Vampitch

Malaysia

Ohk so I like just realized that you, the readers, may not know how to pronounce Alajah's name so. . . (Ah-LYE-juh) and if that didn't quite do it for you just think Elijah but with an A.

Malaysia

The next morning, I woke up wrapped in Trevor’s arms. But something wasn’t right about it. I turned away from the wall, now facing Trevor, who slept silently with his golden tendrils covering his face. I slipped out of his bed, careful not to wake him and walked out.

Across from his bedroom door, Robert stood propped up against the wall with a knowing smile. “Have fun last night,” he said the smirk never leaving his face.

“Don’t know what you’re talking about,” I said trying to pretend that I didn’t just walk out of Trevor’s room. “I’m off to get dressed,” I said walking away.

Before I could get far Robert grabbed my arm pulling me close. With my body pressed up against his, he whispered, “Be careful. There is danger here. You must leave if not now, soon.”

“What the hell are you talking about,” I responded wishing Robert would go back to being the quiet kid who didn’t speak, at least then he wasn’t creepy.

“I know you’ve seen the signs. Weird things happening,” he waited for me to confirm his suspicions, “the fangs, unexplainable gifts, dreams, Trevor. This wasn’t supposed to happen yet. Something’s wrong.”

I couldn’t help it; the fright must’ve shown on my face. How did he know? How would anyone know? He took my expression as confirmation, “Be careful.” The only part I didn’t get was Trevor. What about Trevor?

Before I could ask the sound of someone clearing their throat caused Robert to step back, letting go of my arm. I stumbled, turning to face the sound of the noise.

“Go back to your rooms,” she said, she, being the woman who interrupted our conversation. She was short but slightly taller than The Leech. Her olive skin shone with a natural glow. Her eyes were a shockingly dark brown and even in the brightly lit hallway, I couldn’t distinguish iris from pupil.

I turned ready to be back in my room, and away from her. She felt . . . wrong. Something about her presence made me want to scream loud enough for the whole world to hear. Her gaze on my skin felt cold, freezing cold as if a prolonged stare would cause frostbite, or even worse. Her smile looked sinister, like she was planning someone’s demise and loving it, everything about her just screamed for me to run in the opposite direction. Everything was wrong.

“Not you,” she said causing Robert to stiffen. His gaze lingered on me as if silently saying careful, before he turned and entered his room. I turned back to face this nameless woman.

“Who are you and why haven’t I seen you before,” the woman asked.

“Um. My name’s Alajah, and I guess because I was probably sleeping when you got here. You are the one who’s taking over while Ms. Serpentine is out, right,” I said doing my best to sound normal, unaffected.

She smiled politely and the viciously cold air around her receded into nothingness. “Back to your room,” she said turning around and walking away. Odd.

Once I was back in the confines of my room, I slipped into some jeans and a t-shirt. Before I could sit down on the bed of my surprisingly empty room, there was a knock.

I ran to open the door and outside stood Trevor. He was dressed in jean shorts and a white v-neck, “You ready?”

“Ready for what,” I asked plopping down on my bottom bunk.

Sitting down beside me, he responded, “For some fun.”

***

An hour later me and Trevor were in the middle of nowhere or at least it seemed like it to me, but Trevor seemed to know where we were. I knew that we were on some hiking trail but how to get back not something I could figure out on my own.

Trevor stopped plopping down in the middle of a clearing.

“Where are we,” I asked wondering why it was so important that I see trees.

“Come,” he said calling me closer. I moved to stand over him. “Sit,” he said when he realized I wasn’t getting on the ground. Once I was sitting down in his lap with his arms securely around me, he spoke, “My uncle used to take me here when I was a kid. He said him and my dad used to do the same when they were younger.”

He was silent for a while and I thought I should break it, “What’d you do out here for all those years?”

“Normal stuff. I guess the stuff I’d do with my dad if he was here.”

As much as I wanted to feel for Trevor I couldn’t. It just didn’t make sense. I hadn’t known either of my parents and from the five years I spent out of Krystal Springs I had not one memory, and I didn’t mope that much. But I sat silently not wanting to complain, because that would make me just as bad as him, if not worse.

Five minutes passed before Trevor said anything, “What’s with you and Robert?”

Really? All that thinking and this is all he could come up with. “Nothing, absolutely nothing. He like just started talking, I’m not sure why me, but I guess I’m not complaining.”

“Hmm,” he murmured. “This is boring. Let’s go.”

I got up, following him back to his car. What was wrong with him? Who cared that Robert talks to me and only me? I didn’t know why I didn’t tell Trevor the whole truth, but I exactly didn’t feel bad about it. I mean, I had the right to secrets, even if they weren’t real secrets.

We stopped at Wendy’s for something to eat and went straight back to Krystal Springs. When we arrived, Robert stood outside waiting for me.

“Hmm,” Trevor said once again before leaving me and Robert outside.

Turning to Robert, I said, “What?”

“I figured out why you need to leave. It’s Malaysia. She’s what’s been setting you off,” he sounded excited about it.

“Malaysia?”

“You know The Leech’s sub,” he continued. “Did you feel her? She’s been following you for some time.”

“Robert,” I paused trying to figure out exactly how this should be said, “that makes no sense. Why would any sensible person follow me? I don’t have anything of value.”

“I thought about that too,” He looked me straight in my eyes, “She’s knows who you are. Who you really are.”

“That still doesn’t explain what I have that she wants,” I said still doubting his theory.

“Your parents. You are the only person in the world who has any ties to them. She wants something from them. And she’s gonna get it through you.”