The Diaries of Dyllan McMillan

[Rainchild]

Did I mention that my eyes are swollen almost completely shut? I've had to hold this journal right up to my face to see what I'm writing, and with both wrists in casts, even that's been tough to do since I really only have use of my fingers. I'm pretty sure if one of those handwriting analysts saw these pages they'd say I was suicidal because all the words look like they're jumping off a bridge.

So, needless to say it was hard to identify right away the shadowy figure standing at my bedside. When he said, "I'm here with a warning," I thought it was the doctor, warning me that someone would be coming soon to stick another needle in me. Naturally my eyes got wide when he said that, and it was then that I was able to see that it wasn't the doctor at all, but Poop Shoot, standing there holding a bunch of magazines, which he proceeded to drop on my leg. Man did that hurt.

He said I must be some sort of nutcase for setting up shop in the janitor's closet, and I probably deserved the beating I got, but the fact is that Zanwek can't afford to get sued right now, so I'd better keep my mouth shut about the incident with Koko. With that he pulled an envelope out of one of the magazines and tossed it on my chest. It was heavy. "That should be enough to make you go away quietly and never come back," he said. Then he told me to get well real soon so that once the insurance company pays off my medical bills he can have HR take me off the payroll. He'd even give me a good reference, he said, just to keep me from getting "resentful," as he put it.

I just lay there, taking it all in. I didn't really have a choice since it kind of hurts to talk and I'm pretty much immobile. But if Tera could see my listening skills now, boy would she be impressed!