A screeching scream ripped Kadamba’s and everyone else’s eardrums with its high pitch and unbelievable volume. “JUNDANA! JUNDANA! JUNDANA!” screamed Sorenha Woohurra in a panic, still outfitted like she was going on stage at a big music concert.
“MAN! That chick got some serious pipes!” Stelky exclaimed while poking his finger into his ear.
Sorenha came running up to Jundana and Kadamba, mouthing something that neither could understand. After a deep breath, she looked at Jundana and hastily explained, “Something’s happening to Alorus. You gotta get over there.” Her finger pointed to the playground where many people appeared to be watching something on the ground.
Jundana broke into a full sprint before Kadamba and Stelky even made a move in the playground’s direction. When they ran up, Jundana was on the ground, kneeling over a child’s body. A woman nearby, trying to calm her, was telling her that medics were on the way.
“Alorus! Alorus! Stay with me!” Jundana pleaded with the child, as tears fell from her face. “Alorus! Alorus! You have to breathe! Listen to me, NOW! Look at me! Alorus, breathe!”
The child began shaking violently as if he was having a massive seizure. Foam began pouring out of his mouth, as his eyes rolled back in his head. The foam appeared to have a red tint to it, as a medic came running up, carrying a large bag. Two more medics appeared almost immediately with a medical transportation board floating between them.
“Does the boy suffer from jakjaksonia episodes?” the paramedic quickly asked Jundana, as he immediately knelt beside the boy, opening his bag.
“No. He’s totally healthy! What’s wrong with him?” Jundana frantically demanded.
Before Stelky reached the center of the crowd surrounding Alorus, a justice enforcement bumped him aside. When he made his way to his friends, Stelky’s jaw dropped, and he blurted out, “Ka, ain’t that the kid you just hooked up with some …” His words trailed off as he realized that everyone was glaring at him, and then everyone looked at Kadamba.
The paramedic spoke quickly and directly, “Son, what did you give this boy?”
“I didn’t give him anything,” Kadamba replied, as the knot in his stomach began to rapidly expand and twist.
The justice enforcement officer drew his gun from his holster at an astonishing speed. He pointed the weapon directly at Kadamba’s chest.
“Ka, please!” Jundana’s panic-stricken voice broke the tension-filled silence. “What happened?”
“I … I … I sold him three packs of rath about thirty minutes ago.”
Tears burst from Jundana’s eyes, as they glazed over with hatred. Kadamba wanted more than anything to have the world end right there. He’d never fallen from a state of such euphoria to absolute regret and panic.
He heard the electric-sounding buzz as the bolt of energy burst from the tip of the justice enforcement officer’s gun. For a split second the entire world froze. He could see Jundana with her face in her hands. He could see the boy, lying on the ground. He could see the faces in the crowd either looking down sympathetically at the child or looking at him with a terrible malice in their eyes. Then he felt the energy bolt hit him, and the world went black.
