The Curse

Chapter Seven- Seeing Kuroji

     I wake up to the smell of...blood, I think.
I had seemingly endless nightmares about Jephudach dying in my arms last night. Disappearing during a hug, melting to ash while walking beside me, foam coming out of her mouth and choking her to death.
The one thing all these dreams had in common was that in each dream my hands were tied behind my back by an invisible force. I...couldn't do anything.
Just thinking about last night makes my eyes water.
The girl that said she wouldn't leave...died in my arms.
"Uh...Mother...? What's that smell?" I mumble, trying to forget it as best as I can for now.
I stand up when she doesn't reply right away and walk into the kitchen.
Mom is squeezing the blood out of a squirrel.
"Lesson number one: A substitute for human blood is animal blood! There's little to no difference in nutrients. This will definitely come in handy in the future." she instructs.
I sigh, remembering last night, and fake a smile.
How long am I going to be able to hide what happened from her?
"Okay." I say, drinking the animal blood.
I am surprised. It tastes...almost identical.
There's no reason for me to dislike it, really. Especially if it will prevent killing more humans.
But for some reason...I find it hard not to grimace while drinking it.
I am realizing that...human blood...is almost like a drug. And I am starting to fear it will take time and effort to stop.
"Something wrong, honey?" she says, startling me.
"No...just tired." I smile.
Mom looks concerned, but doesn't question it.
"...Okay," she says. "I'm going to go bury this carcass."
Then she walks out.
Immediately, as if pulled by an invisible force, I scramble my way to my room.
It's dark under my bed because it is so low to the ground, so I dig my nails around the floor trying to find the hidden blood.
When I feel the bottle in my grasp, I almost shatter the glass I clench it so hard.
I'm on my knees and shaking. I even spilled a little.
Do I...really need it that badly now?
I gulp the whole bottle down in just a few seconds. I'm going to go crazy if I don't get more blood, but...I do not want to drain another human.
I run to the blood stand and trade in two Iris for another bottle of blood.
I run back to our new house and shove it into my backpack, along with some clothes. I realize I have to vent to someone, someone I can trust.
I am going to see Kuroji.
And if I feel as if I am about to freak out again, I can just drink from the bottle I packed.
I...was filled with so much last night that I should be able to control myself a little more today.
I run through the forest, remembering the markings Mom pointed out in case I needed to go back home for an emergency.

     Finally, I get to the door of my old home.
I hope the maid kept her promise, and that Kuroji is still at our house, safe and sound.
I knock.
The maid opens the door, looking like she is aggravated about something.
"Ah, Miss...Nobara, right?" she greets with a stiff smile.
"Yeah." I mutter, glancing behind her. I hope Kuroji's okay.
"He's in that room." she states, pointing to the living room.
I run in through the door and make a sharp turn to the right, entering the living room.
"Hey, Kuroji!" I can't help but smile when I see him.
"Hello?" Kuroji says, looking up from his bowl of cereal with a startled expression.
"Kuroji! You...you won't believe what happened." I sigh, my good mood starting to sour again remembering what I'm going to have to vent about.
I hope he understands...and I hope he doesn't see me as the monster I know I am now.
I walk to the couch he is sitting on, but he scoots away from me.
That's when I notice something is off about him.
"K...Kuroji...?" I stutter.
"Do I know you?" he replies.
I am not prepared to hear those words.
It is almost like a language I can't understand.
He doesn't...remember me...
No, this is a joke. It must be a joke...
"Kuroji? It's me. Nobara!" I say, grabbing him by the shoulders desperately.
He doesn't respond. He just looks like he's trying to remember a faint memory from his past.
"It's me! You have to remember! I'm your best friend!" I yell, my clenched hands shaking.
Before I realize it, I am crying.
"Well, m...maybe I saw you somewhere—" Kuroji stutters, but he doesn't get to finish.
I pull him into a hug and cry over his shoulder. "You have t...to remember me," I cry out while rubbing the tears out of my eyes. "You're the only friend I have left..."
I look up at him and he looks startled yet again...except this time, his eyes are fixed on mine with clarity.
"No...bara...? Nobara! What's wrong!?" Kuroji asks, rubbing his head.
The familiar expression in his eyes has returned.
"Kuroji!" I gasp, placing my hand on the side of his pale face.
"You said you didn't...r...remember me." I cry, staring into his eyes, relief flooding over me.
Kuroji's eyes are wide. And then he frowns.
"I...I've been getting worse, Nobara." he says, looking away.
All of a sudden it hits me, and I know what that means.
I have to stay with him.
Who else will help him remember?
But Mom will come get me. She knows where I'll probably be.
I...have to hide us.
"Kuroji, we have to go. Now!" I decide.
If Mom finds me, she'll take me back. She'll take me away from him.
She probably already knows about last night.
I tug at Kuroji's arm, imagining my mother sprinting toward our house as we speak.
"Why?" Kuroji asks, exasperated. "Living in a cave or something won't help me!"
"Look...I'm supposed to be at some vampire village and I'm not allowed to leave. But I can't stay there. Not forever. Not without you. You are...practically family! And...for me to never see you again...it would be too much to take on. Especially knowing your condition. Mom will come find me soon and take me back. I can't let that happen!" I pour out, breathless.
"I don't want you to leave me either...but don't you think you should listen to your mom?" he says, trying to think things through. "Everything she has ever done she's done because she cares about you."
I used to believe that...but lately I feel like I don't even know her anymore.
She has done so much to provoke me to doubt her.
She kept me from seeing Kuroji, who has been an honorary part of our family for years, when we were supposed to be looking after him.
I went out of control at the HeadMaster's palace because she took me there.
And...it's her fault in the first place that I am a vampire.
"But you'll forget me...or worse." I sigh, looking down.
Kuroji is unable to think of anything else to say, and neither can I.
Then, suddenly he grabs my hand.
"Let's go." he says.
"Really...?" I say, looking up at him.
"I just want you to be happy. You've been through enough stress lately to last anyone a lifetime. If running away is what you think is right, then...I'm sure your mom will understand." he says, grinning determinedly.
I smile and hug him, laughing.
"Thanks, Kuroji! Let's—!" but my words are interrupted by a creaking sound coming from the front door.
I look at Kuroji in shock.
His face stays firm like he knows what to do.
I hear footsteps.
I start to shiver.
"Kuroji, w...what will we do...?" I whisper to him.
He holds up a finger, signaling me to calm me down.
"Remember. You can run as fast as her now, right?" he reminds me.
I take a deep breath and nod.
"...Get ready." I say, grabbing his arm.
Then I run as fast as I can.

