Blood and Light

by Rue Volley

  I heard the knock on the door. My heart stopped. Okay Rue, just answer the door, let him in, offer him a drink…I don't know, watch a movie or something.

  I ran to the door, opened it. There he was, here again at an inappropriate moment...me being alone in the house. Sam couldn't get mad, I stayed here, right? I promised.

  “Hey,” he said.

  I stepped out of his way… He stood there for a moment, I looked at him.

  “Come...come in Johnathan.”

  88

  “Yea Okay.”

  He looked around

  “So where's everybody?” he asked me.

  “Ohh…umm, Kai took Josh and Sam on a mini tour of town… I didn't want to go, been everywhere here, ya know.”

  He smiled his crooked smile.

  “Okay...”

  I fidgeted with my fingers.

  “Want something to drink?” I asked.

  “Yea sure...”

  I heard his question trailing off behind me…truth was I started walking towards the kitchen as soon as I asked him.

  I opened the fridge and noticed his feet under the door. I stood up.

  “Ummm, well, lots of choices here. Umm water, milk, mountain dew.”

  “Water"s fine.”

  “Mountain dew it is then,” I said.

  “No, water"s cool,” he said grinning.

  “Okay...doin the dew.”

  Johnathan started to laugh..

  “Ohhh, I get it. You"re trying to get me back for the wine, right?” he said.

  I turned around smiling, dew in my hand.

  “Okay, if you insist...then I'll do the dew, or whatever you called it.”

  “You've never seen the commercial?”

  “I'm not big on T.V.,” he said.

  “Ohh, well maybe we will get lucky and it'll come on.”

  I grinned, truth was, I figured the more worthless chatter I threw his way, the better. Seemed like every time we were anywhere it ended up with some type of groping and I decided that maybe we could just talk this time...maybe, just maybe…

  I held the dew out to him, he reached for it and for a moment our fingers touched, I felt a slight vibration moving up my arm. My eyes started to get big... I remembered the woods, I didn't want a repeat of that night, ever again. He looked at me kinda strange. I passed him and went to the couch flipping the television on. He stood in the kitchen for a moment, then followed me, sitting down too close… I moved over, just put some space in between us. He was staring straight ahead, then I guess he was compelled to break the silence…

  “Is something wrong?” he asked me.

  I kept my focus straight ahead…less eye contact the better.

  “No…no.” (I started flipping through channels) “I…just trying to find something to watch.”

  “Okay…” he said, as he cleared his throat.

  He turned his body towards me, I noticed... I wanted to turn too, but I didn't.

  “Listen, is this…you know, you being distant...does it have to do with lit class today?”

  I set down the flipper…Kai"s affectionate word for the remote... I looked down at my hands.

  89

  “Oh, no that...? No,” I said.

  “I want to believe that, but we went from hot to cold and that's the only thing I can think of that could be the reason.”

  I looked at him...mistake, the whole hearing his voice and not seeing his face was working and now I got to look into his beautiful blue eyes...too blue.

  “No Johnathan, I just thought maybe we could just sit and watch T.V., ya know?”

  He tilted his head down, his eyes still fixed on me, a smile started to pull the corner of his mouth up on one side. Then he said…

  “I had a dream...really vivid. I fell asleep this afternoon…I never nap, but I was glad I did.”

  He couldn't possibly have had the same dream I had… Could he?

  “A dream?” I asked.

  “Yes…it was about us…ya know we were together in a field...”

  “What?” My heart rate started to move towards jogging mode.

  He took my hand in his...the vibration was low, no intensity so I let him keep it...

  Any changes and I will go ninja…swear to god.

  “We ended up in your bed,” he whispered.

  I pulled my hand out of his and got up... I walked over to the window...maybe Sam will be here soon, to cause a much needed interruption. I wanted to tell him I had the same dream, but ripples in the water, I just wanted things to stay the same.

  “Rue?” he said.

  I looked back and he had raised up off the couch…the look on his face a mixture of confusion and concern, maybe hurt. I think this was not the reaction he wanted from me. I just stood there, hoping the next words out of my mouth would be magic.

  “You a…you want any pizza?” I said.

  Wow...slick Rue...that was awesome.

  He ran his hand through his hair.

  “Ummm, pizz...? Yea I'm really not hungry right now…but thanks?”

  He looked around for a moment.

  “Ummm, not to sound sexist or anything but I'm kinda feeling like the girl here,”

  he said.

  “Well I'm hungry...some was left over, cold pizza is the best.”

  I am the biggest turd on the planet... I suck.

  “Okay, ummm, listen Rue I'm gonna go.” He stood up.

  He started to move towards the door.

  I reached out to him, wanting to throw him on the floor and repeat my dream, but I just couldn't.

  “You don't have to leave Johnathan,” I said.

  He turned to me.

  “Listen I get it...stuff…ya know, this moved really fast and obviously I feel different than you do… It's cool,” he said as he looked away from me.

  “I... I, just want to slow down ya know, I can't...” I stuttered.

