by Ross, P. A.
By the afternoon break, I couldn’t face people’s gazes and bullying, and hid out of sight. Scarlett and Mary found me hiding out in the art room, in amongst the paints and paper away from all the crowds and potential bullies. Thoughts of using the needle kept coming back to the forefront of my mind.
I hunched over the desk frantically scribbling on a piece of paper in a trance of anger and fear.
“Revenge, revenge, revenge.”
I had written again and again on a piece of paper in ever decreasing circles from the outside towards the centre. In the middle, I had drawn a picture of Subject X as I remembered her that night, hair flowing, red lips with her hands stretched out towards me offering one of the red needles in her hand.
Scarlett took tentative steps over, and I felt relieved and happy that she still wanted to talk with me. I needed a friend.
“Scarlett, I am so sorry,” I blurted out before any stupid ideas stopped me from apologising.
“I know, you were just angry,” she replied walking over and sat beside me, placing a comforting arm around my shoulders.
I leaned into her body, placed my arms around her and felt comforted by her warmth. Maybe it would be okay after all, as long as I had someone who cared and was willing to stand by me. I never did for Giles but Scarlett might for me. I felt terribly guilty for what had happened to Giles and his family.
My phone beeped again and a picture message arrived. Intrigued, I opened it up. It took a while to work it out but I could make out red hair and some flesh and numerous bare limbs entwined. My brain finally made sense of the images, and I saw a picture of Scarlett lying beneath Barry. Both semi-naked, with Barry turned towards the camera grinning, and Scarlett flat on her back expressionless. A message came with the photo.
“I told you she was one of ours.”
I sat up sharply and thrust the phone into her lap.
“What’s this?”
She stared at the picture for an age, and then her body recoiled as the moment of recognition took place. Mary grabbed the phone from her, deleted it quickly and put the phone down on the table.
“What is it?” I asked again already fearing the answer.
“It was an accident.”
“Oh he just fell on you.”
“No, I was angry with you. I got drunk, and I went over to have a go at them. But he was nice. They told me they thought you were someone else. They never meant it to go so far. If only you hadn’t hit them and run away,” she said. “I must have had too much to drink to build up the courage. I don’t remember much else,” she continued.
“So you slept with him,” I stated bluntly, the anger in me growing every second.
Scarlett got up and walked away avoiding eye contact.
“Sorry, I never meant to; it just sort of happened,” she said.
“Bitch,” I shouted, jumping up, thrusting the chair to the floor and pushing her hard in the back. She began stumbling forward, her head whipping back, and feet tripping over one another. She crashed forward and bashed her face into the wall. Scarlett crumpled onto the floor, and her hands grabbed her nose as Mary rushed over and put her arm around her. She turned around and a trickle of blood ran out her nose from beneath her hands and stained her lips red.
“You bastard,” Mary screamed.
Scarlett looked at me in horror, tears in her beautiful light green eyes welled up and then they burst out rolling down her face. Tears of pain and anger? They would have been easier to cope with. The look on her face, I couldn’t work it out. Was it surprise? Shock! No, her eyes glazed over and mouth rolled down; it was heartbreak.
Mary lifted her to her feet and helped her out of the room. They didn’t look back. Scarlett was sobbing, and Mary offering words of comfort as she helped her weave through the tables and chairs and out of the room.
“I’m sorry,” I shouted in vain but I knew it was pointless.
Maybe I was violent person after all, and I sat alone to confront the rest of the nightmare by myself.
I stared back down at the picture I had been drawing of Subject X trying to think of what to do next. The words revenge circling her started spinning anti-clockwise around the outside of the picture, going faster and faster until they merged in a blur of spinning letters, then the hand holding the needle rose out of the page offering its solution. I blinked a few times to shake it off, and the picture of her smiled baring her razor sharp fangs and eyes flickered to a fiery red. I shook my head and looked back again; the picture had returned to normal.
