The Virus Within: Third Wave (Book 2)

Chapter 68

A mere hour before sunset, we finally made it to the next Stronghold. After several minutes of talking, we were let in by people who kept casting nervous glances at Daniel's red eyes. A few gazes lingered on our front bumper. At this point, I'm almost hoping someone tries to steal a gun out of the gun cabinet.

"One person is still sneezing," a man told Nina as he walked beside the slowly moving truck, "and the person who started sneezing a few hours before her has already turned. You can stay in the house over there if you want, but the people who lived in it had been sneezing..."

"That will be fine," Nina reassured him as Daniel stopped in front of the indicated dwelling. She got out of the truck with her supply bag in her hand. "The virus dies within a few hours, and we do have the cure with us. But speaking of the cure, I'd like to see the person who's sneezing."

"She's this way." He guided Nina and Daniel down the road. Since this person was likely close to turning, I tagged along as well. My decision seemed to convince the others to come with us.

"When did she start sneezing?" Nina asked.

"A couple of days ago. We're hoping she'll turn into one of the other ranks." Although judging by the uneasy way he kept sneaking peeks at Daniel, I wasn't sure how welcoming they'd be if their friend suddenly had red eyes. And they had no idea Daniel was actually a Terror and not a mere Runner.

"She's in the trailer." The man pointed as we left the gate. "We're just waiting for her, then we'll open the rest of the places up and have someone guide the zombies away."

Ropes already hung down from the roofs of the trailers and were tied around door handles, which would be the easiest way to release the zombies inside without putting anyone at risk. Masks were put on as we drew closer.

"She's not far from turning," I murmured to Daniel as the leader knocked on the door.

He nodded as the door opened and a sneezing woman came out. Her eyes were red from weeping, and she wiped away the moisture as she listened to Nina and hastily agreed to both injections.

As Nina readied her syringes, Daniel quietly told her, "The sanity serum should prevent you from turning into a normal zombie, but with the cure requiring six hours, I'm fairly certain you'll turn before then. You'll probably end up as a Runner. The cure will reverse that, but it'll take time. The biggest thing to remember is to stay in here until morning. The bloodlust will try to force you to leave and hunt, but don't give in. If you can hold out for six hours, you'll be free."

Tears poured down the woman's face, but she nodded with determination, her head jerking with another sneeze.

As she readied the second syringe, Nina asked, "Is there a clock in there?"

"Y-yes."

"When you go back inside, write down the time, then also list the six-hour mark. That will be your goal."

She nodded again, then asked the leader, "Can you bar the door on the way out? Just in case..." She made a face, knowing what kind of blood the bloodlust would be after.

"Of course," he quickly agreed. "And I'll come out first thing in the morning to check on you."

"Thank you," she quietly told him. Then she shook Nina's gloved hand. "And thank you very much."

"I'm glad I was able to help," Nina replied sincerely.

The woman slowly retreated inside and closed the door. As per his promise, the man picked up a plank and put it in the rungs outside the door, trapping her in the trailer.

We went back inside the fence as the guards in their towers continued to keep watch, rifles in hand.

"Do you need anything to eat?" the man asked. "We have food, although there isn't much besides bread and soup at this time of the night."