Apartment Building E Read Free Page A

poisoned by the great tree, that mother of all willows.
    “Jack.” He spun around. His wife was bent over their son, holding him by the shoulders, peering into his little six-year-old face. Nathan wore a blank expression; a faraway look Jack immediately recognized. It was the very same insane look of the tenants of Apartment Building E!
    “Jack,” his wife said again. “Look at Nathan’s eyes. They’re not blue anymore. They’re green, Jack!”
    With horror, Jack realized the infection of the great willow may have spread. What if it had spread across the neighborhood, even to his own backyard tree?
    Jack sprang to the door and bolted outside. He ran to the young willow tree standing like a sentinel in his backyard. Its long, whip-like branches sent an immediate chill down his spine. He tore at the trunk, bloodying his fingers as pieces of bark sprinkled down around his feet.
    His fingers began to slip on something under the bark. Jack stopped and raised his palms before his eyes. They were covered in slimy green mold.
    END