Chapter Twenty-Four: Omen Hunt:

-Friday Night-

One of the remaining subjects from the high school snuck out for a late night party at the club. She couldn't understand what was happening to her. Five days ago, she received a shot from a couple of students from Todai. They told her it was experiment. Something didn't feel right with the situation, but the college students assured her it would be fine.

The changes occurred on the second night. The student, test subject #7, felt hungry all of the time. No matter how much she ate, it didn't help. Her thirst showed the same pattern. The girl wasn't sure what she heard in her head. Day by day, it got worse. The poor soul just wanted to slow down and chill. A dance club was at the bottom of the list to do that.

On the other side of said club, Tsuzuki and Hisoka sat near the bar, watching. The first attack took place in this atmosphere. Tsuzuki turned to his partner.

"See anything yet?" he whispered. Hisoka shook his head. They focused on the crowd again.

The lab rat took in heavy breaths as she walked through the doors. The buzzing filled her ears again. She shut her eyes to block out the pain, but then she paused.

What is that? The girl sniffed around. Blood? Suddenly, she felt something crawling on her arm. Her darted downwards. Worms moved up and down her skin at rapid speeds. She tried not to scream out. They're eating my arm! Sirens filled her head. Not again! She saw his face as he laughed at her. Don't open your eyes! Don't open your eyes! Don't open your eyes!

Tsuzuki noticed a young high school girl standing alone in the crowd. He observed her body language. She kept her eyes shut as if to wish something away as her body. Tsuzuki poked Hisoka in the shoulder.

"Hisoka-kun," he whispered. "Do you see her?"

"Yeah," the younger shinigami whispered.

"What's wrong with her?" Tsuzuki asked. "You don't think she's�"

"We have to see," Hisoka whispered.

"Right," the older shinigami said with a nod.

This time, beetles joined the worms on her arms. She couldn't see them, but she knew they were there. Get off! Get off! Get off! Her nails scrapped the skin leaving blood staining the pink painted tips. She wanted to stop, but the bugs kept coming. Another wave of sirens filled her ears.

Please stop. Stop! Stop! He laughed again. He always mocked her misery and poor choices. Why can't you leave me alone? What do you want from me? Go away! Go away! She kept her eyes closed. That was her only way to protect herself.

Suddenly, the unthinkable happened.

Crash! The victim stumbled in her tracks, yanking her eyes open. She jerked her head up to see a twenty-something guy staring at her. His beer spilt all over her black sweater.

"Oh, I'm sorry," he said. "You're not hurt, are you?" Fear distorted his voice into a twisted, distant animal noise. Her heart raced all the way to her ear drums. Her pupils shrank with terror.

"Are you alright?" the man asked again. The heavy music drowned out her screaming. Tsuzuki and Hisoka sprang into action.

"Think she has the virus?" Tsuzuki asked. Hisoka nodded. The shinigami raced to the victim in the middle of her break down.

Colors raced as she clawed at her arms and neck. The worms and beetles crawled all over her skin. Racing, blinding; the smell of blood flooded her nose.

"Calm down, dono!"

"No! No! No!" Hands reach out to grab the girl.

"Stay away! Stay away!" He laughed at her pain. Spinning. Racing. Running. Running. Running. She tried to get away. The shinigami chased her out of the club.

Snow. Blinding lights. Her arms and neck covered in blood. She had beautiful red flower clips in her hair. The poor child started ripping at her hair and crying. Words became lost from her mouth. She could only make sounds reminiscent of a wounded dying animal fighting in vain to live. Lunacy swallowed up her surroundings.

Mama! Mama! Mama! Her thoughts became jarred. Not a single inch of human remained within her. Her eyes became two black holes. Two bright headlights came towards her in the snowy night. All she saw was a flash of black and then�

Nothing.