Seth grins, “This day is getting better and better.” Alex is staring out the door with pure hatred in his gaze. He tosses his cards down to follow Jung.
“I need some air too.” Seth has to run to keep up with him. The fresh air washes away the booze, cigarettes, and sweat. “Tell me again what the symptoms were?”
“Headache, followed by metallic taste, profuse sweating, drooling, numbness and paralysis.”
Seth lights a cigarette and inhales slowly watching Alex process this information.
“Seven hours from now this will be over with.” Alex turns away, unable to stand the sight of the monster any longer. He tosses his cigarette overboard and watches as the river swallows it, thinking of his family sinking beneath the murky depths.
Jung has a pounding headache. He glares at the two guards who watch his every move and snaps at his date. “Sasha, bring me a drink.” She quickly goes inside and brings him a whiskey. He sips at it and snarls at the flavor. Angry and humiliated, he tosses the drink over the side of the ship. “Zhat tastes like Yak piss!” His accent grows stronger with his rage. His free hand is rubbing his thigh.
“You are in a foul mood tonight, Grant. I wanna dance!” Sasha says stamping her foot on the deck of the ship.
“Then go dance somewhere else, my head is killing me, and I can't get this foul taste out of my mouth.” She stomps off in a fit of anger and rejoins her group. When the ship docks to take on new passengers, Jung departs and waves goodbye to the two guards who are glad to see him go. He storms off, unaware of the shadows that follow him.
“Bastard can’t kick me off his ship. I will show him.” He grins as he begins planning his revenge on the Captain and his slut of a wife. His cabin is a mile down river. Jung stumbles along as sweat begins to pour down his forehead. He pushes his wet blonde hair back from his face. “What the hell?” By the time he reaches his cabin his clothes are completely soaked through with sweat. He tosses his jacket on the bed and washes his face in the basin on the dresser. Looking in the mirror, he checks for rash and doesn’t see anything.
“Water.” He tries to sip it and finds his mouth is not cooperating. His tongue feels swollen, and he feels slightly dizzy. Sitting heavily in a chair in the corner of the room, he feels a drop of water hit his hand. Holding up a hand, Jung stares in horror and touches his mouth. Drool is running like a river down his chin. Grabbing a cloth, he presses it to his mouth to soak up the spit.
A rap at the door startles him. “Go away, I’m sthick.” His words are jumbled because the swelling of his tongue makes it hard to speak. The knock grows more insistent. Angry, he tears open the door and finds a gun pointing at his face.
“That’s all right, Doctor. I have the remedy.” Alex pushes him backward with his foot, and Jung falls hard on the ground falling flat with a grunt. He quickly scrambles towards the corner where his rifle is, but Seth has already beaten him to it.
“Now we can’t let you do that, can we?” Seth says with a laugh. Jung tries to speak, but his words are more jumbled than ever.
“What ith the meabing ob this?” He demands spitting drool with every word. Struggling to his knees, he holds his head, fighting back a wave of pain.
Alex stares in disgust at the man before him, and his fingers itch to finish him off as they curl around his pistol in his jacket. Thinking of his sister, he trembles with hatred. “No, I won’t make it that easy for you.”
Jung's fingers have begun to tingle. He shakes his hands trying to get the feeling back into them. Pain begins shooting through his body, and it feels as though his nerves are on fire! Jung gasps and grabs his chest.
Seth closes the door and makes sure the window curtains are closed. They do not want any witnesses. “I meed a doctlr.” Jung tries to say, I need a doctor, but his words are too jumbled. His body is covered in sweat, and his mouth won't stop drooling. If he didn't know any better, he would swear he was bitten by a snake. His eyes grow large, and when he tries to jump up, he realizes his feet are numb.
“Ahh, so you are starting to put it together now.” Alex punches him in the stomach when he tries to stand up. Jung vomits from the force of the blow.
“God, that feels good,” Alex yells kicking him in the ribs. Seth stops him when he moves towards him to strike again.
“Do you need a minute?” Seth asks his best friend.
Alex is trembling with the need to kill him. “No, I was doing what I need to do, Seth,” Alex growls back.
“Not like this, we must keep our promise,” Seth reminds him.
“Mobyey, I hab mobyey! Tape it!” Alex jerks away from his friend. Jung has struggled to his feet, and Alex lands a swift punch, throwing him into the chair, exploding it beneath his weight.
“Wap do yu wanp?” Jung groans. Seth struggles not to laugh as he slams a hand to Alex’s chest to keep him from hitting him again.
“Sorry Alex, but he sounds comical!” Seth chuckles.
Alex walks over and looks down at Jung.
“I’m afraid I can’t understand a bloody thing you’re saying, but no matter. This shall all be over soon.” Alex sighs and takes a breath, attempting to calm his souls need for retribution. “My name is Alex Denning.” He waits for the
