PLAGUED

Unaware

It was a "fateful" night, filled with the heavy winds of a brewing storm. The stars were nowhere in sight except for the pregnant clouds above me, bellowing heavy threats of rain.

'00:00', I whispered, as I glanced at my digital watch. My disoriented steps quickened, thanks to the already wet floor.

I didn't intend to stay this late but our anatomy professor wouldn't end the goddamn class early.

'Closing that door on your way out means closing your doors to the potential chances of passing this course', he said in his always disgruntled voice. The combination of his wrinkled face, stern look and terrifying stance kept our asses glued to our seats. Definitively, he took all the time he could, at least four hours of "intense" lectures couldn't do no harm right?

He finally called off the class because he was "late", mumbled some words as he fumbled with his keys, slipped into his car and drove away, his arms quaking greatly.

'I hope you rot in hell', the silent girl in the class muttered, her hands shaking also.

Each twist and turn through the streets that led down to my house were unusually quiet. The dreaded footpath often filled with thugs, pickpockets, strippers and even prostitutes was empty. Taking my chance, I hurriedly passed through there briskly; running and walking intermittently. Suddenly, I stopped dead in my tracks. I could have sworn that I saw a shadow pass me. Taking a defensive stance, I clutched my bag to my chest and ran as fast as my legs could carry me, only stopping a few blocks to my house.

The wind was now boisterous, with the rain beating rhythmically on the rooftops. I dipped my hands into my jackets' pocket. Set to move, I lifted up my head and saw this figure, headbent between the knee as it sat on the pavement. My heart felt like it wanted to jump out as I slowly approached the figure.

Crouching slowly, she raised up her head and lo, it was Ruby, the silent girl. All in the rain, her arms still shaking.

'How did she get here? '

'Was she trailing me? '

'How fast was she walking? ' , I thought to myself

'It's raining, let's go inside, you need to get some warmth', I said pulling her off the pavement.

'I'm sorry, please, I'm okay....li...like...th...th...this'

'Don't be silly, you don't want to catch a cold, do you? ', I said, hitting her lightly.

Reluctantly, she stood up as I dragged her along. Hurriedly, I climbed up the steps as I fumbled with the keys.

'Got it'

The light was out due to the storm, this prompted me to switch to the solar batteries. Despite the intense fatigue, I managed to make hot chocolate for Ruby whose skin was now pale white and looked very disheveled. She was unable to have a proper grasp of the cup without spilling the chocolate over due to her "hand tremors". Gently feeding her, she sipped it slowly.

'Vanessa, I gotta tell you something qui-'

'Shh', I said placing my finger on her lips, 'You need to take something hot to warm up your system and sleep under tons of blankets in order to get warmed up properly', I continued, shoving another spoon of hot chocolate into her mouth. Her shivers were lessened by the pain relief medicine. Soon after, she slept.

Burying her under enough blankets, I finally retired to bed.

*******

Back at the laboratory, the anatomy practical was going on very well.

'Scalpel', Mr. Britney yelled at his assistant who was clearly beside him.

'This patient died of lung cancer due to prolonged smoking', he said as he carefully cut through the dead body. 'Always remember, smokers are liable to die young'

He professionally manoeuvred his way around the corpse...

'Sir, the leg twitched', a student shouted.

Stopping abruptly, the professor observed the body for any life signs. Not finding any, he ordered the student out of the class. Turning back to continue his business, he and his assistant were in the tight grasp of this "zombie".

All hell let loose, with everyone flying off in all directions, it wasn't long till the ambulance arrived with men in Hamzat suits. We had no idea of what happened to the corpse but we were sure it was contained effectively as we saw our professor and his assistant coming out of the building "unscathed". Moving to another theatre, we continued our very tiring class with the professor and his assistant sweating profusely in a fully air-conditioned room, their arms quaking constantly.

He abruptly ended the class, slipped into his car and sped off, driving haphazardly across the road.