Read Online Contagion: The Rising by John Carter - Free Book Online

her as she walked out.
    Trevor
sat down on his bed and ran his hands through his dirty hair. “I’m pretty sure
you have the same thing in mind,” he yelled over to Chloe who walked in,
dressed and ready to go.
    “Well,
what are we waiting for then?”
    Trevor
smiled and motioned towards the barn, “We’ve got supplies in there and a few
guns. I’m sure they won’t be expecting us for a while.” His face twitched as
his hand cramped up. He quickly turned away as the look of pain he was
suppressing took over his face. The wave of pain cascaded through his body and
he was left with a dull headache. He turned back around to face Chloe. “Let’s
go.” Chloe nervously smiled as she followed him over to the barn.
     
     Everyone
took turns to keep an eye outside of the bunker. The rotation included two
people on watch for about 4 hours each. The watchers remained close to the hill
and stayed hidden within the grassy bushes while scouting the valley. The first
couple on watch was Rory and Sarah. Rory sat near Sarah as she scanned the land
below them with Jeremiah’s binoculars.
    “What
are you looking for?”
    “I
don’t know. Movement of some kind?”
    “And do
you see anything?”
    “No,” Sarah
dropped the binoculars and handed them to Rory. She leaned on him as he stood
still looking at the land in front of them. “I’m hoping they’re both dead.”
    “They
might as well be,” Rory put the binoculars down. “Emma beat the crap out of Chloe.”
    “Yeah,”
Sarah looked slightly worried. “I’ve never seen that side of her before.”
    “Emma
was protecting you.”
    “No, I
meant Chloe,” Sarah touched her throat. “I know she was mourning her husband,
but I had no idea she had that much hate towards us. It wasn’t just hate
though. It seemed more like an act of desperation.”
    Rory
gave a confused look, “What do you mean?”
    “I
don’t know. She just didn’t seem like how she was before.”
    “I
wouldn’t think so. The love of her life saved your sister and got blasted,”
Rory stared at the valley ahead of him.
    Sarah
shrugged, “It wasn’t Emma’s fault.”
    “No,
but you both were involved,” Rory looked at Sarah. “I think she wanted to just
get even with someone.”
     
                   
Emma sprang up in the bed and instantly felt the pain from her stomach. “Damn
it!” She tried to calm her stomach muscles but it was too late.
    Jeremiah
rushed in, “Emma, are you okay?” He looked drowsy and half asleep.
    “Were
you sleeping in the hallway?”
    He
nodded and turned red, “I just wanted to make sure you’re doing okay, and in
case you need help.”
    Emma
smiled and shifted the bandages along her stomach.
    “Let me
help you,” he grabbed the first aid kit and attempted to lift the tape from her
skin gently. “Sorry.”
    Emma
winced and looked on, “It’s okay, just pull it all at once.”
    Jeremiah
pulled on the tape which caused Emma to jump and curse.
    “No
more tape. Please,” she squeaked out as he replaced the soiled gauze with fresh
ones.
    “Okay,
should be good for a while,” he turned and walked towards the door.
    Emma
quickly recovered from the pain, “You can sleep in here if you want to. I mean,
since Sarah’s out with Rory on duty.” She cleared her throat, “That bed should
be free.”
    He
looked confused and his face flushed, “Sure, I’d like to. I can keep an eye on
your vitals and monitor your heart. Yeah, that works.” He went out to the
hallway and retrieved his sleeping bag. He got the bed ready and laid down in
the gurney. “Wake me up if anything comes up. Questions? Comments?” They both
laughed.
    “Thanks,”
she turned over to face him. “I know this is probably a bit premature, but is
there any way to know why I’m not a Riser yet?”
    He sat
up with an arm propping up his head, “I wish I knew for sure, but since your
blood is abnormal, the virus might not survive for too long in it. There might
be a small