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Description
The sky was dark outside the loading port. There was no sound of trucks or forklifts being operated. The last customer was let out the front door of the store. Will had his back brace on as he lifted a box filled with peaches in their protective slips and headed for the large walk in refrigerator where the produce was kept at night. He placed it on one of the large metal shelves and slid it back to make room for the other boxes that were coming in. He huffed and walked to the entrance of the room. Leaning against the door, another box boy passed by with another box of produce. He looked over to see Katie packing up for the night. He figured he'd take a chance. He ran for his backpack without being noticed and unclipped his support harness, stuffing it in the bag. He slung it over his shoulder and saw Katie was gone, already heading for the front doors. He jogged a little to catch up with her.
"Uh, hey..." He said, slowing to match her pace.
"Mm?" She hummed, a little surprised.
"Er, coul-could I...walk you to your car...? Or something like that...?" He stammered. Katie thought a moment.
"Uhh, sure, I guess...Isn't your bike parked in back?" She asked.
"Ah, funny story, someone stole my front wheel..." Will laughed hollowly.
"Oh, I'm sorry..." She said, pushing one of the front doors open and looking around. Will followed, the cool night air rushing through the door as the breeze that started earlier still blew.
"Nah, it's fine, I don't think I'm going to be able to afford another one though. Had to convince my landlord to wait a week for my rent when I bought the bike itself..." He said, looking down the walk to a store space with a few tables out front. Music thumped from it. "Ever go in that place down there...? I think it's a club of some sort..."
"Mm? Oh. No I haven't. Second job and all keeps me pretty busy..." Katie said distractedly, walking out into the parking lot, pressing a button on her key chain. Nearby, a car twittered.
"Second job? No wonder you can afford a car. Maybe I should look into getting a second job...Twice the back breaking labor for half a normal wage!" He laughed.
"Mhmm..." She hummed.
"...So, um, maybe if you have time some time, you wanna go to that club and see what they have there...? On me...?" Will asked with a nervous chill. The two had come to a yellow pickup truck, and Katie pulled out her keys. She did not fiddle with them.
"Uh...I think I'm going to have to say no. I'd never have any free time to go by myself even. Plus...You're kind of...not my type." She said, opening the car door and standing there a moment.
"...Well what is your type then?" He asked.
Katie was silent a moment. "The type...that can fight until the end." Will tried to say something, but Katie had already shut the car door. After a moment, the engine started and the vehicle backed up and drove off along the parking lot's road, cutting through a space in the cars and stopping in the driveway a moment before pulling out into the busy street.

Will watched her go, mulling over what she said. "...Fight till the end...?" He mumbled. He noticed a bus driving the other way. That bus always passed before the bus he needed came! He ran for the stop. Hopping over the bushes and along the retention pond. The bus was just coming. This time he was ready. He got his wallet out before the bus stopped and pulled out two dollars; the fare for an adult. The door's opened the the same sour lady sat in the driver's seat. He paid no mind, taking a moment to slide the money into the electronic slot.
"Need a transfer...?" The lady asked.
"Nah..." Will said, already walking back and taking the first seat on the left. This way would take at least forty five minutes or so before his stop would come, so he leaned on the large wheel well cover next to his seat and relaxed.

There weren't that many people on the bus now, it was quiet save for the buzz of the engine and heater blowing. Will looked back towards the back of the bus. There were only two people back there. A dark woman sat in the very back corner, jacket laid over her and rap music blasting loud from her ear buds coming from a hidden mp3 player. A man in a long gray coat sat with a leg up in one of the forward facing seats, looking at Will. The man looked away quickly and out of the window at the passing night, hand moving to brush through his somewhat long light brown hair, stopping to scratch at a spot. Will stared a moment longer in suspicion before directing his glaze at the ridged floor, meant to reduce the chance of slipping if it was wet. He then looked out of the front windows of the bus, watching a car overtake the bus in the second lane, then putting on it's turn signal and dropping back out of sight as it slowed down. Other than that, the road was clear. He relaxed again, adjusting his pack.

Ten minutes passed by, and Will was beginning to slip into a nap. He woke a little bit as he heard someone in the back pull the signal cord. The lines tightened and pulled the trigger mounted near the front of the bus, and the 'Stop Requested' sign lit up, along with the the computerize voice.

"Stop Requested."

Followed by a ding. He hear someone get up as the bus slowed. The bus stopped and the brakes hissed. The sour lady opened the front door, the back doors unlocking as a result, free to be pushed open. This wasn't the sound Will heard.

BANG!

Pain shot through Will's body, centered at his neck. Quick as the shot itself, he felt his neck, finding something hard and yanking it out, throwing it to the floor. Glass broke and a clear liquid spilled from the broken dart onto the bus floor. Will looked back. The man in the gray coat was disappearing out of the back door. The woman still sat with her eyes closed and her earphones blaring. The bus driver was yelling in panic. Will jumped up and ran out of the back door, after the man. He got outside, looking down the sidewalk seeing the man fleeing. He ran after him.
"HEY!!!" Will shouted in anger. The two ran along wall and fence, matching speed. The man rounded a corner and climbed a closed fence gate, swinging over with adrenalin fueled ease. Will followed closely, ripping a pant leg on a sharp twist at the top. The chase continued through a weed infested old parking lot.

