It has been two weeks since Theodore Ochoa had returned from Panama. He was sent there by his business to investigate in possible locations for their office. The business was well-known in Central America and parts of Mexico for their help in improving the lives of millions of low-income civilians. The management of the company, Driftonic Tech, wanted to build an office within one of the Central American countries. The company was founded by a German woman named Elena Dietrich back in 2010. She made the company famous back in 2017, where they aided in the Mexican earthquake by providing free solar panels to millions. After that, Driftonic Tech and their solar panels sold like crazy all over Mexico and Central America. They decided to set their other office in Panama and sent Theodore there. 

It only took him two weeks before finding the perfect location. Panama City didn’t have any good locations and their office lots were too small for the tech company. Then, he went to Tocumen next for the perfect office building. During the trip, he found an office lot for sale in the downtown area. He contacted the management and sent the location before heading back to the states. They told him to call them once he found the “perfect lot” and give them all of the information about the buyer and the location. After that, he went back to Panama City and took the plane ride home. 

During the several hour plane ride, he developed a cough out of nowhere. A stranger offered him some coughing drops and Theodore took it. He and the stranger thought that he just had the common cold. The coughing stopped for the remaining plane ride and his walk to his car. Then, it came back more violently. That was when that he started to cough up blood. He was scared more than ever. He debated whether or not to go to one of the hospitals; but, he decided that he would take the ferry back to Bainbridge Island. He had a fear of hospitals since the outbreak in the late 2010s. 

The ferry ride from Seattle to Bainbridge took thirty five minutes as usual. This wasn’t his first trip out of Washington, but it was the first time that he suddenly developed an unusual cold. It got worse during the ride and people on the ferry began to notice that. Suddenly, a woman walked up to him with some cold medicine. She said that she always keeps one for her five children. He accepted the medicine and took some of it before handing the bottle back to the mother. She walked back to her car and children. It helped him for the remaining boat ride and the drive out of the downtown area.

Once his car got out of downtown, he began to sweat as he got to the suburbs. Theodore became confused and tired as he couldn’t look forward. His head kept going down as he tried to make it stay straight. The coughing got worse as he entered the street where he lived and he started to get a fever. He parked his car in the driveway and got out of it as he slammed the door close. The keys to the house were on his hands as he went to unlock the door. He entered the house and closed the door behind him. He climbed the stairs up and dropped his suitcase about halfway up.

Once Theodore was on the second floor of his house, he rushed towards his bedroom as he saw his bed for the first time in two weeks. He’d thought that with some rest that he could easily get better. If not, he would just call work and tell them that he was taking a sick day. He thought that he was going to rest tomorrow and get better. He thought all of it as he collapsed onto the bed and passed out.

[center][b]⋙ 𝐓𝐖𝐎 𝐃𝐀𝐘𝐒 𝐋𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐑 ⋘[/b][/center]
One of Baltham Police Force’s police cars stopped in front of the home. It was the standard green and white police car that you’d see in a small town somewhere in the forests. An officer exited out of the car without his police uniform. His friend, Benjamin Dunnings, soon stepped out of the car and looked at the house. “You sure about this, mate?” the officer asked again.

“Yes.” he answered, “He hasn’t been seen outside of his home in a day. I am worried and you should be too.”

One of Theodore’s neighbors called Benjamin and told him of the situation. It had been almost a day since he returned home during the night. His car was parked at the driveway, but no-one saw him. Benjamin told Officer Callum Lewis of Theodore’s absence from the outside world. He told Benjamin that he would use his lunch break to go to the house to calm Benjamin down; but, he believed that everyone’s taking it too far.

“Come on, Ben, we aren’t his parents.” Officer Callum jested towards his other friend. 

“You should be also concerned for him!” he snapped. Benjamin usually didn’t snap or get annoyed that easily, but Officer Callum often does that to him. He breathed before he said anything that he would regret and apologized. The officer forgave him and ensured that he cared for his other friend. He knew how much Benjamin cared for his close friends. The pair of friends walked up to the door, knocked on it, and waited for some sort of response.

Benjamin grabbed the doorknob and twisted it as the door opened. “Theodore?” Benjamin called out his friend’s name for some kind of response. He didn’t hear anything for his friend or his dog, Wrex. Callum started to feel unease about the silence and looked at the stairs to his bedroom and soon saw his suitcase. He didn’t bothered to pick it as he looked at it for a few seconds. Benjamin looked at the stairs and started to climb it.

