Infected: Die Like Supernovas (The Outlaw Book 2) by Alan Janney Read Free Book Online Page A

The Outlaw’s phone was pink. Long story but it used to belong to movie starlet Natalie North. In fact, Natalie North was texting the Outlaw right now.
    >> Oh no!!!!! Are you okay? Are you hurt? I just saw the news!
    I smiled. Only one girl knew this was the Outlaw’s number, and she cared about me. That was nice.
    I’m fine. Nothing I couldn’t handle. Thanks for asking.
    >> I’m so glad! I was very worried.
    >> Were you coming to visit me? =)
    No. Was on a business trip. Kind of.
    >> >=(
    >> Who were those people anyway?
    I’m not exactly sure, I replied, and rubbed my forehead. My brain was starting to hurt. We didn’t exchange business cards.
    >> I haven’t seen you in two months! Where have you been?
    Before I could reply, another message arrived on the Outlaw’s phone from a different number. It was from Tank, who bizarrely enough had texted with the Outlaw previously.
    >> …Hope you’re not dead, pajamas…
    >> …I’ve been looking forward to doing that job myself…
    I grimaced against the pain building in my skull and typed, Still here, ugly. Not going anywhere.
    >> …Next time I’mma strap you into your car before I ignite it.
    I hurled the phone across the room. Of course it was Tank! I HATED that guy. I retrieved the device and was pounding out a reply when he texted again.
    >> …you throw a rock into my living room? I destroy your piece of junk car. Payback. And the Latino girl will suffer for it…
    Katie! Outraged, I started to reply but then I…I couldn’t breathe. I had no oxygen. I was suffocating! I sucked in air to no effect. I tried again. Nothing. My lungs refused to respond. Sweat broke out all over my body. The walls, the very walls of my room, started to collapse on me. The ceiling began lowering. My head cracked and pain spilled in. I gasped and only swallowed agony. I needed oxygen! Peering out through clenched eyes I realized I was wallowing on the floor.
    It was a panic attack. It was the virus! Carter was right. I’m dying!
    Calmdowncalmdowncalmdowncalmdown!
    I did my best not to writhe and shake, but it was impossible. He’d said that my brain was tender and could snap. Seems like tonight’s news was enough. No air. Like a plastic bag was over my head.
    RelaxrelaxrelaxrelaxrelaxrelaxyougottarelaxChase!!
    I was dying and it was taking forever.
    Katie…
    Finally, right before the blackness and stars consumed me, I found a trickle of air. I sucked as hard as I could but it wasn’t enough. I heaved in air but found only a mouthful. Again and again and again and again I pulled in insufficient air, barely staying conscious…still alive…shallow breath, shallow breath…still awake…shallow breath, shallow breath…Katie… still alive, shallow breath, deeper breath, deeper breath… lights coming back on…maybe I’ll survive this…
    Sweet oxygen. My lungs began to re-inflate. I didn’t dare move though. I’d never open my eyes again. The pain had been awful. I found a shirt with my hand and pulled it under my head blindly, and then I collapsed into sleep with the television on, unsure if I’d wake up.

Chapter Five
Friday, January 4. 2018
    “It’s gotta be PuckDaddy,” Lee said, sliding into the adjacent chair. My first class, Pre-Calc, hadn’t started yet, which was good because I hadn’t fully woken up; I’d spent the previous night tossing and turning and groaning on my floor. Lee is a math whiz and had already taken all the math classes our school offered, and so he helped tutor students like me for additional credits. He was wearing an Outlaw shirt.
    “Lee,” I said blearily. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. So shut up.”
    “PuckDaddy, baby! You’ve heard of him, I know you have, bro. Everyone has.”
    “Go away. I hate you.”
    “Can’t believe you don’t know who PuckDaddy is, dude,” Lee shook his head.
    “What about PuckDaddy?” Samantha Gear asked. She dropped into the chair next to me, opposite Lee. I’d forgotten she was in