Finding Them

Chapter 17: I Knew I Was A Monster

Mera

Lun walked ahead of us. Pretending to be fine but I could hear his heart beating. Faster than ever. I couldn't tell if he was scared or excited by the vision. The walls seemed tighter than before. Closer. My breathing was sharp but quiet. I could handle this. I could do this. We meet dead end again. A face laughing at us. Wrong way it seemed shout. I don't know how long we have been down here. I would have said only hours but I am hungry. My mouth was dry and my vision slightly red

"We need to stop" I called to the others

"Why?" Elryria asked jumping to face me "Don't tell me you want to spend more time than necessary down here?"

"No, that is not what I want" I said "But if we don't stop and eat something we will collapse."

"We just ate" Lun said his foot tapping on the ground

"No, we didn't. Our time is out down here but I know that we haven't eaten" I said trying to explain myself

"Well if our time is out you could be wrong" Elryria sneered

"I'm not wrong" I insisted

"How do you know?"

"Because I am thirsty!" my voice echoed and I have to take a moment to calm my breathing down "And my vision is tinted. It only gets like this when I haven't.....eaten in awhile. Which means while it feels like it's only been a little while since I've eaten it actually been longer"

"So drink your fucking blood" Lun spat "We don't need to stop for that"

"You don't understand" I yelled "I only get like this if I haven't had blood in days! Which means you haven't eaten in days or had any water!"

"And?" Elryria said rolling her eyes

"Are you two not listening?! You need to eat something or you will die before we even make it to the middle!"

"Alright worry wart" Lun huffed "We will eat something, if it means you will shut up" He pulled a piece of bread out and rips it in half. One half for him, one for Elryria. Water came next. The moment they start eating they seem to realise how hungry they are. I let out a  sigh of relief before pulling my...blood out. Only three left. I gulped taking one and shoving the rest away. My body craved it and tried to down the whole thing. No. I won't let it. Slowly, so slowly I sipped. Once it was gone the vial fell the ground breaking into a million tiny pieces. My hand shaked and I have to count my breaths. Luckily no one but Noka noticed my blunder.

"Are you okay?" she whispered to me. I nodded and she gives me a look

"I'm fine, don't worry" I smiled convincingly and she headbutted my cheek.

"You guys ready?" I asked to my companions

"Yes, and I feel way better" Elryria said stretching her hands up "How'd you know we needed to eat? I mean don't you always want blood?"

"No, and before you ask Lun, vampires aren't constantly hungry either" I said sighing "My vision tints red when I am starving and when I eat. Sometimes when blood is around too but that's probably because I don't drink a lot"

"Why not? I mean vampires do it all the time, so why do you care?"

"You wouldn't..." I sighed "It's hard to explain"

"And what? You don't trust us?"

"Once we are all out of here, I'll tell you. Okay?" I lifted my hand and fixed my bow "Until then, let's get a move on"

"Okay, Princess" Elryria said bowing while smirking at me "Why don't you lead the way?" I rolled my eyes and pushed past her. The corridors continued, seemingly endless. The lights were starting to bug my eyes and I knew we should probably sleep but I can't even suggest it. It's one thing eating in here, another thing sleeping here. The walls morphed into trees again with flowers growing off of them. Their sickly sweet scent filled my nose and I sneezed. Three times