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Bonus Chapter
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2022-05-28 07:53:00"Madison, I want you to show Todd and Janelle to their rooms. Just find a place for them wherever there's room-you'll know the best place for them. Then I want you to show them both where they'll be doing their chores. When you're done with that, you can take them to the cafeteria for lunch. It should be starting right about then."
"What are you gonna do?"
Aaron sighs and runs a hand nervously through his hair. "I have to gather the soldiers and tell them that I lost five of their comrades on a stupid supply run. That should be fun," he says bitterly. "There's nothing like telling someone their friends all died for a can of baked beans or a package of diapers!"
Aaron walks away shaking his head, and I just stand there in the doorway to the school, watching him go. I know Aaron well enough to know how deeply today's events will weigh on his soul, and I hate seeing him like this. Surviving in this harsh new world is hard e
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75 Days Bonus Chapter
I ignore his complaint, since I already figured he would hate any work we assigned him. Todd remains quiet as I lead both him and Janelle down to the greenhouse. Surprisingly, Felicia is back in the room, and she's tackling a large pile of clothing all by herself. She looks like she's taking her miserable mood out on an oil stain. "That will never come out," I say, startling her. Felicia drops the brush back into the tub with a disgusted sigh. "Some of the people here are such slobs! They just don't realize these are the only clothes they have, and they aren't likely to get more. You'd think they'd take better care of them." She finally looks up at me. "Who are they?" "Felicia, this is Todd and Janelle. They found us while on our supply run, and since he kind of saved my life, Aaron and I decided to bring them back with us. So I'm showing them around." "Why are they in here though?" "Janelle is gonna help out with the laundry, so I thought I would show her where it was. She won't
Last Updated : 2022-05-2875 Days Bonus Chapter
I slip out into the hallway and start my search for Aaron. After checking the storeroom, the makeshift armory, and the soldier's quarters, I finally find him in his temporary office. He's sitting behind a large wooden desk, and he's busy looking through papers with food levels, ammunition levels, and the current population breakdown. He looks up when I burst in, and he frowns."Maddy," he says, using the nickname people only use when I'm incredibly pissed off, "what's wrong?""Are you aware of the bartering system between the soldiers and the survivors?""What?""Some of the female survivors-like Rose-have been trading sexual favors for extra food! I walked in on Rose and one of your soldiers fooling around in the storeroom, and just now I noticed she had extra food. We got into it, and she admitted to it, and I noticed at least four other girls that are in on it too. Please tell me you didn't know..."He grips the edges of the desk so tightly I'm surprised the wood doesn't groan unde
Last Updated : 2022-05-2875 Days Bonus Chapter
"Do what? Sleep with a soldier for extra food? No, I wouldn't. Everyone here should get the same amount of food-with an exception for the pregnant women we have here. They need extra, and nobody disputes that.""But-""Felicia, what Rose and those other girls are doing is wrong. You shouldn't agree with them.""The world isn't the same anymore, Madison. We have to do everything in our power to survive these days," Felicia says, sounding weary. "You may not like the way things are now, but this is how it has to be. Rose is staying alive the best way she knows how. We can't all be strong women like you."I'm so shocked by how hopeless she sounds that all I can manage to say is, "I'm not strong.""Yes, you are. You're stronger than me, Daisy, and Rose. And you're stronger than a lot of the people here. That's why Aaron likes getting your opinion on things. He knows what I do-that you're made to survive this.""Felicia, I am not made to survive. I'm just lucky that Aaron found me. If he h
Last Updated : 2022-05-2875 Days Bonus Chapter
In the morning, I wake up to find my shoulders and my back mottled with dark, ugly bruises. Some are the size of the palm of my hand, and others are much larger, but they all spread across my skin like splotches of marker. My entire body aches, and I don't feel like moving, but I know I have to get out of bed if I want to find out what Aaron is going to do with the soldiers.I take a quick second to relax, before pushing myself up and off the cot. My muscles scream in protest, and I grit my teeth against the burning pain the slightest movement causes. I can't remember ever feeling this sore before, and it's only going to get worse throughout the day. And today I won't have any aspirin to dull the pain, not that the aspirin did a whole lot last night, but it was still better than nothing.Once I get to the door, I lean on the frame to catch my breath and rest my already sore muscles. Felicia sees my struggle, and she gives me a shoulder to lean against. "Are you gonna be okay, Madison?
