School had ended and Ethan was once again serving detention time with Mr.Twist. The latter was unusually quiet today. Ethan didn't mind the silence though. He was just a little surprised since this was the first time the old man had been silent whiles working with him this whole week.
'Maybe he has run out of scientific theories concerning Tele-tubies', Ethan thought with a shrug as he continued mopping the assembly hall.
"So today is the last day you'll be working with me.eh,youngster?", Ethan lifted his head and peered at the old man. He wasn't looking at Ethan but he had clearly been the one who spoke. The reason why he had looked at the man though was his voice.
It had sounded normal and nothing like it's high pitch that Ethan associated crazy old Mr.Twist with. Infact,Mr. Twist himself was acting very normal today. 'did he get bitten by one of those rabies patient?', Ethan asked himself.
'Maybe he did, and instead of being crazy,it had made him normal since he was already crazy', Ethan concluded. That was what had happened. He was sure of it.
"Er..yh. today is the last day I'll be assisting you in your duties." Ethan answered almost happily.
"A shame..with your love for Tele-tubies you would have been the perfect assistant. I could have thought you more about the topic. For all you know,you could grow up teaching it in schools." Ethan sighed. And here he thought the old janitor was cured.
"Er..I guess." Ethan shrugged. "Well, it'll be a little dull here now that you'll no longer be working here", Mr.Twist said In a small voice. Ethan looked at Mr. Twist again. The man was still not looking at him.
'I guess he's a really lonely old man. He's not that bad if you learn to tune him out but I can totally see why no one would get near him.' Ethan said to himself.
"Well, I'm sure you'll find someone to replace me soon. Heck,with Mr.Andrews around, you'll get a hundred people to take my spot." Ethan assured the old man who just sighed before replying.
"Yeah...but if only they'll be as interested in Tele-tubies like you." Ethan could only shake his head. 'Mental' he thought.
Ethan was now in the restaurant. He was changing into his work uniform when Jaem entered the changing room. He was as usual, already dressed and was serving people when Ethan had arrived.
"Wassup dawg", Jaem greeted.
"Hey Jaem. I'm fine. Where's paul by the way?", Ethan asked.
"Paul?, Why you asking bout paul?, Is it cus he's not here?, Chill, I'm sure he's on his way right now." Jaem answered.
"You know why I'm asking. You remember what happened yesterday, right?" Ethan asked the boy.
"Yeah,I do. I almost got bitten me self but thank God I'm fast. I escaped before dude could even get close to me." Jaem informed Ethan.
"You don't need to worry about Paul. He's one tough son of a bitch", Jaem assured Ethan who still looked worried. 'only if you knew just how strong those infected people really are', Ethan thought.
It was late at night. The time read 8:15pm and the boy in question was sitting by a bed. Lying on the bed was a shivering woman who kept groaning in pain. Paul didn't know everything that happened yesterday. All the woman had told him was that she had been bitten on the shoulder by a rough looking man on her way back from running an errand.
This woman was the caretaker of the only shelter for homeless children in Mid-mount. Her name was Vera and she was a kind hearted woman who had taken care of paul since his parents had abandoned him at the tender age of three.
Vera was not by any means rich. She made just enough from donations and monthly installments from the town Mayor to support herself as well as the kids in her care. Paul loved this woman dearly and couldn't bare to watch her In such pain. Vera was sweating buckets now and her groaning was even getting louder.
A small head poked from the side of the door leading into Vera's room and a tiny voice asked;
"will mommy vera be alright?",
"Yes, she'll be fine. Just go back into your room Bernard. I'll call you and the others when she's fine,I promise." Paul told the little boy who just nodded and went back to his room. Paul then turned to Vera who looked to be flitting in and out of consciousness.
"I don't care what you say now Vera, I'm taking you to a hospital.", Paul announced as he took her phone and called a cab. Seven minutes later and a horn blared outside, announcing the cab driver's presence. Paul dragged Vera out of her bed and threw her unto his shoulder.
She was completely still now and Paul was worried she had fallen into a coma or something. When he got outside,the cab driver helped him put vera in the backseat. He sat by her as the driver started the car. The hospital was about 12 minutes away and Paul was praying nothing bad happened to her within that time.
They had made it about halfway to the hospital when Vera suddenly woke up. Paul was startled as she had just opened her eyes at once as she came to consciousness. But what had really spooked him was her yellow glowing eyes. She looked at paul fiercely.
The driver was still driving but was now paying attention to the woman in the backseat as well. "Vera...are you okay. We're taking you to-"
CRASH!!
Paul felt broken glass shards cut him all over his face as his head went through the car glass window. Vera had moved too quickly for him to react and had slammed his head straight through the window. Paul was dazed. His vision was flitting in and out.
The driver immediately slammed on the brake and the car came to screeching halt. Luckily, the road they were on wasn't filled with that many cars, else an accident was sure to happen. The driver made to open his door so that he could go restrain the mad woman but was stopped by a powerful grip around his throat.
Before he could even move his arm towards his throat, the mad woman had sunk her razer sharp teeth into the side of his neck and tore a large chunk of flesh from it. Vera would have taken more flesh from the man had she not heard the approaching steps of people who were making their way to check what had made the car stop in the middle of the road.
Paul's vision had just returned to him in time for him to see Vera tear the cab drivers throat out. She looked like she wasn't done,but just then he could also make out the sound of approaching footsteps and angry voices. Before he could even call out for help, Vera opened her side of the door and rushed out into the night.
When he turned to check up on the driver, he realized that the man was dead. A large gaping wound on the side of his neck with blood still trickling from it.
"Oh Vera, what have you done?". Paul cried out softly, tears trickling down his face.