House of Blood

Chapter Twenty-Two

I push my hair out of my face. "Hi. You need something?" I asked. "Nah, but you should go before Hannibal sees you like this." He said, playing with my hair. I sigh. "I'm bored. I wanna do something.. I'm going outside." I said, going downstairs for some jeans and a pair of boots. "Going somewhere?" David asked from my doorway. "Just outside." I said, shrugging. He growled. "We can't go outside until it's dark." He reminded me. "I know. It's just for a few minutes. I'm tired of being stuck inside."I tried to pass him, kissing him on the cheek. He grabbed my shoulder, pulling me close. I look up at him. "Take. Your hand. Off of me." I growled, my hand on my knife. He noticed it, and let me go. "Alright, okay. Try not to get eaten by a snake." He said. I went back upstairs. 

I found a path through the forest, and followed it. I found the abandoned barn I had found and repaired with Norman and Stu. I thought I felt someone watching me, but shook it off- probably an animal. I went to check out the inside of the barn and how it was holding up after fixing it. There was a bird inside and it flew past my head as it left. A loud noise startled me and I jumped.

It was just my phone and now I feel dumb. I felt heat rush to my face as I answered. "Hello?" I say. "Hi- Where are you?" Billy asked. "I'm out at the barn, why?" I replied. "Your bat bitches are getting a bit rowdy, can you come back here and make them shut up." I laughed. "Sure.. Bat bitches?" I hung up and started on my way back. Through the trees, I saw a car. A couple guys were getting out. I crouch behind a bush as they came closer- They would see the road. And me. I made sure my knives were hidden but accessible, just in case. "Hey! Who are you? What are you doing here?" One yelled after me. I led them back to the house, running and hiding badly on purpose so they'd chase after me. It worked. Billy came outside. "What are you doing?" He yelled across the garden from the deck. "Being chased!" I yell back, then moved from the tree I was leaning against. He opened the door for me and let the guy that had followed me all the way back pass before locking the door. I led them downstairs where the Lost Boys were arguing over something dumb. The guy stopped at the door, which had closed and locked from the outside. He was stuck with us. I cross my arms at him. "Welcome back." Dwayne said, forgetting the argument he and David were having. Marko was distractedly playing a video game. "You brought food?" David whispered to me. I nod. The guy gave up banging on the door and came the rest of the way down. Marko dropped the video game, eyes turning yellow, fangs growing in. He hissed. The other three did the same and jumped on the guy. He was left a mangled mess on the floor. 

Dwayne wiped his face and hands off, and sat down next to me. Part of me knew I should be scared. He kissed my neck, making me shiver. "I have to go- Hannibal wanted something.." I said carefully. He shrugged and let me go. Hannibal was making beef stew. At least, I hoped it was beef. He looked up for a second. "Used me as an excuse to get away from them?" He asked. I nod. He rolled his eyes and made me help with dinner. "You alright?  You didn't get hurt at all?" He asked after a moment. "Huh? Oh, yeah, I'm fine." I said. "You've got blood-..." He reached over and wiped blood off of my neck. "I won't bother to ask if they had leftovers- Whatever they have is most likely torn up beyond recognition..." He started. I started playing 'Dead Valentine' by Hell Boulevard on loop through my headphones, pretending to be listening to Hannibal as he complained about how David didn't bother to clean up blood off the floor- No one wanted to clean up blood. "There's still someone out there.. Probably lost their car." I said, accidentally interrupting. "Well, go get them! You can't leave him out there, he could tell anyone were out here!" Hannibal said, shooing me out with his knife hand. I ran outside, turning off my music. I double checked my knives, put my phone back in my pocket, and started hunting.

I found him trying to set up a small campsite. "James, that you?" He called when I shifted the leaves aside, rustling the bush. He rolled his eyes and came to see. "Hey! You're that girl from yesterday." He said. "Where's James?" I stayed silent as he stepped closer. "There's no one here to find your body." I hissed, jumping up and putting him in a headlock, my hand over his mouth. He struggled as I fit a rope around his hands, and tied it around his neck. He stopped struggling as the rope tightened while he tried to get his hands loose. I grab his arm and drag him after me. He tried to kick me at one point. "You actually want me to kill you?" I hiss. He shook his head quickly. I led him into the kitchen, where Hannibal was taking the beef stew off the stove. "He looks alright." He decided, and had me tie him to a chair. I sat down with the others for dinner, staying quiet and listening to conversations they were having. "How is it?" Hannibal leaned over to ask. I nod. "Good." I reply. He returned to his conversation with Michael, which meant him watching Michael's hands as he signed and occasionally asking questions. I took my bowl in to the sink, and went back downstairs. Dwayne and David grabbed my arms.