Chapter 208
Chapter 208
“Neisseria meningitidis.”
“What the hell is that, a spell from Harry Potter?” Charles snapped, his voice already tinged with panic.
Mr. Fleming adjusted his glasses with that smug little twitch of his lips.
+25 BONUS
“It’s a bacteria, Charles. A nasty little bastard that sets your brain and spine on fire. Meningitis. Blood infection. Seizures. Hallucinations. You name it–it’s a party in your skull.”
“Oh, delightful,” Charles groaned, clutching his neck. “My brain feels like it’s being skewered by hot forks already.”
“Classic early symptoms: fever, neck stiffness, nausea, photophobia, altered mental state…” Fleming rattled it off like he was reading a damn shopping list, but there was a flicker of fear underneath his calm
Alex sipped his tea, legs crossed like he was watching a comedy show. “Wow. Bravo, Professor Pathogen. Remind me to nominate you for a Nobel Prize in stating the obvious”
Fleming shot him a glare, but Alex didn’t even flinch. “But it’s funny, isn’t it? So close, yet you still misdiagnosed your own death trap. Again.”
Charles grunted, “Will you both stop pissing at each other like dogs? I’m the one dying here!”
He doubled over, grimacing. “Shit! It’s getting worse!”
“I’m working on it,” Fleming said, rushing to his little lab setup like a frazzled meth cook.
“Work faster!” Charles screamed, sweat pouring down his face, his skin pale like milk left out in the sun. “It’s like a goddamn drill is burrowing into my skull!”
Meanwhile, Alex… still calm. Still sipping tea. Not a single twitch of discomfort.
“Wait–why aren’t you affected?” Charles snapped, blinking through the pain.
“I ate the bacteria,” Alex said flatly, setting his teacup down.
“Digested it. Neutralized it. Like a goddamn apex predator.”
“What?! You didn’t even do anything!”
“I don’t need to do anything when I’m five steps ahead.” He leaned forward with a slow, wicked smile.
“Maybe focus on your own pathetic situation. You’ve got maybe two hours left before that bacteria starts tearing through your brain like a blender. After that, bleeding from every hole in your face. Eyes. Nose. Mouth. Maybe even your ass if you’re lucky.”
“You son of a-” Charles couldn’t finish. He screamed, clawing at his temples.
“I’ve got the antidote!” Fleming came sprinting back like a mad scientist, holding a glowing white vial like it was the Holy Grail.
Charles grabbed it and downed it like whiskey.
For a moment–silence. Then–vomit. Yellow fluid splattered the floor.
“What the hell, Kingston?! You just puked the antidote!”
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Chapter 208
“I didn’t mean to!” Charles cried. “I feel like I’m falling through a blender!”
“You’ve eaten the real shit and you can’t stomach a little serum?!”
“Just give me another dose!” Charles barked, rage flashing in his eyes.
Another antidote. Another desperate swallow.
+25 BONUS
“Still hurts,” Charles hissed, gripping the table so hard his knuckles went white. “Feels like my brain’s trying to crawl out of my ears.”
“That’s impossible…” Fleming muttered. “The formula’s solid. Even the artificial intelligence signed off on it– wait… unless…”
“Unless you screwed it up,” Charles growled.
“No, no, no… wait… this isn’t Neisseria meningitidis…” Fleming’s eyes widened in horror.
“You dumb bastard!” Charles roared. “What the hell did I just drink then–lemon–scented toilet cleaner?!”
Fleming spun on Alex. “What the hell did you put in that bacteria?”
Alex smiled darkly. “Wrong question. The question is–can you cure it? Because if not, you better start planning Mr. Kingston’s funeral.”
Fleming’s hands trembled. “You played dirty.”
“Oh, now you’re crying about morals?” Alex sneered. “We have a game, remember?”
Fleming’s jaw clenched. “Alright. Fine. Let’s settle this. Give me your antidote, I’ll give you mine. A truce. A tie.”
Alex leaned in, smirking like a demon. “I don’t do ties.”
Fleming stiffened. “Then what do you want?”
Alex pointed at Charles, “According to what you said to me earlier, I want the same back from you. I want you to kneel down before me and give me one of your arms. After that, I’ll give you the antidote.”
“YOU BASTARD!” Charles exploded.
“Language,” Alex mocked. “You’re already halfway dead, might as well die with manners.”
Fleming snapped, “You’ve got the bacteria in your system too! Don’t think you’ll survive this either!”
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