So wrote this up today, had a dream and had to type it down outlined and everything. I'm working yes on the other stories but this was such an amazing… and scary dream at the same time. So I don't own anything that is Left 4 Dead that's common sense, yadda, yadda, if you want to leave a review do, otherwise this is just to pass the time till the writers block passes on the Inheritance Cycle story. Though I'll say I like some of my commentary/lines in this, I smirked.
Work is pretty fucked up for me, I'll give you the synopsis I track down homicides, and I'm paid to find who did it: homicide detective. I live in Pennsylvania, Mercy City. It's decent enough city, mind the smog, and the constant traffic that you won't be able to get any sleep from. In general I didn't get much sleep to be honest, you worked from 3am-11pm you didn't sleep, so was the life of a detective. I was though prime of my age, 5'11: ideal detective with the fighting skills better then Chuck Norris. Ok I lied about the Chuck Norris part. I had guardianship over my little brother, when I was thirteen my folks died, we lived with my shit fucked aunt and uncle, I hated them both. When I was seventeen and able to support myself I got him the fuck out of there clutches, and now I supported both him and myself. At the age of twenty-six, I think I'm doing pretty fucking well for having a fourteen year old teenager in my apartment.
3:24am. I sat at my kitchen, it was quiet, Austin asleep I knew that in a few hours he would be rooting through the kitchen, and leaving a mess wherever he touched. The wafting aroma of coffee waded up to my nose and I sipped cautiously at the hot cup. Beside me on the clean counters my GLOCK still sat in its leather holster. Dressed in my typical look it was black: black dress pants, black combat boots hidden under the pant legs, a black blouse, and black leather blazer. I had the typical look of the Russian accentors, dark brown hair, high cheekbones, and the build to kick someone's ass.
My watched beep, checking it I saw that it was time to leave. Setting my coffee cup in the sink I turned off the light and left my apartment. It was quiet through the halls as I walked, the keys in my pocket and my holstered pistol at my hip. No one knew much of me, my apartment was in the rich side of the city, and I made sure Austin had a good fucking life. I remember to the day when we were little kids, I was a shit; hell we were siblings you fought that was the norm. Now though, I promised my mother, as she was the last to die that I'd take care of my brother. My dad was in the military and during the Iraq war… he never returned. My mother through the years had supported us eventually breast cancer took her. I had shed my tears long ago, if it was not work, it was Austin I had to remain strong.
The parking garage was quiet, the cars were lined up I imagined them like sleeping cattle waiting for the cattle prod to wake them up. Walking to my Ford Explorer I beeped open the doors. Starting it I fastened my seat belt and went through the windy turns of the garage; empty the streets were free to go speeding, cops were usually not paying that much attention.
Flick of the knob on the radio I switched through the stations something more desirable that wasn't news. Finally there was a song and I left it at that, some pop song. Fergie, Brittany Spears or something I wasn't that entirely sure who it was, just long as it was a song. It took me about fifteen minutes with the drive, and short wait through the lights to get to the station. Parking the car along the street there was few others, mainly the other homicide detective and the Mexican janitor. Locking my car I strolled inside.
"Jas!" Tony waved from behind the main desk. The fluorescent lights irritated my eyes; I blinked a few times, before giving a lazy wave.
"Yeah? Morning to you too. So what's the gist of news, anything important I should give a fuck about," I asked propping my hip up onto his desk. As always he could give fuck all for his work, and was playing on a poker site.
"Shit!" he exclaimed. I saw the disgruntled head of my boss poke out from his cubicle from the corner of my eye, and then disappear back behind the plaster. I chuckled. "Yeah actually. We have a case, but we don't have to get to it later today." Tony said giving up on the poker game as he slid the manila folder to me.
The tab along the folder had the typical reading: homicide. That was nothing new to old news, business and me. I flipped it open and the sight before me made the bile rise in my throat. Mutilated pictures snapped, and taken greeted my eyes; trust me when I say that I was use to the sight of gore, but there was times that hard asses like me said Ew. The victim was a young man, no more then twenty-two years of age by the name of: John Barry. Something mauled him, intestines strung out along the floor littering the ground with half digested food; his stomach was pulled through raked gaps through his gut. Skin peeled back, and ripped from his body you could hardly discern what he looked like.
