Tales from the ARVInn, 1

Chapter 24
ARVInn--Youngest Known Victim

Chapter Description: Extreme age regression was fortunately not all that common with the AR Virus. However, there were still quite a few preschoolers. Only a handful found themselves with an age measured in months. Jim is the youngest known of those.

Tales from the ARVInn--Youngest Known Victim

Jim Haroway was exhausted.  The station had been slammed all day, his co-worker hadn’t shown up, and his relief was 30 minutes late.  He felt like he’d been in a hamster cage, running for his life.  Being the assistant manager didn’t feel like such a great promotion.  His headache had come on hours ago and didn’t let up at all on the way home. 

“Jenna, I’m home,” he called when he came in the back door.

Walking in, he said, “What are you planning for supper?  I’m worn out and really want to go straight to bed.”

“Nothing special,” she said.  “The kids already ate and are doing homework. Let me fix you a sandwich.”

After checking on the kids, he ate quickly and went to bed, thankful for once that his odd hours meant it was dark when he got home.  He slept for a while, but then woke up.  He felt really warm and his headache seemed to be pounding away.  After taking some aspirin, Jim went back to bed, where he tossed and turned restlessly in his sleep for the remainder of the night.

The next morning, Jim awoke, still feeling drained and achy.  He was glad it was his day off and thought about sleeping in, but just then heard a loud bang.  He got up to see what was going on.

“Jim, you’re up.  You were so restless last night I just let you sleep.  The kids are out front waiting for the bus.  I don’t have to be at work until 10.”

“OK, but what was that noise just now?” he asked.

“Casey and Carla were in a big hurry to get to the bus stop ahead of the twins and slammed the door on them,” Jen answered. “The bigger they get, the more I miss my obedient little kids.”

Jim looked out the window to see their four children boarding the bus down the street.  When he turned around, the room suddenly started to spin and he slumped against the wall.  “Jim! What’s wrong?” he heard his wife shout, then darkness came.

Continued in: Tales from the ARVInn--Youngest Known Victim (mediafire.com)