There was something big. And Black. And maybe hairy, if you could possibly call those spiky things hair, and you couldn't possibly do that at all.
It had huge eyes, a mouth like a garden hoze. It had many-veigned, irridescent wings buzzing dryly at its back in blurs of motion. It had a pair of "arms" that looked like a cross between a human's and an erector set...and a pair that just looked like an erector set. "Hands" of claws clenched and unclenched, scrabbled at the ground, at the walls. A large, blue-green abdomine knocked three people over as they reached to it to help or harm. Legs that looked a bit like the first set of arms--something that might, in another life, have been human--ran in circles around the floor, the head tilting back and forth, as if it could not see out of its bulging red eyes.
And it was wearing the remains of Issac Garcia's clothing.
Elizabeth screamed. She felt no guilt about it, and this time no one could judge her. Everyone else was doing the same thing.
Only, where most people were calling the police, Elizabeth had a more direct route. She dialed Floyde's cell phone number, expecting to hear his velvety voice on the other end, ready to scream her terror to a sympathetic ear who could actually DO something about it. And as her brain began filtering pieces to this bizzare puzzle churning about on the office floor, she heard something she didn't like.
Didn't like at all.
Ring.
Ring.
Ring.
And then...
"Hello--this is Floyde Harper. I can't get the phone right now...I'm probably kissing up my beautiful girl. So if it's important--or if you ARE my beautiful girl--leave a message after the tone. I'll get back as soon as I can."
BEEP.
"Oh GOD Floyde!" Elizabeth shouted. "I need you!"
"Floyde can't help you." A voice said, and Elizabeth turned to see Mary with a worried look on her overly-made-up face.
"He wasn't down there when I came in." Mary said. "And I'm starting to feel woosy...I think it's happening to..." She trailed off, felt her behind, then tilted around to look down her leg.
Elizabeth followed Mary's gaze and saw the orange, black and white tail sticking out of the end of Mary's slacks.
"Oh, it's happening to MMMMMEEEEEE!!!" Mary screamed. "It's happening to MMMMMMMEEEEEEEE!!!"
"Calm down!" Elizabeth said, holding up her hands as tears ran down her face. Her heart was thumping a thousand gallons a beat, her face pale as bleached sheets. "Calm down, Mary. I'll...I'll..."
"You'll what? You'll WHAT!!!"
"Take you to the hospital! I'll take you to the ER! Come on Mary!" And Elizabeth grabbed Mary's arm and DRAGGED her to the elevator. She dug her keys out of her purse, even though she couldn't use them up here. Trauma has a different effect on different people; as long as Elizabeth did something, she didn't fall apart.
Mary's lies gave her something to do, and unwittingly, Elizabeth played right into Mary's hands.
Mary faked fear as she pulled yet another vial out of her purse. Her only question was...how to get Elizabeth to drink it?