"That's some sick shit, what's the lead so far?" I commented closing the folder, I didn't want to look at the poor bastard that I had to go see later.
"So far? Mauling, he had a dog, but dog wasn't present and there wasn't any foot… paw prints, whatever." Tony replied folding his arms over his chest.
I cracked a grin, I was sadistic all right, and when you did my job you had some ass weird humor. "Could have been a pissed off girlfriend, or an ex." Priceless! Tony glared at me, and he shook his head.
"You're a bitch Jasmine!" he mumbled under his breath.
I could only laugh at his reaction. Years back I had a case with Tony of some pissed off girlfriend or ex that caught up to her old boyfriend. She fried his ass, but she didn't do the usual way like Back to the Future. No, she strapped his dick up and set his ass to go to the power line of the house, Tony took a desk job after that case. I was either insane, or had a vast amount of patience for the weird.
"You love me bud. Do you have the numbers of relatives, friends, pot smoking room mates?" I asked my hands rested on my thighs, I felt beneath my dark pants my legs give an involuntary twitch.
Tony slid over a list of names written on printer paper, I scanned down them. Mom dad, brother, two sisters, list of roomies from high school to college, I was surprised no one roomed with the poor dude. I shrugged and stood up from my ass perch on his desk. "I'll get to it before the dragon fries your ass for downloading porn." I joked as I made my way into the office.
Tony laughed, I heard him comment behind me, which made me smirk. "You wish Jas. Go get to work Miss Hard Ass!"
I sat at my desk making a list of schools the victim went to, history, and records anything. The time rolled by and there was nothing that caught my eye, he was a clean slate, only once being busted by the cops for pissing in public, beyond that. Nothing. I sighed. When it hit around 10am I dialed on the phone and called up his folks. It was the first that they had heard of their son. A headache built between my eyebrows as I tried to calm the mother, and explain why I was crying. The father, well he was a prick on a sugar high the moment I told him what was happening. Forgetting that I went down the list putting checks by which I called, it was becoming useless talking to people over the phone.
Noon tolled by and I grabbed my car keys, with the list in hand I left to go do some investigating for myself. Tony said some smart-ass comment as I walked by; I gave him that pretty bird as I left. Lunch hour made traffic slow, and there was the roll of corny songs by college girls that thought their ass fuck boyfriends would like. I gave up and turned off the radio.
Turning off the off ramp I followed the road to Paradise Ave. turning again I followed the address. I managed through the maze of twists and turns of cul-de-sac's to find my way to the victim's house. Lining outside the house had the typical bright yellow crime scene tape. Turning off the ignition of my Explorer I got out and stalked forward. Behind my sunglasses I could see few eyes glancing at me from behind curtains and windows. I waved, they had nothing to fear that I was, just my humor. The door was unlocked I was relieved.
"Holy fuck." I gasped! I covered my mouth and felt the puke wanting to come up. The windows were smashed, the all right life style of the bachelor was ruined. It was worse, in the photo I could muster the strength to crack a joke, but the body was right there. By the closet and the living room the strewn mess of organs lay scattered. Something has certainly got a hold of this sack of shit. My hand remained over my mouth, and nose. Even with my nostrils clamped shut the rotting smell of blood, and already decaying flesh made me want to burp chunks.
Getting a handle of my gut I stepped over the hunks of blood. My eyes scanned the scratches and the bites that looked like were taken out of him. It was not some dog, I don't think that the kitty did that either, this really caught my interest. Beside the body was a footprint, a solid footprint that was covered in blood, size 11, ten toes, a human footprint. Another inhale of the scent of gore made me gag, breath time. I held my breath till I was outside.
Pulling my cell phone from my pocket I pressed in the speed dial number to the station. It rang twice before Tony answered. "Tony. I want someone on this case to get diagnostics, and a DNA reading on the prints here, and on the body."
"Footprint?" he was puzzled before the quick torrent came to his voice, "Jesus woman, you go there what five minutes… and you already have a lead?"
"I didn't say a lead, I said I want some readings, and to find out what fuck-wad did this to the dude." My patience was running out, and I could see the number of eyes back to spying out their porch windows.
