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Chapter X

  As the burning pain spread up my arm I could feel my muscles straining. I look down at my hand and see that I'm squeezing so hard that the Shatterling can't reach my finger to bite me any more. I squeeze harder and harder, as hard as I can. I feel something break. I think it was the Shatterling but I can't tell through the pain.

  I stood there staring at the tiny body I clutched in my hand. I turn my hand over and try to drop it but I can't uncurl my fingers. A wisp of smoke rises from were it was gnawing at me. Bringing my hand closer to my face I try to see whats going on. Then a squirrel runs up and bites my leg.

  I snap. Roaring, I start Stomping. Every step is a [Stomp]. I ignore everything but the desire to destroy these insolent creatures. I run out of Stamina and I don't care. I just keep going. Stepping on these creatures, turning them to nothing. Grinding them into the ground. They would be paste for what they did.

  Stew and Mike tackle me, knocking me back to my senses, and the pain. Meagan finishes off the last squirrel.

  She throws her hockey stick and runs over to me, sitting on my chest, helping Mike and Stew hold my arms. I try to talk but my teeth are clenched and won't open. Forcing myself, I manage to yell between them.

  "It hurts! It's in my blood!"

  Meagan keeps telling me to relax, to let them help.

  The only response I can make is another yell. "Burning!"

  Mike yells at me. "Did you level up? Use the points, put them in Vit! You can beat it, come on Dave."

  Wait, that's right. I look at my notifications. I glanced past my Skill notifications, dismissed the damage notifications as well as the everything about defeating squirrels.

  I'm pretty desperate so I take a closer look.

  Useless. Although I see I wasn't hallucinating from pain, I really did do far more [Stomps] than my Stamina would allow.

  I already knew that one. I tried to get more information, maybe it was just a really wierd case of dehydration.

  If it was easier to talk I would ask everyone if they would think less of me for crying with frustration. Instead I decide I don't care and just go ahead.

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  Finally! Hope of a sort. I try to tell my friends about it. "System, Fighting, Infection." I feel so tired. Meagan tries to shush me, reassure me that it will be alright. My body might be turning into a statue but I can see the worried looks everyone shares.

  That means I have only have 5 HP. I had noticed my Attribute Points from leveling, now I put all four Attribute Points into Vitality bringing my total up to 11. It's enough for another 24 HP and almost a full point in my Regen. It buys me six more minutes. Only nine minutes fewer than I need for my Regen to do something useful.

  I'm shuddering as all my muscles lock up. I furiously try to think of something. Maybe my new Title will have something that will help. Equipping it I feel my heart squeeze as my Regen drops, along with losing a point off of Dex and Per. Guess Titles only help while they're equipped. How much time do I have left? I feel like screaming when my HP bar pops into my consciousness right above my empty Stamina gauge. Wouldn't have helped earlier but it wouldn't kill them to just give us a pamphlet to go with, OH! maybe they did I should give that a look,

  8 HP. My mind must have been wandering while I was slowly being consumed by what feels like lava. Two minutes. Skill Points. I have , maybe enough to finish Unaccompanied? Or should I try Vigorous, it is a Title specifically related to Vitality after all. Though the first level bonus is +1 Cha. My points would also give me more chances to get something than just the one level of Loner. I go for it. Dumping all my points into Vigorous.

  Only 5 Skill points left. Probably not enough but I dump them in. Nothing. Unless I can figure something else out I'm done. Patience must not be a skill in this System.

  I've got 4HP, enough for another minute. Also, what the hell? What is with that last message? I look into Meagans eyes as she tries to hold my arms, crying. Hardly know her and I made her cry. Damn my mom is right, I'm no good with girls.

  Stupid junkie. I wish Dad had never died and left us alone, destroying us. My vision was going gray, narrowing. My breath was coming faster and faster. Something was wrong.

  I couldn't fill the hole and she hated me for trying. It's only later that I realized nobody can fill a hole left by someone else, not really. I just wish his death hadn't left a hole big enough for both my parents in my heart. I wish I could have seen my mom and told her I love her.

  Where did Meagan go? I can't see anything now. Just a pair of deep brown eyes. Deep pools of molten chocolate. I really love chocolate. I love life. Goodbye Mom. Dad.

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