Anthony's POV

"Why would you want me to do THAT?,"I asked shocked.

"I can't handle the pain,"He shuddered.

"Dude, it's...just a spider bite,"I said,"When the venom is flushed out..."

"NO,"He wailed,"You don't understand! It's not a spider bite! I was...bitten..."

He lifted his sleeve and showed me the teeth marks just below his shoulder. I gasped. My first instinct was to shoot him, but this is Laser we're talking about. He's my friend, I couldn't just kill him.

"Tell me,"I said.

He told me about the pain of the spider bite and the zombie bite. The zombie bite was definitely worse.

Joven found out, somehow. Maybe Laser told him. Anyways, I saw Joven pointing a gun at Laser's head.

"Bastard!,"Joven yelled,"Why didn't you tell me earlier?!"

"You would've shot me,"Laser defended.

"Damn right I would have shot you!"

"Joven stop,"I interrupted.

The both of them looked at me, Joven pointing his gun down.

"He's a zombie!"

"No,"I said,"He's still Lasercorn!"

"Anthony, please,"Laser pleaded.

"Give him a chance,"I pleaded,"Just...a couple days. Please. He..he'd do the same for you."

Joven turned and looked at me with a death stare.

"Fine,"He said,"But we're tying him to the bed. And Anthony, you're on zombie-corn watch."

I nodded.

Day 5:

Laser was now tied to the bed by his wrist. He wasn't struggling, in fact, he didn't seem able to move whatsoever. He slept, mostly, but every few hours, he woke up and screamed in pain. I could tell he was stifling the noise, but he couldn't help it.

When he woke up, he just lied there, tears streaming from his face. I put my hand near his mouth.

"Bite me,"I said.

He looked at me with confusion, then shook his head.

"No,"He mumbled.

"Please,"I said,"I want to feel your pain."

His eyes widened.

"No,"He repeated,"No you don't."

"I hate seeing you like this,"I said,"Don't...don't you want someone to feel what you feel?"

He closed his eyes and sighed.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

He took my hand and bit it with(what I assumed was) all the strength he had. I had to cover my mouth to avoid screaming, as it felt like my hand was being crushed. He let go of my hand, and it was bleeding. He looked away guiltily.

I felt the pain instantly; a bee sting. It gradually increased; one bee, two bees, three bees...My head hurt, a tiny jackhammer getting louder and louder. I went back to watch Laser, and he looked asleep. I untied his hands and he rolled onto his side.

"Anthony,"He whispered.

"Yeah buddy,"I said,"I'm right here."

He gestured toward the bite on my hand.

"Yeah, it hurts,"I said.

"I'm dying Anthony,"He said.

"No. It's just a virus. You'll get through this, I promise."

"Joven...wants to kill me."

"He's just scared,"I assured him,"He had to kill one of his friends."

I could tel how upset he was, how Laser was still mourning his friend. He saw Sohinki get killed. If I had to see Ian get killed...I shuddered. It's too painful to think about. I hugged Laser tightly.

"I'm here for you,"I said,"But...you need a shower."

He smirked. I helped him up and into the bathroom. I waited outside the unlocked bathroom door as the shower ran.

"What are you doing,"Ian asked.

"Standing here,"I answered sarcastically.

"Why is the shower on?"

"Laser's in there."

"You're letting the zombie take a shower,"He kidded.

"Shut up,"I said,"He's not a zombie."

Just then, the door opened, steam poured out and Laser stood there, wrapped in a towel. He looked a hell of a lot better, but was shivering all over. Ian and I followed him back to the room, and Laser climbed under the blanket and closed his eyes. He was shivering violently.

"Shit! What's wrong with him,"Ian asked.

"I don't know,"I said,"Go get some blankets, and maybe a thermometer."

Ian returned with blankets and a thermometer. I immediately covered up Laser, then pried open his mouth and checked his temperature.

"Ninety four,"I said,"He's hypothermic. Uh...turn up the heat."

Ian nodded and turned up the heat as far as it would go.

His shivering slowed. His body temperature went up to about 97. Ian left after he was sure Laser was okay. Okay for an infected person, at least. He was beggining to snore. I fell asleep in the chair next to his bed.

Day 6:

Laser's POV

After the cold, I was fully paralyzed. I couldn't move at all. My body was numb, except for the spasms of pain that shot through my body, cutting off my breathing for a few seconds.

"You're just going to wait for him to die,"Anthony exclaimed, a distant voice.

"I'm going to wait untill he becomes a zombie,"Joven corrected, another distant voice.

"That's f*ck*d up, Joven!"

I had to face the inevitable. Any day now, maybe only hours, I would die. I would become a zombie, and Joven would shoot me.

Joven's POV

"Do you think I WANT to do this,"I shouted,"I already killed two friends! I don't want to kill anyone else! It HAS to be done! Those...those THINGS took everything from me."

I set the gun down and kicked it over to Anthony. He nodded in understanding and left the room, leaving the gun behind. I shuddered, imagining what I'd have to do when Laser woke up. I have to kill my best friend.

I tried. I tried to tell myself that Sohinki was too far gone, but it didn't work. I killed him, just like Wesely.

"I'm sorry La...David,"I said,"You're my best friend. I hope you know that. I love you like a brother."

Laser's POV

I felt the cold steel barrel against my forehead. Joven's going to kill me. I'm still alive, Joven! I'm still alive!