"Alright, alright don't get your balls twisted." He huffed. I heard clicking on the keyboard, and I held back a chuckle. He was actually doing work. He finally came back to the phone and sighed, "They'll be there in a few hours, was there anything interesting that you found out?"
"Yeah. Put someone else on the task, I don't want to be knee high in this shit honestly."
"What to tough for you?" he mocked. He was my subordinate; over my lips I felt an evil grin grow as I stood there.
"I want you on the case." My voice was casual. The breath was taken away from him and the grin grew. It was probably an odd sight to see some detective grinning on the front porch of a homicide, but I found it amusing.
"Forget me saying a bitch, you're a fucking lousy shit…" Tony sighed out low in the phone, he groaned.
"Do I have any messages?" I asked, I had a feeling I did, but hoped that I didn't have anything to do beyond this.
"Yeah, Austin says: go to the store and get me some fucking Lucky Charms. Love Ya Sis'." Tony read through the small list.
"Thanks." I disconnected the phone and tucked it back into the pocket along my pants. Back in the Explorer I sat there for a moment. my mind whirled with the thought of what the fuck caused that? It was a person, that was clear it had to be, but who did it, and how? There was a range of possibilities to how someone could kill another, but this was fucked up. Someone had some severe psychological problems; this was going to be something I knew that would wake up old nightmares. I sighed. Starting my car I felt the comforting deep rumble of the engine.
I was happy to get out of the neighborhood and start onto a road I knew. The freeway had few cars, the lunch hour was over, only few lingered. I made my way back to the office, but paused, slowly down I watched as something within the alley of the two bigger buildings that stood near by moved. I didn't get much sight to it, but shrugged, a rat most likely. I was becoming paranoid, or more so. I always was weary of those around me; I guess it's natural when you think of it. You deal with low lives like I did you wanted nothing to do with those that even glared at you, hell I had a balled up fist to someone who wanted to even make a gesture they wanted to go a round.
I parked in my usual spot on the street, I got out of my car in time to see a woman I could recognize by her wailing that it was the mother on the phone earlier. In the arms of what I assumed was the father they walked, staggering back to their truck. She looked to be in horrible shape from the news, and sick as well. I sympathized with how she felt, I wished I could have consoled her better, but I was as Tony said: a hard ass.
Hardly through the door Tony quickly made the shush signal. His finger to his lips he was listening to the radio that chimed in. 98.5fm, the general station that had on the mainstream shit, actually had on the news. I was curious. I went back to my ass perch, a bag of Cheetos was open near me, and I took a few, and idly munched on them.
"It is believed to possibly be spreading worse then the Bird Flu, hey even the Swine Flu. There hasn't been an account of the numbers of causalities that have gotten the sickness, but there is a large number accounts through the East Coast, and the South West coming into contact. Hey, that not all folks. Even Europe is facing much of the same thing, hell it could be the same supposed sickness. That's all for the news though, they are supposed to keep us posted on this 'sickness' HA! I doubt that, alright now time for Kat Deluna: Whine Up"
The song perked up and I stared at the stereo. I hadn't realized that around Tony and I we had a crowd. Other detectives, and the Janitor were listening into the radio. Definitely more than a crowd, few blew it off, the others looked worried. I sighed, it was damage control time, and I clapped my hands breaking the silence that was stretching besides the song.
"Hey, break time is over ass-wipes back to work!" I felt the air of power descend on me for a slight moment, as it was so automatic that they turned. I was starting to get tired of being called a "hard ass". I heard it mumbled by few of the desk workers that passed me; I narrowed my eyes at them.
Despite the lingering janitor, Tony looked worried. He had a girlfriend that had two kids that he got tied down too; I met the girlfriend about twice. She was cute sure, but she had that bitchy edge to her where if she didn't get to the mall, she went into a great depression. I nudged his chair with my leg and finished the last of the Cheetos that I had in my hand. Dusting my hands off I folded my arms as he snapped out of his worried gaze.
"Relax, dude. It's nothing, hell as is usually some sort of high mighty Type A person probably had a baby that sneezed and she doesn't know what to do. I wouldn't worry." I said, I tried to find a reason to console him, but he seemed so out of it.
