Chapter 20
He appeared uncomfortable, tossing and turning in the hospital bed. Yet sooner than later he came too. "My head is killing me… then again… everything is killing me." Snek muttered. Slowly, his eyes opened. He was propped up enough to see straight ahead of himself, he appeared aware that he was in a hospital, yet froze to him standing in his room. Garou was waiting for him to come too, and it was about damn time he did. "What the hell are you doing here?" Snek demanded.
Garou himself didn't want to be there, but was asked to. He sneered before looking to Snek. "Moral support." He said with his arms crossed. "My daughter insisted."
Snek was about to get up and out of the bed, when he froze. A look of panic came over him. "My legs…I… I can't feel my legs!"
A small smirk came over Garou. "It's because you don't have any."
Snek looked down at his bed, and found there was no sign of toes or anything! Scared now, Snek reached for the blanket, only to jump at the appearance of his arms. It was as if he was wearing his snake skin suit. But why would he be wearing that in a hospital bed? His hand trembled now as he slowly peeled off the cover. He found his legs were gone! All that remained as a long, serpent body that draped over the bed and on to the floor! "AHHHH! WHAT HAPPENED! HOW DID THIS HAPPEN!" he demanded.
"You need to calm down. First off, you ate the food off of my son's table at the tournament, didn't you?"
"No!" he protested. "I had my own, my table was overflowing with it. I didn't take from your sons! I wouldn't… Oh God…"
"Then someone tampered with the arrangement. Probably Kujo." Muttered Garou. "In any case, he spread the plates among the tables, mainly to yours, Max, Suiryu and himself, unaware that they were laced with monster cells. My daughter vaccinated the other contestants to be safe than sorry. Luckily, no one else was infected."
Snek fell back in his bed, but then, he realized something. "Why… am I still the way I am?" he asked. "I felt this… sinister urge trying to take over me when this was all happening, but… I feel like me… but… I'm not."
Garou smirked. "You can thank my daughter for that. It blocked the monster urges from taking over you." He then walked a little closer to Snek. "You didn't fully turn, despite how it looks to you. If you had, you would not possess your mind or any features of your former self. The monster urges are very hard to contain and control. It takes your mind and fills you with rage," Garou paused. "Alley was working on a cure for monster cells for such an occasion. She used it out of desperation for you and the others. She hadn't tested it yet."
Snek was stunned. "She… she wanted to help us."
"My children… want to help people. It's not all for the sake of getting stronger you know. But they are judged because of who and what I am… they are not seen as their own person separate from me. I know you didn't consider my sons to be much more than younger versions of me, waiting for a chance to strike down anyone who opposed them, but did they?"
Snek was silent. "I'm sorry." He said.
"You don't say that to me, you say it to my kids." Garou approached him oddly. "I guess there is no other option here. I will help you however I can during this process. I have been there you know… twice… second time around was far worst than before."
Snek was at a loss for words, he knew Garou, the human monster, the hero hunter! But… not Garou, himself. "You need to rest up, Alley has been working on a cure for the past week straight without sleep. When you see her, you thank her for all she does for you, Max and Suiryu."
"What about Kujo?" he asked.
"Tasted terrible."
There was a look of shock on Snek face as he slowly eased himself back down in the bed, Garou smirked and walked out of the room. He found Alley in Max's room, going over her plan and hoping for a timeline for a cure. "I can't make any promises Max, but I am going to do everything I can. Please, be patient with me. I am trying everything"
"I understand… I am just grateful I am still me! I could be a lot worst, couldn't I?"
She nodded. "Yes, but know I will not stop until you are your old self again."
Garou decided to leave the hospital shortly after. His daughter has everything well in hand, but… he needs to pay someone a visit…