  Johnathan had put it out on the table and I stuck a fork in it... I just knew it.

  “I gotta go,” he said.

  90

  He opened the door and left. I stood at the window, knowing that my opportunity was slipping away and I could not bring myself to stop it. I felt a vibration in the kitchen when he touched me and without me knowing how to combat it, I just could not take the chance... I cared too much for him and what I just did sucked more then anything had ever sucked in the history of sucking…

  for sure. I wallowed until he pulled away and then I decided I was going out. I know, I said I wouldn't but...

  ******

  I had been walking down Hideaway Dr. for five minutes until it hit me. I want to go to Rolling River, I know they said my mom wasn't there but I want to see for myself. I really wanted to see my mom, I missed her so much, I just couldn't stand it. I had been trying to push down the feelings, but now that I had probably messed up the perfect relationship...minus the him “trying to kill me stuff”... I needed to talk to my mom. Even though I knew she wasn't “there”, I figured it wouldn't be any different than the last year and 5 days. Even if I just sat there rattling off stuff, she would hopefully fake hear me and maybe I would feel better somehow. I know, not gonna happen but I don't play with dolls, this is my make believe.

  I walked for another fifteen minutes until I realized I was standing on the outer gate of R & R. I hadn't noticed that the sky had gone from blue to gray…

  didn't care I guess. When I stood there staring at this huge ominous building I felt strange, creeping in. I shook it off and started up the lane, hellbent on going in.

  The closer I got the more drained I felt, my legs started to ache. I heard my stomach growl. Maybe cold pizza would have been a good idea after all. My head started getting fuzzy, like I was dealing with a cold...my ears had a slight ringing. Maybe I am getting sick, I'm sure a super hot bath, followed by a cold shower, couldn't be the healthiest thing to do to yourself.

  I had almost made it to front doors, when I thought I heard a whisper. I turned around, then side to
side. Where did that come from? I must be getting sick or maybe I'm just upset, my heart rate had shot up. I walked in. It looked abandoned. The place is so big, a hundred people could be working and you'd still think no one was there. I went to the front desk... Nobody. That's weird, the whole time we had come here to visit, someone always maned it.

  “Hello?”

  I waited for a moment, I was sure one of the revolving nurses would come around the corner cheerful as ever.

  I waited…

  “Hello...?” I called out.

  Again, nothing.

  I swear I heard whispering again, seemed to be coming from down the hallway. I followed it, maybe they were congregated for some break. The voices got louder…so I rounded the corner and no one.

  Weird. My hands started to tingle, I looked down and a small white glow had started to form in my palms. It, for some reason, gave me a panicked feeling 91

  and I reached up and realized I was sweating a lot. I wiped it off my forehead and swiped my hand on my jeans. I jumped, the elevator door had dinged, someone was getting on or off, didn't care, I needed to find somebody. I ran back to the elevator and the doors were just sitting wide open. No one was there. I decided to get on… I pressed 3…my finger leaving a heated smudge on the button.

  The elevator took way too long, but when it opened I hesitated, I started to move and a pain hit my stomach...it growled… I am starving. I should have eaten, I almost had hit the nausea part of the equation, when you've waited too long to eat and you just feel sick. There's nothing worse in my opinion, except the throwing up itself. I stepped out of the elevator and looked to the right… I knew 314 was only a few doors down on the left. As I started to walk, I noticed every door was closed. My feet started to feel really heavy and the ringing in my ears was getting more intense, I had to lean against the wall for a moment. I felt as if I was going to get sick right there. I held my stomach and put my hand over my mouth…it passed. I looked up and realized I could hear music playing…it was old. I know enough music to know that it wasn't anything I listened too, but I felt as if I had heard it before, somewhere. I moved cautiously, still holding my stomach. I should turn around but I kept getting pulled forward. I stopped in front of room 314, it was the only door open.

  The music was coming from inside the room. There was barely any light, the curtains were drawn. I tried to focus on the bed and I swear I could see someone in it. The form moved a little and I jumped back. Then I heard her voice.

  “Rue...? Honey is that you?”

  I froze.

  “Mom?”

  “Rue…? I've missed you.”

  “Mom... What…is that you?”

  I was straining my eyes to try to see. I had jumped back almost to the wall, but I started to move forward one slow step at a time.

  “Rue...come here.”

  I felt a strong pull in her direction, I kept inching forward, until I made it right to edge of the doorway.

  “Mom...? Sam said you weren't here....”

  “Honey… come in.”

  I went to step over the line into the room and I heard my name screamed out.

  “RUE… STOP!”

  It happened so, fast I didn't even realize that I was on the floor, until I hit it hard on my side. It knocked the air out of me. I looked up and Josh had his arms wrapped around me. He had a wild look on his face.

  “SAM! DO IT NOW!” he screamed.

  Josh had rolled us together and I was positioned behind him pressed against the wall. He pulled chalk out of his pocket and started scribbling symbols all around us, in a half moon. He started chanting... I listen closer now, it sounded like Latin.

