“Kat, come on, I’ll take you back home.”
“I can’t.”
“You can’t roam free through the city or they will find you and end you,” he responds, agitated.
“What am I supposed to do? I can’t go back. They can’t see me like this,” I plead.
“I’ll take you back to my place and stay with you, make sure you’re safe.” His eyes dart to the top of the buildings and down the darkened road. “We need to go now.”
I hesitate, looking from him to the rooftops and back to his pleading eyes.
“We have to go,” he mouths without making a sound. “Trust me.” He holds his hand out.
I take his hand in mine and grit my teeth through the burn. The instant pain brings me back from my alternate state and all too suddenly the agony shoots through my head and sparks of light flash before my eyes. I can’t move. The pain is too much.
“We need to hurry.” Toby turns to face me.
“I can’t. It hurts to move,” I cry out.
“Shh,” Toby commands, his eyes scanning our surroundings. “You need to be quiet.”
As I open my mouth to respond, he has me cradled in his arms and has launched us into the air and landed on top of the nearest tiled roof.
“Don’t make a sound,” he breathes into my ear.
I stare at him and nod. I swallow the leftover blood that has pooled in my mouth. Understanding ripples through me as I watch his eyes dilate. I concentrate on getting my breathing under control and dare not move even though my head is about to erupt from the building pressure. I can feel his muscles tense under my fingers as I grip his shoulder. His breathing has slowed and his eyes are zeroed in on the building to our right.
“They have found your blood on the pavement.” He turns his face toward mine, leaving barely an inch between us. His eyes linger on my mouth and he licks his lips. “I have to get you out of here. The scent of your blood is thick in the air.” He inhales sharply before turning away from me.
I dare not speak as I hold on tightly to his neck, my blood smeared over his T-shirt. I squeeze my two teeth in the palm of my hand and shudder as reality takes a hold of me once again. Burying my face in his neck, I close my eyes as he takes off across the rooftops, gracefully landing on each one without even the smallest of jolts. A practiced and agile predator.
“You can open your eyes now,” he says placing me on my feet.
I have a tough time prying my fingers from his skin and notice the red marks I have left behind. My eyes adjust to my surroundings “Where are we?”
“My place. They won’t be able to track us here.”
I stand in the living room, furnished with a sleek, modern, black leather lounge suite and chrome and glass coffee table. A gigantic television is mounted to the wall, and there is a beautiful monochrome rug that covers nearly the entire room. The walls are a crisp white decorated with black and white photographs.
I watch as he stalks out of the room and returns within seconds with a glass of water. “Drink.” He holds it toward me.
I reach out for the glass forgetting that my two teeth are still in my clenched fist. My teeth fall out of my hand and Toby manages to snatch them out of the air before they hit the ground.
“Sorry.” I blush. “I forgot I still had them.
“I’m glad you held onto them. It is best if they didn’t get their hands on them,” he explains, his voice barely audible.
“Who’s ‘they’?” I ask.
“The hunters. And before you ask—no, he wasn’t part of the search party.”
I stare at Toby in relief. I take a long drink, the water helping to wash down any last traces of blood left on my tongue. “What happens now?”
“Do you trust me?” He leans in, his face serious.
“Just make the pain go away,” I whisper.
“Follow me.” He turns and heads down the darkened hallway.
In the center of the dimly lit room sits a large egg-shaped pod. I watch as Toby presses a few buttons on the side and the lid quietly opens up to reveal a flotation device. Dark liquid is illuminated by dim blue light.
“It’s a sensory deprivation chamber. It’s where I sleep to block out all the noise and light,” Toby explains.
I stare at the pod, unable to take my eyes off the water inside.
“It will help with your transition. It should ease the pain and stop the flashes of light.”
“I’m supposed to get in there?” I ask, bewildered.
“I will sit outside the tank the whole time. You can get out any time you want, you just have to press this button once it’s closed.” He points to a small red button on the inside of the lid. “It’s the best solution. Your pain is only going to get worse before it gets better.”
