Take Out

Chapter 3

Todd's eyes snapped open.

He jumped up from the bathroom floor, ready for action.

He paused. The bathroom was clean.

No pile of tan and black goo. No worms.

He looked at his body: his feet, his legs, his chest. No worms, no bite marks. He examined his face in the mirror. No sign of the big worm that had lunged at him.

What the fuck was in that food? he thought. LSD?

Then he had a chilling realization. I sure hope it's acid. Because if it isn't I'm in big trouble.

He heard the front door open. The living room lights turned on.

"Todd-ie-o!" came Matt's voice. He sounded buzzed. "Let's go! Time to party-o!" He heard flirty, girlish giggling.

Todd put on his robe and shuffled out of the bathroom. Matt was Cha-Cha dancing with Ileana, who looked stunning in her gold thin-strapped top, black skirt, and heels. They Cha Cha'd back and forth while he sang: "Cha cha, one two three, Kiss me, one two three." She gave him a light peck and giggled again.

"Hey Todd," she said, "you're missing out. Lots of cute girls."

"Naw, I can't," said Todd. "I feel like shit."

Matt dipped Ileana towards Todd and looked at him. "You do look like shit-ie-o."

Ileana laughed as Matt stood her up. "I have to pee-ie-o."

"So go-ie-o."

She quasi-stumbled to the bathroom.

Oh no, thought Todd. Please, please don't let her find anything in there. Like a worm in the sink. Or a big fat one swimming in the toilet.

Todd hoped his worry didn't show on his face. Matt, lovestruck and slightly drunk, didn't seem to notice.

"You didn't respond to our text-ie-os, so we came by to see if you were okay-ie-o."

"I'm not feeling too good," said Todd. "Just a long day and too much food."

"You want me to call the EMT-ie-os?"

"Don't be a drama queen. I just need to sleep."

Ileana's voice came from the bathroom and made Todd's heart jump. "Ew!" she said. "Todd, this is so super gross!"

Oh no. No no no no.

Matt cha-cha'd to the bathroom door and walked inside, out of sight. "Ugh," came his voice. "Todd, what the hell, man?"

Trying not to let panic into his voice, Todd said: "Yeah? What's wrong? I didn't see anything weird in there."

He walked weakly towards the bathroom. This is it, he thought. I'm being eaten from the inside, and here's the proof.

Matt called: "You need to explain this, man."

Ileana said: "Nasty, Todd."

Todd walked to the doorway and peeked into the bathroom. Here we go. My death sentence.

Matt and Ileana were pointing to something to the floor on the other side of the toilet.

"Can you please tell me what that is?" said Matt.

Todd walked towards it and looked.

Matt and Ileana laughed. Todd's towel was draped over the plunger behind the toilet, like the world's most disgusting tent.