Blood

Chapter Twelve: Captive

I woke up in a cage, my mind foggy and my body aching. As my eyes adjusted to the dim light, I saw Emily's parents standing outside the cage, their faces expressionless.

I held the bars and tried to use my superhuman strength to break free but it didn't work. Whatever material these bars were made of they were definitely immune to vampiric strength.

"What's going on?" I demanded, trying to keep my voice steady. "Why am I here? What do you want from me?"

"You'll understand in due time," Emily's father replied, his voice cold and detached. "You're part of a bigger plan, Ethan. A plan that will change everything."

My anger rose, but before I could respond, Emily walked into the room. I glared at her, my eyes blazing with fury. I thought we were friends. I really liked her. I was even starting to develop feelings for her but now all I had for her in my heart was hatred. She sold me out to her parents. She has the opportunity to let me go but she decided to help them trap me. What plan were they even talking about?

Her parents exchanged a knowing glance, and Emily's mother spoke up. "You'll understand soon enough. Ethan, you're going to play a crucial role in our plan. And soon, you'll see the bigger picture."

"You won't get away with this. My dad will come for me." I threatened. "...and trust me. You won't like my dad when he's angry."

"Come for what? You?" Emily's father laughed. "You won't live long enough for him to come save you. Why would he come when there's nothing to save?"

"You didn't tell me he wasn't going to survive the process!" Emily looked at her father in shock.

I was confused. What process? What did they plan to do to me? And why did Emily behave like she wasn't a part of all this?

"I know we didn't tell you the full details of what was going to happen and for that we apologize but it's necessary." Emily's dad put his hand on her shoulder. "You understand, don't you?"

"Yes." Emily said dryly.

"That's my girl." Her dad replied. "Now come let's go for tea. Mom will be on the first guard duty."

"Guard from what? No one knows he's here." Emily's mom protested. "It'll be days before anyone finds out he's missing."

"Fine," Emily's dad said, trying to avoid an argument. "You can come with but I'll hold you responsible if he leaves."

"Trust me." Emily's mom smirked while looking at me. "He's not going anywhere."

As I pondered, I heard a faint noise from the roof. Then I saw a small hole being created by a finger. The finger cut a perfect circle before removing the piece that was cut out. Ava jumped in through the hole and landed on the floor.

This was the first time ever that I was genuinely happy to see my sister.

My anger boiled over. "You left me! You abandoned me! I thought we were a team, Ava! How could you just leave like that without informing me?"

"I'm sorry bro. I thought it'd be like those days that I would've leave you and you'll come running minutes after." Ava said. "You know I wouldn't actually leave if I knew you couldn't take them on right?"

Even though I hated to admit it, I knew she was right. We didn't always see eye to eye but she was my sister and she cared too much to just leave me to die.

"Yeah sure." I replied. "Just bust me out let's get the hell outta here."

But before we could continue, Emily's parents returned, a sly smile spreading across their faces.

"Ah, Ava," Emily's father said. "We've been expecting you. You're just in time to join us. Would you care for some dessert? We just finished eating dinner.."

Ava snarled, her fangs bared, and transformed into her full vampire state.

"It's a shame. We were just leaving." Ava replied. "Maybe next time?"

She launched herself at Emily's parents, but the dad just scoffed before pressing a remote that made Ava freeze in her tracks.

"No!" I shouted, horrified. "What have you done to her?"

Emily's mother smiled sweetly. "Just a little deviation from our main plan, Ethan. Don't worry, she'll be joining you soon enough."

And with that, they tossed Ava into the cage with me and left, the door clanging shut behind them.

I rushed to Ava's side, shaking her. "Ava, wake up! Please, Ava!"

But she didn't respond. I was alone, trapped, and scared. What did they plan to do to us? And how could I escape?

"You always find a way to drag me into trouble." Ava said.

"Ava! You're alright!" I hugged her tight.

"Alright! Alright! You can let go now before you break some of my internal organs."

"Oh sorry. So how do we get out of here?"

"I'm not sure. Can't we just break the door? Vampires have super strength."

"You really think I didn't try that already? I think the door is enchanted. We can't break through."

"Shit!" Ava started pacing back and forth in the cage mumbling to herself. "We can't turn to bats yet because we're too young. We can't dig out way out because it'll take too long and we'll get caught. I didn't come with explosives, could we make some? Is there anything in this cage that could help us?"

"Calm down Ava."

"Calm down?! We're about to die for goodness sake and vampires are supposed to live longer than this. Why did you have to make us spy on Emily?!"

"So it's my fault now?"

"Who's fault is it then?!"

"How about the girl that ran off without telling me? Or the girl that came on a rescue mission without backup or even the girl that didn't tell the centuries old vampires that their only son was captured. You saw that girl and you still have the guts to blame me?!"

"Stop." Emily said, it looked like she was watching us squabble through the darkness. "It's not your fault. It's mine."

"Yeah no kidding." I retorted back. "so what are you here for? To finish what you started? Are you here to kill us? I can't believe I was actually falling for you."

Emily came towards the door and put a key in the key hole. The door opened and we were free.

"W-why did you do that?"

"My parents told me that the process wouldn't kill you that's why I agreed to help them befriend you."

"What process?"

"There's no time to explain now. You have to leave."

"There'll be a lot of time to explain on our way out."

"Our...?" Emily asked. "Y-you'll allow me come with?"

"For sure. I think I was too quick to judge." I said. "Besides you have to explain what the hell is going on so we'll know where we stand. Let's go now that we have the chance. Your parents will know that you were the one that let us out so trust me, you're better off with us than with them."

"You'll die faster if you stay here but if you want a slow and painful death, you can come with. I'll grant your wish.."

"Shut up Ava."

"Ok let's go."

Ava gave Emily a boost and she leaped out through the hole she created in the roof. She jumped out through the hole and waited on the roof.

"What are you still waiting for? A royal invitation?"

"Just waiting to see if you'd leave me again."

"Hurry up before I change my mind."

I jumped up through the hole and we were all on the roof. We jumped down and ran towards the gate. It was not hard finding the gate because vampires are nocturnal. We feel more at home in the dark.

It'll be just a matter of time before they find out we're gone. My only wish is that we'll be long gone by then.