“Should I wash all this off first?” I look down at my bloodstained hands.
“No, just get in, clothes and all. It will get cleaned out tomorrow when you emerge.”
“When I’m finished turning into something out of a horror movie.” I cringe as the pain shoots through my eyes.
Toby sighs. “Are you getting in?”
I walk to the edge and dangle my fingers into the water. It’s warm and feels soft against my fingers. I look up into Toby’s eyes; he looks at me with sympathy.
“You will be okay. I will be here. I won’t leave your side.”
“I’m scared.” I lower my eyes to the water.
“I know. I was too.” He takes my hand in his and squeezes it.
I hold on tightly to his hand as I slide my shoes and socks off and climb up the two stairs to step into the chamber. I lower myself until I am sitting waist deep in the water. I still have a firm grip of Toby’s hand. “Please don’t leave me?”
“I’m not going anywhere.” He lets go of my hand. “Now lie back and allow the water to float you.”
I lie back. The warm water soothes my aching head. I see Toby move to close the lid. “Wait,” I say too loudly.
He stills and turns his face toward me, one hand on the lid and one hand on the base. “I won’t leave.”
“What happens during?” I whisper.
“Everyone is different, but generally there’s always some sort of pain involved. You’re halfway through the transition already; it shouldn’t take long from here,” he explains.
“What about after?” I barely get the words out.
“We will deal with that then. Close your eyes, I’m going to close the lid now.”
“Toby,” I whisper.
“Yes,” he answers.
“Thank you,” I say as I close my eyes and wait.
The lid clicks shut, echoing loudly in my ears. I am shrouded in darkness and the first thought that comes to mind is that this is what it would be like to be in a coffin, buried alive. I lie still in the deafening silence, unsure if my eyes are open or closed. Unable to tell where the water ends and the air begins, I feel as though I am suspended in a starless sky.
I wiggle my toes and the water ripples over my exposed skin, a sensation that brings visions of me that I cannot place. I reach out to get my bearings, and as my fingers come in contact with the sides of the chamber, light sparks flare up all around me. My heart rate escalates. I hear it thud in my ears, and the need to escape overwhelms me. My fingers frantically search for that damn button, but I am disorientated and cannot locate it. My shallow breaths become labored. I squirm in the warm water and I can feel the pain slowly building, starting from the base of my neck. It heats as it spreads, rising and burning, spreading like scores of fire ants. I reach for my face. My arms are heavy and feel weighted down. My hand clumsily comes in contact with my chin and I feel the heat of my sensitized skin under my touch. The pressure builds with the increasing heat; it feels as though my brain will leak out through my ears. Light dances across my eyes in a spectacular color display. Each one sends shooting pains through my retinas until I am certain my eyes are swimming in pools of acid.
The tightening of my throat becomes unb
earable causing me to scream, but not even a whimper escapes my lips. I am certain this is the end. This is it. This is how I am going to die. I fight to stay conscious as the pressure builds to the breaking point. I envision my skull splitting in two from the force of my brain expanding, my brains splattering over the walls of this death chamber, the water colored a pretty rose. As the heat around me rises, I feel myself sinking into the buoyant water. Searching for something to hold on to before I sink further. I claw into thin air, unable to grasp a single thing. I give up the fight. The water, now at the boiling point, slowly covers my face. I take one last gasp as the scalding water fills my lungs and burns me from the inside.
“Kat. Kat.” I hear the whisper of an echo in the distance. “Kat!” Their voice gets louder and more frantic as their cold fingers grip my arm.
I don’t want to open my eyes. I don’t want to leave this warm, cozy place. The glowing sun warms my skin and the fluffy blanket cushions me from the hard ground.
“Kat.” The echo gets louder. “Wake up.”
“No,” I mumble and try to push their fingers off of me.
