Day 63: Bus 1

[gald_digger]

As soon as Anise achieved wakefulness, the Head Doctor's words from the previous night immediately came floating back into her mind. People were getting sick. They were going to turn into monsters. That thought alone was chilling enough, but it was nothing compared to the terror that struck her when she sat up and saw her own hand. A red blotch covered the back of it, extending upwards to the wrist. Where did that come from?

The signs are already showing. That was what Landel said.

It couldn't be. Not her. If it was really true, then her life was as good as over. No... it had to be a mistake. Maybe the Head Doctor's words had scared her to the point that she was attributing random things to his threats. She was being paranoid. That was all it was.

And yet, no matter how many times she told herself that, she feared what might happen.

A nurse came to her soon, bearing an outfit for her to wear on the field trip. The striped shirt and gray skirt weren't particularly appealing to Anise, but the purple coat she was given wasn't so bad. It was a little big on her, but it was a nice, feminine color... and the extra long sleeves served to cover most of the strange rash. Anise didn't want to look at it, and she sure as heck didn't want anyone else seeing it.

When it was time to board the buses, Anise quietly took the lunch bag, climbed aboard, and sat down. She didn't look anyone in the eye. Even after sitting down, she merely stared down at the contents of her bag. The muffin didn't look the least bit appetizing - not while her stomach was busy twisting itself into knots, anyway.

[free!]

Comments

[vstheworld]

Scott nodded. Two weeks was a hefty chunk all right. He kind of didn't want to say that he had been here longer; this wasn't supposed to be some kind of misery-off. "We're all in this together" and all that something something.

Instead, Scott gave a deep, sympathetic sigh. "Exact-o-rama," he said. After a moment, he finally glanced up at the other guy. Looked like he had the long-haired anime bishounen thing going, but with a more world-weary look to his face than any fangirl bait would have. Whether that was thanks to the Institute or from back in his home world, Scott couldn't tell. Probably didn't matter, anyway. Getting worn down was getting worn down, no matter where it happened. He wouldn't have been surprised if it had been a little of both.

"I'm Scott, by the way," he said, nodding again, this time in the older guy's direction.

[stellarregions]

It sucked, watching this place wear people down and knowing he couldn't do anything to help, other than than listen and commiserate. It was all right if he was feeling pessimistic and abused by the situation, because he was used to it. But to be surrounded by so many other people stuck in the same position, and not being able to do anything... that was just frustrating in the extreme. More and more, he kept imagining what he'd do if he could ever get his hands on Martin Landel.

"I'm Gren," he replied, and tried for a reassuring smile, if only to keep his own frustration from showing through.