CHAPTER 9
Anger consumed my every thought. I’d lost everything and realised what I’d done to Giles not just on that day but all those days afterwards when I didn’t talk to him. I tried to justify it all this time that I had done the right thing, looked away on that day and looked away every day afterwards as well. My mind raged, and images of Subject X flooded back.
“Blood and anger,” she had spoken into my mind.
I remembered the image of her, in her true form, a terrifyingly beautiful vampiric rage with blood red eyes, contorting muscles and snarling fangs, smashing at the mirror that separated us. My mind was made up. I had nowhere else to turn. No one else who could help. I didn’t want to be scared anymore. I didn’t want to be a victim anymore. Things had to change. The formula would either kill me, or offer me vengeance. I didn’t want to end up like Giles trying to kill myself. At least by taking the formula it would give me a chance. Either way this would end tonight.
I knew where the gang hung out at night, a park in the centre of town. Scarlett and Mary had told me to avoid it at night. After what had happened with Scarlett, I left college early and ran home to prepare myself. I removed the needle from the suitcase, placed it on top of my stereo and turned on some loud and dark music. The needle vibrated slightly as the bass shook the room, and I grabbed a change of clothes from my wardrobe. I took off the clothes I had recently bought when I tried to be more like Scarlett. When I tried to fit in with the crowd and tried to be more fashionable. I dragged out of the corner of the wardrobe the dark and dingy clothes I had worn on that first day at college. I had returned to the same person when I had started college. Dirty frayed and ripped jeans, army boots, black t-shirt and an old beaten up black leather jacket. Then I realised I was actually better off as the person on the first day of college, life was much worse now that I had found love and been betrayed by her, and viciously beaten and humiliated and bullied at college by my peers. The music blared out into my room and the song, “Charlotte the Harlot,” came on. I sang along changing the words to, “Scarlett the Harlot.”
It started to get dark. I turned the music off, slipped the needle into my pocket and stormed downstairs. I slapped some peanut butter in between two slices of bread, as the sunlight faded through the kitchen window. I slipped out to the park, occasionally feeling my pocket for the needle and munching on the makeshift sandwich.
The park resided on the edge of a rough area, and I knew I could get into problems just being there, let alone looking for trouble. I walked along the pavement at the side of the road that ran along the edge of the park, and found a tree to hide behind. I leant behind it taking glimpses of them in the playground area. Scattered around the park I saw their bikes and skateboards they dumped on arrival. The playground area was situated right at the back next to a pocket of trees and fence running all the way down the back. Houses on either side of the park enclosed it in, with just the route across the grass to the pavement and road as the only way in and out.
Their dark hooded figures wandered about as the car headlights occasionally lit them up. They sprawled out around the playground equipment. Two on the swings, one sat at the bottom of the slide, two on the table facing the swings and one walking about talking on his mobile phone. They occasionally got up, passed around the drinks and smokes, threw empty cans against the railings and flicked out cigarettes onto the grass. Their faces lit up from using their phones and the beeping of text messages bounced about to o
ne another. Barry sat on the swings, rocking back and forth, as he dragged on a cigarette and his mountain bike leaned against the playground railings. The others congregated around him and deferred to his presence, making it easy to spot him. They were all there and most importantly the ones who attacked me, Barry, John and Tony. All the time my hand rolled the needle up and down my palm. I knew I only had to plunge it into my arm, and I might have my revenge. I could storm across that park fangs snarling and rip their bodies apart.
Yet, I still couldn’t do it. I had always looked the other way and hid from trouble. Anger and rage had forced me here, but in the cold night air and the sight of the brutal gang members my real nature took over. I was a coward. The truth was the fear of it killing me held me back. I didn’t know for sure what would happen if I took the injection. It might not even be the formula but some other drug. Even if it did work, was I really ready to be a murderer?
Just then, Barry finished his cigarette and jumped over the railing onto his bike. He cycled off out of the park, and I dipped behind the tree. I turned back and watched for a couple more minutes, hoping he would return when my phone beeped.
“Call her,” the message read from Mary.