     I run through the house first, looking for a hiding space.
Hiding probably won't work, but it would give us an advantage if it does.
Plus...there is no way out besides the front door which is the one she is entering through.
I dash from room to room, trying to suppress the panic building up inside me.
I hear something.
I spin around to see a black blur zoom past the doorway of the room we're in.
But...wait.
Not even Mom can run that fast.
Only one vampire can run that fast...
The HeadMaster.
Sweat trickles down my face right away.
I take us into the nearest place...the closet.
I know he will probably find me, so I can at least try to keep Kuroji safe.
I start covering him with a few blankets lying on the ground, but he pulls them back off.
"Hey, calm down. Remember, it's just your mom, not some one who would actually—!" Kuroji whispers, but I cover his mouth with my hand.
That is exactly who is after us.
Someone very capable and very willing to harm us.
I hear his footsteps getting closer.
I am shaking, trying to make sure Kuroji is completely covered up.
The HeadMaster is the most powerful vampire alive.
I was told he can sense things and read minds...and that means he knows most certainly knows where I am. It is just a matter of time before—
"Stop hiding, Rosie!" the HeadMaster calls in his creepy, shrill voice.
I can't take this.
I can't just wait here for the HeadMaster to capture me and kill Kuroji.
I dash out of the closet, leaving Kuroji hidden.
"...Go away!" I yell at the HeadMaster, charging at him.
With the back of his hand, he easily knocks me to the floor.
I...didn't think he was that strong...
I get back up and wipe my bleeding lip.
He grins, and right when I pull out my pocket knife, he disappears.
Before I can register what's happening, I feel a breathtaking pain in my back.
I fall to the floor and when I look down at my stomach, I see the tip of a knife sticking up through it.
I fall to the floor.
In a daze, I turn around to see the HeadMaster crossing his arms, laughing at me.
No...this is not how it is going to end.
I surprise myself as I sit up and take the knife out of my back.
Screaming to fight the pain, I stand up and throw the knife straight at the HeadMaster.
He moves his head just in time to dodge it.
And then he does something I don't expect.
With a swipe of his hand he lifts me up with an invisible force.
I can't move. I can't breathe.
He throws me across the room without touching me.
I feel a stinging sensation in my head as warm liquid pours down my cheek into my mouth. It's...my blood...
Right before I lose consciousness, I hear Kuroji scream.
The HeadMaster...can control blood.