He still didn't respond, I hadn't seen Tony so worried before, it was only once when he thought he when he lost a bet, beyond that, no. I waved a hand in front of his face, again no reaction. I frowned. Getting off of the desk I left him alone, for now at least; I returned to my desk, there was the general paper work and forms that I had to fill out explaining what had happened or possibly did at the scene of the crime. I sat in the computer chair and stared at it. What had happened? That was like asking where the fuck the Holy Grail was, god I was going to hell for that, wait. I already am. I chuckled at my thoughts and grabbed a pen from the pencil cup on my desk. Again, I stared at the blank black lines on the pages that I had to write down.
It took me over a half hour to come up with a conclusion. Deciding on it was an accidental case of a crazed psychological killer I wrote minimal details. It was still so fresh, how in hells name would the expect me to have it rooted out to what had happened? The parents likely wanted an explanation to why their son was dead; well I had no answer right now. I wondered if Tony would be able to get to the case, was he sane enough to deal with it? God I hated Monday's! I really did consider taking back the case and just doing it myself, I'd give Tony till tomorrow to see how he was doing first.
Time just went by and suddenly before I realized it the lights all around except the lamp light at my desk remained on. I blinked, I was so automatic when it came to work I forgot what time it was. I checked my watch: 9:30pm. I swore; pushing back in my chair I dropped the pen across the desk and relaxed slumping down in the chair. My stomach growled, a bagel, two egg whites, coffee, and a handful of Cheetos. All right so that was the hint I needed to go and get some food, and needed to stop being such a workaholic.
I stood; checking out I placed my time card on my boss's desk and left. The street was dark; a chill air blew through the street. I shuddered, shoving my hands into my pants pockets I fished out my keys, unlocking the door to my Explorer I was quick to hurry up to get home. Pulling onto the freeway I pushed my car to a steady 65mph, I was speeding, but I was hungry. I knew Austin would still be up, his homework not done; he was probably on the Xbox still.
The second number in my phone was his cell phone; I held the phone up to my ear hearing the dial tone as it rang three times.
"I already cleaned the kitchen," his voice was automatic. I heard the familiar sound of gunshots, and the metallic sound of voices over the game system.
"I'm stopping at McDonalds, you want anything while I'm at it?" I asked. I could see the golden arches of the fast food joint a mile from where I was. Pressing on the gas I could taste the feel of the greasy hamburgers already.
"Yeah a quarter-pounder, large fry, and a. FUCK!"
I interrupted him, it was again just those natural responses when hearing swearing from my sibling, "Watch the language, ok you want the usual of what you can eat and not gain weight?" I asked. I felt the smirk grow over my lips, both my brother and I were buddies, he saw me in a way as a parent, but I was still his sister so we could get by with bullshitting often times.
"Hey it's, COCK-SUCKER!" he screamed over the phone, I rolled my eyes, I could visualize the hell I was walking into when I returned, "Not my fault that all you eat goes to your fat ass, should try that Atkins diet thingy, I heard it doesn't work, but hell. FUUUUUUCKKKK!" he growled between his teeth, I knew Austin all to well, "But hell, it gives you false hope."
"I'll be home in ten minutes, could you clean up the kitchen?" I knew when he did and didn't do his chores, majority of the time he didn't so it was my duty.
"Hey who you saying clean the kitchen I…"
"Get it done, Austin." I chided him as any older sibling would. I heard him sigh and there was that slight grin, power was addicting.
"Fine, get my food woman!" he hung up.
"Love you too," I said through the disconnected line on the phone. I dropped the phone onto the side seat as I pulled into the drive through.
It took me more time then I thought it would to get through the drive through, there were three cars ahead of me, and I was hungry. The horn was looking promising. When I did get to the window I handed my card over and they gave me the bag of fat to my ass. I hurried home, speeding again through the streets, and the lights right before the changed. Tires squealing as I turned through the garage I found my preferred parking spot, I stepped out, my holstered pistol thrown over my shoulder, and the bag of food in hand.
As I entered the hall that led slowly to my apartment I saw few people I recognized, the old bat that lived down and across the hall from me. She had memory issues, and she believed I was the devil reincarnate. I waved to her, a sarcastic grin painted over my features, she glared, either way I had to laugh as I unlocked the door to my flat.
The paused screen of one of Austin's games was frozen on my TV, his backpack, and his homework was thrown all around the couches in the living room, and his shoes led across the hall way. He swore and hurried to finish cleaning the kitchen, I paused watching him throw dishes into the dishwasher. I dropped the bag of food onto the counter; unrolling it I pulled out my food.
