Tara walked out into the sunshine arm-in-arm with Saul, a smile playing on her lips. “She looks happy, doesn’t she?”
“She does,” Saul agreed.
“I’m glad. We all deserve some joy after everything we’ve been through,” Tara said.
“You know what would make me very happy?” Saul asked. “If you’d finally agree to marry me.”
“Mm, I’ll think about it.”
“You’ve been thinking about it for weeks now. Just put me out of my misery,” Saul protested.
“I don’t know. I’m still holding out for the perfect guy,” Tara said with a teasing grin.
“That’s impossible because you can’t get more perfect than me,” Saul replied.
“Pfft. We’ll see about that.”
“You heard what Amy said. Amanda accepted Alex’s proposal,” Saul said.
“That’s Amanda, not me,” Tara said.
“I should’ve fed you to the catfish back in the Congo; you know that?” Saul said. “My life would’ve been so much easier.”
“Easier, perhaps, but also boring,” Tara said.
“I guess that’s true. I’m not giving up, though. I’m going to badger you until you say yes,” Saul said.
“Badger away, my love. I look forward to it,” Tara said, tipping her head back to soak up the sun’s golden rays. Life couldn’t get any better than that moment, of that she was sure. Whatever the future holds, I’m ready for it.
Do you want more?
So we’ve reached the end of Apocalypse Z - Book 6, and I really hope you enjoyed reading the book as much as I enjoyed writing it. If you did, please consider leaving a review as that makes it so much easier for an author like me to reach more readers like yourself and to keep writing. You can review the book here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08681K4N6
This is the end of the series, but fear not. There’s lots more where this came from. If you enjoyed this series, why not check out the other books on my Amazon Page? I have numerous completed series, boxed sets, and plenty more projects planned for the future. You can view it all right here: https://www.amazon.com/Baileigh-Higgins/e/B01LYMGFUG
Plus, you can read further for a sneak peek at my bestselling series, The Black Tide, available in a complete boxed set containing over 650 pages of suspense-filled, character-driven, post-apocalyptic action: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B078Y4TBRG
Prologue and Chapter 1:
Prologue
The Black Tide. That’s what they called it. Incurable. Unstoppable. Terrifying.
It began in China then spread throughout Asia and Eastern Europe, rolling across the continent like a tidal wave, killing everyone in its path. The death toll climbed, reaching hundreds of millions within weeks.
The rest of the world mobilized, but despite all efforts to stop it the Black Tide kept coming.
When the disease finally reached my home, the borders of South Africa, we thought we were prepared.
How wrong we were.
Chapter 1
I took the loaf out of the bread bin. It was moldy. Fuzzy patches of white had sprung up around the edges, intensifying to blue-green in places. I picked it off with my nails and popped three slices into the toaster. With any luck, it would taste all right, and nobody would notice. I wrapped up the rest and put it away. Only two slices left.
“Lexi, are you ready for school yet?” I called. Silence met my ears. “Lexi, we’re gonna be late!”
“I’m coming; I’m coming.” She flounced into the kitchen, dragging her school bag behind her like it was filled with cement.
Flopping down on a chair she stared at me, her expression baleful. My little sister was not a morning person. I made her a cup of tea with heaps of sugar, hoping to perk her up. At least, we still had a lot of that.
I gave her a quick once over and sighed. Her dark brown hair curled out in all directions, the ponytail sagging beneath the weight of the thick strands. “What the hell happened to your hair? Did rats try to eat it? What will your teachers think?”
“What does it matter? I’m like the only one there, Ava.” She crossed her arms and pouted, bottom lip stuck out as far as it could go.
“That’s not true. There are still lots of kids in school.”
“Is not. Even Jenny’s mom is letting her stay at home now.”
“Who’s Jenny?”
She looked at me with disdain. “Jenny’s my BFF.”
I snorted. BFF, indeed. Kids. “Well, you heard what Dad said, Lexi. You’re going to school.”
She stuck her tongue out before slumping forward onto her arms. I knew how she felt. I also hated school as a kid. Now I hated work. Same thing, different day.
The bread popped out of the toaster, and I grabbed the margarine tub. Crap. It’s empty. I scraped the last bit out and stretched it over a slice. Putting it on a plate, I handed it to Lexi. “Eat up. We’re leaving in five minutes.”
She eyed the single slice of toast but didn’t complain. “Where’s yours?”
“I’ve got my own, don’t worry.” I picked up the second slice and waved it at her then crammed it into my mouth, swallowing the dry mush with a sip of tea.
“Do I get lunch today?” Her face was hopeful, and my heart clenched as I studied her pale face and dull eyes, the ordinarily creamy skin like curdled milk.
I tried hard to stretch our meager supplies and when possible gave her extra, but she was always hungry. We all were. It made me feel helpless. Reaching into the cupboard above me, I popped out three multivitamins and handed her one. It was one of the few perks my job provided.
“Sorry, sweet pea. Not today. But I’ll see if I can buy more food after work, okay?” She nodded and ate the last of her toast, swallowing the pill with a grimace. I copied her, worry consuming my mind.
The shops were running dry. Food deliveries had slowed, and prices had soared to astronomical heights. Never rich to begin with, we now struggled to put food on the table.
My dad walked into the kitchen, “Morning, kids.”
“I’m not a kid anymore,” Lexi complained. “I’m ten years old.” She held up both hands for emphasis.
He rolled
