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Category: tween fiction

Book 1 – The Pharmacist

Book 1 – The Pharmacist

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The Pharmacist
The Pharmacist

He calls himself “The Pharmacist,” but he doesn’t care about healing anyone.
He used to be a good man; he did everything he could to save others. But his supplies ran dry, and desperation set in.
At first, he bartered and traded, trying to keep the community afloat. It worked for a while. Then the stress broke him.
This world broke him.

Now, his concoctions are mostly fakes, cheap mixtures that, truth be told, probably do more harm than good.
If you die taking his medicine, that’s on you.

Some still remember the better days.
They remember the man he used to be, and they refuse to face what he’s become.

But those who know better see the truth:
He’s not a healer anymore.
He’s a hustler.
All he cares about is the trade.

He scams the desperate, those trying to save someone they love, or just trying to escape the pain of their own lives.

Book 1 – 6B- Sam and Scat meet at the mall

Book 1 – 6B- Sam and Scat meet at the mall

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Scat and Sam meeting on the backside of the mall
Scat and Sam meeting on the backside of the mall


Sam stood with her arms crossed. “Took you long enough.”
Scat’s gaze drifted to the jagged hole in the side of the building. “We’re going in there?”
Sam rolled her eyes. “Don’t be such a baby. This way we avoid all the bad guys.”
Scat lingered at the edge, hesitation written all over his face. For a moment, he considered turning back. Maybe Tony didn’t need the medicine. Maybe he’d pull through without it.
Sam rested a hand on his shoulder. “We just need to make it to the pharmacy without being seen. Trust me—we’ve got this.”

Book 1 – 6a. Scat Meeting Sam at the park

Book 1 – 6a. Scat Meeting Sam at the park

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The Scat and Sam meeting at the park

Scat was desperate. Tony was burning up, barely able to move, and antibiotics were his only hope.
There was only one person he could turn to and that person was Sam.

Sam, known as the “Queen of the Gutter Rats”, had more than earned her title. If something needed to be found, bartered for, or quietly lifted, Sam was the one who could make it happen.

She listened to Scat’s story in silence, arms crossed, one brow raised.
“I can help you get medicine,” she said finally. “I know a guy… but it’s gonna cost you.”

She hesitated, then added, “He’s inside the mall. Meet me there in two hours, I’ve got an errand to run first.”

Scat blinked. “The mall?” His voice cracked. “You want to go into the mall?”

Everyone had heard the stories. People who went in didn’t come out. No one in their right mind went into the mall.

But Sam just shrugged, already turning away.
“Two hours,” she said over her shoulder, then vanished down the street.

Book 1 Journal Entry 6

Book 1 Journal Entry 6

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Madie sitting with Tony in admin hallway
Madie sitting with Tony in admin hallway


We moved Tony from the basement up to the admin hallway. He is not doing well. His eye seems to be better, but his stomach is extremely bloated and painful to the touch. He isn’t holding any food done but we are insisting that he drink water. I honestly don’t know if this is doing any good or if it is doing harm, but I heard once that you shouldn’t let people get dehydrated.
Marty, Gretchen and Cecelia at the main library
Marty, Gretchen and Cecelia at the main library

Marty, Gretchen and Cecilia have headed out to the main library to do some research on Tony’s condition. With any luck they will come back with some answers on what we should do to help him. In the meantime, the kids are taking turns sitting with Tony and trying to keep him comfortable.

Madie

Book 1 Journal Entry 4

Book 1 Journal Entry 4

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Madie dreaming of home
Madie dreaming of home

I Dreamt about being home again last night. I swear I could almost feel and smell the clean sheets. It felt like a weekend. One of those mornings when you had a great nights sleep. A familiar smell wakes you. My mom was in the kitchen making her famous biscuits. I miss those biscuits. I miss the strawberry jam. I don’t know what woke me from my dream but it was a let down when I realized it wasn’t real.

Madie

Book 1 -Journal Entry 3

Book 1 -Journal Entry 3

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. Madie in the cafeteria of BCHS
. Madie in the cafeteria of BCHS

I take back the “I’m bored” thing. We held a meeting tonight to discuss what could be done about our missing fuel. The consensus was nothing. Asking for the fuel back wasn’t an option, taking the fuel back wasn’t an option, although two people who shall remain nameless thought, we should storm central and take it back. Can you say Matt and Jonas? This was voted down because of the possibility of casualties, on our side. We decided to install a security detail during the night hours. Everyone over the age of 12 would be required to keep watch at two-hour intervals. Our resources are few and we don’t need to be losing anything else. We have strength in numbers, and we can protect ourselves when necessary.

At the meeting we also discussed the up-and-coming festival. Like last year we plan to have a feast, music and games. The Journal club will be putting up fliers to announce the event to the community. Everyone is invited, except for the Central Bobcats of course. With luck they won’t grace us with their presence at this year’s event.

Madie

Book 1 Journal Entry 1

Book 1 Journal Entry 1

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Madie with new diary
Madie with new diary

I finally found a new journal to write in. I found it at the plaza. I paid a hefty price. But I desperately needed something to write my thoughts down in. You would think that a person living inside a school building would have access to paper. Not in this school. Except for the stash the journal club keeps under lock and key, the only paper in this school is the student records. This paper of course is already written on and serves no useful purpose to me.

Marty, Gretchen and Cecelia in the media center
Marty, Gretchen and Cecelia in the media center
Not a lot to tell about Bear Country except that things have been quiet for weeks. I am a little bored. Actually, really bored. Everyone is off doing their own thing. I was hoping maybe I could get someone to play a game of cards. Spades perhaps. It is a fun game, but no one was interested. I even asked the library trio Marty, Gretchen and Cecelia. Day in and day out they sit in the media center and read. Surely, they could use a diversion. They weren’t interested. Marty said they were doing research. This sounded somewhat interesting so I asked if I could help. They all three looked at me and in unison said “No”. Before I knew what was happening, they pushed me out of the media center. And they locked the door. Those three are a wealth of information. A little odd and secretive and they are rarely seen alone but they can be very helpful at times. I am only a little hurt that they didn’t want to play with me. Oh well, their loss.

Tate and Kylie standing in their garden taking notes.
Tate and Kylie standing in their garden taking notes.
The agriculture club is trying their best to supply us with a variety of fruits and vegetables but an unfortunate accident with a bug infestation has damaged much of their crops. In an effort to keep us from starving to death the agriculture club has asked for volunteers. They need people to help with the crops that are left. I will be spending much of my time next week helping in the fields. Oh joy!! It’s not that I mind helping out. I just hate manual labor. Better to help now than to starve later.

Madie