The Apocalypse Survival Manual (Three Days Before Doomsday, I Stockpiled Billions) novel Chapter 830

Chapter 830

The worse Poppy felt, the more she dwelled on the past.

Memories from the last several years kept coming back to her.

Without Nicole’s guidance, she might still be trying desperately to please everyone, going along with whatever they wanted and keeping her feelings to herself. Back then, she couldn’t even open up to Zeph.

Nicole helped her break those habits, become more confident, and grow closer to Zeph.

Poppy wrapped her arms around her. “I’m really glad it wasn’t you.”

Nicole hugged her tightly, too choked up to answer.

Over the next few days, Poppy’s condition continued to fluctuate. Nicole and Zeph took turns at her bedside, watching for the slightest change.

At one point, her condition became so precarious that they nearly needed an emergency injection to keep her heart going.

After five days, her fever finally broke.

Poppy was noticeably thinner. Nicole and Zeph each lost several pounds, too, and even Cola barely touched

his food.

Nicole checked everything she could. Poppy’s readings were still low, but she found no obvious signs of organ damage.

For now, they seemed to be through the worst.

It was a frighteningly close call. Without the oxygen concentrator and their stock of medication, there would have been little they could do but hope she survived.

Still shaken, Zeph drew Nicole aside. “Is she really gonna be okay?”

Nicole couldn’t give him a definite answer.

“Back at Oakhaven Gardens, Isaac recovered after we pumped his stomach when he ate that mutated squid. Exposure doesn’t always seem to be fatal. It may depend on what they’re exposed to, how much gets into their system, and their overall health.”

The tide bugs consumed everything in their path, including the Ardelonian attackers, bones and all. They could carry any number of pathogens.

Without the right tests, Nicole had no way to know whether Poppy cleared the infection or whether something remained in her body.

She chose her words carefully, trying to reassure Zeph without making promises.

“I think she’ll be alright. Right now, she needs time to recover. Once she feels stronger, we can ease her back into exercise and help her regain her strength.

“The Ardelonians survived for years on contaminated water and mutated sea creatures. Poppy got a single bite, and she’s improving. We’ll keep a close eye on her.”

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Zeph finally let out a breath and pulled her into his arms. “You’ve barely rested through all this. Thank you, Nicole.”

“All that matters is that Poppy’s okay.”

She couldn’t bear to imagine their lives without her.

Nicole reminded Poppy to rest and tell her right away if anything felt wrong.

The illness left Poppy weak and exhausted, but she couldn’t stop smiling. She made it through.

After seeing so many people die, she sometimes wondered in her darkest moments whether death would be so terrible. But when she came close to it herself, all she wanted was to live.

She wanted to eat her favorite foods, play with Cola, and meet her fature nieces and nephews. There was still so much she wanted to be here for.

Nicole fussed over her, cooking three hearty, delicious meals a day and continuing the herbal remedies as she recovered.

They stayed submerged for a few more days while Poppy rested and regained her strength.

After an afternoon nap, Nicole settled beside the viewing window with a glass of juice and a magazine to pass the quiet hours.

Poppy suddenly appeared beside her. “Nicole, something’s wrong.”