Flee the house

Eventually, your aunt lifts her head off the ground, looking at you with a complacent smile.

-Tom, you've been great.- She ogles. You have sat with your back pressed on the bathtub, while you're resting your wrist on a bent knee; contrary to her, fright and anxiety are crossing your visage, as the post-coitus clarity is making you more and more conscious of what has just happened. What you just did.

"No, no, what have I done...".

Maddison crawls to you, stamping her mouth upon yours in a passionate kiss that preannounces a severe making out. Unable to fight back, you accept her tongue inside you, only to cough brusquely when something gets stuck in your throat. Your aunt pulls back and looks at you apprehensively.

-Honey, you're alright?-.

-I, erm, yes, yes it was nothing.- Except that, if you weren't sure of the opposite, you would have sworn that she had spit a lump of saliva herself.

Hold on, are you infected now?! Shit, how couldn't you think about that before? To say that you had contact with her is an idiotic euphemism!

"But... I don't feel different. So maybe Emily's intuition was correct, maybe it takes only the females...".

-Tom.- Aunt Maddison calls you again, returning your attention to her. Concern has been supplanted by allurement, as she purrs: -Tom, did you like it?~-.

You can't deny it. You hope that God, if there is one, will forgive you for this, since you know that no one could in this world.

-Yes.-.

-And...- She slinks closer, rubbing her breasts against your formerly injured leg, sending shivers down your spine: -Would you like to... do it again, another day?~-.

-I... Aunt Maddie, I...- Your heart is pumping hard in your chest. What the fuck man? Are you about to give in again? What about Emily, you have to meet her asap!

-And perhaps~... perhaps the next time we could involve your cousin too~... I know that you have the hots for my daughter, Tom~... think about it~... with Jess, and your sisters too~... a big, happy family~...- You feel her hand groping your cock, which is already revitalizing at that devious proposal.

-I have to go.- Your lips finally pronounce before you can hold them back. You leap on your feet, frantically collecting your clothes from the pavement. Your seducer gets up as well, a somehow disappointed countenance frowning her features.

-Tom, why so in a hurry? Don't you want to spend a little more time with your beloved auntie?-.

-Actually, I...- You need an excuse that won't make her suspicious, at least no more than she already is: -I really need some time with myself!-.

-Oh...- She then looks down, pointing at your half-softened, half-hardened crotch: -Oh.-.

-N-Not like that!- You hurry to add: -It's just, ehm, it's just happening too fast, first Mom and the girls and then this! I have to... elaborate a little, you know?-.

She stays silent for a few seconds, hiding her thoughts behind an imperturbable facade. You struggle not to lower your eyes on her naked form which glistens with water and sweat, her luscious breasts quietly swelling at the pace of her breaths. No, you have to hold on, whatever it takes.

-Of course, you're right. I kinda ambushed you, uh?-.

-Yeah, I mean, it was just a little unexpected.- You're finally redressed and ready to go, but her voice stops you again.

-Won't you give a kiss to your aunt, before you leave?-.

You falter on the spot, the last thing you should do is to get closer again. But then you teeter back to her and give a peck at her cheek. She doesn't have to think that you're running away from her: you have to appear simply nervous, stunned, as it would be normal, but not scared.

When you retract she caresses your bearded chin with her digits and looks at you intensely. From this position, you find out much to your agitation, you can see her nipples, two little pins that make your fingertips tingle with desire.

What does she want to do? Oh Jesus, has she seen through you? How much longer can you resist like this??? You close your eyes, letting out a shivered sigh.

It's over, you think, you'll never get out of this bathroom.

Maddison lowers her hand, and when you reopen your eyes you see that she's smiling at you. Not the devious smirk that she was flashing before, but the candid smile that you've gotten used to in all these years, the one of your old, lovely aunt. Though trembling, your lips mimic hers.

-See you, erm, soon.- You bid farewell and you walk out without turning back. Once you're at a safe distance, you draw your phone and call your cousin. She picks up immediately.

-Tom?-.

-Emily, it's me! I got some hair from your mother.-.

-My mother? Why... doesn't matter, you'll tell me later. Are you... I mean, do you feel...?-.

You hesitate. You're not infected, no; nonetheless, your instincts have taken over for you, and maybe it's even worse.

-I'm fine. What do we do now?-.

She doesn't reply immediately, weighing up whether to trust you or not. But, in the end, she knows that she hasn't got any choice.

-I'm in the Chemistry laboratory at the Medicine Faculty. Do you know the place?-.

It takes you a quarter of an hour to get there. The campus will remain open for another two hours, and even if it's Sunday there is a certain number of students strolling around, mainly converging in study rooms and labs. The one you're looking for is in an isolated spot and it's quite small, probably Emily has chosen it to avoid other people; indeed, when you enter there is only her inside, holed up at a table in the far corner of the room. She's wearing a lab coat and a pair of protective glasses; your first, automatic thought is that she's really sexy like this.

Having heard you, she turns around and grabs a tool similar to a rasp from the table in defense.