"Nice job," I said sarcastically, maneuvering around him I propped open the fridge and retrieved a cold chilled beer. Again I found my way out of the kitchen as he finished. I chuckled; he huffed and swore wiping counters, desperate to get to his food. Papers were thrown all along my recliner, I felt when I cleared a space for me to sit down, and dropped down into the chair like an old man. I popped the cap of the beer and took a healthy swig. The wrapper under my hand was greasy when I unwrapped it, even more grease against my fingers. God it was good! I drooled and chewed on the bite of the cheeseburger, Austin joined me, and he sat on the floor his food dropping out of the bag.
"You know that will go to your ass, and you'll get fat," he was as sarcastic as I was. He was the typical form of a young teenaged boy, no fat, skinny, fast. He had high cheekbones, and gray-green eyes, and sandy soft colored blonde hair. He had already gone through those growth spurts that sent him already to being six foot. Little shit.
"Hey." I pointed the half eaten cheeseburger at him accusing him of all accusations, "Don't give me that shit, you eat three times as much as I do."
He chuckled and shoved a handful of fries into his wide mouth, few poked out of his mouth as he chomped on his cud, "Yeah, but you're a woman. Everything goes to your ass. It said it on TV!" He nodded as if the television confirmed everything.
I finished off my burger and sat back my legs stretched out as I sipped casually at my beer. I watched him from the corner of my eye a smirk over my lips; out of the corner of my eye I saw a small yellow piece of paper. I knew the sight of that small slip, fighting. I had been called in throughout the year by the principal from Austin fighting. I was surprised that I wasn't called in today, or I was just so into my work. I frowned. Setting my beer onto the side table I watched Austin for a moment. He wolfed down his food in record sentence and began to sip on the soda, occasionally belching.
"So, what did you get in a fight for this time?" I watched the dread fall over his face; he pretended to act as though he didn't hear me. I cleared my throat, I wasn't going to have him sent to the office again cause he couldn't control his anger. "Austin." I said his name, he sighed.
Pausing his game he sat back and starred at the game menu on the TV. He finally answered my waiting question, "The dick deserved it."
I watched his reaction, his eyes didn't move from the screen. "What happened?"
"I told you the dick deserved it!" he snapped. His eyes on me he looked upset, not on the verge of tears, but a face I had seen before. I picked my brain to know why it struck me so quickly. He sighed again and returned to watching the game menu. "The kid was talking about how he knew the world was going to end. Thinks his dad is so fucking cool. Sorry. But the fucker kept it up! He said that we would suffer with all the death and the sickness spreading around, I told him he was a crock of shit, and well he called me an asshole, and I cracked him upside the head."
The frown remained over my lips at his admitting, that's why the expression caught me off guard. It was the same as Tony's. I raked my fingers through my hair, and pulled it from the ponytail, it fell freely fall over my shoulders and down my arms and chest.
"Do I have to go in?" I asked. I hated his principal as much as he did, the prude thought I wasn't a suitable guardian, oh I'd show that bitch suitable.
"No, I did the kiss ass thing and begged for death," he finally cracked a joke. I joined him in with the dry laughter. I stood from my recliner and picked up the wrappers, and my half empty beer. Chucking the food, and my beer I starred at the counter. My mind was lost.
I wondered still about the case that I gave Tony, I'd take it back by tomorrow, it wasn't right with putting the poor guy on it. His face haunted me, he was my buddy throughout college, and to see him turn to the verge of insanity made my stomach knot up. I wasn't aware of Austin watching me. It wasn't till he was suddenly beside me his skinny, long arm around my shoulder.
"Sis'?"
I snapped suddenly from my thoughts and looked to him, my hands were curled into tight fists, the skin pulled tight over my hard-scarred knuckles. I saw the worry in his eyes, and I smiled. It was a smile that took a lot of effort, I was sure he saw through out, and my voice though never betrayed my troubled thoughts. "You better be happy I don't have to go in, I can't stand that bitch of a principal."
Tension melted away he laughed at my comment. He nodded. I chuckled giving him a one armed hug; my arm surrounded his slender figure. God I hated his metabolism, little shit.