I wanted to apologise for hurting Scarlett but the image of her with Barry still burnt my eyes. Every time I closed them, it stared back at me taunting and laughing. It was worse than the mugging, the bruises were healing but her betrayal would never leave me. I realised how Giles felt about me when I betrayed him. Even if I could speak to him now, I doubt he would want to. I looked up from the phone and Tony and John started heading towards me. Those two again! Tony with his long stride as his clothes flapped about unable to cling to his slight frame. John walked muscularly with intent and his face scowled as he pumped his large muscles. Time to go. Maybe in a few days I could forget what Scarlett had done and try to rebuild our relationship. I could forgive her and hoped one day Giles would forgive me. I would hand the needles back to Dad and try and forget ever seeing the beautiful vampire.
I turned to walk off but I walked straight into someone standing behind me. Barry’s big face grinned as he head-butted me on my bruised nose. I clutched my hands up to protect it as fresh blood ran out, and I staggered backwards from the pain. Hands grabbed at my arms twisting them around my back and turning the wrists over themselves. Pain shot through my arms, and Tony and John, manhandled me around and frog marched me back to the playground area where the rest eagerly awaited.
Why did I come here? I should have known it would go wrong. Why couldn’t I just take the injection and take my revenge?
Barry followed on behind occasionally smacking the back of my head.
“Watching us boy, do you want more? I have got some plans for you if you enjoy making films.”
Tony and John threw me into the waiting clutches of the rest of the gang.
“Tie him,” Barry commanded.
They pushed me down onto the floor, in amongst the cigarette ends and empty drinks cans, and pushed my back onto the railings. They used their belts to tie my arms to the metal railings. I felt the damp floor soaking into my trousers; it stunk of beer and urine. I felt nauseous, wet and scared. It was going to be another beating, but probably even worse than before.
Barry walked in front of me, crouched down and looked me straight in the eye.
“What do you think you’re up to?” he asked, slapping me around the side of the head.
The rest of the gang laughed as a pack.
“Why you here?” he asked again more aggressively than before.
He punched my chest and the air burst out leaving me breathless.
“I don’t know,” I answered pathetically, not able to give a proper answer.
“Consequences new boy. You date my girlfriend and hang about watching me and then things get worse.”
He punched again.
“Scarlett was fun. Isn’t that right boys?”
The rest started laughing again and making vulgar gestures with imaginary women.
“Check him.”
Andy rummaged through my pockets throwing its contents in front of me. Wallet, phone, keys and needle. They grabbed some of the stuff each and Barry picked up the needle.
“What the hell is this for?”
I just looked at him not sure what to say. Barry nodded at Andy and he punched me in the face, and my head banged off the railings.
“What … is … it … for,” Barry said again but slowly this time as if I didn’t understand the question.
In my bruised and dazed state, I said the first thing that came to mind.
“Diabetes,” I slurred out of my damaged mouth as my head spun.
Barry threw it to the floor and went to stamp on it.
“NO,” I shouted desperately cling on to my only hope of surviving this ordeal.
Barry laughed, “Why?”
“If I don’t get my injection I could die.”
Barry paused with his foot above the needle.
“It would be murder; that’s a big step,” I said.
Barry stopped grinning, put his foot back down away from the needle, picked it up and walked over.
The next words just blurted out.
“I need to take it in two hours’ time not now. It would work but would make me feel sick.” I lied.
“Like what.”
“Stomach ache and loss of bodily control,” I added for extra effect appealing to his nasty side.
“What, wet yourself?” he laughed.
“Eeer, no, no,” I looked away sheepishly with my best acting.
“You do don’t you. Well, get ready, here comes the doctor,” he said kneeling in front of me, while the others pulled up the sleeve of my coat and shirt.
I suddenly changed my mind, scared of the consequences either way. Death by unknown formula or turning into a murderous vampire. I shouted at them to stop.
“No, No, please don’t do it; you will regret it,” I shouted but they laughed not understanding my protests were for their own protection.