-Please, if this is a trap, just tell me now.-.

You put your hands up: -It's not, I-I swear! Here, I got these.- you show her the tuft of hair you've stole and she lowers her hand, without however dropping the improvised weapon.

-How you've taken my mom's?- She asks, doubtful. You swallow, your heart beating feverish. You can't tell her that you had sex with your aunt, she must not find out this not even in a billion years. You perfectly know that lying to her is not a good idea, surely not at this point; maybe you should have pretended from the beginning, saying that they were your mother's, but right now what can you come out with?

-She was in front of my house, and I was afraid that she could talk with my family about you. So I've taken her away.-.

-And, and then?- Her distress is probably the main reason she apparently doesn't suspect you to hide anything.

-Well... I proposed to her to try the new hairdresser at the mall, and so...-.

-Oh. Y-Yeah, a good idea, well done.- She breathes heavily, evidently excruciated by a question that she's afraid to ask. But she does, in the end.

-How was she? I mean... I mean...-.

In a flash, you see Aunt Maddison's glorious body rubbing against your chest, her groin pushing against yours, her mouth diverted in a sexual moan.

-She wasn't... hurt. Or in pain. She was just... off.-.

-Did she try to...- She's at a loss for words: -to do something to you? Like, like what you saw with your sisters?-.

She's referring to what you've told her about Kim and Tina, that they were kissing each other. She cannot even pronounce the actual content of her question, and does not dare to contemplate that the reality might be much, much worse. And your rationality is now telling you to lie, to negate everything; but there is a part of you that wants her to know, and not for the sake of truth, no. Thus, why? Could it be that you hope...

No, no, it's because you want to be blamed, because you deserve it: this has to be the reason.

-She made me... in her car, while she was outside.- You finally admit. Understanding dawns on her face.

-Oh my God.- She whispers. She holds onto the table with her hand, swaying on her legs as if the weight of the world has fallen upon her. You hang your head in defeat, feeling the guilt of your conscience burning in your chest.

-And, e-else?- She asks with a faint voice. You shake your head and wait for her rage to vent on you.

-Tom, I... I'm so sorry!- Much to your astonishment, she hugs you, her little body softly wrapping against your torso: -It must have been terrible!-.

-Emily...-.

She's sincerely worried for you. She really believes that you hated it, and of course she does, every normal person on Earth would have. And for her, it's horrible indeed, knowing what her own mother, the role model for her entire life, has done with her nephew. You have at least to pretend to be shaken, to hide the growing arousal that is growing inside of you even at this moment, and you really hope that her knees won't casually bump into your hardened dick.

-...It's not her fault, right?-.

Sniff: -No, she isn't.- She then takes the lock of hair and places it on a platelet, and wipes off her own tears.

-Will it actually work?- You question. She wanted a vial of blood, after all.

-Perhaps.- She puts her eye on the microscope, her tone slowly calming down: -By studying a person's hair, many things can be understood. For example, protein imbalances, poisonings...-.

-And this lab? Is it enough, or...-.

-It's a start. Then... I'll think about something.- It comes to your mind that she's currently homeless, and you cannot even propose to bring her to your house. This means that she has no plans, no places to go, while her family is pursuing her; yet, somehow, she's repressing all that despair by hoping that she'll manage to find a cure for something that she barely comprehends. For some reason, you feel like it's your fault, you feel that you have to apologize to her for everything that is happening; but probably it's just because, contrarily to her, you're not running away from this new version of your family.

You grunt, crossing your arms on your chest.

...or are you? This morning, you thought that they were genuinely reciprocating your feelings and so, despite the initial shock, you were starting to accept it. But now that you know what you know, maybe you should be scared too. If Maddison, one of the sweetest persons in the world, is hunting her own daughter, what is expecting you then?

Right at that moment, the lab door is opened and someone walks in. You both turn toward the source of the noise. You hear them approaching your location, crossing the whole room until they turn the corner. It's a young, dark-skinned girl who stops a few meters from you and returns your alarmed stances with a confused face. A girl that you immediately recognize, and so does she.

-Tom?-.

-Ruby?-.

Emily flinches and grasps your wrist in panic.

-Who is she? Do you know her?-.

You shake your head to recover from the surprise: -Yeah, she's the hairdresser's assistant...-.

-Uh, guys, something wrong?- She's saying in the meantime: -Are you his girlfriend or...?-.

-Nothing, sorry Ruby, I didn't expect to find you here.- You reply; Emily, however, is far from being reassured.

-Well, I get out of your hair if- Ruby is about to leave, but Emily's exclaimed 'No!' makes her stop on her track.

-Tom, they've found us! She's one of them!- She cries in terror.

You look at her, shocked, then at the puzzled Ruby, and a wave of adrenaline tingles down your back when you realize what your cousin is suggesting.

-No...- You mutter. In a flash, you revive your interaction with Ruby, when she was washing your hair and you had that same suspect. But it can't be, right?

