17

32. Split

RAMI

***

I ran and ran until my lungs gave out. Screams and cries echoed throughout the field, but only two stood out to me. I heard them and my blood turned cold. The first one, I debated whether I was only imagining it or not. The second made my heart stop. That distinct cry rang and everyone in the field heard it. I wanted to run towards it, the agonizing scream, but I didn't have anymore energy left in me. Not only does the heat of the desert made it hell for any movement, but it also kills with dehydration. Lightheaded and out of breath, I was lucky enough not to pass out. Though, I could not move. Any soldier who found me, I shot with the tranquilizer gun until I ran out of dart bullets. But my luck extended as no more soldier appeared. After that heartbreaking scream, no soldiers were left in the field. I didn't even hear the loud, terrifying growl of the werewolf, either. I don't know what went down after the three of us split up. I don't know what happened to Idris. I don't know what happened with Drew. I don't know what happened with Lysander. Half of me doesn't want to find out, because I already had an idea, but I have to see.

Once I felt better, I began to walk. I followed trails of bloods that led me to fallen soldiers whose bodies are bitten or ripped open, torn to pieces. It was like the scattered bodies in Redwoods. Only this time, it wasn't done by a vampire, but the werewolf who I called my friend. Lysander would never do this. Or would he? I don't know. But this result just reminded me how dangerous he can be. Whatever those people did to him, it turned him in to something dark.

So far, no one is alive, making me feel more anxious.

I strolled faster until I see another body on the hot desert ground. The body was smoking. Literally, smoking. I felt my breathing stop as I got closer to it. My legs weakened, not wanting to see what I think I'm going to be seeing. I forced myself. A pool of blood surrounded him, and some dried blood on his dark suit that has a hole at its center. A hole, along with a wooden, sharp branch from a tree. A wooden stake pierced though his heart.

"No. No, no no. Not you. Especially not you." My voice cracked, tears pooling on my eyes. "You out of everyone! You can't. You stupid, reckless mosquito. You can't fucking go like this!" I touched his cold cheek that is slowly starting to flake off, little by little. He is getting burned by the sunlight but his skin is cold.

I drew my hand back and ran both of them over my face. How could this happen? We lost so much. We never got the werewolf back. I can't find Drew and Idris is dead. I didn't do my best. Maybe if I kept moving, I would have at least done one thing right. "Fuck!"

"Language, hobbit."

I shook my head vigorously. I'm going crazy. I'm hearing things. My glasses are smeared with tears, I can't see properly. The blurry blob of black is moving.

"Would you be a kind human and stand in front of me to block the sun? It's starting to feel like hell in here. I've been there and I don't want to go back yet." The blob is talking.

What the fuck.

I removed my glasses and stood in front of him, blinking the water from my eyes to get a clearer view. The vampire's eyes are open and they're pink. He is breathing. He's breathing heavily, but he's fucking alive. "What the fuck." My throat dried up but I suddenly felt lighter. I let out a sigh of relief before glaring at the smiling vampire looking up at me. "You fucking bastard! I thought you died!"

This smile only turned into that smirk that makes me want to whack him. "Nice to know you care."

"Ugh. You're so annoying." I grunted, putting a hand over my aching chest.