The Disease

Chapter 6

                                                                                                 Ivaria

My arm and head felt much better the next day, though I noticed some soreness in my back. I heard Zayden and Florian talking about something in their room, and Florian starting to laugh. I hoped he wasn't being too much trouble for Zayden, but I also thought it was good for him to lighten up a bit and try to act more, well, like a kid. Soon I heard the door open and Zayden and Florian walk into my room.

"How was your beauty sleep?" Florian asked.

"Fine, thank you, and you guys?" I saw Zayden flash an angry face toward Florian but he just grinned. "Hmm, I guess that answers that question." I pulled the blankets off me and stood up in front of the two boys.

"So, what are we gonna do today?" I asked.

"What about hanging out at the park about fifteen minutes walk from here?" Florian asked.

"Sure! Sounds fun!" I said, and safe, I couldn't help but think that to myself.

We all changed, packed some food, and headed toward the park. It was completely empty of people, with picnic tables and trees all over the place. A huge playground stood in the middle, but it was blocked off by police tape.

"They closed it down after the disease started and it's never been opened since, even once blood transmission was finally discovered to be the cause of the spread," Florian said when he noticed me staring at it.

"But since the disease is only transmitted by blood, they shouldn't have to worry about it, right?"

"I think they're worried someone could get hurt and spread the disease that way."

"But you can say that about literally anywhere you go, so why only here?" Florian only shrugged.

We walked to a picnic table and sat down, putting all the stuff we brought on the table.

"We should play a game," Florian started, "how about truth or dare?" Zayden and I replied, "Sure," and we started playing. Zayden went first.

"Florian, truth or dare?"

Florian smirked and answered, "Dare." Zayden sat in silence, contemplating the very hard decision of what dare to give him. Finally, he spoke up.

"Ok, I want you to cross that police tape, and go down one of the slides." Florian smiled wide and jumped up in excitement.

"Yes! I love that dare!" He zoomed past the police tape, climbed up the playground, and slid down the longest slide. He ran back with the same smile on his face. "Done! Now it's my turn, hmmmm..." he looked between me and Zayden before finally locking eyes on me.

"Alright Miss Ivy, truth or dare?" I rolled my eyes at the nickname but couldn't help a small smile.

"Truth," I answered.

"Finnnne, I was hoping I could make you call me the Fabulous Mister F. for the rest of the day, but..." he stopped to think about the truth. "Ah, I know. What's the best prank you've ever pulled on someone?" I had to think about that for a while. I'd pulled many pranks back at the orphanage, but the best one?

"Well, one time I was mad at a girl for tripping me in the hallway once at the orphanage, so, I sorta sneaked in her room and put a huge dead spider on her pillow, and, well...let's just say you could hear her screams from any room in the orphanage." Florian and Zayden both burst out laughing.

"Wow Ivy, I never thought of you as the vengeful type, but I was wrong," Florian said with a wink. I blushed, but more because of the complement of a funny prank.