CHAPTER ONE

The blood forced its way up my throat, bitter and wrong, an oily black in the porcelain basin. I looked in the mirror and took in my terrified eyes, bright with pain and my skin, almost ashen with this sickness that plagued me.

"Somebody partook a little too much in the festivities tonight, me thinks," Dan cackled from the next room. "You should've known better than to drink that much you bloody moron."

I let out a weak chuckle. "Yeah, silly me…" With that I doubled over in pain, collapsing onto the tiled floor. Something was very, very wrong. Unable to move, let alone get to the toilet, I threw up on the floor. It was all a bright red and my eyes began to water. Was I dying?

"You alright in there Phil?" Dan asked concernedly, the locked door all that separated us.

I knew I should ask for help, get to hospital, but something told me it was too late for that. Best that Dan stay out until it was over. He didn't have to watch this. "Yeah," I croaked out, "think I'll stay in here tonight though."

"Mind if I take a piss?" Dan said dryly. "Sorry if my bladder inconveniences your pity party."

Darkness was licking the edge of my vision, a monster that was dragging me down into the cold. "Soon," I murmured, "when it's over."

"When what's over?" Dan asked curiously. I didn't reply, caught in a coughing fit that left me wheezing, chest on fire. "Phil?" Everything was blurring together, whether due to my dying or my tears I wasn't sure. "Phil!"

"Soon Dan." I said sleepily, blood dripping from my mouth. "It'll all be over."

The door creaked as Dan threw himself against it. "Let me in damn it!"

"I'm sorry." I whispered as the world stopped.

…

Everything was cold.

"Wasgoin'on?" I said thickly, the taste of blood filling my mouth. "My eyes are itchy," I complained to myself, "probably the contacts," I replied.

"Phil?" Dan yelled. "Are you alive or should I call triple 9?"

I glared at the tiled floor, which was crusted with brown. How long had I been lying here? "What do you think?" I croaked out.

"That somebody woke up on the wrong side of the toilet!" Dan mocked but then he seemed to grow serious. "Really though, get your hung-over arse out here."

Blearily I looked around the room. Dried blood had been splattered against the walls, the mirror, the floor and just about every available surface. "Do I even have any left?" I mumbled.

"What was that?"

"Nothing," I replied, "just talking to myself." Standing up shakily, I looked into the mirror. What I saw shocked me more than the crime scene-esque bathroom.

"Then get out here."

"Give me a minute," I said blankly. Hesitantly I touched my cheek. Surely I wasn't that pale? I looked like a corpse!

Dan seemed agitated. "This isn't Britain's Next Top Model! If I don't see a Phil shaped creature in the next ten seconds I'll break down the door."

Even in the horrible circumstances that brought a grin to my face. "What, like you tried to do last night?"

"Shut up Phil," Dan spluttered. "Ten!"

I looked frightful, blood smeared across my mouth…

"Nine!"

Eyes, darker than usual… almost the colour of storm clouds…

"Eight!"

Teeth… pointy…

"Seven!"

No… I couldn't be a…

"Six!"

I forced myself away from the mirror, unlocking the bathroom door and charging out.

"Fi-Ouch!" Dan yelled as we toppled over, hitting the carpet with a thump. "Why thank you Phil! I just love being assaulted at three in the fucking morning..." He growled, pushing me off him. Then he froze. "Is that blood?"

Hurriedly I turned away from him. "Yeah, must've cut myself by accident," I muttered. "I'm going to change."

"Looks like a bit too much blood for a cut," Dan said, concerned. I made my escape, jumping up and running for my room. "Wait a minute!" Dan complained. "I've been up the last five hours terrified that you'd died in the bathroom you bastard, at least let me check that you're not going to keel over any second."

Bit late for that, I thought to myself as I slammed the door and turned the lock. "I'll be out soon."

"Fine then," Dan grumbled. "I'll clean up in the bathroom for you."

Uh-oh… "No I can do it!" I near shrieked as I fumbled around in my drawers for my pyjamas.

"Holy fucking shit!"

Fear coiled in my stomach, cold and poisonous. There'd be no throwing Dan off the trail now.

"Phil…" Dan said faintly, "the fuck did you drink last night?"

Well that was fun... Review with your thoughts! Even if they're that I should never, ever touch a keyboard again :)