Blood Water

CHAPTER 17

‘We need to lock it up,’ James said, still staring at the body slumped in the corner. He turned to look at Waites and his brother, who were still standing in the doorway. ‘We need to do it while he’s unconscious.’

Waites and Sean hesitated. The determined but scared look in James’s eyes suggested he was still untouched, but how could they be certain? They approached him cautiously, and Waites helped him hoist Titus to his feet.

‘Careful,’ James whispered, as though worried the creature might hear. ‘It might come back out at any second.’

‘What happened?’ Sean asked as they supported the unconscious headmaster by draping his arms around their shoulders.

‘I was watching them from outside when I saw that… thing coming out of the tap. I ran in here to stop it but… I was too late. Once it was inside him, I pushed him and he fell against the wall, banging his head. I don’t know if he’ll be out for long, but we need to get him locked away before he – or rather it – wakes up.’

They dragged the headmaster out of the office and into the corridor, past the windows overlooking the school playing fields. Sean groaned inwardly. The rain seemed to be coming down even harder than before. How was that possible? How could there be so much water in the sky? It looked like night out there too, even though the sun wasn’t anywhere near setting yet.

‘Where are we going to put him?’ Sean asked.

‘How about the cupboard in the chemistry lab?’ James suggested. ‘We can lock him in there.’

‘Yes, but there’s too much dangerous stuff around,’ Waites said. ‘And there’s a window too. He might escape. I know, we’ll put him in that cupboard in the hall where the chairs are kept. It’s secure and there are no windows.’

They turned and carried the headmaster back towards the hall; his feet banged against the steps leading down. When they had crossed the hall, Waites tutted angrily, realizing he’d done something stupid.

‘We haven’t got the key,’ he said.

‘I know where it is,’ Sean said. ‘The caretaker keeps it in a mug on his desk. I saw him get it out when I had to help him set up for assembly once. He doesn’t keep it in the locked cabinet with the others because he uses it so often. I’ll go and get it.’

‘OK. But hurry up. I don’t like to think what might happen when our friend here wakes up.’

Sean nodded, turned and ran out of the hall, then up a small flight of stairs to the caretaker’s office.

Emily Rees was beyond distraught. She’d already seen what had happened to Nigel Phoenix, and could only assume that the same was going to happen to her. She couldn’t stop crying, and her thoughts, rather than dwelling on her inevitable fate, were now centred on her husband and children. Mark would still be at work, but her children would be at home, probably watching television or doing their homework. She realized she wasn’t going to see them again, and the thought horrified her.

She suddenly heard a deep, painful coughing from the boys’ toilets. She had a good idea who it was, and wanted to keep as far away as possible, yet she had a powerful urge to know what to expect, so she went in. She saw him straight away, slumped against the far wall; his hands lay in his lap, covered in blood. He looked up at her, his face pale, pitiful. She approached carefully, unsure of what he might do in his condition.

‘Are you OK?’ he asked.

‘No,’ Emily replied, cringing at the sight of his sunken, bloodshot eyes. ‘I… What’s happening to me? It was inside my head.’

‘Probably the same thing that’s happening to me. The same that happened to Nigel. I’m sorry,’ he said, looking away.

Emily stood there staring at him, eyes imploring, waiting for some words of hope.

‘It’s best you stay here,’ Morrow told her. ‘Just in case whatever’s happening to your body is infectious. I don’t think it’s airborne; I think it’s something only the specimen can put in your system, but I could be wrong. It could be highly contagious, so we need to remain here until the authorities arrives. Besides… do you really want your family to see what’s going to happen to you?’ It was callous but it had to be said. He coughed and spat a wad of red mucus onto the floor.

Mrs Rees gazed at him in horror, her stomach turning. ‘I… I can’t. I’m sorry.’ She started to back away. ‘I have to see them. I have to see my children before… You understand?’

‘No!’ he shouted, leaning forward with one hand outstretched, before arching his back in a spasm of pain. He groaned as the agony consumed him. ‘For God’s sake,’ he cried, his eyes closed at the agonizing sensation in his spine. ‘You can’t leave! You can’t leave, do you hear me? You could have a disease inside you! You could end up killing everyone!’

But Emily Rees was gone.