The Outcasts: Origins

Chapter 4; The Serum

TW: Assault and mentions of drugs

It's four in the morning by the time Zack leaves Tori's house. He puts in his earbuds as he walks, soft music playing in his ears now, which is better than the dull sounds of the city. After some time of wandering through the streets, the music starts to take a hold of him. As Zack walks he does the occasional spin, or air guitar motion or miming playing a grand piano.

Zack is so lost in the music that he doesn't realize that a someone is following behind him. Suddenly, Zack is grabbed and violently thrown into an alley by this person. Zack staggers back, confused. He could've sworn there wasn't an alley here a second ago. He reaches to his ear and slowly removes one earbud, his music playing faintly from its speaker.

"Look buddy, l've got nothing on me," Zack says to the person in all black, slowly raising his hands up in surrender, "My phone can be tracked and my earbuds are worth nothing.". Zack says. The person does not move nor speak. They reach into their pocket and take out a small needle with a golden liquid inside. Zack's eyes widen when he sees this. "Look dude, I don't need to get pricked by some junkie." he says, his voice shaking slightly with fear.

Before Zack can even react, the person is behind him. Zack swears he saw them become a blur. The person has Zack in a headlock with one arm. Zack feels the needle pierce the skin of his neck and his panic really sets in now. "Help!" Zack screams as the person pushes the plunger of the needle down, injecting the golden liquid into Zack's bloodstream. Zack's eyes flicker shut.

Zack snaps awake, his body covered in sweat. He shoots up in his bed, his breathing quick and frantic. He tries to take deep breaths and keeps repeating to himself "Just a nightmare." until his breathing slows down.

He glances at his alarm clock and sees he's late for school. "Shit!" He shouts and jumps out of bed, frantically puts on his clothes and runs downstairs before his dad leaves him behind.