Midnight Crusade

Chapter 10

Guilt was something that sat heavy in the bottom of Kit's stomach. When they arrived at Kit's apartment, he was swift to bring her upstairs before anyone noticed the smell of blood wafting off of her. The woman needed a shower, and badly. Being covered in blood wasn't the smartest thing to do while being in an apartment complex full of supernatural creatures. So as soon as he got to his apartment, he led Vivian back towards his bedroom and through it to his bathroom. The woman surprisingly gave no protest as he dragged her towards his bedroom, but she also didn't seem completely there. Which made sense. She did just watch another one of her friends get attacked by a rabid.

He had gotten her clean towels, turned the shower on for her and was about to leave the bathroom when something tugged at his shirt. When he looked back, he saw it was Vivian that grabbed him, the fabric turning red in her fingers. "D-Don't... don't go... please..."

Confusion was the first thing that rattled through him at the woman's words. "I am just going to be in the living room, Vivian."

She then looked up to him, pleading with her eyes. "Please. I-I don't..."

That was all it took for Kit to understand. "I can sit by the door." He offered, and something flashed across Vivian's face. "With my back turned, of course."

"That would work." Vivian replied, her voice small and shy.

And so Kit found himself sitting on the bathroom floor by the door, staring at it while Vivian showered behind him. He could hear the water running off her body and hitting the tub, no doubt pink in color as it washed away the blood on her. Kit could tell she was using his body wash, as the scent of pine and mint filled the room and washed the scent of blood away.

When Vivian was done, Kit stood outside of the door and let Vivian dry herself off. "Let me grab you some clothes." He said, and quickly rifled around his room until he found a clean t-shirt and sweatpants she could wear. Handing it to her through the crack of the door, Kit went to sit on the bed and waited for the woman to exit his bathroom.

When she did, she was dressed in the clothes he gave her, wet hair against her back causing the shirt to dampen. Her face was clear of the blood that was smudged there, as was her arms were also clean. Even though she looked tired and worn, he couldn't help but notice how beautiful she was. The thought made something stir deep in his stomach.

"Where do I put the towels?" Vivian asked, her voice shy.

"I will take them." He said, moving off the bed and grabbing the towels from her hands. Kit wanted to comment on how clean she looked now, but figured he shouldn't say anything that might trigger the memory. So he just moved past her and hung the towel up over the shower rod.

"Kit?" Vivians voice asked, the man turning towards her. She stood in the doorway of the bathroom, steam collecting above her head. "I..." She began, but tears formed in her eyes, which made Kit move to her immediately.

"Vivian." He whispered out as he stood in front of, beginning to reach out but then stopping. He thought it would be better if he didn't touch her. Kit wasn't sure how she would respond to it right now. "What is it? Tell me."

The woman brought both hands up to her face as she let out a sob. "I-I can't stop seeing it." Vivian cried into her hands, the vampire's heart lurching from his chest.

Kit wanted to comfort her, wanted to reach out and take her in his arms. But he remembered the last time he hugged her and how absolutely still she was. He didn't want to cause her any more discomfort. Yet he still had to do something. So he reached a hand out and set it on her arm, fingers soft.

What happened next was completely unexpected, but the woman moved her hands from her face and latched onto Kit's shirt, burying her face in his chest. He stood frozen for a moment, the woman letting out a heart wrenching sob. Without thinking about it, the vampire wrapped his arms around her.