by Laura Hysell
Patricia was littered with bullet holes and blood oozed from her chest, leaving dark streaks on her vibrant red sweater. She glared at Mitch in annoyance, but was quickly distracted when Jin leaped at her. She moved quickly, flinging him through the air once more to land several feet from the Hummer. Mitch had already put another clip in his gun and began firing rounds into Patricia once more.
Ignoring Mitch, Patricia sped after Jin once more. Jin bounced to his feet, took a quick look at Patricia and then sped straight toward me. The wind was knocked out of me as Jin rammed his body into mine. He had one arm around my waist as he dragged me past the house at an intense speed. My eyes began to water as my hair whipped into my eyes. I couldn’t see where he was taking me, but I could see a blur of red and another blur of black following behind us.
The red blur suddenly overtook us and I was catapulted out of Jin’s grasp, flailing my arms frantically to no avail. The ground was suddenly before me and I braced my arms out instinctively. There was a loud snap as I hit the ground, but I felt nothing as I scrambled to my feet and began running back toward the house and the Hummer.
We had run quite a ways, but the adrenaline coursing through my body spurred me on at speeds I was usually incapable of. The dilapidated back of the house was in view and I made a beeline toward it, stumbling over rocks. I crawled up the back steps and pulled the door open, glancing behind me briefly. I couldn’t see any of the vampires, so I slammed the door behind me and sagged to the floor in relief.
As the adrenaline left me quickly, I began to feel the pain. It was primarily in my right arm, but I could feel aches all over. I looked down at myself, assessing my injuries. Dirt covered my pants and there was a hole in one knee, with a bit of drying blood on it. The pain in my legs was quickly dissipating, but the pain in my arm was growing more intense.
My right wrist throbbed and there seemed to be an extra bend in my arm below the elbow. I gingerly touched my arm, wincing in pain. There was considerable bruising, but most of it was already beginning to fade as my body healed. All that vampire blood must have been healing my body extremely quickly.
I sat back and closed my eyes while I waited for my body to heal. After a few minutes I looked at my arm again. The bone wasn’t miraculously straightening out, but all the other smaller wounds were healing. Cuts and scrapes were now completely gone, leaving streaks of dried blood. I took a deep breath, knowing what must be done. I had to set the break so it would heal properly. I grabbed my arm and attempted to put my bone back in alignment, but all my attempts were futile. I didn’t know what I was doing and I was just a human. Even though I may have vampire blood coursing through my body, I wasn’t full of vampire strength.
Tears coursed down my face as I attempted again and again to realign my broken arm to no avail. Every time I attempted it, the pain would intensify. I picked myself up off the floor and started pacing around the house, unsure what to do. The pain in my arm was unbearable, but I obviously wasn’t going to be able to do anything about it. For now I just needed to get my mind off the pain in my arm.
I had run to the house instead of the Hummer for one reason: Justin. If Justin had been in this house, then maybe there were clues as to where he went. I went from room to room, searching. The house appeared to have been vacant for a long time and had little to no remaining furniture. One bedroom had a bed with rumpled sheets thrown on it, and a makeshift bed made on the floor. I searched through the room, but came up empty-handed.
The quick search through the whole house was futile. I made my way to the front door and pulled it open slowly, revealing a stream of sunlight. I walked onto the porch and blinked in the early morning light before making my way to the Hummer. Climbing in the truck was a chore with my broken arm, but I managed to pull myself with minimal added pain. I adjusted the seat and reached for the ignition, but there was no key. What had Patricia done with the key? I didn’t remember her taking it. I rifled through the truck looking for the key, but came up empty-handed. Damn it! I got out of the truck and began walking toward the barn. I’d already scoured the house, so I may as well search the barn too.
I wondered what had happened to the vampires. According to the werewolves, sunlight would kill a vampire and the sun was shining down brightly now. I entered the barn cautiously, staying away from the section of roof that had caved in. The barn still had hay bales stacked along one wall, although from the smell of mildew they appeared to have been there for some time. I walked around the hay bales and stopped in my tracks.
