Chapter IV: The Virus

After I rebooted one of our older computers, Saint wasn't on anymore.
"His computer did the same thing I bet," I thought trying to convince myself it was some electrical problem.
I looked at the disks again, how could they just torch up like that? They were brand new! I got them at the store the other day, it's. it's.
"Shit."
I put them down and went to bed thinking of some other explanation.
Sigh, "What's the use?" and I went off dreaming.
In my dreams I saw Maverick. He was all right, but his head was bald, and he had markings on his arms and legs as if some blunt object stabbed him. Then I found myself coming to a dead end. I was in a box, some type of box, but it was clear. It started to fill up with liquid, a solid liquid; it stuck to me like gel. These cords came up through the bottom of the "box" and went through me like dull scissor blades cutting sandpaper. And then giant metal centipedes were flying all around me, but it looked like they were swimming, only through air.
Everything went blank after that, and I woke up hanging over the end of my bed.
"Nothing edible could make dreams like that."
Saint never showed up at school, but he came to my house later that day.
"Thomas!"
I turned and saw him with torn clothes, mud and dirt scattered across his face, and he was bleeding rapidly.
"What the hell happened to you?! You look terrible!"
"Forget what happened to me! Never mind how I look! Those things aren't important right now! I know what happened to Maverick!"
"What?" and I forgot about all of the other questions I had for him.
"I can't tell you right now, I'm in uh. a hurry. We'll have to meet somewhere else um. the bridge! Be there at 11, got it?"
"Got it."
"K, good. Later!"
"Later."

Next: Chapter V: The Bridge