“Can you hear me?” The voice becomes loud, too loud.
“Stop,” I growl as my eyes pop open and adjust to the darkened room. I’m in a pool of water. Warm water—a bath, it seems. I sit up slowly, carefully, and my gaze falls on the person who is standing a good distance from me. I stare at them for a moment before recognition dawns on me. “Toby.” My voice quivers.
“I’m still here.” He takes a calculated step toward me.
“What happened? Why am I in this thing?” I look around me and hold up my wet hand.
“You don’t remember anything?” he questions.
“I don’t know.” I shrug.
“How do you feel?”
“I feel relaxed. I feel fine.” I am confused by his question.
He takes another few steps toward me until he is standing just out of reach. “Do you need help getting out?”
I look around. It hadn’t occurred to me to get out of the water. I notice I’m still wearing all my clothes and am thankful for that. I reach out to him and he offers his hand. I stand and step over the ledge. My clothes cling to me and soak the ground at my feet. Toby hands me a towel, which I take graciously and wrap around my shoulders. He stares at me, his eyes searching. “What?” I snap.
“Nothing.” His eyebrows rise ever so slightly.
I take a few steps toward the door and it dawns on me that my head doesn’t hurt and my vision is not blurry anymore. I gasp as realization hits me like a brick to the face. My eyes dart to Toby; he is a few steps behind, guarded.
“You just worked it out?”
I slink to the floor and sit cross-legged. “Am I?”
“Yes.”
“I thought I’d feel different. I still feel like me,” I breathe.
“You will always be you.” He squeezes my hand. “Come on, have a shower and change out of your clothes. You can borrow something of mine.” He stands and holds his hand out to me.
I turn the shower on and the hot water feels soothing on my cold, clammy skin. Closing my eyes, visions of flashing lights and being submerged in boiling water take over my subconscious thoughts. I gasp for air and remember where I am.
“Are you okay in there?” Toby knocks on the door.
“Yes,” I call back, my voice a little shaky.
My mind keeps returning to visions of inside the chamber, of being in immense agony. Of trying to scream to get out of there but no one coming to help. Of being burned from the inside and drowning in steaming water. I shake my head to clear my thoughts as I switch off the faucet. I slowly dry myself and put on a pair of Toby’s shorts and a large, white T-shirt, which he has left next to the sink. I wrap my hair in a tight bun on the top of my head and wipe the steam off the mirror as I look at myself, analyzing every little detail. I still look like me. I smile in response and lean in until my nose is nearly touching the mirror. There are no gaps in my teeth. I carefully touch my canine with my tongue; it’s sharp. I have fangs. I have fucking fangs. I watch the expression on my face, amazed at how I can still be the same yet completely different.
“Kat?” Toby’s voice is questioning.
I swing the door open swiftly, surprised at my strength and speed. Toby is standing on the other side of the door trying to hide a smirk.
“What?” I glare at him.
“You’ve been in there for a long time. I thought maybe you had escaped through the window.”
“I was…I was just looking at myself for changes,” I stumble over my words.
“Did you find any?”
“What?” I ask, confused.
“Changes?” he offers.
“Did my teeth really fall out?” I look at him like a deer in headlights.
“Yes,” he answers me, a crease forming between his brows. His eyes linger on what I’m wearing for a moment. “You look good in my clothes.” He smiles.
I huff as I push past him. I notice he stumbles back, not entirely losing his balance. I’m surprised that I was able to move him so easily. I make my way down the hall to the lounge room in a split second. I stand, confused and a little dazed, in the center of the lounge, unsure how I managed to get here when a second ago I was exiting the bathroom. I watch as Toby casually walks through the door and stops at the end of the lounge chair.
“We may need to work on that,” he chuckles.
“Don’t laugh at me,” I snap.
“I’m sorry.” He holds up his hands.
I carefully lower myself to the couch. Once seated I exhale. Toby takes the few steps to sit in the chair opposite me. I stare at him waiting for him to speak.
