Bloodlust (The Blood Series #1)

Chapter 7

Something feels very wrong about all this. Why the hell would Callum, a good kid from a good family, take his girlfriend to a shady bar like Hunter's Head? When I was little, we used to live around here. My dad spent all his Fridays here drinking. And sometimes Saturdays, Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays... Well, I think it's enough to say that I know the place. And I also know Andrea was in trouble the moment she walked through its filthy doorstep. 

I walk in, scanning the room. It looks exactly the same as I remember it. It's a dark room, lighted only by a few lamps that don't yet have a bullet hole in them. There's the bar, around it the same sad drunks. In the corner there's a billiard table and a couple of guys playing. The rest of the clients are scattered around the room, sitting on the mismatching chairs around the uneven tables. It's a place where criminals like to hang out and everyone knows it. I send another annoyed thought to Callum. What was he thinking? 

I try to call Andrea again but there's nothing, only a dial tone. Her phone has been turned off. Cold fear creeps into my chest. What is going on? 

I spot a familiar blonde head ahead of me and walk up to him. 

"Cal!" I yell.

He turns around, eyes bloodshot. "He-heyyy Halleyyy", he slurs. For crying out loud, he's totally out of it. It's Monday, six o'clock and Callum Winchester is drunk as a skunk. Great. 

I grab his chin and force him to look me in the eyes. "Where's Drea?" 

He seems surprised about the question. Then he slowly starts to think. I tighten my grip around his chin to speed up his thinking process and he winces. "She, uh, I think she went to the toilet", he mutters then. 

I let go of his chin but snap: "What the hell were you thinking, bringing her here?" 

Callum is so out of it, he barely knows I'm there. He's in no shape to be questioned. "I love Drea, she's so pretty. But I don't love you, Haley. You're mean." 

I scowl at him. "I can be a lot meaner, Callum Winchester. Don't push me."

He's wasted and high and God knows what else and will probably pass out any second so leaving him alone isn't the best idea but I can't drag him with me while I look for Drea. Therefore I sit him in a booth and say: "I'll go get Drea. Don't leave this booth. Do you hear me? Just stay here."

"What did I say? Mean", Callum mutters to himself as I leave to find Andrea. I should have known that she'd lock herself in the bathroom, it's what I'd do too if I had no way of getting out of a place like this. 

I circle around and finally spot a small hallway. It's filled with girls so I know somewhere there is a restroom. I ignore all the complaints, glares and attempts to make me trip while I make my way over to the front of the line. I knock on the door. "Drea? It's me, Haley."

The lock on the door rattles and Drea peaks her out. Her eyes are big and frightened. "Haley?" she whispers and by the hoarseness of her voice I realize she has been crying. Goddammit, Callum. You really screwed up this time.