The Apocalypse Survival Manual (Three Days Before Doomsday, I Stockpiled Billions) novel Chapter 510

The alternative medicine research institute in Fairmont had come to Westbridge to recruit students. Anyone interested could apply as long as they had some basic medical knowledge.

Since the disasters began, the number of doctors had dropped drastically, especially those trained in modern medicine. Some had died in natural disasters or violent attacks, while others could no longer practice without medicine, equipment, or functioning hospitals.

Modern health care nearly collapsed.

When survivors got sick, they either suffered through it or waited to die.

With no better option, alternative medicine was forced to fill the gap. During this relatively stable period, the institute needed not only to preserve as many medicinal plants as possible, but also to train a new generation of practitioners.

Of course, calling the weather stable was a stretch. Daytime temperatures still climbed as high as 113 degrees, while nighttime lows could plunge to 5 below zero.

Fortunately, they had insulated the house and owned temperature-regulating clothing. Otherwise, swinging between an oven and a freezer every day would have been unbearable.

People outside were already falling ill in large numbers. Those strong enough to keep going fought to survive. Those who weren’t simply vanished.

People with families at least left behind someone who remembered them. Those with no relatives could only wait for a body recovery crew to find them.

Nicole had plenty of cardboard boxes and foam insulation at home. Without them, even the feathered chickens, ducks, and geese wouldn’t have survived.

The rabbits, however, had adapted surprisingly well. When they felt like it, they even curled up against the birds to share their warmth.

Cola had once kept the rabbits warm, and now they were doing the same for the younger animals. Maybe that was how kindness was passed along.

Whatever the reason, all the younger animals loved following the rabbits around.

Zeph looked at her. “Do you want to apply?”

Nicole nodded.

She had spent the past few years studying on her own, but alternative medicine was a huge field. Much of its most valuable knowledge couldn’t be learned from books or videos. It had to be taught by experienced practitioners and sharpened through years of treating real patients.

More importantly, joining the institute might give her a chance to help develop treatments for the liver and lung damage the coming smog would cause.

She had no desire to spend the future coughing her lungs out.

They had nothing urgent to deal with, and Brighton Estates was relatively safe for the time being. Then an idea occurred to her.

“Why don’t you and Poppy apply, too?”

1/3

+15 Bonus

The disasters showed no sign of ending, and none of them knew how long they would be able to stay together. If they were ever separated, knowing basic medicine could help Zeph and Poppy survive.

Zeph had no objections, and Poppy was always eager to learn.

“Woof!”

Cola might have considered himself human, but this was probably beyond him.

The three of them set out and left Cola at Sven’s house. Brandon was delighted.

“Poppy, I’ll wait for you to come back. Don’t forget to teach me how to do a somersault.”

The once-shy boy had not only learned how to grow vegetables and care for small animals, but with his father’s encouragement, he had also started pushing himself to try new things.

Nicole was driving toward the neighborhood exit and had just begun making a turn when another vehicle came barreling out from the side.

The two vehicles slammed into each other with a deafening crash.

Nicole instinctively yanked the wheel, but there was no time to avoid the impact.

Fortunately, all three of them were wearing seat belts, though the force still nearly ripped them from their seats.

The world spun around them, and their ears rang.

The Hummer had been reinforced with steel plating and bulletproof glass. Otherwise, the crash could have been catastrophic.

The seat belt dug painfully into Nicole’s chest, and her forehead nearly slammed into the steering wheel. Zeph reacted instantly and caught her before she hit it.

Poppy was in the back seat. Zeph immediately turned to check on her. “Are you okay?”

She was shaken, but the seat belt had kept her safe. “I’m okay.”

The moment Nicole saw what had hit them, rage surged through her.

It was Marcus’s Maybach SUV.

Without a word, she shifted into reverse. “Hold on.”

Then she floored it and drove straight into the Maybach. Another deafening crash echoed through the street, and the SUV was shoved several yards back.

The two collisions were loud enough to bring the Robinsons’ bodyguards and the neighborhood patrol running.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify