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Eli yawned for the umpteenth time in the past few minutes, the hum of the slushie machine the only thing keeping him awake. Glancing down at his phone, Eli was pleased to see that his shift ended in a minute. He knew he had done a real solid for his co-worker by taking the early, early, morning shift. Eli hoped that he would remember that if he ever had a need.

With drooping eyes, Eli stared at his phone, waiting for the fifty-nine to become a zero. As he gazed intently at his phone, it began to buzz and play a simple electronic beat, indicating a call was coming in. Eli made note to change his ring tone as it was still set to the default as he clicked on the call.

[color=02a621]“Hello?”[/color] Eli asked sleepily.

The response was a man telling him to come to him. Eli was initially puzzled before deciding that it was a prank. Just as he was ending the call he heard the man’s address. Fifth and Durum, not far from where Eli was right now. But Eli wouldn’t be heading that way as his shift was now down and he wanted to go home and sleep. Right on schedule a heavy-set bald man entered the store, Carl the man whose shift was next.

“Long night, day, or whatever Eli?” Carl chuckled as he approached the counter.

Eli yawned, [color=02a621]“Yeah. Pretty dull besides the people leaving the bar at 2 AM and coming here to get doritos.”[/color]

“True, true. Hey man, have you heard about these crazy attacks?” Carl asked.

[color=02a621]“What crazy attacks?”[/color] Eli asked as he made his way out of the shop.

“I don’t know really, but it’s been blowing up all over social media. Like mass murders and crap.”

[color=02a621]“Seriously?”[/color] Eli turned to him.

“Yeah man. But some people say the police stopped it already, so you’re probably good.”

[color=02a621]“Alright man. You be safe as well, okay?”[/color]

Carl just nodded as he positioned himself behind the counter. Eli then left the store, instinctively checking that he had his switchblade on him still. While Eli was not one to believe internet craziness, Carl’s account had unnerved him. With a quickened pace, Eli made his way back toward his apartment. While he didn’t like walking these streets so much, as he was without a car and the transit service was very sparse in this part of town, he had no choice.

“How ya’ doing Eli?” asked an old man.

Eli looked over and saw Tommy, a haggard looking homeless veteran, and his dog Clint. [color=02a621]“You know, same crap different day.”[/color]

Tommy laughed in response, followed by a bout of coughing caused by too many cigarettes and years living on the cold streets. The coughing was cut short by the growling of Clint. Both Tommy and Eli turned to see what he was growling at. About where Eli had been a minute ago stood a man in a suit, walking with a limp and blood dropping out of his nose. As the man got closer, Clint began to bark loudly, pulling on his leash.

“Woah, boy. It’s probably just a drunk,” laughed Tommy.

But Clint continued to bark, eventually pulling his leash from Tommy’s hands. Clint then bounded down the street, before diving into the man, knocking him to the ground. Shouting an expletive, Tommy launched after his dog, Eli following close behind. As the drew near the man they could see that Clint was tearing into him, drawing blood.

“Bad dog! Damn it!” Tommy said as he pulled his dog off the man, “Sorry sir. He didn’t mean no harm. He jus-”

Tommy was interrupted as the man grabbed his arm and then bit down into it. Tommy screamed as the flesh was ripped from his arm. Eli froze as the man continued to eat Tommy’s arm. But then Clint jumped into the way, breaking the man’s hold on Tommy. Eli then regained control of his body and managed to pry Tommy away from his attacker.

[color=02a621]“Let’s get the fuck outta here!”[/color] hollered Eli as he pulled Tommy to his feet.

Wincing in pain, Tommy began to run from his attacker, Clint now following behind him. Back behind Eli kicked the man in the face, causing him to fall fully onto the ground, before sprinting after Tommy. As Eli ran he quickly looked back just to see that more of the mysterious attackers had shown up, seeing two people huddled over another person laying prone.

[color=02a621]“Shit!”[/color] Eli caught up with Tommy, [color=02a621]“We need someone to check out that arm.”[/color]

Tommy grimaced, “Hospital’s too far. Is there a drug store?”

Eli glanced at Tommy’s wound, [color=02a621]“There’s a pharmacy a block from where I live. It’s just down Durum. Can you manage till then?”[/color]

“Yeah,” Tommy mumbled.

Eli was covered in sweat, caused not by exercise but by fear, as they ran down the street. As they put distance from Tommy’s attacker, people screaming and the occasional gunshot began to fill the streets. Eli took his switchblade, praying that between that and a guard dog, would be enough to get through this chaos.