Ethan woke up a little better than earlier when he had been in the living room. The clock on his Nightstand read 1:14 pm. He lay in his bed making plans for the day. Should he go to work or call In sick?.
He lifted his top and took a look at his stomach. And just as he knew it would be, it was colored purplish. The same was true for his arms and legs. His face was slightly better. He could claim he ran into a pole or something. If this was all the damage he had, then he could still go to work.
His shift started at 2:00 so he still had time. He would cover his bruises with his normal sweater or maybe a hoodie and a pair of jeans trouser. He got up from his bed with a jump which he immediately regretted. He sank to the floor as his legs protested.
He took in a deep breath and lifted himself to his feet. His legs still felt weak but he could walk. The problem was his stomach which throbbed like mad. He had to bend a little while walking to ease the pain.
'Nope, I can't go to work like this. There will be too many questions, he concluded. 'guess I gotta call Jerry then', he sighed as he made his way slowly to the living room. He was asking too many favors from Jerry for his liking.
When Ethan got to the hall, it was empty. He made for the telephone beside the Tv and grabbed the phone from its holder. He dialed The corner paradise's business line.
It rang for about a minute before a male's voice answered, "Hello..this is the corner paradise restaurant, the best restaurant in all Mid-mount. We boast a wide variety of exotic and homemade food li..."
"Er...Jerry. this is Ethan" Ethan quickly cut off Jerry's sale speech. He knew what was served at the restaurant, he didn't need Jerry to remind him.
"Oh Ethan...how are you doing?" Jerry was a little embarrassed that the boy had heard him brag about his restaurant but he quickly got over it. Business was business.
Could anyone blame him for selling his restaurant high? He needed more customers for more money.
"Hope you aren't calling about yesterday's pay. I counted everything myself. Not a penny less did I put in that envelope."
"No, it's nothing of the sort. The money was alright. Also, I'm fine. I was calling to ask if you could put someone on my shift. I'm not sure I'll be able to make it today", Ethan answered calmly.
"What? why?", Jerry asked exasperated.
"I had an accident yesterday after work. I can barely walk straight, talk of waiting tables", Ethan answered Jerry somewhat truthfully. He could hear Jerry grumbling on the other side.
He understood the man's frustration but he couldn't work today even if he tried.
"Fine! You can stay home but this is the last favor I'll do you. See you on Monday." Jerry hanged up.
Ethan sighed as he heard what Jerry had said.
"Don't worry Jerry, I won't ask you any more favors".
Ethan made his way to the kitchen whiles debating what to make himself. It was too late for cereals. He needed something a little heavy. He finally decided on spaghetti with milk.
He set about making his food. He made sure there was enough for him and his mother both now and later in the evening. 15 minutes later his food was ready.
He had heated the milk on the stove since there was no microwave. Yep, Dred again. He had sold the microwave. He dished out the spaghetti into two separate bowls and poured the milk into both. He took his into the hall and placed it on the center table before carrying his mom's own to her in her room.
She was awake when he entered the room. She thanked him for the food and asked him to fetch her some water which he did before leaving to go eat his food. When he got into the living room he made sure to turn on the TV before grabbing his food.
He flipped through the channels looking for anything interesting to watch..." people ripped to shreds...." Huh? He had unconsciously changed the channel but quickly changed it back to the previous station that had a beautiful milf reading the news.
"Reports coming in claim the place had been attacked by wild animals in the middle of the night yesterday. We at 3news, knowing just how important information is in today's world quickly sent one of our own to inspect and report what she sees. Please, let's talk to Alexa. Alexa, what is the situation like in Demba, Mali?. Please enlighten us".
The screen shifted to another beautiful young lady with dark hair. She was in a suit and looked to be standing outside a gigantic wall that looked to go on for miles on a sandy plain.
Behind her were many large vans and people who looked to be in overalls, with headgear, nose masks, and gloves. These people were transporting what Ethan could assume were dead bodies from the town into the vans.
"As you can see behind me, these are the victims of what the locals call 'Demba's Midnight Massacre'. Unfortunately, we are unable to show you just what state these bodies are in since the authorities refuse to let us film the corpse"
Ethan chuckled with his mouth full.
"Typical dumb reporters. Trying to film dead bodies".
The reporter continued, "but I can tell you first hand that whoever or whatever did this was a brutal savage. The bodies are ripped limb from limb. Some have been flayed with their guts spread to the open and some bodies have even been impaled from the anus straight up through their mouths and hammered into the floor." The reporter shivered as she said this.
Ethan shook his head as he heard this. "Brutal..looks like we have a Dracula fan on the loose"
"It is a tragedy. Not a single person In the town of Demba survived. Male, female, Adults, kids even animals had all been subjected to the same brutality whiles the world slumbered yesterday.
The town of Demba had in a single night been wiped from the face of this earth. Is this the work of animals, or is someone or something lurking in the shadows of Africa?." The reporter finished.
"What?!!!, Everyone? How is that even possible?", Ethan was beyond shocked. A whole town, gone just like that?, What was this world coming to? Ethan wondered.
In a tall building somewhere, a beautiful young man had just seen the news and was chuckling madly in his large office.
"This is even better than I imagined. Looks like you had quite the fun time yesterday." He said as he turned to a group of people sitting in various places. Some also standing whiles others leaned against the office walls.
All looked human and very beautiful, both male and female. Yet something was off about them. Perhaps it was the dangerous aura surrounding each and every single one of them. Or the fact that some of them were sipping blood from glass cups and the likes.
"Well, what are you waiting for? Go and make me an army. Be silent about it too. The fools up there don't know that I've freed you. I don't want them finding out now and ruining my plans. I want the element of surprise to still be on our side. If they find out now, we're done for. Now leave and fulfill my wish!"
The first man commanded to which the others bowed low before leaving through the large double door. The man was worried about the elder gods. They were very powerful and could foil his plans. He had to tread carefully if he wanted to succeed.
If only he knew that the elder gods were far weaker than what he thought, he would have yelled to the heavens in joy.