25 Perfect Days by Mark Tullius

Author:Mark Tullius
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: horror, suspense, anthology, futuristic, scary, dystopian, science fiction stories, apocalylpse, futuristic and scifi
Publisher: Mark Tullius

Seven to Go

August 31, 2054

Robert Edgefield sank into the wheelchair and gathered his coat. He hated being pushed around by others, but he no longer had the strength to do it himself. His older brother, Troy, never complained about his new role as caregiver, but Robert felt nothing but humiliation, especially as they entered the air-conditioned lobby of the animal hospital. The two remaining employees were just about to lock up. They barely glanced in Robert’s direction. There was only one reason anyone showed up here without a pet.

Dr. Cooper appeared in the doorway and held up his bloody gloves. “I’ll be ready in a minute. I just need to clean up.” Dr. Cooper forced a smile before disappearing into the back, leaving the two brothers alone in the room.

“You sure about this?” Troy asked.

“Where else am I going to go?”

Troy wheeled Robert by a plant and took a seat on one of the red plastic chairs. While Troy flipped through a magazine, Robert stared at a poster of a kitten pawing into a goldfish bowl.

Troy’s nostril whistle was only adding to Robert’s stress, so he told him to go drive around, that he’d call when he was ready to be picked up. Troy just kept reading his article. Robert didn’t push it. Troy had finally stopped trying to pay for Robert to see a real doctor.

Robert hated himself for bringing his brother into this mess, but there was no one else he could trust.

Dr. Cooper strolled into the waiting room and quickly shut the blinds. “Sorry about the wait, Mr. Edgefield.”

“Oh, no worries.”

Dr. Cooper asked if he was ready, and Robert nodded. He hadn’t eaten in days and Robert found it increasingly difficult to carry on conversations.

Troy started to stand, but Robert waved him off, said he was fine. Dr. Cooper let Troy know they’d be about an hour then gripped the handles and wheeled Robert past the receptionist’s desk. When they entered the hallway, a wave of delicious smells filled Robert’s nose. A hint of mesquite and the hearty aroma of steak. It was coming from the bags of dog food lining the wall, but it didn’t stop him from salivating. If he had more energy he would’ve torn open a fifty-pound sack and poured the entire thing down his throat, consequences be damned.

But Robert quickly came to his senses. He was fortunate, blessed with a beautiful child, and he wouldn’t risk her safety. Teresa, his adoring wife, had already been taken by the Controllers, another number chalked up to the goddamn Reduction Act. If it came down to it, Robert swore he’d never eat another bite. He prayed it wouldn’t come to that. There was talk legislation might be passed to loosen the requirements. But even if the lawmakers actually pulled it off, Robert knew it wouldn’t happen before tomorrow at three o’clock.

As they neared the swinging double-doors, a huge cockroach scurried out from under a bag of dog food. Robert thought how lucky the little bastard was, able to eat whatever it wanted, right before the wheel of his chair crushed it.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.