Last Updated : 2022-05-2975 Days Bonus Chapter
The man who objected shuts up and pulls his daughter closer to his side."That's what I thought," Aaron says coldly, looking at the rest of the room again. "This is where things get difficult. What kind of punishment is fitting for the crime he committed? I can't throw him out and leave him to die. I can't charge him with aggravated assault and imprison him. I can't put him on probation. So, this is what I've settled on," he says, bringing the whip out from behind his back.There's a collective gasp from the room as people take in the long, black leather torture device in Aaron's hands."This isn't ideal, and I'm by no means happy to be doing this, but something has to be done. Now, I want all of you to hear me when I say this: the bartering system is over! There will be no more trading sex for food. If I hear of anyone else participating in this, you will be punished!"Aaron turns around and shifts his grip on the whip. He raises his hand and flicks his wrist, and the thin end of the
Last Updated : 2022-05-2975 Days Special Chapter 1
Twelve Months AgoDr. Carter Richards pushed his thick-rimmed glasses higher up on his nose as he studied the chart in his hands. Carter was a short, older man, possibly in his early fifties. His dark green eyes were hidden beneath bushy eyebrows, he had a long, hooked nose, and a slight weight problem that caused him to break out in sweat at the most unfortunate of times. He had never been much of a looker, but the government hadn't wanted him for his appearance, but instead for the brain and intelligence he possessed.Carter was capable of doing things most other people weren't. He could always see the big picture, and that was what made him the prime candidate for the project he currently found himself the head of. After Carter had read through the reports-twice, just to make sure he hadn't missed anything the first time-he bent to examine the subject on the table in front of him. It was bound down with leather straps, and it squirmed in an attempt to free itself as its eyes rolled
Last Updated : 2022-05-2975 Days Special Chapter 2
"Breakfast is ready," I shout, loud enough to be heard over the ruckus in the living room. Walking over to the kitchen doorway, I lean against the frame and watch the contest going on. Both Ryder and Aaron are sitting on opposite ends of the living room table, clasping each other's right hands. Their free hands are behind their backs, and the others are watching and cheering them on, waiting to see who wins the arm wrestling contest.As I watch, Ryder begins to get the upper hand. Slowly but surely, Aaron's smaller arm begins to lower to the table, but it doesn't go down. It hovers just above the wood while Aaron struggles to hang on for just one more minute. Before Aaron can recover, Ryder slams his arm down on the table, effectively winning the contest.Reese and Naomi cheer while Todd and Madison pat Aaron on the back. "It's okay, Aaron. You'll get him next time," Madison says.Aaron smiles good naturedly, and leans across the table to offer Ryder his hand. T
Last Updated : 2022-05-3075 Days Special Chapter 3
Hours later, the jeep jerks to a halt in front of the only car dealership in the area. Reese pockets the car keys, but he doesn't exit the car. He just sits there rubbing his temple as if he has a migraine, and I wait impatiently for him. After a thirty minute drive into town from the middle of nowhere, I'm feeling anxious to stretch my feet, and to get this done, and waiting for him does not make me happy.Finally Reese slides out of the jeep, slamming the door shut behind him. Rolling my eyes at his attitude, I head into the dealership parking lot to look for anything that will be able to fit us all. The sound of Reese's boots clunking against the pavement is the only indication that he's deciding to follow me, and I hope he's paying more attention to our surroundings than I think he is.I constantly scan our surroundings, always on the lookout for any sign of movement. The gun belted to my side feels right at home on my hip, and with it always within my reach, I fee
Last Updated : 2022-05-30
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75 Days Special Chapter 10