  92

  Sam was at the doorway, she dropped down and started to chalk into the floor and up the sides of the doorway...she was speaking Latin the whole time.

  Josh looked back at me, maybe he was mad but he was stern.

  “You...don't move from this circle...you hear me Rue?”

  I nodded, more in shock than anything.

  Josh jumped up and went to Sam, helping her complete the symbols around the door. I could see a light coming from the room and wind seemed to be rolling out of it.

  “Stand your ground Samantha!” he yelled out.

  They both held their arms out in front of them and the symbols they had drawn started to glow... They did too. Light started flashing from the room and Sam grabbed her head...she screamed out to Josh.

  “Hold!” Josh yelled at her.

  Suddenly the entire hallway was engulfed in light... I shielded my eyes from it's burn...it was as bright as the sun. Josh and Sam started to get pushed backward...

  “Samantha!”

  Josh had looked to her and she flew backwards slamming against the wall behind her so hard, I swear I heard plaster cracking. Josh turned to look at her for only a quick second, then turned back to the doorway.

  Just as sudden as everything started, everything started to go into slow motion... Josh's hair was whipping around his head and it looked as he was under water. Then a figure appeared in the doorway right in front of him.

  Josh kept chanting Latin and I saw the form come into focus. Josh screamed out.

  “Caine!”

  I saw him too, but he started to fade...almost as if he materialized just to torment Josh.

  The wind started to slow down and the light started to fade... Josh dropped to the floor still whispering his Latin over and over again. He looked up towards the doorway, then turned to Sam who seemed to be completely still. He scrambled to her, calling out her name. I felt as if I couldn't move... I was frozen.

  Josh pulled her up onto his lap, her head flopped around like she was...dead. Oh god no…she couldn't be.

  “Sam!”

  Josh was in a complete panic…

  “Samantha...! Please stay with me!”

  “Oh my God Josh is she...?”

  Josh shot a look at me that could have killed. He looked back to her.

  “Sam…listen to me…you have to feed now, I can't save you if you don't.”

  Blood had started to come from the corner of her mouth. Josh pulled out a blade and cut it into the palm of his hand, blood and light mixed together from it.

  He raised it to her mouth...he pressed it against he lips.

  “Feed Sam... I won't, I can't do this without you,” he muttered.

  Her eyes fluttered and I could see her neck and face start to shimmer, she moved her mouth under his palm… He sucked in his breath.

  “Please...” he whispered.

  93

  She moved slowly at first, but then her hand reached up and pressed against his hand, I could see her knuckles becoming white from the pressure she had on it.

  Josh started to moan a little, he allowed it to go on... His head started to nod downward. I jumped up and with everything I had I pushed him away from her. He fell to his side. I looked back at Sam. Her eyes were glowing blue and she looked as if I was next on her menu... She looked to Josh..

  “Oh god,” she whispered.

  She reached for him and he started to move. He groaned, as he pull himself up on his knees.

  Josh looked at her.

  “Wow… you were hungry!” he said.

  Samantha started to smile...

  “It's been awhile,” she whispered.

  He laughed... “Yea... could see that.”

  I stood up and looked at them both.

  “What the hell?” I said.

  Sam looked at me...

  “You”... she pointed a finger at me... “are supposed to be at home.”

  Sam pulled herself off of the floor... I really expected for her to take a swing at me or blast me with light or something. She turned to Josh and put her hand out, he grabbed it and she heaved him up.

  “That was an ass save,” he said to her.

  She just started to laugh.

  “Yep...it was,” she muttered.

  Josh grinned.

  “Just want to make sure i
t's established before we leave.”

  She looked at him.

  “I'm not going to dispute it,” Sam said.

  They both started laughing...

  “Lets get the hell out of here,” Josh said.

  Samantha grabbed my hand and we ran for the elevator.

  Kai was behind the wheel...it was Sam's car, so I knew he must have been thrilled when she told him to get in the driver"s seat. We ran towards the car, Sam was holding an arm around Josh, because he was holding his side. We piled in. I got in the front and they got in the back. I turned around to look at both of them, they only looked at me for a moment.

  Josh looked at Sam...

  “It's my kidney I think,” he said.

  “Okay let me find it...” Sam said to him.

  Josh pulled up his shirt up and his whole side was blackened. He kinda hissed when he shifted to pull it up.

  “Okay Josh, sit still…”

  Sam started to run her hand along his side, not touching his skin but barely holding her hand above it.

  “Okay…I found it,” she said as she looked at him.

  94

  She traced her finger over his side. A glowing symbol started to form, she closed her eyes and started to speak Latin. She held her hand over his side, right along his ribs and her hand started to glow. Josh sucked in his breath.

  “Geezus Sam,” he hissed.

  “Sorry I'm trying, hold on,” Sam said as she kept her eyes closed.

  She continued her Latin and Josh began to relax.

  “There...you"re good,” she said.

  “Thanks Sam.”

  She put a hand up to his face and cupped the side of it.

  “Thank you Josh…really.”

  “It's all good sis.”

  I turned back around in my seat, feeling like I had just almost killed them both.