He stopped for a moment as he heard chewing sounds. “Theodore?” he asked once more as he got to the top and slowly walked towards the bedroom door. Callum went towards the living room for a bit to look around for any clues. He didn’t find anything that stood out in his eyes, but he then saw a picture of Theo, his son, and his ex-wife. Theodore married to his college sweetheart during their graduation ceremony. The marriage only last for six years as the stress of having a kid was too much for them. Now, Theodore and his ex-wife have to share custody of their son.

He kept looking at the picture until he heard Benjamin calling out Callum’s name. He walked away from the picture and headed for the second floor. Ben was getting ready to open the bedroom door, but he still heard the chewing sounds. Ben opened the door as soon as Callum got near him and saw Theodore kneeling on the ground. He was eating something as Benjamin got closed and called out, “Theodore..?”

Theodore dropped the thing that he was eating and turned towards them, revealing his bloody mouth. Benjamin looked worried as he ran towards Theodore to check out his mouth. He kneeled down to get a closer look. His head turned towards Callum as he said, “Oh God, call an ambulance.”

Benjamin couldn’t finish the sentence as Theodore bit into Benjamin’s neck. He yelled as his friend was biting his neck while Callum rushed towards them. Callum grabbed his upper chest and managed for him to stop biting Ben’s neck. A piece of fresh from his neck fell near him as Ben crawled backwards from the two men. Theodore’s mouth was more bloody as Callum shoved him towards the bathtub in the bathroom. He tripped over the dead dog and fell into the tub. Since there wasn’t a bathroom door, Callum rushed towards to Ben and check if he was alright.

Ben was in shock as he held on the bite mark on his neck with his hands. Callum decided to get Ben to his police car and call for help. He lift Ben up as he heard sounds coming from the bathroom. They decided to not stick around as the pair left the bedroom and carefully walked down the stairs. When they were almost at the first floor, Callum saw that Theodore managed to get out of the bathroom and bedroom. He began to walk faster towards them, but he forgot about the stairs as he lost his footing and started to fall down to the first level.

Callum saw Theodore falling down the stairs and took Ben outside before he fell onto the floor. They raced towards the cop car and Callum set Benjamin down by the car. Ben was still crying out in pain as he held on the bite mark. Neighbors began to gather nearby the police car and wanted to help the man out. Some went inside their homes to call for help. Others stayed outside to record the whole thing. Callum didn’t care for the gathering as he went into his car and looked for his pistol and the first aid kit. 

He first found the first aid kit and placed it on top of the car. Then, he reached for his gun and saw Theodore at the front door. He quickly grabbed it, closed the car door, and rushed towards Benjamin. He raised the palm of his hand as the other hand held onto the pistol. “Stop moving!” he shouted at his best friend. Theodore kept moving forward.

“Stop it, goddammnit!” he shouted once more. But, Theodore didn’t listen as he kept moving. 

“I gave you several warnings to stop!” he declared. "Forgive me..."

With both hands on the pistol, he aimed it at the chest of his friend and fired once. That would of sent someone to the ground, but Theodore wasn't on the ground. It only sent him backwards before pausing for a moment and then walking forward once more. Confused and shocked as his friend didn’t go down right away, he fired a second time. The same thing happened again. The crowd, that had formed earlier, ran away from the scene as gunfire rang out.

Callum didn’t understand what was happening as his friend should of died. He aimed his gun for Theodore’s head and fired it as he quickly closed his eyes. The third shot had finally killed his friend as he fell backwards towards the ground. The officer turned away from the body as he opened his eyes and placed the gun nearby the first aid kit. ‘Fuck’ was the first word that he said since killing his best friend. He breathed slowly to control his emotions and grabbed the first aid kit.

Benjamin was speechless as he saw his best friend killed by his other friend. He kept putting pressure on the bite mark, so he won’t lose anymore blood that he already did. Callum placed the first aid kit nearby him and started to work on the bite mark. He was still working on the bite mark as the ambulance and more police cars arrived at the scene. He didn't want to kill his best friend, but he had to protect his friend and the large crowd. It was his job after all.