Santos

kerson's seat was empty. It

out sick today with a high fever." Her tone was

ran down

irst one to t

you hear about Keegan?" "They say he has a

r began to spread th

. The dream. Mr. Mason's story. The Counter's tally.

focus on class at all. Every passing minute felt agonizingly slow. Ev

I decided I

k and headed straigh

the door. He looked haggard, his eyes b

urtains drawn tight. The air i

trying to be masked by some floral fragrance. It made my

e flushed and his eyes wide but unfocused. He was cle

he bed, holding a clipboar

he doctor said. "Accompanied by a high

andmother wants to try some old

Wilkerson, we rely on proper

d. "Keep him hydrated. Continue the fever reducers. M

d at Keegan's hand. "Did he injure his hand

ced somethi

and. "No, not that I know o

," the doctor replied. "They're very... peculiar." H

ing his unexplainabl

out of the ro

An unspeakable dread hung in the air. As t

ng-a hoarse, low, a

e words. But what he was mumbling

"Four... five... six..." His voice wa

ke in m

t was h

ed his arm. I shook him gently. I

ith unfocused eyes. "Jenna," he croaked, "it hurts. In the d

bly weak. "I'm in the dark, counting. He mak

? Fini

d at hi

He was tapping his fingers lightly,

ing. Even in

ratches on his fingers. They were e

low lines.

ike miniature

bly real. And it was mani

terror, my mouth open

eegan's hand, he followed my gaze. His eyes widened as h

med. He looked from Keegan's

e insisted. "I swear. If they h

d appeared o

was sp

't a virus. It was something ancient. Something

he Counter! It had co