Read The Peeling: Book 1 (Jeremy's Choice) for Free Online Page A

rotted away.  “Unlessssss it’sssss a cure, it’sssss no good
to anyone.”
    Jeremy
sucked in a breath and listened to it whistle between his teeth.  His
stomach felt empty and nauseous.  While Kara was correct in her pessimism,
it was still welcome news to hear that someone had possibly discovered
something about the nature of The Peeling.  Knowledge made the virus seem
more natural and less like the flesh-consuming monster that it currently
was.  If people knew how it was passed on then the fight to contain it
could finally begin.  Not that Jeremy would have anything left in his life
to fight for , even if mankind succeeded in destroying the beast.
    “How
do you feel?” he asked Kara.
    She
tried to laugh, but her tattered vocal chords seemed to lack the ability
now.  “I feel like my head’s going to fall off into my lap any minute. 
My neck feels numb, like it’s not even there anymore.”
    Jeremy
was about to tell her he was sorry, but then decided it would be a pointless
gesture.  Apologies would provide her no solace.  Besides, she seemed
to be getting more angry than brooding.
    “This
is probably what I deserve, you know?”
    “What
do you mean?”
    “I
mean, I’ve been fucking my sister’s husband – among my many other sins – and
this is probably my punishment.”
    Jeremy
shook his head.  “She forgives us.”
    “What? 
She knows?”
    “Yes. 
She told me earlier.  She loves us both and forgives us.”
    Kara
hitched forward and tears were instant in their arrival.  As they fell
down her face, they gathered flakes of skin and a film of blood from her
cheeks; so fragile was her flesh.  “I’ll go to hell for what I’ve
done.  Carol can forgive – she’s a better person than us – but I doubt God
will be so compassionate.”
    “Don’t
talk nonsense, Kara.  We all do things we regret.  Carol isn’t
holding it against you, so you shouldn’t hold it against yourself, either.”
    “Fuck
you!”  The outburst was sudden and vicious.  “You’re the one that
should be melting away, not my sister.  You’re the one that’s spent your
whole marriage fucking around.  What did you ever do for her? 
Nothing!  Yet she’s the one dying while you’re perfectly fine.”
    Jeremy
sighed and tried to keep his focus on the television.  He had a feeling
that she would strike at him if he made eye contact.  “If I could take her
place, I would.”
    “You’re
a liar.  They have a cure at that news station.  Look at them.
 They’re fine, just like you.”
    Jeremy
looked at Sarah’s tired face on the screen and shook his head.  “Actually,
one of the reporters has the disease.  She showed me earlier.”
    “Bullshit!” 
Kara sprung up from the couch.  You have a cure, but you won’t share
it.  With me and Carol out of the way, you can carry on screwing
around.  Probably already got a new fancy-woman.”
    Jeremy
stood up and backed away.  He could sense violence coming off of Kara and
he wasn’t interested in stoking that particular fire.  Nonetheless, she
came at him, withered fingers outstretched like talons.
    He
stepped aside and shoved out, sending her sprawling back onto the couch. 
As she fell, her legs shot forward and upended the coffee table. 
Immediately her ankle began to bleed.  She clutched at it and sobbed.
    “I’m
fucking melting!” she screamed.  “What did I do to deserve this?  I’m
not a bad woman, not really.  I don’t deserve this.  I don’t.  I
don’t.”
    Jeremy
left while she was distracted.  A madness seemed to have overtaken her and
his presence seemed to make it worse.  He felt endangered; an enemy inside
his own home.  He wanted to see Carol.  He wanted to be with his
wife.
    At the
top of the stairs, the noise of the television faded away and Jeremy was again
met with the eerie silence of the landing.  There was every chance that
Carol was already dead; part of him wanted that peace for her.  If she had
passed on