Chapter 4
Chris and Jill entered the apartment and Chris offered to take Jill's coat, which she handed over gratefully. In the mean time August was already making a friend back in the kitchen with Claire. "aawww Jill I didn't know you got a dog, he's such a sweet heart." Claire said while stroking August's head. "Yup he's a good boy, that is when he's not knocking over people." Jill said while shaking her head, she then turned to Chris. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you I was bringing him over, is he going to be a problem?" "No not at all Jill, Claire and I are dog people, in fact we used to have one back when we were kids. "If it weren't for traveling so much with my job I would have gotten a dog a long time ago." Jill smiled at this making herself feel better inside. "Ok now that everyone is here, how bout I order pizza for the two of you and then get out of your hair." Clair offered while getting up from her seat and pulling out her phone. "Thanks Claire that would be great, but you know you can stay for dinner if you'd like, I'm sure Jill here won't mind." Chris said while turning his head towards Jill. "Ya not at all Claire, besides it would be great to ketch up with you." "Are you guys sure, I don't want to rain on your parade here." "Yes we insist," the two friends said in unison. This made Claire laugh, "aww you two are so cute together, ok I'll stay but in the mean time you guys go and ketch up while I order food." "Ok sis that would be great thanks." Claire winked at Chris as she walked passed him and headed over to his room to give the two some privacy.
Chris turned back to Jill and offered her a beer and a seat on the coach. Once the two got settled and were able to ketch up on work and life the doorbell rang. "Oh that must be the pizza guy," Chris said getting up to answer the door. "Hi there sir" the Pizza guy greeted "that will be $15.75" Chris reached for his wallet in his back pocket only to find that it wasn't there. "Shit, where's" he whispered under his breath. Chris continued to pat at his pant pockets for his missing item when Claire stepped into place. "Here sir $15.75 exact" "thank you ma'am have a nice day." The pizza guy took his exit while Claire took the pizza and turned to her brother who looked like he was going to burst into panic at any moment. "Hey we'll find your wallet after we eat, and don't worry about having to pay me back ok." She said in a relaxed tone. "Thanks Claire"
Piers had awakened from what seemed like his third blackout. His head still hurt but not nearly as bad as it did seconds ago. The puppy slowly got up and looked towards the apartment building to which he now knew his best friend was living in. "Chris, so you really are here." Piers tried to get his footing back which only failed miserably since the world around him felt like it was spinning. Piers didn't realize his exact location, which was now at the side of Chris's driveway just next to some trashcans. He had also failed to see the fourth vehicle that was pulling right at him from the driveway. The Pizza guy's car had ended up hitting the trashcans and knocking them over right on top of the poor puppy. Piers could feel his headache worsen as heavy object came crashing down on him. The impact left him motionless as it took a few minutes for him to realize what had happened. It didn't take long though when he felt pain shoot through his body as the impact of the trash began to crush him. I got to get out of this, he thought to himself. Piers gathered whatever energy he had and tried to pull himself free. Only to have more pressure against his body and a sharp heavy object dig into his left arm. Piers yelp and whimpered in pain as the object only got worse pushing against his arm. It's no use he thought, if I keep this up I might break my arm or for that matter suffocate to death. The pup let out some barks in hope that someone would be able to hear his cries and come help him.
August's ears perked up as he could hear a noise coming from outside the building. He stood up from wear he was lying and headed over to the door and started running back and forth from the door to the kitchen. "August calm down!" Jill called out to her dog while once again looking embarrassed by her dogs actions. "Sorry guys he's usually not like this at home or at work." "That's right Chris was telling me that the BSAA was training dogs to sniff out viral outbreaks and stuff." Claire said with some interest in her voice. "That's right Claire August is part of a training program in which he will be able to sniff out viral outbreaks, which include contaminated places, viruses and even can detect those who are infected." Jill responded while taking a bite of pizza. "Wow that's so cool, if this works then you guys have less things to worry about since you will be able to get ahead notice." Claire said in amazement. "Yup, August can now detect the T and G virus, but unfortunately not the C virus yet. The vaccine for that still needs some time to be developed before it can be distributed.
August was getting upset in being ignored so Claire walked over to him to calm him down. She stroked his back and rubbed his neck to make him feel comfortable, fortunately it worked and August rolled on his back so Claire could scratch his belly. This left Chris and Jill in the kitchen alone which aloud them to do some more catching up. Soon enough though it became 9:00pm before they knew it. Jill noticed the clock and decided it best she take her leave. "Hey you two I hate to be a party pooper but I better head back home now, I got a busy day ahead of me tomorrow." She said while nodding her head toward August who was already by her feet as she said this. "Hey Jill thanks for coming over." Chris said walking over to Jill and giving her a hug. Claire had soon joined Jill by the door and said her goodbyes while Chris went off to retrieve Jill's Jacket. Jill said her goodbyes and when Chris came back with her jacket she gave him a quick peck on the cheek "I'll see you around work Chris." She whispered in his ear. She then put her jacket on and a leash on August so he wouldn't run off and jump on any people that may be out walking. But before she even opened the door there was a loud clash of thunder and lightning, which soon followed by a loud trail of heavy rain. "Well I'll see you guys later." She said as she and August quickly rain out to the car. Once Jill was seated in her car she slowly backed up but then notices Chris's trash lying all over the place, she rolled down her window. "Hey Chris Someone knocked your garbage over!" "Thanks Jill I'll take care of it," Chris replied back while still standing in the doorway.
Once Jill was completely pulled out of his driveway he soon notice something on his driveway. "Oh shit, it's my wallet!" Chris ran out in the poring rain to retrieve his lost item and quickly put it in his pocket for protection. He was just about to head back inside the house when. "Help!" a voice called out which was soon followed by whimpers. "That voice it seemed to be coming from the end of the driveway." Please somebody help me! Now worried that someone could be in trouble, Chris rushed over to the end of the driveway but there was no one in sight. He heard more whimpering. It was then that Chris looked down and stared at the pile of trash bags that were splattered on the ground. Chris didn't know what it was, but what ever was calling him it was coming from under his bags of trash.