Blood Ties

Accidental Part II

The scene in the bathroom was chaotic. David quickly assessed the situation, his mind racing as he realized what had transpired. He glanced at the lifeless body of Skull on the floor, the blood pooling beneath him, and felt a surge of protective fury. His instinct was to take care of Ava, but the reality of what had just happened hung heavy in the air.

"Stay here," he instructed, his voice firm but gentle. He turned to the others—Marko, Paul, and Dwayne—who had just entered. "We need to clean this up. Quickly."

Ava, still trembling, barely registered the rush of movement around her. Marko and Paul approached Skull's body, exchanging tense glances, while Dwayne took control of the situation, looking for a way to dispose of the evidence.

"Ava, can you hold it together for a minute?" Paul asked, concern etching his features.

She nodded, but the weight of what she'd done pressed down on her. The rush of adrenaline was fading, and the horror of the situation began to seep in. She could still taste the blood in her mouth, the rush of power mixed with overwhelming guilt.

David knelt beside her, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. "We'll take care of this, I promise. But we need you to breathe, okay? Just breathe."

With the brothers working quickly, they wrapped Skull's body in a large, discarded plastic sheet they found in the bathroom. It was a makeshift solution, but it would have to do. Paul and Marko took the lead, moving to gather cleaning supplies from nearby vendors while Dwayne covered the body.

"Let's get out of here before someone else comes in," Marko urged, his voice tense as he peered out the door, ensuring the coast was clear.

Ava remained rooted to the spot, her eyes fixated on the body, her heart racing. She felt like she was in a nightmare, one she couldn't wake up from. She had always been the fragile one, the one who needed protecting, and now she had crossed a line that felt irrevocable.

As her brothers worked, she took a moment to breathe deeply, trying to steady herself. But the sight of what had just happened lingered, a heavy weight on her heart. She had killed someone.

"David..." she whispered, her voice shaking. "What have I done?"

"I know, Ava," he said softly, concern flooding his eyes. "But you defended yourself. They would have hurt you. You did what you had to do." He squeezed her shoulder, trying to convey strength and support.

Once the body was concealed, the brothers quickly cleaned up the remnants of the struggle. They used paper towels to soak up the blood, scrubbing the tiles frantically until everything appeared as normal as possible. It was a hurried, almost robotic process, as they moved to erase the evidence of the violence that had just occurred.

Finally, with everything packed away and hidden, David turned back to Ava, who was still trembling, her eyes wide and haunted. "Let's get you home."

They walked back to the cave, the cool night air doing little to soothe Ava's frayed nerves. The streets felt different now—darker, more menacing—as if they were more aware of the danger lurking beneath the surface. She wanted to scream, to cry, to somehow release the turmoil inside her, but the sound caught in her throat.

As they approached the cave, Ava felt tears streaming down her cheeks. She stumbled forward, the weight of her actions crashing down on her like a tidal wave. Inside the cave, the familiar surroundings did little to comfort her; instead, they felt like a prison.

David led her to a secluded corner, where the soft glow of the moonlight filtered in through the entrance. He knelt beside her, pulling her into his arms as she sobbed. "It's okay. You're okay," he whispered, his voice steady and soothing, but the tremors of her cries betrayed her anguish.

"I can't believe I did that," Ava gasped between sobs. "I killed him, David. I killed him!"

"I know, Ava, I know," David said softly, holding her tightly. "But you were protecting yourself. You didn't want this."

She buried her face into his chest, feeling the warmth of his body against hers, seeking comfort in his presence. As her sobs began to subside, David gently pulled back to look her in the eyes.

"Let's get you cleaned up," he said, his voice tender. "You need to feel better. You need to take care of yourself right now."

With that, he bit into his own wrist, offering it to her. "Feed, Ava. It will help."

Ava hesitated for a moment, then took a deep breath. The blood was familiar and comforting, a lifeline in a moment of chaos. She leaned forward and bit into his wrist, drinking deeply, her body instinctively craving the comfort of his blood. The human taste faded, and with each swallow, she felt the nausea recede, the warmth of David's blood filling her with a sense of safety.

As she pulled away, the world felt a little less overwhelming, the weight of her actions slightly lighter. She leaned into David's embrace again, allowing the comfort of her brother's presence to wash over her.

"I'm sorry," she murmured, her voice muffled against him.

"There's nothing to apologize for," David whispered back, holding her close. "You're safe now. We'll figure this out together."

And for the first time that night, as she rested in her brother's arms, Ava allowed herself to believe that maybe, just maybe, she could find a way to move past this darkness.