The Erruilion Plague: Book 1, From Roots of Evil

Chapter 4 - Paparazzi are Persistent

Well... I should say we tried to walk back. We got about five feet before I heard someone shout "Herman, get the camera! It's them" and a chorus of panic as a swarm of news people grabbed their equipment and started running to us. I cussed under my breath and we started to try and run. Sadly, reporters make a career on chasing down people who don't want to be interviewed and doing just that, they all caught up in no time. Both of us put our ears down and braced ourselves to the storm that was about to hit us.

And then they started. Everyone seemed to ask a different question, although most of them stated their news affiliation and asked "What are your names?" I quickly said "My name is Ben and this is-" Tracy cut in at this point "Tracy." The press then exploded with questions, once again there was a prevailing question "Do you remember what you were before the bombing?" We both got a look of annoyance on our muzzles and in sync we responded "Of course we do". We proceeded to blink and look at each other as the mob spat out another question. "We saw you holding hands, are you the first couple of your species?"

At that we both must have blushed through our fur, because a bunch of cameras flashed. She was first to regain her composure and made the mistake of saying "I... I won't confirm or deny that." The news exploded with particular ferocity and we couldn't even make a word of it out. At that point I grabbed Tracy's hand and I pushed my way through the swarm of cameras. I did as much as I could but they continued to follow us like lost puppies, badgering us. At that point Tracy got a sly grin and shouted "If you all don't leave RIGHT NOW I'm taking you all to court and using your own broadcast as evidence." The newshounds got the message instantly, fleeing at the potential embarrassment of incriminating themselves. Well, so we thought. One quietly followed us to our room and we didn't realize they were there until they were in the room.

We had sat down on my bed, and then we heard the woman politely clear her throat and ask "I'm sorry to bother you two, But I would like to ask if you'd mind doing an interview like this? Please... If you won't I'll lose my job..." We both looked at each other, and at that moment I realized I could smell that she wasn't lying... People who did seemed to get a particular smell all of the sudden. The woman was genuinely scared of losing her job, so with I sigh I replied "Fine. Only because I can tell you're not lying, I can smell it."

The news lady was obviously stunned by this, but shook it off and said "Thank you... I'm Samantha Parks from the Plantation Report by the way." She pulled a chair close to the bed and pulled out a pen with some paper, as Tracy leaned into me and leaned her head on my shoulder. All of us settled in now, she began "So... What would you describe your new forms as?" I sat and thought on this for a bit and finally responded "Like foxes if they evolved instead of humans." Samantha then scribbled furiously on the page with her pen and asked another question "How did you end up in that library when the attack occurred?"

That seemed to unsettle Tracy a bit, so I started first "Personally I went there to cool off after a big fight with my mother, what about you Tracy?" She blushed profusely and said, "Well... I was kinda hoping to... run into you Ben. I couldn't bring up the nerve to go to your house." If I still had eyebrows they would have shot up, but as it was I must have looked surprised because she giggled a bit and kissed me on the cheek. I, for my part, managed to keep my cool and the reporter just shook her head.

The reporter continued, having scribbled everything down already, "Okay, one final question: Do you think you are the only ones who will become fox-people, or not? And if not what do you think the race should be called?" Tracy answered first, saying "I think everyone from the incident will become similar to us, yes. As for a name.... Maybe 'Vulpen', after the scientific name for foxes?" With that Samantha finished up, quickly snapped a picture of us, and walked out of the room.

As soon as she left Tracy grabbed me and pulled me into a kiss, holding it for a few seconds before breaking it and saying "Thanks for getting us out of there... I think we might have been there all day if you didn't pull us out like that..." She then nuzzled me, and We held like that a long moment.

Shortly thereafter a nurse walked in and told us we were both being released, because there was nothing they could do and we seemed healthy. We reluctantly got up, and headed to the desk to check out. We walked up to the desk and quickly filled the paperwork out, all the while the entire lobby sat and gawked at us. As soon as we left they watched us, stunned that we were even existent. Tracy looked at me concernedly and asked "Can you come home with me? My mom's going to flip and I want you to be there for me..." I looked her in the eye and said "Of course. I wouldn't be a very good boyfriend if I didn't help you out when you needed, would I?"

She smiled and we started walking to her house. It wasn't long of a walk, but it seemed so much longer with everyone staring at us like we were aliens. In a way I suppose we were aliens to them. Once we got there we heard some pretty loud music so she texted her mom to tell her we were there rather than knocking. Immediately the music shut off and we heard running coming towards the door. The door flew open and a woman who must have been Tracy's mom was standing there, frozen in shock. Tracy said "Hi mom... It's me." Ms. Williams then replied in a weak voice "You were at the library then weren't you? You... You never said... That you were one of the victims..." With that the woman burst into tears and embraced Tracy, sobbing wildly and mumbling something about how sorry she was that she didn't come to the hospital.

After a long moment they broke apart and Ms. Williams asked "So... Who's this next to you? ...Is it that boy Ben you've been telling me about?" Tracy turned so red that it looked like you painted the fur on her cheeks and quietly said "Yes mom... He's my boyfriend now." Ms. Williams seemed to be surprised by this and concealing her excitement, said "Oh... Well he seems like a nice young man. Come in, I'd like to hear about the last few days, from both of you."

I followed them in and we went into their living room, sitting down in various chairs. It seemed Ms Williams was more intent on questioning me, because she immediately set her eyes on me and asked "So... Ben. How did you end up with my daughter?" I thought back for a moment and after a while replied "Well, I had been getting up the nerve to ask her out in the library when... It... Happened, and we were put in the same room in the hospital because we were the fastest mutating. I suppose we took the brunt of one of the vials the bastard had when he took himself out... Anyhow after that We went for a walk outside and she beat me to admitting my feelings. We kissed, and things just went on from there."

Ms Williams seemed to be enjoying the story a bit too much, containing a sqeual of glee, but she moved on to ask Tracy "Well, other than Ben, did anything else happen?" Tracy was a bit quicker to recall and said "Other than chasing off some reporters with legal threats and being a fox-freak... not really." With that both women smiled a bit and my phone went off. I checked it and found a text from my mom, reading "I'm sorry for making you snap like that honey... I'd like if you would come back and live at home for a little longer. I'm not so sure you'll be well recepted at a job interview or an apartment yet, what with not many people knowing about you and what the incident did... Hell, I'm your mother and I still don't know what the end result was."

I looked up and said "My mother just texted me and seemed worried... I'm going to leave you two to catch up while I go see her and sort everything out..." I got up and went to leave when I felt Tracy grab my arm and say "Wait... I want to come with. You met my mother, and it's only fair that I have to meet yours." I looked at Ms Williams and she smiled and nodded, mouthing the word "Go." Taking that as her approval, I put my arm around Tracy and we left towards my house. The walk seemed longer than normal with all the people gawking at us, but thankfully they kept their distance... Until the van swerved up and a bunch of guys in balaclavas yanked us into it with them.