Suddenly a cold wave spread through Will's insides. He suddenly felt extremely fatigued, though his mind was still rearing to go. He slowed, then stopped, panting. The man looked back and stopped as well.
"Oi!...What was that back there!?..." Will shouted, panting. He put his hand on his knees, catching his breath.
The man did not respond.
"...Hey! Habla engles? Que...que..." Will tried to think, but felt his throat starting to give out. He finally realized, that maybe this chase wasn't such a good idea.
The man was quiet, watching him.
"Wha..." Will's voice was changing quickly, turning guttural. His hands hurt. His teeth hurt. His eyes hurt. His insides were twisting around themselves it felt like. He gasped large breaths as his vision started faltering, flickering between normal and red. He tipped forward, a hand out to break his fall slightly. He was on his hands and knees now, staring at the ground. His mouth was throbbing, so were his hands as they rested on the cool pavement.
The man walked up to him, squatting in front of him and lifting his head. He inspected Will's eyes, lifting a lip, looking puzzled. Will weakly shook him away. The man stood up.
"Well that's not right..." He mumbled quietly. He pulled a cell phone out of one of the coat's pockets. After a moment, he spoke again.
"The injection method worked, though something is wrong. Get over here and take a look, we may have to dispose of this one-!!!"
The man was cut off as a truck smashed through the chained gate. It hit the breaks and slid sideways as gunshots rang out. The man dropped the phone and ran. Someone jumped out of the truck and fired after him with a large handgun. The man disappeared into the unlit darkness, shots following him. There was a yelp, then silence.

Will's arms gave out. He slumped to the side with a huff, still panting. He was rolled onto his back, flickering sight seeing someone above him. A woman. With red hair. She inspected his face, doing as the man before had done, checking various things. She pulled something form her belt, messing with it a moment. His head was turned to the side, and pain erupted from his neck again where the dart had entered before as a needle was inserted. After a moment, Will started to feel relief from the various areas of pain. His vision remained red. He also began to feel dizzy. He tried to speak, a guttural growl coming from his throat, adjusting it until it sounded normal.
"Katie...?" He managed to say.
"Stay home tomorrow. Get better. Don't go to work."
Will tried to pick out details though the edges of his sight were growing dark. His vision was reduced to a pinpoint before going black altogether as he slipped away...

Description
The sky was dark outside the loading port. There was no sound of trucks or forklifts being operated. The last customer was let out the front door of the store. Will had his back brace on as he lifted a box filled with peaches in their protective slips and headed for the large walk in refrigerator where the produce was kept at night. He placed it on one of the large metal shelves and slid it back to make room for the other boxes that were coming in. He huffed and walked to the entrance of the room. Leaning against the door, another box boy passed by with another box of produce. He looked over to see Katie packing up for the night. He figured he'd take a chance. He ran for his backpack without being noticed and unclipped his support harness, stuffing it in the bag. He slung it over his shoulder and saw Katie was gone, already heading for the front doors. He jogged a little to catch up with her.
"Uh, hey..." He said, slowing to match her pace.
"Mm?" She hummed, a little surprised.
"Er, coul-could I...walk you to your car...? Or something like that...?" He stammered. Katie thought a moment.
"Uhh, sure, I guess...Isn't your bike parked in back?" She asked.
"Ah, funny story, someone stole my front wheel..." Will laughed hollowly.
"Oh, I'm sorry..." She said, pushing one of the front doors open and looking around. Will followed, the cool night air rushing through the door as the breeze that started earlier still blew.
"Nah, it's fine, I don't think I'm going to be able to afford another one though. Had to convince my landlord to wait a week for my rent when I bought the bike itself..." He said, looking down the walk to a store space with a few tables out front. Music thumped from it. "Ever go in that place down there...? I think it's a club of some sort..."
"Mm? Oh. No I haven't. Second job and all keeps me pretty busy..." Katie said distractedly, walking out into the parking lot, pressing a button on her key chain. Nearby, a car twittered.
"Second job? No wonder you can afford a car. Maybe I should look into getting a second job...Twice the back breaking labor for half a normal wage!" He laughed.
"Mhmm..." She hummed.
"...So, um, maybe if you have time some time, you wanna go to that club and see what they have there...? On me...?" Will asked with a nervous chill. The two had come to a yellow pickup truck, and Katie pulled out her keys. She did not fiddle with them.
"Uh...I think I'm going to have to say no. I'd never have any free time to go by myself even. Plus...You're kind of...not my type." She said, opening the car door and standing there a moment.
"...Well what is your type then?" He asked.
Katie was silent a moment. "The type...that can fight until the end." Will tried to say something, but Katie had already shut the car door. After a moment, the engine started and the vehicle backed up and drove off along the parking lot's road, cutting through a space in the cars and stopping in the driveway a moment before pulling out into the busy street.

