Afraid of the Dark

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"So, don't let it get to you, alright? We both heard how... how much he seemed to mean those words, but considering his reaction afterwards, I think we can both agree that he didn't mean to say them. Besides, we've known him for years, Ethan; you know he isn't normally like this. From what he's been saying, I don't think he has really had a moment to just sit and think about everything that's been happening, so when he had the chance to do that earlier, I think everything just crashed down on him all at once and he just needed to try and do something to relieve the pressure. And that just ended up being directed at you. But again, I'm sure he didn't mean to do that."

"I know... I know he didn't mean to say it, but it still hurt..." Ethan whispered quietly as he sat beside Tyler. The older man had helped his younger friend off of the floor and onto a seat, so that he wouldn't they wouldn't have to be crouching on the hard floorboards. Tyler looked towards the door which Mark had left open as he had run, being able to remember how confused and distressed Mark had seemed as he left. "I shouldn't have accused him of not doing enough. I'm sure he tried his best to help."

"I guess we're all a bit quick to jump the gun on stuff today. It's a fair reaction considering everything that has happened though, right?" Tyler suggested.

Ethan gave a slight nod. "Yeah. I guess." He pulled his legs up off of the floor and tucked them close to his chest, wrapping his arms around them. However, as he did so, he felt something odd. There was some sort of band around his right ankle, just above his shoe. "Tyler, what's on my leg?" he asked, trying to work out what the object was by feeling it.

The older American man looked back from the door and to where Ethan had directed him. He observed for a few moments. It was a matt-black plastic band with a small dark-steel box which had a very small blue light that faded in and out in a regular pattern. Beside this, there was a circular button and below this - on the main face of the steel box - was a screen which was currently black. "It looks like a house arrest thing," Tyler stated. "There is a black band, with a little metal box on the side. There's a small light on it too."

"Really?" Ethan questioned, feeling around the band some more. He felt where the button was. "Is this... should I press this?"

"Why would we press it!? We don't know what it does!" It could be a bomb for all we know!"

"It might not be a bomb!"

"Very reassuring."

Ethan paused a moment, his finger still poised above the circular button. "But shouldn't we work out what it does?"

"Ethan, I swear to god, don't..."

Click.

The two men froze for a moment, fearing the worst. Twenty seconds passed.

"Well, it's not a bomb!" Ethan said with a hint of relief.

"Yeah, but now it's... what the hell is it?"

"Is it doing something?"

"Yeah, a display just lit up."

"What does it say?" Ethan pulled his hand away, and Tyler leant in closer so he could see the tiny words and numbers.

"It says, "E. Nestor. AE Toxicity %per ml 0.45,"."

"Toxicity? Wait, have I been poisoned!?"

"Hang on, we don't know that, I don't even know if "AE" is a poison. I've never even heard of that before. Besides, if it's only at 0.45% or whatever, I doubt that it's going to do anything bad."

"What if it's cyanide or something? You don't need much of that to fricking die."

"Uh..." Tyler hesitated. It was a good point. "Well, are you feeling okay? You don't feel sick or anything like that?"