-Duh, what are you talking about?- An increasingly perplexed Ruby asks: -Tom, why is your girlfriend freaking out?-.

-Stop it! If you work in a hair salon, why are you here?- Emily bluntly inquires her.

-...I'm also a student, why? Seriously, what's your problem girl?-.

Emily stumbles on her words, then: -I've never seen you on this campus!-.

Ruby gasps, her eyes widening in surprise. You have to admit that it's not a very strong evidence. She then throws her hands up in a pretentious surrender and says: -Ok, I was here only to recollect some sample I left yesterday, but now you're startling me, and I think I'll leave.-.

-Wait, there's an explanation for this!- You step forward, reaching out your arm towards her to defuse the situation, but Emily is growing agitated and Ruby annoyed.

-Emily, maybe if we tell her...-.

-You can't trust her!- She clings to your arm with all her might, as if to hold you back: -She's one of them, she was searching for us! If we let her go it's over!-.

You feel yourself turning pale. She's not joking, not at all, and if she's right then you're in grave danger. But how can you be sure, what if Ruby is telling you the truth and her presence is just a coincidence? You can't... kidnap her, right?

-If you let... ok, you're completely nuts and you're lucky that I'm not calling the police. Tom... I don't know what to say, I wasn't expecting this from you.-.

You gulp, uncertain whether to move further or not. Ruby is now sensing that she's not safe, or at least that's what she shows with her expression. Probably, if she hasn't already run away it's because she thinks that you would be faster, and this is likely the case.

-...why were you expecting something from me?- You finally ask.

-What?-.

-The way you treated me before... we just met, and you... you seemed to...-.

-What?- She lets out a nervous chuckle, swinging on her feet in disbelief: -Is this... ok, wanna know the truth? I found you cute, and I was hitting on you!-.

You flinch, astonished by this last revelation. She was hitting on you... no way! Or maybe...? I mean, it's the first time a girl has ever made such a confession to you, apart from your sisters this morning, but that's why you weren't considering the possibility until now, yet... after all, what has she done that was so off? She's been just a little, uh, extrovert... oh shit, are you making the first girl who ever had feelings for you think that you're delusional?

-Tom, no!- Emily shakes you, urging you with a pleading look: -She's manipulating you! Look, if you study here, then what's your course? And where is the secretariat, how do you reach it from here?-.

Ruby pauses for a second, as if not believing her own ears, and then: -W-What the hell, I'm not answering you! You have serious issues girl!-.

-No, no, it's not like this!- You interfere, then at Emily: -Listen, maybe she's not infected, we don't know it for sure! And she has to know what is going on, right?-.

-That's what she wants you to believe!- She rebuts, but Ruby unexpectedly scoffs.

-Oh yes, I'm the one making you believe in things. Look, Tom, whatever is going on it seems to me that she is having a nervous breakdown, and you are falling for it! What's this all about?-.

-N-No, you don't understand! Ruby, listen, it's more complicated than it looks, there is this virus...- You mumble, having no idea what you're ultimately trying to do: -It makes people act off, I saw it with my own eyes! My aunt, before... she was not herself!-.

-Act off? Then what is she doing, huh?-.

-What???- Emily squeals, making you turn at her again. She's livid, anger and dread mixing in her visage.

-T-That's it, don't you see what she's doing? She's trying to, to put us one against the other!-.

You open your mouth to reassure her: obviously, you would never think that she is the infected one. But then, a doubt assails you.

You left Ruby alone with your aunt, this is why you suspect her; but you left Emily alone for the last hours as well. If this... thing makes women go crazy, then maybe her overreacting is not due simply to fear. Kim and Tina were behaving almost normally during breakfast...

-Tom, why are you looking at me like this?- Emily shivers, tears forming in her eyes. No! What are you doing? It's not Emily, it's Ruby!

But she reacts equally scared when you roughly spin toward her, and she moves a step backward.

-T-Tom, enough with this stupid joke! It's not The Faculty, this is the real world! Listen, I... I liked you, but maybe it's better if we just pretend we've never met. So, please... I'm leaving now, and you won't do anything stupid, ok?-.

-Wait, wait, you can't... you should...- You don't know what to say, should you stop her and pass for a maniac or should you let her go and risk your safety? Maybe she's telling the truth, maybe she's only in the wrong place at the wrong time!

-Tom, please, you're the last one I have left!- Emily squeezes your hand in desperation, almost cutting off your blood flow, and so the instinct takes over and you sharply free your wrist. She stares at you as if you've just stabbed her.

-No, I... I was, wait it's not...-.

Your eyes restlessly shift on the two of them in the vain search of some tell-tale hint, but you only see two terrified girls, while you, you are the menacing hulking guy who could turn on them at any moment.

-P-Please Tom, you can't let her escape!-.

-No, no! She's a lunatic! Tom, please, I just wanna leave! Oh my God, don't get any closer!!!-.

Wha-you're not-are you-

-Tom!-.

-Tom!-.

-Tom!!!-.