We rejoin the group by the vehicles. Ryder is still standing guard on top of the truck, always vigilant and aware of anything going on around us. For a minute, all I can do is stand at the back of the parking lot with Todd and stare at Ryder. He's made it possible for us to feel as safe as humanly possible while out on the road, and he takes all of the faith we have in him seriously. He'll never let us down... He turns and spots us. The corner of his lips twitch, and I know it's as close to a smile I'll get while he's on guard duty. That almost smile falters as his eyes roam over my body, and I know the exact instant he sees the wounds on my face and arms. His gun drops to his side and he jumps off the roof of the truck to the bed and hops over the tailgate, hitting the pavement with a loud thump. He heads over to us with long, purposeful strides. I can tell how furious he is from the way he clenches his hands until the knuckle are white and the way his nostrils flare. He reaches ou
75 Days Special Chapter 9
"You'd let complete stranger in?" Aaron asks, as if he can't believe she would be stupid enough to do that. "Aren't you worried about what they might do? To you or your kids?" "Of course I am!" she snaps. "But we won't make it here alone. I need help gathering fuel and protecting this place. Against my better judgment, I'm trusting yours. If you think they're safe, send them back this way if they're willing. I don't have much of a choice," she says. Reese nods. "I understand." "Thank you so much," Tuyen says. "I really appreciate it." "Don't worry about it. If we meet anyone on the road, Ryder and I can assess them. If they're trustworthy, we'll let them know you're taking people in." She smiles gratefully at Reese, but then turns her attention to me. "To be honest, I'm not sure how reliable this cure information you have is, but for all our sakes, I hope it pans out for you." "Me, too." "Stay safe while you're out there trying
75 Days Special Chapter 8
Out of the corner of my eyes, I notice Ryder and Aaron suddenly go tense. Tuyen catches our behavior as well and smiles. "Don't worry, I have to keep this area locked up because the kids like to try and get in here to snack. If I let them take what they want, we'd run out of food for sure. So I always lock it. Nothing to be worried about."She sounds honest and sincere, but there's no telling if she's trustworthy or not. You can't be too careful these days. There might be madness lurking beneath that sincere face, and it might be too late to take caution."Stay close to me," Ryder whispers, his breath hot on my ear from how close he is. He makes sure his words don't carry-they're for my ears and my ears alone. And I take them to heart.I sidle closer to Ryder, feeling my arm brush against his. I take comfort in the warmth and closeness he offers. My hand drifts down until it's resting against the grip of my gun, and I notice the others move their weapons closer so they're ready to use
75 Days Special Chapter 7
I slide down from the rooftop and hop down into Ryder's outstretched arms. He catches me effortlessly, like I weigh next to nothing, like he hadn't been previously wounded and left almost helpless. He looks down at me, eyes full of worry. "Are you hurt?""No," I say breathlessly. "I'm okay for now, and so are those kids." He sets me down and I feel strength start to return to my legs, my earlier fear almost forgotten. "I can't believe there are still children left alive. I thought for sure they would all be long dead by now."We watch the two boys, who may actually be brothers now that I get a better look at them. They're comforting each other, checking to make sure they're both unharmed. We turn our attention to the strange girl who came out of nowhere. She's busy staring at us, clearly sizing us up and determining whether or not we're a threat to her and the boys in her care.Finally, after a very tense minute that has Reese and Aaron shifting nervously, she walks over to us. She st
75 Days Special Chapter 6
Ryder pulls over to the side of the road a few hours later, cutting the engine. He flexes his fingers and winces at the stiffness in them. Hopping out of the truck's cab, I stretch my legs for the first time since we left, feeling the strength slowly return to them. We've been following Interstate 29 since we left at dawn, and we're just outside the South Dakota border, which is quite the journey.The others get out of the vehicles, stretching their tired and aching limbs while we have the chance. Madison catches my eye and nods as she arches her back until it cracks. With a contented sigh, she walks over. "I'm getting hungry. We should use this quick stop as a lunch break, too. We might not get a spot like this to stop in again."I nod in agreement, eyeing the area around us. Ryder's expertly chosen our location, choosing a spot that's easy for us to defend. We leave the highway and walk for twenty yards, coming to the top of a small, grassy hill that overlooks the highway and the su
