I Choose You

Chapter Twenty Seven - Paratelphicus

[Goals for the chapter: READS: 650 VOTES: 45]

As usual, a nurse slipped our food through a little flap in the door at exactly 12:00 o'clock, if we were hungry or not. By now, I was somewhat recovered, or at least to the point where I could walk and move without wanting to die from the excruciating pain that bolted throughout my body.

We've been in here for two weeks and one day, just enough time to start going completely insane. I live in here, sleep in here, talk in here, use the bathroom in here, eat in here, drink in here and basically all the human functions in this one room. It was torture.

I got up to retrieve our lunch, investigating the tray carefully. Looks like today's lunch wasn't from hoe but none only than the sick person's cafeteria. . . much more revolting than when I had eaten in the cafeteria that one time. I looked at the deformed burger (processed cheese that just doesn't melt; fake meat which is presumably some sort of by-product and/or trashed parts from the cow and stale buns), the beans (probably weeks old and never hot enough for my liking), the orange (most edible thing here aside from the bottled water, although the skin was very damaged) and two cookies (which were either under or over cooked - there was no in between). There was something extra, though. On top of the pile of napkins that were always placed in the same spot as if we were going to eat the food, was a paper folded up. I picked it up and placed the tray on my bed. "Shit is served," I said, unfolding the note. Jessie and Ann crowded around the bed, talking with their fingers crossed in front of their stomachs.

"Didn't work, Mom," Jessie said, looking at the tray of so-called food with disgust.

"Tell me about it," I said, looking up from the white paper.

"Hey, what's that?" Ann came up and stood behind me, peering over my shoulder.

"Dunno. Here, I'll read it. It says,

'Alex, Jessica and Ann, we are excited to inform you with the fact that we have - maybe - figured out what you have and even a possible cure for it! We ask that you eat this meal no later than 1:30, as we are coming to test you and do some things to try and see if this works at three o'clock.

It's a quite simple procedure. We will take some blood, and test it superfast so we can clarify that you do, indeed, have Paratelphicus, or in simpler terms, a highly contagious virus that forms from a germ in insects. Now, the thing is, humans can't catch Paratelphicus from insects, and that's why it's so rare and hard to target. To get this, you have to either eat an infected bug, or have it be injected into you, either of which can't be an accident. On the other hand, antibiotics are the main cure, as well as some detox sessions. If worst comes to worst, a surgical procedure will be used. See you at 3.'

Wow," I said, putting the note down. Maybe after two weeks and one day, we could finally leave this room. It's not hard to get from this, either, that Philip somehow found out about this, found a bug and aimed to kill us with it. I sat on my bed and opened a bottle of water from the tray as my laptop turned on.

"I'm starving but this food is nasty," Jessie said, picking up a "burger", flailing it through the air and they plopping back on the tray. I took a sip of my water and picked up the orange gingerly. I bit into the peel and ripped it off, then pulled apart the little slices and placing them on a napkin next to me. I logged into MessageMe! and picked up a slice and bit into it, expecting the worst. Juice exploded in my mouth as a chewed, orangey flavor overtaking my taste buds. Jessie and Ann stared at me intently as I chewed, awaiting a response to if it was edible or not. I swallowed, then nodded, both women's eyes lighting up.

"It's good," I exclaimed, popping another slice into my mouth. they both picked an orange off the tray and followed suit, peeling and pulling it apart before joining my in eating. I looked at my computer screen, only to see two messages: one from Holly and another from Mum. I opened my sister's first.

Alex, I miss you. :(

I smiled and put another orange into my mouth and hit "reply".

Miss you too. getting treatment today though! don't know when I can leave but it may be soon. take care xx

I sent the message and leaned back, stretching, before opening my Mum's message.

Hospital called and said that they found what you have? Wouldn't tell me anything else and said that I cant come in to be there with you. hope youre okay babe xx

I replied:

It's called Paratelphicus. Transmitted from insects... gross, I know. making of Phillip, im assuming. they have to take blood and do some detox stuff and antibiotics. if that doesn't work, we get surgery. hopefully the simple stuff works! miss your cooking, Mum. love you xx

"Seems like your family misses you," Ann said, mouth full of orange. I nodded, looking back at my screen. I didn't get why, but I wouldn't dare to say that. Of course they're my family and all, but they barely see me. . . I stay in my room all day. Who knows.

"I don't miss mine," Jessie said, looking up from her magazine. Ann looked at her quizzically, cocking her head to the side. "Well, Dad, he. . . he was mean. A break from Leah is always nice, and Mum, you're right here." Ann look p at the ceiling then rubbed her face, sighing deeply.

"Your father was a very rude man. Your sister probably misses you."

"Okay, so, maybe I do miss her," she said, then looked at me, "A little."

"I miss my sister," I said, not embarrassed with the fact. I looked at the time on my laptop; it was two o'clock. There was one hour left until the testing. "No more eating, its two."

"One hour."

[A/N: Okay. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR 43 VOTES THIS IS CRAZYY.

Paratelphicus (Par-a-tell-fis-cus) isn't real. . . that I know of. I don't believe MessageMe! is a thing either, but who knows.

I have a new format for chapters? I guess? Okay, so at the top I have the goal of the chapter. Basically, I want to have that many reads and/or votes by the next time I update this story. So, for example, for this chapter I want 650 reads (which is about 12 reads) and 45 votes (two more votes) before two days rolls around (which is Saturday, even though I take weekends off). And at the bottom, will be the Author's Note as usual. I'm also doing a feedback and what will happen next, so comment those!

-->Feedback?<--

++Do you think they have Paratelphicus? Do you think the antibiotics will help?++

Thanks for reading!]