This is it. He's going to die, and I'll be free.
At the last second, he moved, and I was suddenly pinned up against the wall, the silver dagger now in his hand. He pressed the blade to my throat, a sadistic grin creeping across his face.
"Oh, Reese...
A/N: I've noticed this chapter has more views than the others. DO NOT SKIP RIGHT TO THE END, YA LAZY BASTARDS!!! I've worked hard on this book and would appreciate it if YOU DIDN'T SKIP THE ENTIRE THING!!!!
Thank you for coming to my TEDTalk. Now go back to the beginning.
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A yell of surprise escaped me as Thomas' chest heaved up, gulping in air, his eyes flying open. Cedric must have closed them without my noticing.
"Thomas!" Hope rushed through me. He was still alive! I moved to hug him, but Cedric pulled me away, Thomas sliding off my lap and onto the sidewalk. Cedric sprang to his feet, yanking me up along with him. I cast him a sharp glare. "What was that for?"
He said nothing, his expression cold, horrified. He nodded in Thomas' direction, biting his lip. I followed his gaze, squinting as my eyes tried to adjust to the dark, moonless night. To help, Cedric flicked on the flashlight he must have brought with him, shining it in the direction of our little brother.
Thomas recoiled from the light, and I blanched at what I saw.
It looked like him, all right. Same dark hair, same dark blue eyes. He still looked like a younger version of Dad, like a more masculine version of me. But the way he held himself, coiled like a snake preparing to attack its prey? His every muscle tensed, as though he was about to burst into action at a moment's notice? That was new.
Oh, and the fangs that pierced his bottom lip, sending a thin trickle of blood dripping down his chin. I was pretty certain those hadn't been there before.
"Thomas?" I took a cautious step forward, pausing as Cedric's arm tightened around my wrist. He tilted his head, utterly silent. In the dead of night, in one of the more quiet parts of the city, you could hear the blood from his lip hitting the pavement. He didn't seem to notice. "Thomas, are you - "
"Reese," Cedric's voice was still calm, and eerie calm, one that spoke of approaching danger. "That's not Thomas."
But wasn't it? He still looked like my brother. I was sure that if he spoke, he still sounded like my brother. I wrenched my hand out of Cedric's grip and took another step closer. Thomas tracked the movement, looking curious. It was more of an animalistic curiosity, though, and something clicked inside of my head. Slowly, I met his eyes, my heart sinking at what I saw in there.
Hunger. Pure, wild, unrestrained hunger. His pupils were blown wide, staring at me like I was a juicy piece of steak or a cinnamon roll from Cinnabon or something. There was no recognition there. It was like he didn't know who I was.
Still, I had to do something. I couldn't just leave him out here - he was family, after all, and we were supposed to protect one another. Keep one another safe.
I'd already failed at that task twice. I would not fail again.
I held up my hands, showing that I held no weapon, no stake, nothing that could kill a vampire. I had a second stake stashed away in my hoodie, but I made no move to pull it out, for fear that I would spook him. "Thomas?" I spoke quietly, like I was talking to a wild animal. "It's me, Reese. Your big sister. Listen, we're going to help you, okay? You're still the same - "
