The Extinction Series | Book 6 | Primordial Earth 6

the city’s stores, and raiding parties went out every day, spearheaded by Bruce and Callum. Despite that, the hospital was running low on everything, including food. The hotel’s plumbing system was strained to the limits, and the electrical grid had failed under the increased demand. Doctors and nurses had to work by candlelight and oil lamps at night while engineers rushed to repair the damage.
Kat wished she could run away. She wished she didn’t have to care about anyone or anything, but she did. Far too much. With reluctance, she returned to the waiting room and headed toward the front desk. Sandi manned the station, holding a clipboard in one hand and a crutch in the other. Her eyes were shadowed and her cheeks pale.
“Have you been here all night?” Kat asked with a frown.
“Just another day in paradise,” Sandi said with a wan smile.
“Go home and get some rest,” Kat said, reaching for the clipboard.
“I’m fine,” Sandi replied, yanking the clipboard out of reach.
“No, you’re not. You look like you’re about to faint. Go home,” Kat commanded.
“I can’t,” Sandi said, her bottom lip quivering.
“Why not? What’s wrong?”
“I just can’t be there. Not without Paul. It feels wrong, like the walls are about to crush me,” Sandi said, dashing at a tear.
Kat sighed. “He should never have left in the first place, the dumbass.”
Sandi choked on a laugh. “Maybe, but he did.”
“Have you eaten, at least?” Kat asked. “You know. Actual food?”
“No,” Sandi admitted with a touch of shame.
“Come on. I haven’t had breakfast either,” Kat said.
“Alright.” Sandi handed the clipboard over to another nurse and followed Kat to the kitchens.
Breakfast was finished, but Kat scrounged up two cups of tea, a few biscuits, and some dried apples. “It’s not much, but it’ll have to do.”
They sat down at a table and ate their meal. A few other people came and went, but the room was quiet. A blessed relief after the chaos of the infirmary.
“How many fresh cases came in during the night?” Kat asked, not sure she wanted to know the answer.
Sandi stared at her plate. “Thirty-two, but we sent six home again. False alarms.”
“Again?” Kat asked with a sigh.
Sandi nodded. “People are panicking. Just a sneeze is enough to send them running here.”
“If they only knew what it was like,” Kat said. “Honestly, I think they’re better off at home.”
“I know. If you’re going to die, it might as well be with your family,” Sandi agreed. “We can’t help them here.”
“No, we can’t,” Kat said. “If this keeps up, we won’t have any more room.”
“You think we’ll have to turn people away?” Sandi said with wide eyes. “That would cause a riot.”
“I know.”
“People are scared. Heck, I’m scared,” Sandi admitted. A deep silence fell between them, suffocating with its visions of a future filled with nothing but death.
“So, you and Paul,” Kat said, changing the subject.
“It was just a stupid fight about us having kids one day. We’re not even married yet,” Sandi burst out.
“But you’ve been together a long time, haven’t you?”
“Three years,” Sandi said. “I always knew he was the one. Now, I’m not so sure.”
“You never talked about it? Having kids?” Kat prompted.
“Not really, I mean… Paul did, but I didn’t think he was that serious about it,” Sandi said.
“It sounds to me like he really wants children. How about you?”
“I haven’t really thought about it. I can’t stand kids, to be honest,” Sandi said with a shudder.
“That doesn’t mean you won’t love your own children,” Kat said with a low laugh.
“That’s what my mom says,” Sandi replied with a faint smile.
“It sounds to me like you need to make a decision,” Kat said.
“Yeah, but why did he have to run away? We could’ve talked about this,” Sandi said, her cheeks flushing with fiery blood.
“Sometimes it’s easier to run away than face things head-on.”
“I just… I miss him,” Sandi admitted. “It’s not the same without him. I’m all alone here, and I don’t have any friends.”
“Do you want to go home? To your family? At least until Paul gets back,” Kat asked. “I could arrange an escort for you.”
“No, thanks. I’m staying. I need to be here when he gets back.”
“Alright, but why don’t you move in with me for now? I’ve got room, and you won’t have to be alone through all of this.”
“Are you sure? I won’t be a bother?” Sandi asked, her expression hopeful.
“Of course I mean it. It’ll be fun,” Kat said. “In fact, why don’t you get your things and move in right away. No sense in waiting, is there?”
“I suppose you’re right,” Sandi said, jumping up. She flashed Kat a huge grin. “I’ll be back in an hour.”
“Take your time,” Kat said, standing up.
Suddenly, a wave of nausea hit her out of nowhere. “Oh, dear.”
“Kat? What’s wrong?” Sandi asked, staring at her in confusion.
“I’m going to hurl,” Kat cried, making a run for the communal bathroom down the hall from the kitchens.
She burst through the door, not caring when it hit the opposite wall with a resounding bang, and ran toward the nearest stall. She pressed one hand to her mouth while the other clutched her stomach. The offending organ churned like a washing machine, and she barely made it to the toilet in time.
Watery bile erupted from her lips, and her entire body heaved with the motion until there was nothing left. Tears stained her cheeks, and her legs quivered like jelly when she finally got up.
“Are you okay?” Sandi asked. Her voice was laced with concern, and she hovered in the doorway with a wad of tissues.
“I don’t know.” Kat took the proffered tissues and wiped her mouth. She felt weird, off-balance, and strange. Her stomach fluttered, and she wondered if she was coming down with something. Her mind flew over the past few weeks, looking for related symptoms. Then it hit her. I’m late. I’m never late, but this time I am. Two months already.
“Kat? What is it?”
“I… it’s impossible. It can’t be, but I