hybrid on the run #wattys2018

Chapter 10. Frenzy

We wake up and I realize that town is still about 60 miles away. It will take us forever! "Group meeting! Look. This isn't going to work. You guys are great at this, but we're only making 15 miles a day. We still have 60 to go. There are three of us. Let's put our heads together and come up with a better solution." Colby looks up with what looks like an "ah-ha" moment.
"Well why don't we build another tree house?" I think about it. That's brilliant!
"Perfect! Okay. Colby, you start making some rope. Kate, you start finding tree limbs. We'll cut them down to make walls. We need lots of produce to build this thing. I suggest we get started."
We work on it for days slaving away night and day. We hardly ever rest, but it gets done. Colby keeps giving me these worried glances, then giving Kate the stink eye. I wonder what that's about. We finally get the house up and running. It has eight rooms: a kitchen, three bedrooms, a common room, and three spare rooms, just in case.
"Alright team. We've got a house built. Now we just have to put furniture. Let's start with the common room."
We climb up the tree and into house. We all walk to the common room, me with Colby, Kate a little ways behind. "Okay, first a couch. All in favor?" Kate doesn't say anything. Colby smiles at me and says
"Yea, that would be perfect."
"Then that's what we'll do."
I feel the familiar rush of energy through me, but a few seconds later, it dies out.
"My magic's not working."
Colby looks at me worried while Kate looks at Colby in fear. He speaks.
"I've been telling Kate for days that you needed food. She apparently hasn't been listening."
He's almost screaming and Kate is trying to back up without being noticed. Way too late.
"Kate, come here. Now."
She walks toward me, knowing that she's in trouble. I think to Colby, what should we do with her? He thinks back I don't know but we shouldn't do anything hasty. Tell her she doesn't get any food today. Well that's a good idea.
"We are not going to hurt you. Instead, for your mutiny, you do not receive any food for 3 days, being as that's how long Colby has been warning you. Anyway, I can't do magic if I'm weak. And since we can't trust you, Colby, could you pretty please come here?"
He walks over to me with the biggest smile ever. He's been waiting for this. He gets so close. He puts his hands in my back pockets and leans in close for a long kiss. My fangs extend in a smile and he thinks it's a turn on. He is so freaking cute. He bends his head at a familiar angle, and I plant cute little kisses on his neck before I go in. I bite into him, his blood making me crazy. I remember what he said. I drink fast and take about as much as others would. It takes much will power to release him. Like, a lot. I'm still incredibly hungry. I think to Colby you think I could get a little blood from Kate? He thinks back she owes you big. Between getting us into this mess and then not feeding you when you needed it the most, she owes you her life, and she will still owe you after she is dead. He's right.
"Kate, come here."
She walks up to the two of us and Colby takes his hands out of my pockets. He's weak. I'm pretty sure that my eyes are red. She's skittish, but she doesn't have a choice. Colby backs up, knowing what's going on. I crane my neck and latch onto her jugular. Here comes the frenzy. I drink fast, and I can tell it's hurting her. Good. She deserves this. She's made me cold-hearted. Her heart speeds up a lot, and then slowly declines. I release her when her heart is faint. She crawls away holding her neck, knowing that she had just been punished. I feel stronger, more alive. I feel the rush of energy once more and it too, is stronger. I conjure up a couch, and within minutes, all the furniture we need is right there in their own assigned rooms. It's all done. Both Colby and Kate go lay down in their rooms. My eyes still haven't changed back. The frenzy still hasn't left when they wake up. Colby is starting to worry about me. I hug him and hold him close, listening to the comforting sound of his heartbeat. I take in a deep, relaxing breath as I catch an intoxicating scent, and completely loose control. I leap from the kitchen window and fall quite a ways to the ground. I land on my feet and look around. I move silently as I make my way through the woods, following the scent. I feel like a puma, prowling through the jungle, searching for food. I am the predator, and that scent, that is the prey. I'm in hyperdrive. I come to a spot overlooking the road. Colby's brother, Dallon, is walking the road, backpack thrown over his shoulders. I take a few deep breaths and really concentrate. Slowly my original eye color comes back. I approach him slowly.
"Dallon? What are you doing here?"
"Running away. Looking for you and my brother. I figured I'd find you two out here. My dad's ticked me off for the last time."
"Okay. Do you have a place to stay?"
"Nope. I've got no where to go."
"It's gets dangerous out here at night. You wanna stay with us?"
"Yea. Just a question, how many people do you have out here?"
"Just me, your brother, a friend of ours, and now you."
"Well this should be fun."
"Then follow me."
He follows me back to the tree house, and is instantly taken aback. He follows me up the rope latter and in the door. Kate gives me a confused look, and Colby looks more scared than anything. Explanation time.
"Kate, this is Dallon, Colby's younger brother."
I turn to Colby.
"Your dad made him really mad and he decided to run for it. He thought he might find us out here, so he came looking. He didn't have a place to stay, and with those wolves out there, I couldn't just leave him out there over night."

Dallon is looking around and admiring all of the furniture. You can see what's going on in his head. Dallon is a very open book. 9 times of out 10, you can read his thoughts just by watching his face.
"Dallon, won't you follow me to your room? And if you're wondering about the house, I am a very gifted architect. We built this place in only a few days time. We don't have a lot of food, but if you have money, we can go to the gas station just down the road for some. We sort of left in a hurry. Anyway, you get all nice and settled in, while I go talk to your brother."
I drop him off at his room, and go back to speak with Colby.
"Look, I know that you may not like this, but babe, he would have been torn to shreds by the wolves out there. It's a full moon tonight. And I don't think the pack has noticed our being here yet."
"Babe, I'm not mad. I'm just concerned. We have to tell him the truth, but I'm not sure how. He's sensitive."