What Meets The Eye

Chapter Four: I Hate Hospitals

I rolled around in bed for what seemed like hours. I turned on to my right side to check the clock. Its red digital numbers read: 4:06 A.M.

I flopped onto my back, staring at the ceiling.

I couldn't sleep. Not because of my abduction by Colton, or the fact that Damian was a vampire, or even finding out that I was the Chosen Mortal, but because I felt horrible about the way things ended with Damian.

I was irritated, to say the least. Not only at myself, but Damian as well. Yes, I felt horrible for letting the word, "freak" slip, but how could he expect me to be completely okay with him being a bloodsucking inhuman animal?

It wasn't that I was afraid of a vampire attacking me while I was sleeping, I knew that they couldn't get inside the house without an invite inside.

I tossed and turned onto my side, pulling the covers farther over me.

Go to sleep, Gwen. Forget about all of this.

I closed my eyes and tried to force myself to sleep. But melancholy and remorseful images of the conversation with Damian flashed through my mind.

I sat up in my bed, looking blankly at the empty wall in front of me. Taking a deep breath, I walked over to my bedroom window on the left. Pulling back the curtain, I peered at the forest where Damian had disappeared into.

My eyes fixed on a dark figure, looming in the shadows below a tree.

I squinted and focused my eyes, trying to determine if it was Damian.

However, his build was more muscular and larger than that of Damian's.

As he stepped out into the moonlight, I was just able to make out the demon-like smirk on his face.

I stumbled back in fear, carelessly running into my bedside table, and causing quite a lot of noise and commotion.

When I regained my balance and calmed myself down, I returned to the window and searched for the mystery figure.

It was too late; he was gone.

At that moment, someone came knocking at my bedroom door.

I jumped, releasing the curtain, and nearly stumbling back into my bedside table once again.

The door opened slowly, and my mom poked her head through.

Her face was makeup-less and her hair was flat and undone, but she was still the most beautiful woman I know.

"Hey, sweetie, you alright?" she asked softly, with tired and fatigued eyes.

"Hey, yeah, I'm fine. Just tripped. It's dark in here," I gave a small laugh.

"Is everything okay? What are you doing up at 4 A.M.?" she asked, entering through the door. She sat down on my bed and patted the spot next to her, inviting me to sit.

As I sat down, her arms enveloped me in a warm, loving hug. She squeezed me tightly and whispered in my ear, "What happened to your car?"

Shit. My car. It must still be at Colton's.

"Oh...uh... I left it at Quinn's. She gave me a ride home today."

That was part of the lie I told my parents last night when I walked through the door. I couldn't tell them about vampires, or Colton, or the fact that every vampire in the world would literally kill to have access to my blood.

So I came up with a story, saying that I was at Quinn's and we lost track of time. It wasn't a fail-proof story, but it was the only one I could come up with in two minutes.