Read Strain of Resistance (Book 1) for Free Online

we’ve struck up a trading system with. And just like we call the Grand our home, they’ve done the same at St. Joseph's Hospital on the other side of the city.
    It took a while to earn each other’s trust, but we have our bartering system down to a science now. We trade them our crops grown in the hotel's Olympic sized swimming pool and roof top hot tubs; they give us fish in return, bred in their harvesting tanks. We need medical supplies, we trade them the gut-burning hooch Jonsey brews in the hotel bar. Quid pro quo. We help each other survive.
    But then there are the other residents of the city not quite as neighborly. The ones that will slit your throat for a can of beans. Or worse still, strip the flesh itself from your bones. Meat is a rare commodity and in high demand. And these people have taken to finding their meat supply elsewhere other than from the elusive animal kingdom.
    They’re the ones who scare me most of all. Far worse than any leech. More cunning and intelligent than the invaders, but their sense of humanity long forgotten. People that were once our fellow humans now turned to cannibalism. It’s enough to give anyone nightmares.
    I climb the gloomy stairwells to the fifth floor, trying to clear my mind from all my terrible thoughts and anxiety. I need to get myself under control. Somehow Amy always knows when I'm upset, which in turn causes her to worry. And I don't want to upset her any more than I know she will already be.
    The fifth and sixth floors, with the bigger suites, house all the families with children that call the Grand home. Not only does it make sense, but any dangers that might possibly attack below will have to get through three floors of seasoned fighters before reaching the civilians. That's where Amy's room is as well. For some reason, visiting here always makes my heavy heart feel a little lighter.
    I barely make it to the top of the stairs before I'm almost knocked ass backward as a bunch of kids flock me like seagulls at an ocean side McDonald's. How they always know I'm near is a mystery, but it's like they have a sixth sense about me. I growl in pretend anger as they swarm me and try to push them out of my way, but they don't take me seriously. They just laugh harder and crowd me, each trying to out-yell the other.
    "Did you bring us treats, Bix?"
    "Did you kill lots of leeches out on your patrol?"
    "Did you find any cats or dogs this time?"
    "Is it true you guys met an infected bear?"
    "Whoa, whoa, whoa...one at a time, okay?" I say, giving into my laughter. I slowly push my way through to the hall, but they hang off of me like spider monkeys, all gangly arms and legs.
    The yelling and questions continue, until I finally hold up my hands in surrender.
    "All right already! I'll answer two questions. No, we didn't see any cats or dogs, and seriously-an infected bear? As for treats..." I pull the MRE cookies and candies out of my bag and throw the silver packets down the long hall. They release me, squealing in delight as they rush to claim their share of the goods. Their pure joy at the treats makes me laugh. Cookie would have a conniption if she saw me throwing food around like that. She guards the pantry like some pirate captain and his treasure chest. That thought alone makes it all the more fun.
    Still chuckling to myself, I head toward room 512; Amy and Olivia's room. Liv is lounging outside the door, smoking what she calls Jonesy's 'crap-ass excuse for tobacco'. It’s some kind of concoction of herbs and flower petals and smells like shit, to be honest. But Liv swears even though it’s a poor ass imitation of a real cigarette, smoking it is the only thing that keeps her sane. She grins at me lopsidedly, squinting one eye against the haze circling her head.
    "You know you spoil those fucking little rug rats," she says, low enough so they can't hear and pointing at them with her cigarette.
    "Nice to see you too," I say, dropping a light kiss on top of her ash blonde