Barry stabbed the needle in without ceremony and then pushed the formula into my blood stream. He stood up and stepped back with his hand clutched around his phone ready to film again. The fluid mixed in with my blood and the changes started, the genetic formula reassembling my DNA into its new code. Explosions fired across my body, and I shook violently as my muscles and flesh contorted as they spasmed into their new alignment. My heart raced trying to keep the blood flow running to my altering body, feeding it the fuel to change. The puncture mark on my arm shrivelled away, and the flesh glowed red with a burning heat that flooded across my entire body. The violent shaking made it look like I was having a fit. The gang started laughing again, and Barry’s face erupted into a malicious grin, excited to be capturing it for future enjoyment. My heart thumped harder and harder into my chest. I breathed heavily trying to pump the oxygen into my muscles, as they struggled to hold onto their shape. It became impossible to keep going, as the momentum tore my muscles and flesh apart. Pain seared through my limbs and I strained at my bonds, muscles tensed and red with blood gushing as it carried the catalyst from the formula. I began hyperventilating, trying desperately to ride out each surge of pain and fear. But my heart seized, spasmed and pain shot down my left-hand side. My chest felt like it was collapsing and crushing my heart, imploding in on itself. I screamed as the burning flesh and heart attack took their toll, and everything went dark. My eye lids dropped shut. My senses shut down totally and I drifted off into a black silent world. Peace at last. The formula had solved my problems. I was dead. I didn’t feel pain anymore or had to worry about revenge or love.
It didn’t last. My heart hit back stronger, and my lungs burst back to life. I sucked in massive gulps of air, bringing my oxygen levels back to normal, refuelling my body. My eyes remained closed but I heard multiple hearts beating heavily around me. My eyelids flashed open, and the gang stared at me curiously. Heat signals from their bodies glowed as orange waves
around their silhouettes and a yellow light pulsed from their hearts flashing as a signal in the dark. I narrowed my eyes to focus in the gloom, and the individual spots and hairs on their faces stood out. Andy’s face in fresh cuts, with fragments of red nail varnish stuck in them. The smell of cheap aftershave, tobacco and alcohol assaulted my nostrils. Bad breath and body odour poured out from Tony, chips and cigarettes on Andy. Their hormones, testosterone I guessed, drifted out from their bodies in the background of the other odours. I sensed excited and violent thoughts in their minds. Hurry up, Barry thought. Images of violence raced across Andy’s mind, pictures of his fist in my face. The coldness of the air, the damp grass and the pain from my bruises had dissipated. I tested the leather bonds around my arms and knew they would easily break if required.
“Revenge, revenge, my darling,” Subject X’s strange voice and image returned to me.
Her raven hair flew around, arms stretched out, lips and cheeks bloodied red. The mist poured out of the wet ground and began swirling around me, sending tingling sparks through my arms and legs, shooting through my spine and firing my desire. The musky smelled of the mist washed through my nose, soaking its receptors and triggering my sexual hormones. I felt connected to her again. I want to get up and go and find her, and embrace her as a vampire.
“Come on do something; that was boring,” Barry shouted.
Barry cursed in frustration.
“Kick him,” he shouted again.
Tony stepped across quickly and snapped a long powerful kick into my stomach.
I snapped out of the trance quickly, and the vampire in me took charge. Everything changed. The supernatural aggression ignited my muscles into rage across my whole body. My eyes burnt as they transformed to fiery red with black splits in the middle. My fangs stabbed through my mouth and pierced the air. I began snarling and growling at them from the pit of my stomach and the bass of the low growl resonated through my body and shook the ground around us. I knew what they were experiencing, as I had been through it only days before when she launched herself at the glass. Their mouths wide open and bodies transfixed to the spot unable to comprehend the transformation in front of them as fear drown their bodies. The belts and railings tore apart as I freed myself from my leather bondage. I stood up and tensed all my muscles together, and roared a wave of stale air and spit that blasted across their faces forcing them backwards. Only Barry had the sense to have already turned and run away. The rest were meat.
