Fallen Earth Series by Michael Stark, Michael R. Stark

The Fever struck hard and fast, rising out of the slums and claiming victim after victim. At first, reports trickled across the wire in small segments relegated to the final seconds of the broadcast news. Lost among stories of failing economies and political bickering, few noticed what proved to be the birth pangs of a monster. Within months, the disease dominated the news as thousands died and infection rates soared... moreThe Fever struck hard and fast, rising out of the slums and claiming victim after victim. At first, reports trickled across the wire in small segments relegated to the final seconds of the broadcast news. Lost among stories of failing economies and political bickering, few noticed what proved to be the birth pangs of a monster. Within months, the disease dominated the news as thousands died and infection rates soared.William Hill knew his chances of avoiding the virus sat squarely between slim and none. With experts predicting a global pandemic, his choices boiled down to not if, but where he would die. While the rest of the world built barricades and set up distribution points for food, he chose a simpler end. The island had been one of the last and best times with his father. He couldn’t think of a better place to spend his final days.He wanted sun and sand, fresh fish on the grill and cool nights by the campfire. He wanted feel-good days filled with oldies on the radio, days when he could hoist the sails and run before the wind. He didn’t set out to make enemies, but he did. He didn’t plan on becoming humanity’s last hope for survival, or watching over an old woman and an eerie little boy either.To William Hill, the island seemed as good a place as any to die.He just didn’t realize how good. less

The Fever exploded across the U.S. and the world. Hour by hour the news grew worse. The virus was spreading at a bewildering pace, killing so fast that estimates had to be constantly revised. Even worse, it appeared to be mutating to an even deadlier form.Stranded on Portsmouth Island after the President instituted martial law, William Hill found himself fighting to survive even though he had come to the island to die. The old village offered shelter against the storms and the coming winter... moreThe Fever exploded across the U.S. and the world. Hour by hour the news grew worse. The virus was spreading at a bewildering pace, killing so fast that estimates had to be constantly revised. Even worse, it appeared to be mutating to an even deadlier form.Stranded on Portsmouth Island after the President instituted martial law, William Hill found himself fighting to survive even though he had come to the island to die. The old village offered shelter against the storms and the coming winter. The sea offered food. Life should have been simple.It wasn’t. He hadn’t counted on the old woman, or the odd little boy she brought with her. He hadn’t expected to provide for nearly a dozen people.He wasn’t prepared for the evil that came to the island. William Hill had never been afraid of the dark. He never had reason to.He did now. Not only had the evil come.It knew his name. less

Day by day The Fever grew stronger, surging across boundaries in its relentless assault on humanity. The news pouring out across the airwaves turned more shocking by the hour. Hospitals had started closing their doors. The dead and dying littered the landscape.The tiny group stranded on Portsmouth Island listened as the horror unfolded. They had no where to run, and no where to hide. The struggle to survive had taken on a new meaning. The Fever promised an eventual death... moreDay by day The Fever grew stronger, surging across boundaries in its relentless assault on humanity. The news pouring out across the airwaves turned more shocking by the hour. Hospitals had started closing their doors. The dead and dying littered the landscape.The tiny group stranded on Portsmouth Island listened as the horror unfolded. They had no where to run, and no where to hide. The struggle to survive had taken on a new meaning. The Fever promised an eventual death. Something else had come to The Island though, something wicked and hungry.As if life wasn’t complicated enough, a stranger arrived in an odd little boat and brought with him, both hope and fear. No one knew the man was sick. No one knew he had a fever.To save him, William Hill would have to violate the travel ban. To save himself, he would have to face down an indescribable evil. less

Stranded on Portsmouth Island, William Hill struggled to survive even as The Fever raced across the world leaving a scattered wasteland of the dead and dying in its wake. The news brought stories of storms and riots, of people starving while the government promised food.Two weeks before, life had made sense. The outlook hadn’t been bright, but he understood it... moreStranded on Portsmouth Island, William Hill struggled to survive even as The Fever raced across the world leaving a scattered wasteland of the dead and dying in its wake. The news brought stories of storms and riots, of people starving while the government promised food.Two weeks before, life had made sense. The outlook hadn’t been bright, but he understood it. Faced with dwindling supplies and a disease so virulent some wondered if humanity might be facing its own extinction, William figured he had enough to worry about.Then he found the message, scrawled in blood and written personally for him. The chilling words left him wondering whether or not he’d live long to see the next sunrise.Not even a fool could mistake the intent, not when the evil knew his name and watched from shadows.“COME GET YOU WEE LEE UM” less

The old radio at the station had poured out haunting images of a dying world from the first day. Through it, the tiny group hunkered down at the Village of Portsmouth, bore witness to the death of millions. Where the sickness left off, storms and brutal emotions took over. Some fought. Some starved. Others simply disappeared.Storms ravaged the power grids. Relief efforts died before they ever started. Entire countries collapsed... moreThe old radio at the station had poured out haunting images of a dying world from the first day. Through it, the tiny group hunkered down at the Village of Portsmouth, bore witness to the death of millions. Where the sickness left off, storms and brutal emotions took over. Some fought. Some starved. Others simply disappeared.Storms ravaged the power grids. Relief efforts died before they ever started. Entire countries collapsed.Like the rest of the world, the people stranded on Portsmouth Island could only wait and hope. When it came, the disease struck hard, killing one and sending another into a violent rage.Hounded by an evil he didn't understand, William Hill struggled to survive.The evil had other plans. It wanted his blood.This time, it had a face. This time, it offered a deal less