After Solitude

Chapter 47

Zoey's POV

Poppy lies stiff on the cold parking lot while Desmond stands frozen in shock over her.

The gun falls from his trembling hand, clanking against the ground as he takes a step back.

Why is she not getting up?

My heart races as the sound of Desmond trying to talk fades out and is replaced with a high pitched ring.

A soft black mist encompasses the air around me as the ringing in my ears turn blood curdling.

Desmond's eyes widen as he shuffles quickly backwards, slipping as he tried to escape the black gas heading towards him.

Poppy is motionless. He shot her, he actually shot her.

"She came at me! I saw her eyes! She's a vampire, that's why she's protecting you!" He calls, trying to defend himself but failing.

"A normal bullet wouldn't have done this, what is it laced with?" My voice growls as I try to calm down my pattering heart with no avail.

His hand reaches for his cars handle, making the black mist thicken before he shows me his palms, "please, I would've never hurt her, I loved her." He pleads.

But you did hurt her.

"She won't die!" He forces out.

The smoke slightly clears, "when will she wake up?" I spit.

His chest heaves as he attempts to take a deep breath, "I...I don't know. I've never shot a vampire with a skull powder and crushed elderberry bullet before!"

Anger bubbles on my skin as I walk closer to Poppy, hearing her gurgle quietly.

"Listen, please, try to calm down. Your toxin could kill everyone in a twenty mile radius."

Images of the workers inside the mall and innocent people just living around the area pops into my head, reminding me that it's not just us.

I breathe in so deeply that I feel the cool air hits the bottom of my lungs.

The blackness of the air around me begins to pull inward, seemingly seeping back into my pores.

"Now I understand how Poppy didn't die spending all that time with you. She's already dead." Desmond states, slightly shocked that the woman he was dating was what he calls a monster.

"Death is the absence of life, she seems pretty alive to me. Well..." I trail for effect, "she did until you shot her!" I yell, releasing the continuous building anger.

He shows me his palms, "I know this won't make you any happier, but I meant to shoot you, not her."

The way his eyes meet mine show me he's not lying, even though he was right, I'm not any happier with this new found information.

I hear the thud of a car door closing.

Desmond is already speeding off by the time I look up at the noise.

If Poppy doesn't wake up, I'll kill him.

I kneel down to her motionless body, laying my hand on her arm. She doesn't feel cold. That's a good sign, right?

"Poppy?" I whisper, my voice scarcely cracking.

Silence.

Just call the guys, they'll know what to do.