A Bloodborne Tragedy

Chapter 9

When he rode past Sho's house, he saw the broken window and feared the worst. Even though he knew very well the man could protect himself, his first thought was that he had gone and got himself killed. But still, he knocked and opened the door gently. What he saw was his house, so beautiful and bare, disgustingly torn apart. There was no way Sho could've been in this mess, it was no way to live. Though the man was strange, Daniel didn't think even he would live in this hazard. One step in and he heard it. A thump in the hallway he hadn't seen last time that brought him to a small bedroom. The windows light couldn't reach the hall very well, so when Daniel saw him, it was as if he was staring at another person. The clean man was in shabby, tattered clothes and his skin... it was deformed with slashes mending oddly.

"What are you doing here?" Sho croaked, his voice hoarse from disuse. His eyes were wide and he chewed his lips. He looked embarrassed, looking around wildly at his house and then Daniel. "You should leave." He said, breaking the silence. "What happened?" Daniel questioned after a short pause. "You said it yourself, I'm sick. A monster, if you would...I did this. All of it." Sho looked away and closed his eyes. "I really don't need you seeing me like this." He struggled, but eventually clawed his way to standing. Daniel could see the many scars all over his body now, he could see just how bad it was. It was disturbing, but the worst part was the lack of blood. How could anyone survive without blood? And how could the clearly open wounds be white flesh and nothing more. "No." Daniel replied, looking at Sho's uneasy expression. "I need answers. I met some crazy man... There's more than you tell me, and I need to know." He stood his ground. And though he was frightened, knowing that the man was terrifyingly strong, he wouldn't do anything to Daniel.

"What did he look like, what did he want?" Sho's tone in voice changed almost immediately. "Most importantly, did he hurt you or threaten to do so?" Sho said in a hurry. Daniel shook his head. "No, he was just... A creep. He was taller than you, white hair, not as long as yours, and wore a suit. Said you, well he described you. He said you worked for him." From Sho's reaction, he knew this wasn't good. Far from, but he was safe enough. The man didn't threaten him, and he hadn't followed him. But Sho looked terrified. He was trembling almost, staring directly At Daniel now. "He– Did he mention his name? Was he... looking for me?" Daniel nodded, not sure what he was supposed to look at in the uncomfortable conversation. "He didn't mention a name, now that I think about it, but he was looking for you. I told him I hadn't seen you, something seemed off about him." He explained.

With that explanation, Sho seemed to relax at least a little bit, but he still looked uneasy. "You really shouldn't be here..." he trailed off into nervous muttering. "With him so close... It's not safe anymore. He can't find you here or he'll–" Daniel cut him off. "Hey, I already told you. I'm not leaving until you tell me what I wanna know." He pointed, successfully quieting the man. "Now, for starters. Why the hell do you care so much about me?" Sho began trying to explain, but it was a mess of breathless stuttering. "Why do I care so much?" he repeated. "Well–" He began. He scratched at his arms absentmindedly as he stared into the mess in his hall. "It's... Well It's–" Daniel was beginning to get fed up with his lack of a reply when he finally said it. "It's a long story." He finished, but quickly added, "You wouldn't believe me."

Daniel was surprised. This man had a story, and explanation for all the strange things he'd done for Daniel, a complete stranger. And he thought Daniel wouldn't believe him? "If it means you'll tell me the truth, I'll listen. You know me, I want to know how." He took another look at the dirt and destroyed furniture. It had only been three weeks, and Sho made it look like a tornado had gone through his home. Sho looked utterly embarrassed to have Daniel seeing his worst, seeing what he could do. But Daniel didn't seem phased by it, a little put-off, but not too judgemental. He'd seen a lot of shit people could do, but Sho was different to him. They were connected in ways he didn't understand, and hopefully after this conversation, he would understand.

Sho took a deep breath and started out the talk bluntly. "For starters, I'm not who—what you think I am" He walked forward, past Daniel and into the sunlight where his skin shined. "Have you ever heard of the term 'Vampire'?" He asked slowly. Daniel followed him, taking a closer look at him. "You mean those stories of folk who drink blood?" He'd robbed the place of a group enthralled with the macabre who had books about creatures of the dark. Then it finally made sense why Sho ate the man, why he was so guarded about it, why he didn't want to tell him. "Oh. That makes sense." It wasn't exactly cannibalism, it was his nature. And though it still disgusted him, that's the life some people had to endure.

"You're a vampire. You eat... people. Thats–" Daniel trailed off, nudging a splintered chair leg with the tip of his boot. "I don't like it." Sho said. "I loathe having to kill people, but I must." He said, running his fingers through his hair, tugging through the tangles. "I only killed that man to protect you, he was about to kill you. I couldn't lose you." His voice cracked as he spoke, lowering in volume. Daniel nodded, looking at the tall man before him. "I get you were protecting me, but you don't know me. How would you lose me?" he said slowly, wording it very carefully.

Sho looked away for a moment, opening his mouth like he was about to say something but deciding against it at the last second. "How would you lose me?" Daniel repeated slower, gesturing for him to speak. He wanted him to say something, anything! But he didn't. He just breathed and shook his head. "It's a long story." Was what he finally said. The same thing he'd started out with. "Oh come on!" Daniel scoffed. "What is it? Have you been... stalking me? Are you a bounty hunter or something, trying to put me in jail?" he was exasperated. Sho was speechless, staring straight ahead at him with wide doe eyes. "No, of course not." He said after a pause. "It's just– It's... Complicated." Daniel frowned. He knew Sho would be vague again. It was just how he was. "Just spit it out. Please." He was tired of waiting for the explanation, he just wanted some sort of answer.

Sho bit his lip, taking a long time to reply. "I'm not sure you'd understand it... do you know what reincarnation is?" Daniel shook his head, somewhat confused. He'd read books, sure. Learned to read when he was young. But he'd never come across reincarnation. "It's when a person, their soul, is repurposed and brought back in another body." It was an entirely new concept to Daniel. A soul coming back after their death in a new body? He wondered if it happened to any of the poor saps he himself had killed. "I've never heard of that before. It's interesting, but why are you bringing it up now?"

"You are a reincarnation. I met you a century ago, and..." he stopped for a moment, taking a deep breath before continuing. "Well, you died. And I thought I'd never see you again. But here you are, undeniably you." Daniel took it all in. Sho knew him. But it wasn't him? It was him in his past life. But it was still him? Sho knew his past life, but not him. "This is... a lot. I'm gonna need a drink if I'm gonna ever understand this." He said quickly, trying to make sense of it. Then he looked at the mess they were both standing in, realizing sho had no shoes on. It must have been painful, but then again his arms were slashed too. Could vampires not feel pain, he wondered.

"Why don't we get a hotel room, some whiskey, you a bath. We can sit down and you can tell me just what you mean by that." Daniel suggested. Sho nodded slowly, following Daniel out of the ruined house and to the hotel. Sho was in shambles, and looked absolutely filthy. It would be better for both of them if he were to have a bath before the long conversation they were about to have. And as Sho took a long bath, paid for and insisted by Daniel, Daniel himself got prepared with his whiskey and cigarettes and waited in the room.

When Sho came back, not covered in dirt and wearing actual clothes once again, he started his explanation.

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Author's note:

I worked very hard in the factory to get you guys this chapter 😣😣 Owner 1 held me at gunpoint and forced me to write multiple times, but finally! We finished this chapter! -#2