How Do I Love Thee?

Captured

It's dark. Too dark. Where am I? I couldn't breathe, it's musty. The air is damp. Where am I? I opened my eyes, more darkness. What happened? I see a small spot of light in front of me. I squint trying to see something more. What's going on? I hear a loud crack and then a burst of light. I squeeze my eyes shut against the sudden brightness.

I gasp and sit up straight. I felt my heart racing and my breathing ragged. I had never meant to sleep when Ian left, I hadn't wanted him to go, but he had needs that a couple bags of blood wouldn't fix. I swung my feet over the side of the bed and clutched my hand to my chest slowing my heart rate. It was only a dream. I could tell myself that a million times, but it wouldn't fix the fact that it had felt so real. I took two deep breaths and then stood. The sun had already set and Ian would be back soon. Carolina should already be home. I stepped out of my room into the dark hall.

"Carolina? Are you home?" I called out into the darkness. I waited for three long heart beats and there was no answer. She must be keeping everyone late again. I walked to the kitchen and got a glass of water, hoping it would calm my nerves. Every hair on my body was standing straight, the dream had me paranoid. I could have sworn that someone was in the dark watching me. But it was only a dream. I set the empty glass in the sink and turned to the hallway again. As I was leaving the kitchen I saw the front door open and a black figure stood there. Ian was home. "Ian? Thank god you're back. I was beginning to get paranoid." I took two steps toward him. My feet and heart stopped all at once. It wasn't Ian. It was thicker than Ian or any other man here.

A scream got caught in my throat and all that escaped was a small squeak. This wasn't good. Someone who was crazy enough to attack me within the community when everyone was not too far away to hear the attack was certainly someone crazy enough to kill me. I turned and ran to the back doors. It was still dark and my eyes had not yet adjusted. I ran blind. I could hear the man behind me. He wasn't running though, he was walking. Why? My foot hit a chair and I fell to the ground. I scrambled on the floor, trying to get to my feet. A warm hand latched around my ankle and pulled me back down, slamming my head into the tile. I kicked with my free leg, never connecting with anything. Change. That was my only option. I felt my body shaking and soon followed the ripping of clothes. Before I knew it, I was standing on all fours in front of this man. Not just any man. I could see clearly now, with my enhanced ability to see in the dark and with my eyes adjusted. This man was too thick to be any other man in the community except one.

Keith.

What was he doing? Why was he doing it? I couldn't wait to ask questions now. I lunged for him, but he quickly jumped away changing in the process as well. This was not good. Any time we were training I had only won maybe twice. But this was real. He was out for blood and I had a feeling he was holding back in the training field. I felt teeth tear through muscle and bone in my hind leg. I fell to the floor once again, howling in pain. The others would hear me and be here soon. But I knew Keith knew that as well. I heard a loud crack, felt the blood coming from the back of my skull, and then felt the pain. It was a mind numbing pain. The whole room began to spin and the few contents of my stomach began to rise. I involuntarily changed back and my breathing was ragged.

I looked up to Keith's face. "Why?" Was I could manage before it became too much and the room went black once again.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

I awoke feeling disoriented. I couldn't remember what had happened or where I was. I lifted my hand, hearing an odd clanking sound, to the sore spot on the back of my head. I felt something gritty in my hair and a knot on my head. That wasn't the only thing that hurt, I felt pains radiating through my left leg. Then everything can back to me. Keith. The attack. But I still had no clue where I was. I tried to stand, but I couldn't move my leg. The slightest movement and it brought tears to my eyes. It was definitely broken. I had to find out my surroundings though.