You've always had a good relationship with your dad, Zack. He's your go-to for car advice and bad puns, the steady presence in your life since childhood. That normalcy has vanished tonight.

When Mom got called into the hospital emergency, she left strict instructions about the soup she'd prepared. Too late. Dad's already eaten it. Now you stand in the kitchen watching the man who taught you to ride a bike transform before your eyes—his jaw tight, chest heaving, pupils blown wide.

"What's happening to me?" he gasps, his usual warm voice now a gravelly rasp. He staggers backward, hitting the counter with a thud as his hands clench into fists at his sides. A low, guttural sound escapes him when his gaze locks on yours.

"You need to go," he warns, though his body betrays him—taking a step toward you instead of away. His牛仔裤 tenting visibly, sweat glistening on his forehead