Forgive Our Sins (Forgive Me Father Series Book 2) by Caitlin Mazur

Author:Caitlin Mazur [Mazur, Caitlin]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-04-06T00:00:00+00:00

15

ELI

Even when the world was still operating, though its structure, order, and government hung by a thread, finding antibiotics had been tricky. It was another of the many necessities the Coutts stripped away, hoarding humanity’s best defense at fighting infections in the name of God. On the Outside, the doctors added us to a waiting list, a risky gamble. Something as common as a dental infection or strep throat could kill you if left untreated. I was sure people died waiting for their prescriptions, agonizing over when more would be produced. I was also sure Peter Coutts didn’t care.

Now, trying to find antibiotics was not only impossible but dangerous. Cities meant the possibility of meeting more survivors, and encountering desperate people meant we needed to be incredibly cautious. I met Holli’s gaze and tried not to panic.

“Antibiotics,” I repeated with a forced laugh. “Where the hell do you think we can find antibiotics?”

“I know you searched the towns nearby for Sid, but maybe you missed something. Maybe⁠—”

“Maybe what? Antibiotics will just appear out of thin air? After decades of shortages?”

“I don’t know!” Holli shouted, slamming her fist down on the counter. Maura and I drew our shoulders back, surprised by her sudden rage. “I’m sorry.” She looked shocked herself. “I’m just telling you what the reality is right now. I hate it as much as you do.”

“There’s nothing else? Another remedy? What if we went back to the truck? To Mom’s?”

Holli shook her head. “I don’t think the trip would be worth it. I can only do so much with herbal remedies. Infection is tricky. It’ll get into his bloodstream, and then he’ll become septic, and his organs will start shutting down. He needs antibiotics. And he needs them yesterday.”

“Okay.” My mind raced. Sid was the decision maker. He stayed calm under stress. He always knew what to do. I was the younger brother. I’d follow him to the ends of the earth. How was I supposed to get us out of this?

I turned away from the girls and circled the kitchen island, running my fingers through my beard. Antibiotics. If there were antibiotics anywhere, they’d be in…

“East Lockwood,” I said. “It’s one of the larger towns, maybe a few hours from Mom’s. She took us there when she needed to see a specialist. We were pretty young, but I remember there being a pharmacy.”

I closed my eyes to cling to the memory. Mom, Sid, and I had walked the sidewalks, waiting in a long line wrapped around the block. It was cold. Mom had played tic-tac-toe with us on a spare piece of notebook paper she’d found in her purse. She adjusted the scarf around my neck, tucking it up over my nose. “Just a few more minutes, baby,” she’d said. We took the bus home.

“East Lockwood,” Holli said, her voice distant. “You’re right.” There was a lightness to her tone. Hopefulness. “There’s a map in the office,” she said. “Can you⁠—?”

Maura moved first, hurrying into the room where Mia had disappeared.

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