"Yeah she is a bitch, and you wonder why I swear," he added with a crooked grin. Ok I had to give him that. I pushed him away playfully.
Pointing at the papers that littered the living room I became the parent again. My voice chiding I made sure my point was clear, my eyebrows raised he slouched forward, "Get your homework done, then off to bed! You still have school tomorrow."
He groaned, and likely was swearing god almighty about me for making him do his homework. He can bitch all he wanted, my initial thought was so close to what my dad probably would have grumbled. I left Austin to work on his homework. Lugging back my holstered pistol in hand it swung lazily. I opened my bedroom door, flicking on the light I tossed my pistol onto my bed. I had a queen-sized bed that took majority of the room up in my humble sleeping quarters. I had the general matching set of the dresser, and wardrobe, I had an attached bathroom right off from my bedroom, and Austin got the hall bathroom.
I had my own television in my room; I turned it on drowning out the noise of the game that was raging war in my front room. He'd cram the homework in during the morning probably miss a class. I stripped out of my clothes stepping out of them and dropping them to the ground in my room, I wanted a shower. The thought, and sight of the body that I saw today haunted my mind, I felt gross just by knowing I was in the same vicinity.
The lights flickered onto my mismatched bathroom, the water spat out threatening to give me a shock of my life of cold water. As soon as it warmed up I stepped into the boiling hot water. Washing my hair and skin, I just, stood beneath the spray of scalding hot water. Steam cleared my mind, my eyelashes dripped with the heavy hot dew. I breathed softly; my mind went to the news that flickered onto the television.
"It's said that the government and the Protective Contamination Agency has stepped in with the matters of the illnesses that have been spreading across the country. They have not yet labeled it an epidemic; in fact they have voice it may have became a pandemic. It's not certain of why they believe the jump to be so sudden. However, there is no need to worry, state officials have not yet put state seizures against anyone who may be infected with the illness, or have come into contact with it. In many countries such as: South America, Africa, and Central Asia. The sickness has became a public hysteria, already the government has quarantined majority of the local transportation, markets, and tourist attractions. Airports across the world are experiencing from the quarantines mass delays, and cancellations, leaving thousands stranded."
I turned the hot water off and grabbed a towel. Wrapping it around myself, my dark hair fell freely down to my waist. I walked with wet footprints following to my room. I watched on my TV as it flashed to images of people wearing facemasks to protect themselves, severely sick individuals, and angry travelers. I had enough of the news as they dragged it on to tell how it was affecting the stock market. I switched it off. Changing into a fluffy cotton long pair of pajama pants, and a camisole I kicked my towel off over to my clothes on the floor. Austin was still at war with his game, I heard: fucker, ass raping donkey eater (his favorite saying) and cocksucker blurted out a few times.
I cracked open my door listening, I couldn't help but smile as he was enraged at the times he probably was killed. "Hey turn it down, I'm going to bed." I yelled over the sound of the game. I heard him grumble, and the volume getting turned down a few notches. It was at a tolerable state, turning off the light I was greeted with almost blackness. Lights of the city slipped through the closed blinds and along my room, I sighed. Already I knew that I wasn't going to sleep well. Crawling into bed I pulled the comforter around me, balling a handful of the thick quilt in my hand I stared at the wall across from me. That kid Austin hit was right, the world was going to see more crazy shit happen. Finally darkness, and sleep fell over me.
"AUSTIN, AUSTIN!" I screamed. I couldn't wade through the gore and bodies that littered the room. I screamed his name again. Nothing. Frantically I searched the room or tried to. As I managed to get a hold of my senses I forced and wiggled my way from the waist deep death.
Blood stained my skin, and body I felt sick. Worry was setting in, no it wasn't setting in, and it had taken over. Awkwardly I walked along the bodies that littered the hall way, I slipped and stumbled trying to keep a hold of my balance, I could hear the bones snapping beneath my feet. The room was dark, only for the poor light fixture that hardly illuminated the gore around me.
"AUSTIN!" I felt hopeless as I screamed his name again. My lungs burned with how loud I yelled for him. I felt my heart beating wildly in my chest. There was a motion somewhere in the flood of death, I tried to run, but something grabbed my ankle. I fell and was submerged again into the bodies I kicked hard fighting for it to let go. The snap was sickening and I heard my name leave the lips. Looking back I saw Austin. My kick was well aimed by it hit his chin, his head snapped back and it hung limp, his neck broken.