75 Days Special Chapter 5
Madison nudges me. "Don't," she says. "Don't doubt yourself. Not now. We're way too close to doing this for you to question your choices now. Reese will get over it eventually. And if he doesn't, it's not your problem." I sigh. "You're right." Is she though? Ryder steps around Reese and his eyes find me instantly. "Well, I think we're just about ready to go. We've just gotta pack the food into the vehicles and decide on who is riding together. I'm gonna drive the truck, and I think Aaron should drive the jeep. Sam, I want you with me so I can keep an eye on you." I nod. "Okay. Reese, I think you and Naomi should ride with us, too. Madison? I think you should ride with your people. You'll know how to work best together, and you guys probably trust each other a little more." Madison nods. "Sounds like a plan." Thankfully Reese decides to stay quiet, and he doesn't object to our plans. He just hovers in the corner, glaring at nothing in particular and making sure we all know how muc
75 Days Special Chapter 4
When we get back home after our supply run, Ryder and Aaron go over every inch of Reese's new truck, looking for imperfections. I catch snippets of their conversation, but I don't understand most of it since they use the proper mechanic terms, and I've never been that great with the subject of vehicles. The best I can do is drive one, and even then I'm a little iffy about it. But if it were to break down somewhere, I would be in so much trouble.Rather than stay outside and watch the guys look over our new ride, I head into the kitchen. There is an open can of peaches left over from the lunch the others had about an hour ago, and I dig in with a plastic fork. Daisy sits at the kitchen table, sipping at a bottle of water. She has this look in her eyes that I've noticed every once in a while. It's a look that says "I've lost someone important to me; someone that I'll never get back". Madison told me that Daisy lost her twin sister Rose when their school safe haven got overrun a
75 Days Special Chapter 3
Hours later, the jeep jerks to a halt in front of the only car dealership in the area. Reese pockets the car keys, but he doesn't exit the car. He just sits there rubbing his temple as if he has a migraine, and I wait impatiently for him. After a thirty minute drive into town from the middle of nowhere, I'm feeling anxious to stretch my feet, and to get this done, and waiting for him does not make me happy.Finally Reese slides out of the jeep, slamming the door shut behind him. Rolling my eyes at his attitude, I head into the dealership parking lot to look for anything that will be able to fit us all. The sound of Reese's boots clunking against the pavement is the only indication that he's deciding to follow me, and I hope he's paying more attention to our surroundings than I think he is.I constantly scan our surroundings, always on the lookout for any sign of movement. The gun belted to my side feels right at home on my hip, and with it always within my reach, I fee
75 Days Special Chapter 2
"Breakfast is ready," I shout, loud enough to be heard over the ruckus in the living room. Walking over to the kitchen doorway, I lean against the frame and watch the contest going on. Both Ryder and Aaron are sitting on opposite ends of the living room table, clasping each other's right hands. Their free hands are behind their backs, and the others are watching and cheering them on, waiting to see who wins the arm wrestling contest.As I watch, Ryder begins to get the upper hand. Slowly but surely, Aaron's smaller arm begins to lower to the table, but it doesn't go down. It hovers just above the wood while Aaron struggles to hang on for just one more minute. Before Aaron can recover, Ryder slams his arm down on the table, effectively winning the contest.Reese and Naomi cheer while Todd and Madison pat Aaron on the back. "It's okay, Aaron. You'll get him next time," Madison says.Aaron smiles good naturedly, and leans across the table to offer Ryder his hand. T
