m sorry!” she said.

  The woman gave her an agitated look. It looked like she was in a hurry.

  “I’m looking for my friend. He was shot in the arm and he was taken here.”

  “You shouldn’t be here. We have a lot of wounded people in these tents, and we barely have the staff to tend to them. One of the soldiers can escort you back—”

  “Please. I need to see him. His name is Noah Chambers.”

  Without realizing it, Caddy began to cry. The nurse softened her demeanor.

  “What does he look like?”

  “Short brown hair, green eyes, early twenties…”

  “We just finished stitching him up a little while ago. He’s in the next tent.”

  “Is he OK?”

  “He’s sore and disoriented, but he’ll live.”

  “Thank you so much. Really.”

  “If anyone gives you any flack, tell them Nurse Locksley said to let you in.”

  Caddy thanked the woman again and strode toward the adjacent tent. Her heart was still thudding in her chest. Despite the woman’s reassurances, she needed to find Noah. She needed to verify he was OK.

  What if the nurse had gotten the wrong patient? What if it wasn’t him?

  When she reached the next tent, she rushed inside. Her eyes darted from one patient to the next, her concern deepening. Unlike the patients in the other tent, some of these were awake, and each of them eyed Caddy with confusion, as if expecting visitors of their own. There was no sign of Noah.

  She walked to the center of the tent, sidestepping several medical personnel. After a few seconds, one of them grabbed her arm.

  “Can I help you?” a male orderly asked, frowning.

  “I’m looking for Noah Chambers,” she said. She let her gaze wander as she talked, still scanning the rows for her friend.

  “What does he look like?”

  “Brown hair, skinny. Green eyes.”

  “We have a lot of people in here like that. You’re going to have to—”

  “Never mind, I see him.”

  Caddy broke loose and darted from his grasp.

  “Hold on. Let me just—”

  “Nurse Locksley said it was OK,” she called behind her.

  Before the orderly could stop her, Caddy reached the far end of the tent. Noah was tucked underneath several blankets, his arm bandaged. Even from across the tent, she’d recognized his thin form. His head was turned to the side, and his eyes were closed. Caddy’s face streamed with tears as she ran to his side.

  To her surprise, there were already two visitors with him.

  32

  In his dream, Noah was surrounded.

  All around him were the mouths and flesh of the infected. Their bodies hurtled at him from every direction; their nails scratched at his skin. He did his best to dodge them, but he couldn’t seem to walk. His feet felt like they were rooted in cement.

  He was walled in. Trapped.

  All he could do was close his eyes and shield his face, hoping they somehow wouldn’t get to him. His arm throbbed. One of them must have taken a bite out of him.

  He had to do something. He had to get free.

  He kicked his legs and cried out, but he met resistance. It felt like his limbs were encased in concrete; he was powerless to move. There had to be a way out, a way to get to his family.

  He opened his eyes to a sea of faces.

  This time they were faces he recognized. Standing around him were his mother, father, and brother.

  Susan Chambers’ brown hair was matted and tangled, her teeth rotten. James Chambers stared at him with sightless eyes, and Ricky’s mouth was covered in gore. They’d all been infected. He hadn’t gotten to them in time.

  There’d be no happy reunion, no saying goodbye.

  Noah screamed. Without warning, the haze cleared.

  He was lying in a white-walled room, surrounded by the beeps and clicks of machinery. It took him a second to determine where he was, and even longer to remember what had happened.

  I was shot. Caddy pulled me into the truck, and we were driving to the checkpoint.

  Did we make it?

  He looked down, noticing a bandage on his arm. He must’ve been treated. But where was Caddy? Was she here, too?

  “Noah?”

  A voice was calling his name. He recognized the pitch and tone, but it didn’t belong to Caddy. He shifted his focus to the chairs next to him.

  Three people were sitting next to his hospital bed. All of them were people he recognized. Two of them were people he’d never thought he’d see again.

  “Sam? Delta?”

  The older man smiled. Aside from a few cuts and bruises, his tan face looked exactly the same as Noah remembered it.

  “You made it, kid.”

  “Am I dreaming?”

  Delta laughed. She reached over and patted Noah on the leg. Her blue eyes were big and round and full of concern. Her long dark hair had been tied back in a ponytail, and she looked just as beautiful as when he’d last seen her.

  “We’ve got to stop meeting like this,” she said.

  He smiled. The last time they’d been together, they’d shared a kiss. He still remembered the taste of her lips as she’d pressed them to his. To see her again made his heart leap.

  “I can’t believe you’re here,” he said, still groggy from sleep. “All of you.”