"Austin!" I almost screamed his name as I woke up. As if thrown over my bed the comforter was tangled between my legs and the sheets pulled up. I was drenched in sweat, my heart pounded in my chest.
I sat up and rubbed my head, the thought of the dream still made me feel sick, my stomach twisted and turned with the sight of all the bodies my mind had created. I trembled, it was so weird for me, never did I really feel anything like fear, sure there was the movies that cause me to jump. But fear? It was in my blood I felt it running through my body, and my heart pounded even louder in my ear as I set my head down on the pillow.
It was only 12:45am. The apartment was silent Austin must have been asleep. I was still so unsteady about the nightmare I crawled out of bed. Creeping down the hallway, I creaked his door open. He was sprawled out on his back, snoring. I sighed quietly, shutting the door I went to the kitchen. Cold under my bare feet I poured myself a glass of water. I felt still filthy, disgusting as before I showered a few hours earlier, like that corpse of the guy had managed to set his hands on me. I forced the rest of the water down; tomorrow well guess the rest of today was going to be long.
I trudged back to my room and passed out when I hit the mattress, I was thankful that my mind didn't let me have another fucking nightmare, I don't think I could take it if I did.
BEEP, BEEP, BEEP! It felt as if a train had ran over my back, I twisted around, joints cracking, my back popping as I smashed my hand onto my alarm clock. Turning it off I fell back asleep. It was weirdly quiet as I slept, the warmth on my back suddenly woke me. Opening my eyes I glared into the dim sunlight that peeked through the blinds. SHIT!
"God damnit!" I swore loudly. It was well past the time I was due in at the office, late for the second time in over five years. I had an excuse, did I? I rushed, getting dressed, grabbing a bagel, and hauling ass.
My pistol in hand, I thudded down the hall, I could hear the decrepit old bat yelling from her room as I went speeding by, I didn't have time to be a smart ass. I shouldn't have had that burger last night, I felt old, as if I was in sludge as I sprinted through the parking garage. My Explorer fifty feet in front I could see it, hell already smell the leather interior. Sliding along the slick concrete my boots cause me to slide and hit my car, the alarm automatically screeched. My head hurt from the lack of sleep, and the logic to my brain. I forced the door open, and slammed my thumb onto the alarm button on the keypad.
Morning commute was something I wasn't use to. I drummed my fingers over the steering wheel. It was at a fucking stand still. I was not giddy by all means I was nervous and jumpy. I bounced in my seat and yelled at anyone who dare got in my way, as if by the mere force of my voice would move them. Not a fucking damn thing.
"Oh come on you piece of shit!" I think that was my favorite repeated line. I pulled off the interstate and sped down the off ramp, following the usual way around my parking spot still free I spun the large four door Ford into the spot. Putting it in park, and pulling the keys roughly out of the ignition I made a mad dash to the door.
"I'm here! I know I'm late." I said, breathless. I shoved the keys into my jeans. My boss had a pissed look on his face, shit when did he not have a pissed off look. As suspected nothing had changed like it did before.
I waved to the janitor, whatever his name was; Tony sat at his desk with his head down. I breathed a sigh of relief sweat dotted my forehead. I mopped it away, Tony with his head down? I looked over at him curiously and made my way across in two long strides to his desk. I tapped on the plastered wood top and he slowly lifted his head. His eyes were blood shot, tears streamed down over his cheeks.
"Tony!" I gasped. I had never in my whole life that I knew him seen him cry. He sucked in a breath, trying to manage a feeble smile. "God what's wrong?" I was stunned.
"Beth. Yo-you knows. My. My girlfriend?" he sobbed out in heavy breaths, he shook uncontrollably, and I thought he was going to lose it.
I nodded. Forget about my troubles, I'd never seen my buddy with such a pained look in his eye. It was as if his soul had been torn away, his skin was blotchy, pale, and he looked sick.
"She… she's been. Quarantined!" he finally sobbed out. He was reduced to wailing. Slumping over his face buried in his arms he wailed loudly.
