KRONOS RISING: PLAGUE: If you thought dry land was safe, think again. by Max Hawthorne

Author:Max Hawthorne [Hawthorne, Max]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Far From The Tree Press, LLC
Published: 2016-11-24T07:00:00+00:00

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It was still pitch black when Ron Murphy pulled into the driveway. With a weary sigh, he threw his dilapidated Toyota into park, grabbed his backpack and lunch pail, and struggled out of the car.

He gave the driver’s side door a shove, only to cry out as a spasm of pain lanced through his hand. Gritting his teeth, he held the injured body part up to his face, examining its cocoon-like bandage in the Camry’s headlights.

At least the bleeding had stopped.

He poked the meaty part where the bite was and winced.

Shit, hurts like a mother. That fucking bitch.

Cursing under his breath, Ron ambled toward the door of his ramshackle ranch, stepping around the pile of bills that lay scattered like fallen leaves. He’d get them in the morning. As he fumbled for his keys, the motion sensor he'd installed the other day went off, bathing him in light. He squinted and shielded his eyes with his wounded hand, surprised by how painfully bright the new LED bulbs were.

Ah well, better to keep would-be burglars at bay.

Ron made his way inside, closing and locking the door before tossing his wallet and keys on the coffee table. He was halfway to the bathroom when the phone started ringing.

He looked at the time and blinked. Who the hell would be calling at this hour? Whoever it was, and whatever it was about, it couldn’t be good. Ignoring it, he made for the powder room to check his dressing. As he turned on the light, the answering machine picked up.

“Hey, it's Ron and you've reached my answering machine. I'm either asleep or dead, so leave a message.”

"Hey, Ron, it's Helen from work."

Ron glanced up from the vanity, his eyes like hen’s eggs in its mirror.

Shit, I'm not picking that up!

"Listen, I hate to do this to you, but Maddy said she wants you to come back in, on the double. Not sure what's going on, but give us a call back."

Ron shook his head and chuckled. No way was he going back tonight. Not after what happened. They weren't paying him enough.

Actually, come to think of it, a little paid disability leave would be nice . . .

With nervous fingers, he unwrapped the gauze bandage covering his wound. Putting it aside, he sucked in a breath and then peeled back the antiseptic sheath that formed its innermost layer. He grimaced. It was sticky and clung to the wound edges. The bite he'd gotten from “Blister-puss” hadn't been super-deep, but it was already showing the redness and tenderness that were sure signs of an infection.

Ron’s lips formed a tight line as he carefully rewrapped his hand. The nurses were right; a human bite is a very nasty thing.

For a moment, he considered going back to the hospital. Not to return to work, of course, but to get a script for some hardcore antibiotics. Just to be safe. Then a wave of dizziness swept over him and he realized he was more tired than he thought.

Better to wait until morning.

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