Sickness

Joseph dropped to the floor with the weight of an anvil, his body was limp but still active, is he ok? He began to shake violently, his mouth foaming up with saliva, and his eyes were more yellow than they were white. A low groan erupted from his throat. I ran over to him, and even though I think he's crazy, he's still a resource we need - An extra helping hand.

"Joseph! Joseph, are you ok?" I ask flustered, "How many fingers am I holding up?"

Joseph foamed at the mouth, was this rabies? Was this somekind of rabies I've never heard of before?

"Joseph!" I shouted his name, but he didn't even know what it meant. "Come on now Joseph, you gotta calm down" I say, "You're gonna get rabies." I then caught myself, "No, wait. You might already have it." I look around to see if anything could have caused his condition. What could have caused this?

Allison and Tommy weren't helping, thanks a lot. Where were they? I need with Joseph and they're off doing God knows what. How rude! I turn my attention back to Joseph; is he having a stroke? I've never encountered one before, so is this what's happening? If it is, well, unfortunately for him I don't know how to treat him, but I'll try.

"Joseph, stop it!" I call again. His eyes are unfocused. It could have been the rabies. But could it?

"JOSEPH STOP IT" I shout, "Just stop, please." He continued to shake uncontrollably, blood trickled down from the side of his mouth and he had foaming at the mouth. He wasn't going to stop, so I had to help him. An energy was radiating from my veins, one I never knew existed. I ran over to him and put my hands on his shoulders, looking him dead in the eyes. "Joseph" I said "please, let me help you." His head rolled to one side, his eyes open wider and his breathing even slower. This was a new form of energy, one that I've never felt before. If I remember correctly, if this is a stroke, then he'd have no brain activity, but I couldn't afford to take any chances. I positioned my hands to hold his head steady - To keep him still so his brain doesn't damage itself.

His breathing was slowing and the blood was no longer coming out of his mouth. Was it over? "Joseph!" I shouted his name again, "I'm gonna call for help, ok? I'm going to get Allison and Tommy, and we're going to take care of you, ok?"

"NO NO NO!" He shook his head no. I looked down to see his arm shaking violently, something was clearly wrong. "Hands...!" What did he say? "Hands...!" Is he saying hands? What is he seeing right now? Maybe me? I don't know.

"Joseph, where are you seeing these hands?" I asked in case he was seeing something I wasn't. He groaned again, "Hands...! The hands are..." He began to twitch his head side to side, and it began to pick up speed. "They're eating me...!"

"Joseph...?" He began to scream in pain as his head moved from side to side, this was different. I knew it was, but I had to continue to aid him. Where were Allison and Tommy? I could really use help right now.

"Joseph, are you able to hear me?" I was hoping he could hear me. Was this a sign? I could hear him speak, but he didn't seem to respond to anything I was saying. He stopped screaming, only breathing. He stopped moving, but he was still convulsing. This was so different, and I was not in control of this situation.

"Come on Joseph, you gotta stop!" He didn't, and it was then I heard moaning from across the way, behind a log we used for sitting down on. What was that? My curiosity got the better of me, I had to investigate. "Joseph, you uh, stay there buddy, ok?" I placed Joseph's head on top of a rock to give it balance, so I could worry less about him while I was investigating.

I walked forward, toward the log, which was covered in foliage. I could hear moaning faintly from underneath the log. What's going on? I reached the log, and peaked over. No. NO! What I saw made this situation worse. What I saw was Tommy and Allison both having the same symptoms as Joseph - Foaming mouth, shaking violently, screaming. What was going on? My mind was racing. I quickly closed my eyes, praying that everything was okay. I couldn't see what I was praying for though. I opened my eyes, only to see that they still were exhibiting the same symptoms as Joseph.

"What is going on?! Tommy! Allison! Open your eyes!" I panicked, I don't know what to do. This was the end. I looked around, to see if there were any better options. This was the end. All I can do is hope for the best. They were still twitching their heads side to side, completely unresponsive. What could have caused this? I wondered, but I knew what caused this - That meat. They were eating flesh. Why didn't they react to this? Why didn't they do anything? I couldn't, but... Why did they eat that meat?

This is one challenge that can't be solved with violence, and I - Ashford Stemple, will figure out a cure.