The Apocalypse Survival Manual (Three Days Before Doomsday, I Stockpiled Billions) novel Chapter 828

Chapter 828

Nicole and Zeph scrambled out of bed. Cola whined and raced toward Poppy’s room.

Zeph rushed in and found his sister burning up, her cheeks flushed. The thermometer read almost 106 degrees.

Nicole quickly removed the bandage from Poppy’s hand. The bite was red and swollen, though there was no

pus.

She never expected a single tide bug bite to make Poppy this sick.

She checked Poppy’s heart rate, oxygen level, and pulse. Her heartbeat was regular, but her oxygen saturation was down to 93%, and her pulse felt rapid and weak.

Nicole gave her medicine to bring down the fever while Zeph set up the oxygen concentrator. “Poppy, wake up.”

Poppy’s eyes fluttered open.

“Zeph, I feel awful,” she whispered.

He fitted the oxygen mask over her face. “You have a fever. We’re taking care of you, alright? Don’t be scared.”

Nicole kept several pieces of lab equipment in her storage space, but without the necessary reagents, she couldn’t test Poppy’s blood.

She brought out an ECG machine to monitor her heart. So far, it showed no abnormalities.

Still, the fever continued, accompanied by violent chills and repeated vomiting. One tiny bite was making her dangerously ill.

Within two hours of taking the medicine, Poppy’s temperature climbed again. With the medication offering so little relief, they tried cooling her down with damp cloths.

Poppy looked up at Zeph. “Am I going to die?”

“No. You’re just sick. The medicine will help you feel better.”

“But I feel so bad.” Tears spilled down Poppy’s cheeks as she clutched his hand. “I don’t want to leave you and Nicole, or Cola,”

Zeph leaned down and held her close. “You’re not going to die. I won’t let you.”

Poppy huddled against him, “I just dreamed I died.”

“It was only a dream.”

“No, it was real.” She shook all over. “In the dream…”

In the dream, their uncle and cousin ate her.

Zeph went rigid, and his voice rose before he could stop himself. “Poppy, dreaming about something doesn’t mean it’s going to happen.”

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But Poppy couldn’t believe it was only a dream. The pain was too real. She could still feel the knife cutting into her.

Poppy didn’t understand where the dream came from. Zeph had taken her away from that family almost ten years ago, and she barely remembered what they looked like.

Yet in the dream, their faces surrounded her, twisted with cruelty.

Zeph held her and rubbed her back, struggling to keep his voice steady. “It’s the fever giving you nightmares. That’s all. Nicole and I would never let anyone do that to you. We’ll keep you safe.”

Poppy remembered their apartment on the 18th floor and how sick she was back then. Nicole knocked on their door, carried her to the apartment next door, and gave her medicine.

“If I die,” she said, “promise you’ll take care of Nicole for me, too.”

Zeph shook his head. “No. She’s spent all these years taking care of you. You’ll have to grow up and take care of her when she’s old.”

Outside the door, Nicole stood holding a glass of water. She couldn’t bring herself to knock.

After an injection to lower her fever, Poppy finally fell asleep.