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All Chapters of The Last Antidote: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

11 Chapters

Chapter 1

Spencer Dawson didn't even look at me as he handed Nora Pierce the antidote. "Take this."He said it as casually as if he were offering her a bottle of water. Nora accepted it, barely hiding her satisfaction.Then he handed me a small vial of cloudy liquid. "It's an inhibitor," he said, avoiding my eyes. "It'll buy you more time."The cheap inhibitor couldn't help me. My infection was already too advanced.I kept my voice steady. "You know that won't work on me." Spencer frowned and looked away. "Gemma, don't make this harder than it needs to be. Nora isn't as strong as you. If she really is infected—"I cut him off with a bitter laugh. "She hasn't been on a single mission since she joined, and she doesn't have a scratch on her. How would she have gotten infected?""You can't tell just by looking at her!" Spencer raised his voice. "You know the virus has a three-day incubation period. As captain, I'm responsible for everyone in this squad."You're my girlfriend, but you'

Chapter 2

I was too exhausted to argue. I said to Spencer, "This isn't the first time you've promised me that." He took my hand, his eyes pleading. "I mean it this time."You always trusted me to watch your back out there. Please, just trust me one last time."I looked down at his hand, which had held mine through countless battles. I heard myself give in. "Alright. One last time."Spencer let out a relieved breath. "Get some rest. I'll get the team together and work out our route for tomorrow. Everything's going to be fine."I turned and left without looking back.I barely made it outside before I heard Nora whisper, "Spencer, she really scared me just now. Do you think she's already...""Don't worry," he said gently. "She's still fine for now."Back in the isolation room, I leaned against the wall and slowly slid to the floor. The burning in my right arm grew worse.It was my second day with the virus. By then, my muscles should've started stiffening, and my senses should've begun

Chapter 3

Spencer skipped a whole afternoon of classes to sit by my bed, replacing the cool washcloth on my forehead and helping me sip water. Eventually, he fell asleep with his head beside me on the mattress.When he woke up, he said, "Don't even think about dying on me, Gemma. I'd follow you straight to hell and drag you back."His eyes were full of worry then. He was terrified of losing me.Now, he just stared at me coldly. "We have an important mission today. I don't have time for this." He turned to Nora. "Get ready. We're leaving."Nora nodded and hurried toward the door, wiping the blood from her nose. As she passed me, she gave me a defiant look.I caught Spencer's wrist. "You're taking her?"He pulled free. "She knows the West District."Look at yourself, Gemma. How am I supposed to trust you to lead the squad like this?"Stay here. I'll bring back the antidote."He finished checking his gear and left without another glance at me.I stood in the empty room, staring at the

Chapter 4

"Did you have any symptoms?" I pressed.Nora glanced nervously at Spencer.He stepped in front of her. "She's hurt. Stop treating her like she's done something wrong!"I tugged down my collar, exposing the grayish-white veins spreading up my neck. "Look at me, Spencer. I'll be lucky to make it to midnight."Now look at her. She's got color in her cheeks, and she's completely alert. Does she look infected to you?"Several squad members looked down. Frank Brock muttered, "She had plenty of room to dodge that zombie...""Frank!" Spencer snapped.But I had heard enough. Nora let herself get scratched.And once again, Spencer had given her the antidote meant for me. Twice now, he had chosen her in front of the whole squad."You left me to die for her," I said quietly. "Again."His face drained of color. "That's not what happened! I just..."I gave a weary laugh. I didn't even have the energy to be angry anymore."Let me guess. You're responsible for everyone in the squad, and yo

Chapter 5

"You have two choices. You can leave right now. Or..." Spencer's hand moved to the knife at his waist. "I can end it for you."He was offering to kill me.I stared at his hand on the knife. He used to hold mine as we walked the tree-lined paths at the military academy. On the first night of the apocalypse, he held on to me and refused to let go.Now he was ready to kill me with that same hand.The energy inside me surged out of control, and grayish-white veins spread across half my face.I drew a deep breath. Every inch of me hurt, but my mind remained painfully clear."I'll leave." My voice was so steady that it surprised me.The tension eased from Spencer's shoulders, but Nora raised her voice. "Spencer, you can't just let her go! "Her weapons and supplies belong to the squad. If she takes them out there and gets overrun, we'll lose all of it!"Spencer frowned. "Nora, enough!""It's true!" she insisted. "She's not our second-in-command anymore. She's infected! Why should