The day seemed to only just be getting better; I knelt down beside him and pulled my arm around him. He threw his arms over my neck, almost tackling me to the ground. I felt the tears stain my neck from his crying. I stroked his back, and his shoulders gently trying to comfort him, what the hell could I do? I felt guilt rise up in my stomach and the feel of dread fall over me. I was the hard ass the one who usually knew the answer to everything, and people came to me to make everything better. This though, how was a homicide detective supposed to find a way to make a quarantined friend's girlfriend better? I picked at my brain and came up with nothing.
He collected himself, and detached himself from me. He wiped his eyes with the palms of his hand he really didn't look good. I almost gagged at the smell of his breath; it was ripe with some sort of stench, and bile.
"It happened last night when I got home." he said, controlling his breathing he finally was able to reveal what happened. "When I got home they had those suited up guys you know? She was being pulled into a van, she was screaming, hell it was more like roaring. The kids too… they took them as well saying they were sick. They didn't explain anything."
I watched him my eyes searched his face. His eyes looked shaded over with exhaustion, it looked like he hadn't slept in days. I stood and pulled him with me, those hours in the gym really paid off. He towered over me, and he was solid muscle but when he stood he was pudding in my grasp.
"Okay I'm going to drive you home, you are getting some sleep. Beth will be fine, I promise." I grumbled beneath his weight. He staggered, and sagged against me as I pulled him outside with me. Juggling his weight and getting my keys from the pocket of my jeans I unlocked the door and helped him into the passenger seat. Shutting the door I sighed and went around to the drivers seat.
I got in the car and started it up, I turned on the air conditioning and turned it onto him, he was running a fever shit a retard could tell that. I pulled my Explorer out from the parking spot and weaved my way into the city. He lived on those small flats along the small old city roads. It was not that far from the station, but I wasn't going to try and drag his ass through the roads, driving seemed to make more sense.
It was a cute home I gave him that, it held that light to the look of like a grandmothers' house. It was a baby doll blue, with green shutters, and manicured lawn, and several different flowerbeds.
Again underneath his weight I juggled to keep him from dropping to the ground. Kicking the passenger door shut he burped in my face, and god I swear I was getting pretty good at not puking. It was a stand still more so as I was careful, helping him up the step the door was open. There was nothing in the house, I remembered when I dropped by one morning to jog with Tony, Beth was a bitch, but I was sorry that she was gone. Gone? No quarantined I shouldn't think so sourly.
I knew the layout; it was the usual sort of thing. The living room was in the front of the house, connected with a spacious 50's style kitchen towards the backyard, and bedrooms off to the side. He was having a hard time just walking. Tony kept breathing heavily with each breath, and I was worried. In his room I helped him onto his bed, and pulled off his shoes. He was already out, poor guy. I left him a note, of where to reach me and that I would have my phone on.
I left his room for moments and went to the kitchen, rummaging through the cupboards I finally found what I was looking for. Pouring from the kitchen sink a cold glass of water, I shut the faucet off once it was full. I carried it to his room and left it beside the bedside table. I felt terrible; there my friend was lying practically on his deathbed, should I call the ambulance? No, that would cause more problems, I'd just drop by on him during lunch to see how he was doing, if he was worse then I'd take him to the hospital. I left.
Slamming shut my door I sat there the car rumbling under my feet, and ass. The silence was starting to annoy me, like I was going to meet some weird fate if I didn't hear something soon. Turning on the radio I listened, there were the usual pop, or hip-hop, punk songs I scanned the radio. Still parked in front of his house I glanced to his front closed door. I was really worried about him, but he needed his rest, I'd take the blame for him from my boss.
"They believe that the vir…" I went past the station to fast, I pressed the button back and froze. "Protective Contamination Agency has called an immediate awareness. The illness has now reached: Code Red. I repeat Code Red. They are requiring all currently capable of transportation, and physically able citizens to go immediately to the nearest hospital for vaccinations. I repeat, this is a state, and government requirement by the Protective Contamination Agency that you are to be vaccinated to stop this virus from spreading. If you know of anyone who is currently sick, you are advised to stay away from him or her!"
Worry really set in now, my nightmare was different I wasn't yelling for Austin but I was going to get him from school. I didn't care who said what, this was a weird feeling coming over me. Maybe I was paranoid? But, being paranoid often meant you lived a moment longer.