Living After: Book Two

Introduction: Journals

  Nick
  One week and four days have passed since the fight against the men who took Troy and I hostage. The air is beginning to chill and crisp in the last days of August.... I think it's August. I lost track. The desert is freezing at night and I'm glad we have trees for cover in the area we are. I'm not sure that Troy is going to get better, his cough is terrible and deep in his chest. I fear I'll wake up to him turned if the antibiotics Elyza has don't help him soon. My mom is too busy with getting the settlement ready for winter to notice how terrified I am that more bad men will come.... I still haven't told anyone what happened. It's making me feel awful. I'm too ashamed to say it out loud. I want Troy to feel better. That's all that I want... then we can talk about the rest. He can't be sick much longer, right? The days drag on into eternity.. I thought time passed slow before. I've been afraid to speak to him? What's going on with me? I want my Dad....

  Alicia
  Troy is still sick in bed.... it's not right. The meds should have kicked in within forty-eight hours. Elyza is worried sick and she has me so paranoid. I can practically feel her energy... Is that normal? I don't know. Nothing is normal anymore.... Other than my mom avoiding me. That's normal. I wish Nick would come out of his room. He won't leave Troy's side half of the time. It's been over a week. Strand told me he feels up to going outside today, that's amazing news. He's using a sling on his arm until we can find him something more permanent. Elyza has completely revamped our room into our own special place... She continues to find new ways to surprise and distract me.. It's been a month or so now since we've kissed. Not like I'm keeping track or anything. Victor teases me when I'm helping him around, he says I'm "head over heals" for her. He says I look at her the way Thomas used to look at him. He thanks me for reminding him...

  Elyza
  There aren't very many infected around our houses. After Tasha and Madison put out the fires from the blasts, after they cleared that area on the road... I've only seen a handful of rotters. It's a pretty decent weight lifted off of my shoulders since we don't have shit for fences here. Blake and Madi have plans to build a half-wall around the perimeter before winter, but how can they get that done with one man down? They have two months. TOPS. Troy is sick as fuck.... it's dangerous at this point. The infection has turned into pneumonia on his lungs and the antibiotics I have are out of date. Anything can happen... But I plan to save him. I won't let Nick, or anyone here down. I'm in love with Alicia. God, I'm so in love with Alicia, I can't stand it. It feels good to say it. I've never fallen so hard, so damn fast. Winter is coming soon and we have to all be ready. Fall is time for scavenging and hunting. Blake is in charge of that. Tasha and him have created a friendship. I'm happy for him... Tasha is kind and damaged, a bit like Blake. Yeah? Yeah. Marie would be so proud of him... She would have really liked it here......

  Troy
  My chest hurts. It's like tiny needles clenching my heart when I cough. My chest and my stomach hurt more than my head hurts and that's saying a lot. The fucking gash is five inches long. Five inches! What the fuck hit me in the head? Doesn't matter.... I miss Nick. He acts like I'm frail and falling apart. Hardly touches me, or talks to me. He wants me to rest all of the time. I've been doing that... I'm not getting better so what's the use? I'm feeling stubborn and antsy.. I need out of this goddamn room. One week and four days is too long. I'm exhausted and the cold sweats have kept me up for nights. I hope I'm not bothering Nick by taking pain medication along with the antibiotics.... His mother shouldn't even let him around them. He's strong and doesn't seem to be bothered. It could all just be an act. Nick has been so distant, these last few days especially. I thought that things were going to be perfect. Then I got sick. My head is healing but my insides are ridden with infection... Fuck. I'm going to read awhile while I wait.....