The Ninth: Sequel

Part 8. Blood runs bad

Dana walked deep into the darkness of West-end park. Icy tears ran down her face. There was a complete mess in her head and it was impossible to concentrate on a single thought. She was burning on the inside with disappointment and resentment.

She caught sight of a girl walking on the sidewalk towards her. In an instant, along with wild frustration, the desire to do something bad increased. They got real close.

"Excuse me..." Dana turned to the girl.

"Yes?" she took off her headphones.

Dana grabbed her hand and fixed her gaze directly into the depths of her eyes.

"Why are you walking alone in the park late at night?" she asked her rudely.

"For me... this is therapy," the girl answered in a frightened voice.

"Are you not afraid of who you might encounter here?"

"No."

"Is it helping you?"

"Yes..."

"So now you are gonna help me. I've been hurt a lot."

In the blink of an eye, Dana bit her, and having drunk exactly as much as she wanted, she stopped.

"Look at me. Go home and don't walk around here alone at night anymore. Who knows whether it will make me feel better or I'm gonna need more."

Having quickly healed her wound, Dana compelled her to leave immediately and just as quickly disappeared into the impenetrable, frosty darkness of cold January.

Nate suddenly smelled a fresh scent from deep within the park.

"Oh no, snowflake, what happened... What are you doing..."

Like lightning, he flew at a wild speed into the park. He stopped in the very darkness: moments ago, there was something here. It smelled very fresh to him. Shaking his head, he just continued on his way.

Nate had little idea where to go next. He didn't know the smell of Dana at all, but her recent moves were obvious by the insignificant drops of blood of the girl bitten by her that had fallen on the sidewalk. He started following them.

Soon he was already standing in front of Dana's house, but still didn't know where to go next, because he didn't know which apartment she lived in. He stood and slowly studied the windows of the house, and then in the window of the 4th floor, he suddenly saw a shadow standing in the darkness which in outline just did resemble Dana. Nate quickly hacked the entrance key and went up to the 4th floor. From the rustle coming from behind the door, he knew exactly now where she was.

"Dana? Are you there?" Nate asked without yanking on the door.

There were sobs in the silence, barely audible. She was crying.

"Tell me what happened? I can hear you crying and it doesn't feel good at all," he continued, "I saw the way you ran away. I knew right away that you don't run away from your own wedding like that. Well, as long as you don't run away with the person of your heart..."

Dana sobbed a little louder at those words.

"Open the door and invite me in, please. I can't really hear you hurt anymore. Open and I'll help you, you can tell me everything, I'll listen. Whatever it is."

Finally giving up, Dana literally crept up to the door and opened the lock.

"Come in."

Nate heard this immediately and yanked the door open. It was open indeed. He hurried inside.

"What was all of that for," Dana blurted out sobbing.

Nate sat her down on the couch and hugged her tightly.

"Hey, hey, it's okay, don't cry. What are you talking about? What happened there?"

"I saw Dean with that new girl... together..."

"What?! With Ellie? No, it can't be. It's literally impossible. He's with you. He just married you! What do you mean?"

"I mean it, Nate... I'm just saying what I saw. He was tucking her hair behind her ear, and she was holding his hand."

"No freaking way... This is terrible! Right on your wedding day. Damn it, I don't understand how they got together in the first place? This sounds like a very weird nonsense."

"I don't know. And I don't even want to know now. I just want to run away somewhere like right now. Far from here."

"Dana, maybe you should go back and discuss this with him? I'm not the best advisor now, but..."

"Do you hear me? No. I want to leave now," she grabbed his arm.

"Okay, I got it, I heard you."

Nate sat pondering.

"It's like an hour's drive from Endhill to Portland. Do you want to go to the town where I've lived for 170 years?"

"So you're from Oregon too?"

"No. I'm from Texas. Well, Darla and I are from a settlement that was where Dallas is situated now. But I fled to Portland as soon as I actively started living this new life. So, what do you say? We can leave right now."