  Caddy sat next to them, beaming. The sight of his three friends together was surreal, but it was one he could get used to. Despite the odds, all of them had survived, and all of them were here together.

  Noah glanced at his arm.

  “How’s it feel?” Caddy asked.

  “They must have me on some good meds, because I don’t feel a thing,” he said.

  His companions laughed. Hearing the commotion, one of the nurses stepped over to his bed.

  “How’re you feeling, Mr. Chambers?” the nurse asked.

  “I’ve been better, but I’ve been worse.”

  “We’re going to keep you in here for a little while, then we’re going to get you set up in your own living quarters. You’re going to need a lot of rest.”

  Noah smiled. “That sounds great about now.”

  “Your friends can stay a few more minutes. Then we’ll need them to leave.”

  “OK, thanks.”

  The nurse skirted away, headed for another patient. Noah turned his attention back to his companions.

  “I don’t know where to begin,” he said. “So much has happened…”

  Delta shook her head. “Don’t think about that now. The important thing is that we a
ll made it.”

  “We’ll have plenty of time to talk,” Sam said. “You should just try and relax.”

  Noah’s brow furrowed.

  “What about Dan and Quinn? Are they here, too, somewhere?”

  Sam shook his head.

  “They stayed at the salvage yard. That was the last we saw of them. But if I had to bet, they’re doing fine. Dan is a resourceful guy. I’m sure we’ll hear from him sooner or later.”

  “We told the military where they were,” Delta said. “Their descriptions, the location of the salvage yard. They promised to send troops to find them. Hopefully, when this is over, we can all reconnect.”

  Noah nodded. He was still in awe that his two friends had made it, that somehow fate had brought them together. Several minutes ago, his brain had been filled with images and nightmares; now his mind was filled with relief.

  The sight of his companions made him want to spring from his bed and hug them. At the same time, he knew he was in no shape to do so.

  “I don’t want to get you guys in trouble,” he said. “Why don’t you go and get some food. There is food here, right?”

  “Of course,” Caddy confirmed. “And it’s damn good, too. Better than those rice cakes.”

  “We were on a steady diet of cereal for days before getting here,” Delta said with a grin.

  The three of them stood, stretching their legs. It looked like they’d been there a while. Noah felt his heart swell at the thought of them keeping vigil.

  “Thanks for watching over me,” he said. “All of you.”

  “No problem,” Sam said.

  The older man turned away, and then stopped.

  “Oh, Noah,” he said. “I almost forgot.”

  Sam reached into his pocket and pulled out a cellphone. He tapped the screen and put the receiver to his ear.

  “He’s awake,” he said to someone on the other end. “Sure, I’ll put him on.”

  Noah frowned in confusion as Sam held out the phone.

  “Here you go,” he said. “It’s your mom.”

  Noah smiled at his companions from his cot, balancing the tray of food on his lap. “You weren’t joking. This beats anything I’ve had in weeks.”

  He reached for a fork, still favoring his left arm, and Delta swooped in to assist.

  “Easy there, hotshot,” she said. “Remember what the nurses said. Don’t overexert yourself.”

  Noah smiled and leaned back, grateful for the help. From somewhere outside the tent, a single gunshot rang out, but none of them bothered to look.

  Over the past few days, the gunfire had grown less and less frequent, and the sightings of the creatures had been fewer and farther between. Although the campsite was still in lockdown, information had begun to trickle down to the residents. The news was positive.

  The infection had been contained.

  The creatures were dying out.

  Soon, they’d all get to go home.

  The military was still tight-lipped with the details, but the vibe of the campsite had changed from one of fear to one of hope. Noah noticed many of the soldiers smiling, and talk of returning home to family abounded.

  He glanced at his friends with nostalgia. The three of them were sitting on the cot across from his. It was only a matter of time before they all disbanded and went their separate ways. At some point, some point soon, life would change again.

  This time he hoped it would be for the better.

  “What are your plans for when we get out of here?” Noah asked them, spearing a forkful of eggs.

  Delta and Sam looked at each other.

  “Sam and I talked about going to the West Coast,” Delta said. “There’s nothing left for me in Oklahoma. I take it you’re going home?”

  Noah nodded. “My mom would have my head if I went anywhere else.”

  His friends chuckled.

  He glanced over at Caddy, who was staring at her shoes. He noticed she hadn’t answered.

  “I have an idea, Caddy,” he said. “Why don’t you come home with me? My mom loves company, and we have a spare bedroom.”

  “I couldn’t…” Her voice trailed off.

  “I mean it,” he insisted. “Come. You’ll love it there. Portland’s beautiful, especially in the fall.”

  The girl looked up and smiled. “I did always say I needed to get out of Chester.”

