Game of the Vampires

Chapter 38:

Warning: This chapter contains bloody violence... (Song is "The Howling" by Within Temptation)

(P.O.V. Change)

I stared across her room; my eyes trained on only her as I fought between hope and self-loathing. A part of me questioned why I was so hell-bent on keeping her alive. The other side of me knew exactly why.

I had nearly kicked down the door when I found water seeping out from under the bathroom door. When I got in the room, I found her lifeless body under the water. Without thinking, I did the only thing that I hoped would keep her alive.

Now, as I watch her unmoving body, I am forced to ask myself if I made the right decision. I didn't want her to die. Was it selfish of me to not want her to die this way even though she was already destined to die?

Her pale figure slept in a sleep I was doubting she would ever wake from, but I still hoped. Her lips were a deep red against her translucent skin. Her eyes had dark circles under them. I couldn't help myself from touching her frozen skin, willing her to wake up.

I wanted to stay here until the very end, but I knew I couldn't stay. I covered her cold body with the comforter, pushing her stray hairs from her face. Pressing my lips against her forehead, I whispered, "Come back to me."

~~~~~~~~~~~~

(Airlia's P.O.V.)

Damp strands of hair clung to my face when I woke. My breaths were coming out in ragged gasps. Something hammered inside of me, but I couldn't distinguish what it was. So many sensations ran through me. The cold still clung to me like a blanket, but it hardly fazed me. Could the cold be a feeling of death...? Wait... death. I had died.

I pulled my legs up to my chest as fear shot through me. Why was I still here? Why was I still breathing? Pain shot through me like a bullet, forcing me to convulse. More memories imprinted themselves on my brain as I moaned in pain.

There was a booming knock at my door before a slim woman with red hair walked in. She had a sad smile as she greeted me. I sat up on the bed with tears in my eyes for reasons I couldn't understand.

"It's time to go," she whispered.

"W-what? Where are we going?" I asked, feeling panicky. What was happening? Why couldn't I remember what was happening?

It was on the tip of my tongue, burning to come out, but I couldn't think. The woman that seemed so familiar handed me a white gown and black boots.

"You have to get ready for the games," she said, turning away from me. "I'll be back to take you to the room."

My breathing started to hitch when she left. I didn't understand anything happening. Tears streamed down my face as I began to take off my clothes that I noticed had blood smeared on small places. A sob racked through me as I saw the crimson spot.

I pulled on the clothing and boots. I couldn't bring myself to care about my exposed stomach that resulted from the top stopping just above my diaphragm. I noticed a long piece of metal on the floor. It was rusted with something red. Aside from this, I found myself shoving it into my boot.

The woman returned to escort me away. We walked down endless halls that seemed familiar. I was led into a room filled with five others before the woman locked all of us inside.