It had been a week since the Joy virus had spread, and it seemed to have worn off. Everyone had reverted back to their usual selves, and life appeared to have returned to normal in Elmore.

However, Gumball Watterson wasn't convinced that everything had returned to normal. He was sitting outside on the bench in the playground, eating his dinner, while wondering where Darwin had gone. He hadn't seen him since the virus had been "cured". Something wasn't right! He finished his dinner, throwing his foil ball that his sandwiches had been wrapped in into the bin. He cheered when it went in, before returning his thoughts to Darwin. Just where was he?

He got up and walked around the playground, feeling quite alone without his friend/brother. Everyone else fit into neat little friendship groups, such as Penny, Masami, Molly, Teri, Carrie and Carmen, and Tina Rex, Jamie and Anton (although Anton was forced into their group). Other people had their own friendship groups as well, such as Tobias and Banana Joe, or Bobert, Ocho and the Eggheads. But Darwin was his friend and he had no idea where he was!

He was nearly in tears, when he spotted something moving in the corner of his eye, over by the dustbins. Something orange. "Darwin?" Gumball called. The figure stepped out of the shadows. "Darwin! It's you!" Gumball shrieked happily. But something wasn't right. Just what was that rainbow drip hanging by the corner of Darwin's mouth? Gumball suddenly felt very scared. He was aware of the Joy virus, but hadn't that worn off? Maybe it hadn't. Maybe this was why he hadn't seen Darwin since the virus "vanished".

There was only one word in his mind now.

Run!

Gumball quickly suited the action to it, while thinking where to run to.

Where will Gumball go? Will he escape? Find out in the next chapter!