Mitch was sitting on the ground wedged between stacks of hay bales. Several boards were over his head, protecting him from any sunlight that might make its way through the broken barn roof. His eyes were closed and he didn’t appear to be moving. I glanced around the rest of the barn and spotted Patricia on the far side. She was sitting down in a dark corner of the barn, watching me. A beam of sunlight bathed the center of the barn, separating me from the vampires.
I cautiously took two steps forward until I was directly in the light, unsure what to do next. The vampires seemed trapped by the sunlight and I figured I was probably safe for the moment. I glanced at Mitch again, but he seemed to be asleep. Patricia, on the other hand, was very much awake.
“Come here, my dear,” Patricia said sweetly.
I felt the tug on my mind and involuntarily took a step forward. I shook my head as I tried to fight her off, even as my other foot moved forward a step. I needed a distraction before I got out of the sunlight. “What’s with him?” I asked, pointing at the other vampire.
“So young,” Patricia replied sweetly.
I paused, still in the ring of light. “What does that mean?”
She shrugged, ignoring my question. “Come to me, Isabella.” Her words tugged at my brain and my right foot moved forward again. I never should have looked in the barn. What was she going to do to me?
“Where’s Jin?” I asked, trying to distract myself from moving closer to her. It seemed to be working. I was able to pause when I thought of other things, but the moment I let go of those thoughts I moved forward again.
She shrugged again, a simple lifting of her shoulders. “He took off. He may have another place he can hide from the sun. Or, perhaps he burned up. Who knows?”
I desperately didn’t want to go to her, but my feet moved once more against my will. While unable to control my body when she commanded, I at least retained my own thoughts. I remembered my thoughts of reverence for Patricia and how I had idolized her. It may have been brief, but I absolutely did not want to repeat that.
“You’re fighting me,” she said suddenly, her voice angry. “How are you fighting me?”
My heart began thudding in my chest as I remembered the warning Henri had given me in my dream. I must not let her know anything had happened. She already suspected someone had been in my dreams. I needed to distract her. I took another step forward, thinking fast. “My arm,” I said suddenly, pointing at the unnatural bend between my elbow and wrist.
Patricia’s eyes transfixed on my arm and her face relaxed. “Oh no, you’re injured,” she said sweetly, her voice dripping with compassion. “Let me fix that for you, my dear.”
I had already walked across most of the barn at a slow but steady pace, trying to keep to the sunlight. I stopped just in front of her in the last ray of sunlight glinting through the broken roof of the barn. She moved quicker than I could see, so she was suddenly standing in front of me. Her arms were out to her sides in a welcoming gesture. I took a deep breath and took the last steps into the darkness.
Patricia grasped my broken arm in her hands as soon as I was out of the sunlight, and with a quick movement realigned the break. I screamed out as pain coursed through my body. Patricia let go of my arm and I stumbled back into the sunlight before dropping to my knees, cradling my arm to my chest. I felt drained and exhausted. The room was spinning round, and I felt a wave of nausea tear through my stomach. I curled into a ball on the dirt floor of the barn, resting
my forehead on the cool ground as darkness overtook me.
Chapter 14
I’m not sure how long I was unconscious for, but the sun had gained more ground inside the barn when I finally woke. I slowly sat up and wiped the dust off my face. I moved my right arm cautiously, marveling at how perfect it looked. There was no longer any pain, or even a sign that it had been broken. I used my arms to lever myself up to a standing position, thankful for a vampire fixing my arm. Of course it was because of a vampire that my arm had broken in the first place.
I looked over at the vampire in question. Patricia was still in the same general location, but was now lying under a tarp with her eyes closed. Her chest wasn’t moving, but I had no idea if vampires actually breathed or not. I glanced around, noting that the other vampire was exactly as he had appeared when I had entered the barn. Was he asleep? I quietly backed away from Patricia, hoping I wouldn’t wake her.