  “It’s settled, then.”

  Noah met Delta’s eyes across the tent. Though they’d been at the campsite for several days, neither of them had discussed the kiss at the salvage yard. In some ways, it felt like a dream. Hell, everything they’d been through did.

  Noah still wasn’t sure what it had meant, if it had meant anything at all. But with the future wide open, they’d have plenty of time to figure it out.

  “Why don’t you two come, as well? We can roll out the sleeping bags. My mom will have a field day.”

  “Thanks for the offer, but I have my heart set on California,” Sam said. “I’ve been landlocked for too long.”

  Delta smirked.

  “What’s so funny?” Sam asked.

  “Nothing. I’m just picturing you by the Hollywood sign.”

  Sam swatted at Delta and the four of them laughed.

  “What about you, Delta?” Noah asked.

  “I promised Sam I’d accompany him to the West Coast. After that, though, who knows? I’ve never been to Portland.”

  She gave Noah a playful grin, and his heart skipped a beat. His gaze drifted over his companions. Just a week ago, they’d all been complete strangers, people whose lives were headed in different directions. It was as if some cosmic force had brought them together, each playing a role in the others’ survival.

  Whatever roads they ended up taking, Noah would carry them with him.

  Even if this was goodbye, they’d see each other again.

  EPILOGUE

  “So this is it, huh?”

  Caddy smiled as she looked up at the brown Victorian. Noah followed her gaze and took in the familiar lines and curves of the house. Two cars sat in the driveway.

  “You weren’t lying. This is beautiful,” Caddy said.

  The residential street was lined with oaks and pines, their branches extending into the sky above. The houses looked the same as Noah remembered them. He recognized several of his neighbors walking in the street, dogs padding in front of them. It was as if his hometown had been sealed off and preserved, waiting for him to return.

  He paused in the driveway, scanning the windows. He’d told his mother when to expect him, but they were several hours later than he’d planned. He wondered if she was waiting behind one of the panes.

  He drew a breath and headed up the walkway, Caddy following behind him. The lawn was full and green, and he admired the beauty of the landscape with fresh eyes. It was a far cry from the ruined streets he’d been through.

  A far cry from the things he’d seen.

  The steps creaked underfoot as he walked up them. His heart thudded in his chest, but this time with pleasant anticipation.

  Before he could ring the bell, the door swung open.

  Sarah Chambers stood in the door, an apron slung over her front. His mother looked skinnier than when he’d last seen her, but her face still held the warmth he remembered. Her eyes welled up at the sight of him.

  She flung the door open and took him into her arms.

  Their embrace lasted a full minute. Noah could feel his mother’s tears on his cheek, and he suppressed tears of his own. After their greeting, he introduced the girl behind him.

  “This is Caddy,” he said.

  Noah’s mother didn’t hesitate. She took hold of the girl, wrapping her in a hug.

  “I’m Mrs. Chamber
s,” she said. “Oh, who am I kidding? Call me Sarah.”

  Sarah Chambers ushered the two of them inside. Noah’s father was waiting in the doorway. Like Noah, he was thin and of medium height, and he was wearing a polo shirt and jeans. He grabbed hold of Noah as he entered.

  “Thank God you made it, son. Ricky’s on his way.”

  Noah blinked back the tears. Outside, he’d almost been able to convince himself that he’d been on a trip, that the horrors he’d seen were all part of his imagination. It was as if the sight of his parents made everything real again.

  His father greeted Caddy without prompting.

  “It’s a privilege to meet you. We owe you for taking care of our son,” he said. “If there’s anything you need—anything at all—just let us know.”

  “I was hoping Caddy could stay for a while,” Noah suggested.

  “Absolutely.”

  After the greetings and introductions had finished, Noah, his dad, and Caddy took seats in the living room while Sarah went off to get beverages.

  “It’s been so difficult watching all this, wondering where you were,” Noah’s father said. “Your mother and I prayed every day you’d come home to us. To see you both here is just…it’s amazing, is all.”

  “It must have been difficult hearing about everything going on.”

  “No one would allow us to leave the state. The borders were all blocked off. The president was on the news almost nonstop, and they kept calling it a national emergency. It was chaos at first. Hell, it probably still is. But I’m sure what happened here is nothing compared to what you two have seen.”

  Noah’s eyes fell. The three of them hung in silence for a minute, listening to the clink of glasses in the kitchen. They were interrupted by the sound of the front door opening.

  “That must be Ricky,” Noah’s father said, padding from the room.

  Noah looked over at the chair next to him, expecting to find Caddy uncomfortable. To his surprise, she was smiling.

  “This is great,” she said. “Your parents are so sweet.”