The Hand of Crimson

Chapter 11:A Guilty Conscience

The question bounced around my head the entire evening as I avoided my mom. I didn’t need her going around pissing me off to add to my problems. I considered not even texting Colin, but I knew if I did that, Jen would just message him my address anyway and I didn’t want him here at all. A wicked plan formed in my mind over the course of that evening. I didn’t want him round here. My mind clung onto that idea and brewed up an evil little plot. I didn’t want to do this, but Jen was right. I needed to eat.

I pulled out my phone and sent him a text, letting him know the address of the house he should come to. Then, when I knew my mom was busy with something else, I snuck out through the window. I didn’t bother trying to climb down since it seemed I had superhuman healing anyway. Ignoring the sickening crunch as my broken body hit the pavement, I hauled myself up and started into a run.

As I bolted through the blanket of darkness, my legs burned. My lungs filled with acid. I coughed and spluttered on my own acidic mucus. Fuck. Running like this was harder than I remembered. Must be something to with the lack of food. I didn’t think I was that bad, but maybe Jennifer was right. I must have been ravenous.

Slowing down and coming to a halt, I doubled over. Acid burned through my organs, and I spat out a sickening, black mucus. Grabbing the side of the rickety building for support, I entered in. It was an old, abandoned house. It was only a few streets away, but Jennifer had shown it to me a few years ago back in her emo phase. She’d loved old, abandoned buildings back then. She showed me a disused swimming pool at the same time. It was our little thing. Or one of our little things. A smile spread over my lips as I thought about those days. The fun we used to have… I could scarcely believe that this was it had turned into.

I let out a throaty chuckle into that deep, dark night. The stars above seemed to disappear, hiding under the thick blanket of darkness. Even they didn’t want to watch these atrocities. I didn’t blame them. Even I didn’t want to watch this. But I had to do it. I didn’t know if demons could starve to death, but it seemed like that’s what was going to happen if I didn’t do this.

The stairs creaked under my weight. Rats scurried from my fearful footsteps. I could hear the termites gnawing at the floorboards. My skin crawled as I made my way to the tiny room upstairs. It was the only room that was properly intact anymore, so I didn’t have much choice.

Hurriedly, I opened the drawer. Just as I thought. Candles. They were still in the drawer from when we came here together all those years ago. I laid them out and lit them one by one, hoping Colin wouldn’t come by. But at the same time, I hoped that he’d simply not show up or change his mind. It would be easier that way.

But, of course, he didn’t make it that easy. Why would he?

I heard footsteps creaking. They sounded heavy. Like they were clad in big boots or something. Definitely Colin.

I lit the last candle, blowing out the match. In the cover of shadows, I hid, lying in wait like a panther on the prowl.

“Hello, Colin.” I said as I walked out of my cover to find him in the room with me.
“Oh. Uh, hi, Needy.” He muttered, trying to hide the fact that he just jumped from my rather abrupt entrance. It wasn’t working. “Nice, um, nice place you got here.” I just smiled, rolling my eyes a little.
“Thanks. But I think we both know that’s not why you’re here.” I breathed in a low voice. I was going into full predator mode, trying to lure him in as much as I could. I could barely control it this time. Somehow, that made it scarier.
“N-no. I guess not. I hope I can get to know you better tonight, Needy.” He murmured shyly, clearly inexperienced with this kind of thing.
“I’m not sure about that, but I’ll certainly get to know you better. Inside and out.” I grinned wolfishly at him before moving toward him. I dragged my gaze up and down his body. God, he did look good. Like a spitted pig. Well, not quite, but he would be soon enough.