“How do you feel now?” He leans forward and rests his elbows on his knees.
“I don’t know.” I shrug. “I can’t explain it.”
He eyes me curiously.
“What?” I ask, a little guarded. I’m unsure of why he keeps looking at me like I’m supposed to do something.
“How’s your sense of smell? Your eyesight? Your hearing?” He watches me carefully as he speaks.
I allow my eyes to wander slowly across the room. The colors are more vivid, and I can read the small print on the bottom of the photographs. My eyes zero in on Toby’s face. His translucent skin glows under the artificial light, his lips a rubier red than I had noticed before. I tilt my head to the side as I listen for sounds near and far. I can hear laughter and the clinking of glasses. I hear the distant sound of sirens, the fast footsteps and heavy breathing of someone trying to escape the predator that is stalking them. I sniff the air. The aroma of vanilla assaults my senses causing my body to tingle. My nostrils flare as the sweet smell fills the air around me. I hear the increased thud of my heart deep within my chest as I salivate over the intoxicating scent. I stand, my eyes frantically searching for the nearest exit. The need to quench the deep hunger that has taken over me is all that I can concentrate on. Toby jumps up and towers over me, just inches from my face. His eyes search mine.
“You smell that?” he whispers.
I nod in response, not taking my eyes off of him.
“You want it, don’t you?” His lips curl revealing snow-white teeth.
“Yes,” I hiss in response.
“I was wondering how long it would take for you to reveal yourself.” He smiles wickedly.
“What do you mean?” I’m momentarily distracted from the mouthwatering aroma by his statement.
Leaning in close, a smirk turning up the corner of his mouth, he whispers, “Usually when one turns, they are ravenously hungry and can’t control the need to hunt.”
“Hunt.” I barely get the word out.
“Yes, you need to feed and soon.” Toby moistens his lips.
I look at him, horrified. “I can’t.”
“You need to, Kat, or you will die.”
“What?” I reach out for his arm to steady me.
“You didn’t know?” Toby takes my hand in
his and squeezes it reassuringly. “I’m sorry to have to be the one to tell you this, but if you don’t feed before sun up, that will be it.”
I look everywhere but at him. This can’t be true. My eyes fill with tears and finally come to rest on his. “I didn’t know,” I choke out.
“I’m sorry,” he soothes as he pulls me into his muscled chest and wraps his arms around me.
I cling onto his shirt as the sobs grow louder and my tears fall freely down my cheeks. Toby does not let go of me the whole time I cry against him; he doesn’t speak until he is sure I have shed my last lot of tears.
“You will be okay. I’ll make sure of it.” His voice is tense.
“How am I supposed to do this?” I look up at him.
“I’ll take you home, and Maria can guide you through it.”
“No, I can’t let them see me like this,” I plead.
“You have to let her know you are okay. My phone has not stopped ringing.”
“How long did I take to…” I cannot physically say the word as I look at him for answers.
“You were only in the pod for two hours. I didn’t hear a sound so I had to check that everything was okay,” he explains.
“Two hours?” I ask, bewildered. It felt like a lifetime of suffering. “Did you not hear me? I was trying to get out. The pain was unbearable.”
“You were silent the whole time you were in there. I thought you had just gone into a meditative state. If I’d known you were suffering I would have checked you were okay earlier.” His brow furrows as he says this.
“It’s okay. It’s over with now.” I sniff the air and my thoughts return to my hunger.
“Ready?” Toby eyes me.
“No,” I sigh. “Let’s get this over with.”
I follow Toby out the front door of his building, my movements controlled. The night seems young, but I know for certain daybreak is near. The urgency is clear on his face and I fear for what is to come. Grabbing my hand, he pulls me after him through a narrow alleyway. The streetlights don’t reach this far in and the pungent smell of mold is rife. He stops after a few minutes and turns to face me, his features strained.
Bequeathed Page 16
