Infected

STOP STOP STOP

Perry tried opening his eyes, but vision came only in strobelike bursts. The klaxon scream in his head was too much to bear. He’d lost again, he knew it, but he couldn’t even mutter a single word. Couldn’t

tell them he was so sorry

couldn’t tell Daddy he would behave

couldn’t beg Daddy to please God STOP ripping into my brain!

He fell to the ground, motionless, not hearing the angry, irritated stomping coming from the ceiling above.