Apocalipstick (Hell in a Handbag Book 1) by Lisa Acerbo (the best e book reader txt) 📗

he won’t turn undead if we keep him alive. He hasn’t showed any of the signs yet, but we don’t have the right medicine at the inn. We used most of our supply on the trip here and haven’t been able to find more. I’m low on aspirin too. I don’t know how much longer I’ll be able to keep his fever down.”

“We have to help him,” Jenna pleaded.

“We don’t know anything about his condition,” Gus said. “Even with all the medicine in the world, he might not make it. We should leave it in God’s hands rather than risk more people. Steakers are close. We don’t know how many, but they are obviously around.”

Jenna wouldn’t relent. “We have to try. There are pharmacies in every town. The medicine we need can’t be far away. What about going back to Pittsfield? There must be medicine at both the grocery store and the drug store on the main street.”

“It’s a long trip demanding supplies and manpower,” Peter reasoned.

“Or womanpower.” Jenna scowled. “You’re worried about supplies? It will be worth it.”

“For the humans,” Aiko interjected.

Jenna ignored the comment. “You heard Emma say we were low. A scouting group would be going out soon enough. This turns it into a priority. I’m sure the medicine we need is out there. Every store in the city cannot have been ransacked.”

“You know what’s there?” George answered his own question with a cruel smile. “A shitload of Streakers waiting for any dumbass to set foot in that reeking hell again.”

“We’re worried about you coming back too, not just supplies.” Peter placated.

“Antibiotics? Really?” Aiko’s words cut through the air like a sword. “Are we trying to rescue the same person? Never mind all the Streakers running around in the stupid town almost got us all killed, but antibiotics and aspirin aren’t a guarantee he’ll get better. Even with medicine, he’s probably going to die, especially if you run into trouble or delay even a couple of days. If you even make it back.”

Small conversation erupted throughout the group, but Jenna didn’t like the dribs and drabs of words she heard. Most of the New Race and humans agreed with Aiko, even if they did not condone her harsh presentation of the facts.

“We can’t risk sacrificing a bunch of people to save one,” George said.

Jenna had an overwhelming desire to gut punch him to shut him up.

The pock-faced man continued. “We don’t know what will happen to Quentin when he gets the medicine. We could lose everyone we send back into Pittsfield. Going into the city once was more than enough.”

“Not to be rude George, but I’m with Jenna,” Billy said softly from the other couch. He jutted out his chin, attempting to look more mature, but instead, looking every ounce the young and rebellious teen. “Quentin is family. You do everything you can to save family.”

“You’re too young to vote on this.” George sneered. “You must realize if it was anyone else, Jenna would be voting with the majority. It’s the fact Quentin’s her boyfriend.”

“That has nothing to do with this. I would save anyone in this room,” Jenna charged. “Except maybe you.”

George shot out of his chair and lunged. “You little bitch. I should knock you a good one and show you what happens when . . .”

Caleb and John each grabbed one of George’s arms, hauled him back to his chair, and dropped him into it. They didn’t move away. Instead, both men hovered, standing guard.

Emma pulled Jenna back to the couch.

“This is getting us nowhere.” Peter swiped a stray strand of hair away from his forehead. He should have been eating at an Italian restaurant directing stooges who to put the hurt on. Instead, he organized the vote. “At this point, let’s find out what people want. We’ll do it by ballot, so no one’s uncomfortable about how they are voting. Billy, you get a vote too.”

Gus nodded in agreement, and Peter and Aiko went to find paper and pens. Jenna, full of restless energy, paced alone in the corner of the room. She was thankful when nobody tried to change her mind or console her. If they had, the tears would have arrived.

Each person received a piece of paper and a pen and furious scribbling began.

She wrote Save Quentin.

The collected and sorted ballots formed two piles with one larger than the second. Peter gathered all the paper fragments, read them, and addressed the group.

“We did this the fair and democratic way. After I tell everyone the decision, there’s no more discussion on the matter. By a two-third majority, the group will not go to Pittsfield to find antibiotics. I’m sorry, Jenna.”

She sank to the floor and covered her face with her hands.

She’d end in tears if she saw their looks of pity or worse, they betrayal of the people she trusted the most.

“He might come through. Stranger things have happened,” Emma sat next to her and rubbed her back.

“He might also die a slow and painful death.” Jenna opened her eyes, letting the tears come.

This is angry crying. Quentin will not die as long as I live.

“You can’t believe what you just said. You don’t know God’s plan.”

“God? God’s plan? Emma don’t start. There’s no plan. There’s only Streakers and one chomped on Quentin. Now he’s dying. His death will be on your hands and everyone here because they are cowards.”

“I’m not a coward,” Caleb said, joining them in the corner. “I voted to find the medicine. If it means so much to you, we can still do it.”

“What?” Emma narrowed her eyes. “There’s no way you two are going to Pittsfield alone. We won’t let you.”

Caleb smiled. “As far as I’m aware, I am a legal adult who will do anything I want, whether that be leaving or never coming back. If I want to go to Pittsfield and get antibiotics, I’ll damn well do it, or anything else, I please. Do you have a problem?”

Jenna wiped away the tears.

He’d never appeared