When I had made my way out of the barn I breathed a sigh of relief. None of the vampires had stirred in the slightest. Perhaps they were down for the day. I felt my neck, making sure I hadn’t been snacked on while I’d been out. I didn’t feel any new marks, so I guessed I’d been okay since I’d been in the sunlight. I also hadn’t been visited in my sleep by any vamps, so I took that as a good sign as well.
Now what should I do? I could go back into the barn and search Patricia for the keys to the Hummer. What if she wasn’t really out? What if she was only sleeping, and the moment I got out of the sunlight and into the darkness she’d grab me? I didn’t want to be under the power of the vampire again, but she was also my key to finding Justin. I debated briefly, but it wasn’t worth the risk. Patricia still had enough control over me as it was and I didn’t want to give her the chance to gain more.
I only knew the general direction Justin had gone, but what were my options? I could wait for night and the vampires to wake up, or I could go try and find my brother on my own, on foot. Neither was a good option, but I didn’t think there was really much of a decision.
I hurried back to the Hummer and did a thorough search for supplies. I grabbed the small duffel bag and loaded it with the snacks and drinks that I had left. The Kevlar vest was heavy to wear, but I decided to leave it on anyway. Better to be safe I supposed, even though it would only prevent bullets. I also left the gun and knife in place, not that they’d do me any good. My instincts always told me to run, but the gun would at least make people think twice before messing with me. That was my hope anyway.
I looped the duffel bag around my shoulders and carried it slung across my back. I marched quickly around the house and the barn, heading in the direction Jin had been dragging me and Patricia had indicated my brother was travelling. I hiked through a field until I came to a forested area with thick blackberry bushes making the way nearly impassable. I found a narrow animal trail and made my way through, my clothes getting caught repeatedly on the blackberry thorns. The berries had died already, so I didn’t have any to munch on as I pushed my way through.
Trees that had been sparse before began to thicken, and I soon found myself in an old forest. I glanced behind me, but could no longer see the house or the barn. I had attempted to travel in a straight line, but the trails had twisted and turned already numerous times and I wondered if I was going the right way. Justin had taken me hiking with him numerous times, but he had always guided the way. He’d also always carried a GPS or a compass at the very least. I had nothing but an animal trail and a desire to find my brother before the vampires found me. That may have been good motivation, but it didn’t improve my navigation skills any.
I continued to wander on, stopping periodically to take a drink of water or nibble on the jerky and granola I still had in my bag. The sun had long since passed its midpoint in the sky when I finally came out on a dirt road. I wasn’t sure if it was an actual road or a driveway, but it was a sign of civilization either way. A fence with a hotwire across the top ran along the far side of the road, barring entry into the vast field. I walked onto the road, looking at the tire tracks visible. The tracks looked clean and new to my eyes, and I took hope that they would lead me in the right direction.
I stopped briefly to eat the last of my beef jerky and rest. I didn’t have much food remaining in my bag, but the jerky helped stop the growling in my stomach. After finishing off the jerky I rifled through the bag, finding only a candy bar and a granola bar remaining. I took out the candy bar and ate that as I started walking down the road.
Travel was much easier and quicker when I didn’t have to zigzag through blackberry bushes or climb over downed trees. I followed the road up and down hills and around bends. I could see cows in the field to my right and the promise of humans urged me on faster. I topped another crest and came to a fork in the road. The left fork angled up into a dark, forested area, while the right fork ran along the edge of the fenced field. The tire tracks led into the forested area, but every instinct in me urged me to go right, toward what was surely civilization.
Indecision shook me as I looked from one path to the other. Had I been a stronger or more confident person, I’d have surely taken the path to the left. But I was not confident. I was scared and confused and wanted nothing more than to see another human, and the large forest to the left was far too dark for my liking. I turned toward the right, following the well-kept road that ran along the field of cows. After what must have been only 15 minutes I began to smell smoke. I hurried down the road faster and spotted a small blue house in the distance, with a trail of smoke coming from the chimney.