Chapter 6

I woke up in a clean hospital bed. Sunlight streamed through the window, and the air carried a faint smell of disinfectant.Somehow, I was still alive.I sat up abruptly and checked my arms. The grayish-white veins were gone. My skin had healed without a trace, leaving it smoother and tougher than before.I clenched my fists, and power surged through me.My abilities hadn't just returned. They had evolved."You're awake."I looked toward the doorway. A tall, solidly built man stood there in a plain combat uniform.His dark hair was cropped short, and his sharp, handsome face held an alert expression. His eyes seemed to take in everything.Two guards waited behind him. He waved them away, then came inside."I'm Louis Dalton." He took the chair beside my bed. "You're in the Twilight Safe Zone. I run this place."I knew the name. Three years into the apocalypse, Twilight was the largest, safest settlement anyone knew of.People said it had advanced defenses, plenty of food, and

Chapter 7

Craig looked at me. "The antibody levels in your blood are 300 times higher than those of an ordinary survivor, and your body keeps making more. Do you understand what that means?""What?"Craig's eyes lit up. "We can mass-produce a serum." "It's an actual treatment, not something that just buys people time. It could clear the virus within 24 hours in mild cases, allowing patients to recover completely. In severe cases, it could stop the infection from progressing."Louis stood beside me. "We'll need regular blood samples and your participation in testing. But it's your choice."I looked at him. "What if I say no?"His voice remained calm. "We'll respect that."If you agree, though, we could have the first batch ready in three months. Within a year, we could start distributing it on a large scale."I closed my eyes. In three months, we could have a treatment. In a year, it could reach people everywhere.I remembered the day the apocalypse began. The city fell apart around us,

Chapter 8

"You're going?" Louis asked.I picked up a modified rifle and checked the magazine. "I'm not going to save him.""Then why go?""To watch." I slid the magazine into place with practiced ease. "And settle a score."-Our convoy raced through the ruins.Louis led the mission himself, bringing 20 elite fighters with supernatural abilities and the best equipment available.I rode in the front passenger seat of the lead vehicle, watching ruined buildings flash past.Since the grayish-white veins disappeared, my vision was sharper than ever.I could see maggots writhing in a zombie's eye socket 300 yards away. Even the tiny weeds poking through cracks in the rubble stood out.Farther ahead, a column of black smoke rose over the buildings, marking the fighting."Just over a mile out," the driver said.I tightened my grip on the rifle.Twenty minutes later, we reached the edge of the battle.Spencer's squad was in bad shape. Of the 40-plus people under his command, fewer than 20

Chapter 9

Spencer's face brightened.Then Nora rushed out of the mall. She took one look at me and went pale."G-Gemma? You're... alive?"I looked at her. She stumbled back a couple of steps and nearly fell."Yup. Sorry to disappoint you.""No, I thought..." She shook her head and ducked behind Spencer. "Spencer, how is she..."He stepped in front of her without thinking, then faced me."Gemma, I'm sorry about what happened. But I didn't have a choice. I had to think about everyone...""I know. You couldn't play favorites."His face went white."Well, that won't be a problem anymore. I'm not in your squad. You don't have to worry about giving me special treatment."I turned to Louis. "What's the process for letting people in?"He glanced between us. "We take in survivors who agree to follow our rules, but supplies are limited. Everyone has to be screened.""Then screen them.""Gemma, come on," Spencer said anxiously. "After everything we—""That's over." I held his gaze. "It ended

Chapter 10

Frank approached with his eyes down. "Gemma, I'm sorry. I should've said something. I was too scared.""And now?"He nodded. "Now I know better. Some people aren't worth following."I patted his shoulder. "Get in."We were about to pull out when Spencer ran over and caught my arm."Gemma, please. Take me with you."I looked at his hand on my arm. Once, I trusted him more than anyone. Now, I couldn't stand his touch."Let go."He held on, tears running down his face. "I was wrong. I know that now. "Just give me another chance. One more. Please."I pulled free. "You had your chances, Spencer. "The first time, you gave the antidote to someone else because you said you couldn't play favorites."The second time, you gave me a useless inhibitor and expected me to accept the same excuse. "The third time, you threw me out and called it protecting the squad."I met his eyes. "Three strikes. We're done."His knees buckled, and he sank to the ground, sobbing.Nora reached dow

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