Will watched her go, mulling over what she said. "...Fight till the end...?" He mumbled. He noticed a bus driving the other way. That bus always passed before the bus he needed came! He ran for the stop. Hopping over the bushes and along the retention pond. The bus was just coming. This time he was ready. He got his wallet out before the bus stopped and pulled out two dollars; the fare for an adult. The door's opened the the same sour lady sat in the driver's seat. He paid no mind, taking a moment to slide the money into the electronic slot.
"Need a transfer...?" The lady asked.
"Nah..." Will said, already walking back and taking the first seat on the left. This way would take at least forty five minutes or so before his stop would come, so he leaned on the large wheel well cover next to his seat and relaxed.

There weren't that many people on the bus now, it was quiet save for the buzz of the engine and heater blowing. Will looked back towards the back of the bus. There were only two people back there. A dark woman sat in the very back corner, jacket laid over her and rap music blasting loud from her ear buds coming from a hidden mp3 player. A man in a long gray coat sat with a leg up in one of the forward facing seats, looking at Will. The man looked away quickly and out of the window at the passing night, hand moving to brush through his somewhat long light brown hair, stopping to scratch at a spot. Will stared a moment longer in suspicion before directing his glaze at the ridged floor, meant to reduce the chance of slipping if it was wet. He then looked out of the front windows of the bus, watching a car overtake the bus in the second lane, then putting on it's turn signal and dropping back out of sight as it slowed down. Other than that, the road was clear. He relaxed again, adjusting his pack.

Ten minutes passed by, and Will was beginning to slip into a nap. He woke a little bit as he heard someone in the back pull the signal cord. The lines tightened and pulled the trigger mounted near the front of the bus, and the 'Stop Requested' sign lit up, along with the the computerize voice.

"Stop Requested."

Followed by a ding. He hear someone get up as the bus slowed. The bus stopped and the brakes hissed. The sour lady opened the front door, the back doors unlocking as a result, free to be pushed open. This wasn't the sound Will heard.

BANG!

Pain shot through Will's body, centered at his neck. Quick as the shot itself, he felt his neck, finding something hard and yanking it out, throwing it to the floor. Glass broke and a clear liquid spilled from the broken dart onto the bus floor. Will looked back. The man in the gray coat was disappearing out of the back door. The woman still sat with her eyes closed and her earphones blaring. The bus driver was yelling in panic. Will jumped up and ran out of the back door, after the man. He got outside, looking down the sidewalk seeing the man fleeing. He ran after him.
"HEY!!!" Will shouted in anger. The two ran along wall and fence, matching speed. The man rounded a corner and climbed a closed fence gate, swinging over with adrenalin fueled ease. Will followed closely, ripping a pant leg on a sharp twist at the top. The chase continued through a weed infested old parking lot.

Suddenly a cold wave spread through Will's insides. He suddenly felt extremely fatigued, though his mind was still rearing to go. He slowed, then stopped, panting. The man looked back and stopped as well.
"Oi!...What was that back there!?..." Will shouted, panting. He put his hand on his knees, catching his breath.
The man did not respond.
"...Hey! Habla engles? Que...que..." Will tried to think, but felt his throat starting to give out. He finally realized, that maybe this chase wasn't such a good idea.
The man was quiet, watching him.
"Wha..." Will's voice was changing quickly, turning guttural. His hands hurt. His teeth hurt. His eyes hurt. His insides were twisting around themselves it felt like. He gasped large breaths as his vision started faltering, flickering between normal and red. He tipped forward, a hand out to break his fall slightly. He was on his hands and knees now, staring at the ground. His mouth was throbbing, so were his hands as they rested on the cool pavement.
The man walked up to him, squatting in front of him and lifting his head. He inspected Will's eyes, lifting a lip, looking puzzled. Will weakly shook him away. The man stood up.
"Well that's not right..." He mumbled quietly. He pulled a cell phone out of one of the coat's pockets. After a moment, he spoke again.
"The injection method worked, though something is wrong. Get over here and take a look, we may have to dispose of this one-!!!"
The man was cut off as a truck smashed through the chained gate. It hit the breaks and slid sideways as gunshots rang out. The man dropped the phone and ran. Someone jumped out of the truck and fired after him with a large handgun. The man disappeared into the unlit darkness, shots following him. There was a yelp, then silence.

Will's arms gave out. He slumped to the side with a huff, still panting. He was rolled onto his back, flickering sight seeing someone above him. A woman. With red hair. She inspected his face, doing as the man before had done, checking various things. She pulled something form her belt, messing with it a moment. His head was turned to the side, and pain erupted from his neck again where the dart had entered before as a needle was inserted. After a moment, Will started to feel relief from the various areas of pain. His vision remained red. He also began to feel dizzy. He tried to speak, a guttural growl coming from his throat, adjusting it until it sounded normal.
"Katie...?" He managed to say.
"Stay home tomorrow. Get better. Don't go to work."
Will tried to pick out details though the edges of his sight were growing dark. His vision was reduced to a pinpoint before going black altogether as he slipped away...