I wanted to run to the house, but my exhausted body could only move at a quick walk. An old green pickup truck was parked beside the house and I had a moment of indecision as I walked up to the porch. I had just placed my foot on the first step of the porch when the front door opened and an old man walked out, holding a shotgun leveled at my chest.
“Please, don’t shoot,” I said, holding up my arms and backing down the step. Maybe I should have taken off the gun and vest before I got this close to the house. That probably would have been a smarter way to go. On the other hand, if he shot me at least I was wearing a bullet-proof vest.
The old man wore a tattered red flannel shirt, blue jeans complete with suspenders and mud-covered work boots. What remaining gray hair he had stuck up at odd angles and a pair of wire-rimmed glasses hung off the bridge of his overly large nose. He sized me up, holding the shotgun steady. A woman came up behind him, wearing a pale blue shirt covered with tiny white flowers. Her long graying brown hair hung in a braid over one shoulder. She smiled down at me and placed a hand on the old man’s arm, lowering the shotgun to the ground.
I blew out a breath of relief and slowly lowered my arms, careful to make no sudden movements. “Who are you? What are you doing here?” the old man asked in a clipped tone.
“My name is Isabella. I’m looking for my brother,” I replied. The sun was beginning to set and I felt a shiver of fear. The vampires would be out soon. “Has anyone come by recently?”
“This is all our property,” he replied, pointing with the shotgun toward the field of cows. “No one comes here.”
“I heard a truck last night,” the woman said and the old man hushed her, turning around to whisper angrily at her.
The woman shook her head and pushed past the old man, stepping onto the porch. “Phil was asleep, but something had woken me up in the middle of the night. I got up to get a drink of water and I heard what sounded like a truck crashing. I looked outside and swear I saw headlights way off yonder,” she replied, pointing back toward the fork in the road. “I figured maybe someone finally bought the old place up the road.”
“There was no truck,” the old man, Phil, stated. “I took a walk down there this morning, and didn’t see nothing. No sign of any truck crash either. I tell you, you was dreaming, woman.”
“So there’s a house that way?” I asked, pointing back toward the fork in the road.
“The house is about two mile
s down the road, where it splits,” the woman replied.
I turned to Phil. “Did you go down to the house?”
Phil shook his head. “No, I didn’t go down to the house. And I don’t suggest you do either. If your brother is missing you just march into town and go report it to the police. They can search the house. Probably it was just some young kids partying anyway.”
“I’ll take you to the house,” the woman said, and Phil grabbed her arm.
“What’s gotten into you, woman? You’re not taking her to that house, and that’s final. If she is fool enough to go, then that’s her own problem.”
“Isabella,” I heard Patricia’s voice in my head and I shivered suddenly. She was awake and the sun was almost set. I wondered how long it would take Patricia to find me. Hopefully she couldn’t control me from a distance.
The woman spoke again and I turned my attention back to her. “I’ll take you to the house.”
“Damn it, Elsie, no!” Phil said again, yanking on the woman’s arm. “Get back in the house.”
Elsie shook off Phil’s hand and smacked him hard across the face. I winced at the sound and backed up a couple more steps. Phil cautiously put a hand to his reddened cheek, his eyes wide in surprise. Elsie turned her back on him and walked down the porch steps to me. “I’ll take you to the house,” she said again.
Elsie walked over and climbed into the truck, starting it a moment later. I looked from the truck to Phil. Tears swam in the old man’s eyes, and my heart ached for him. “Why don’t you want her to take me to the house?” I asked softly.
He shook his head, turning away from me to wipe at his eyes. “If you want to go, go, but leave my wife out of it.”
“Please, tell me why,” I urged him again.
He turned back to me, the rim of his eyes red. “The place is haunted, if you believe those tales.”
