Darkening Days

Chapter 16: From Bad to Worse

I got what I wanted; it's finally morning now, but I haven't slept a wink. Plus, has anything really changed? The morning has probably brought nothing but a new day, not the old Derrick.

Nearly brain-dead from my lack of sleep, I rose from my sitting position on my bed, and, dragging my feet, went out to the kitchen, wanting to seek comfort in a cup of coffee.

After making myself coffee, I sat down at the round dining room table, holding the cup in my folded hands, staring at the round clock on the wall.

6:30. Did the sun really rise this early? I never knew.

I thought little more than this. Nothing about Derrick popped into my head; I just lifted my cup up to my lips, took a sip, brought it down on the table, lifted it up, took a sip, brought it down on the table, repeated it all with a blank mind, until my mind started to boot up again like a computer and thoughts began pouring in.

And when all the thoughts came pouring in, they came pouring in en masse, overwhelming me. Hundreds of thoughts, hundreds of worries, mostly about Derrick.

I broke down. My parents must have heard me, for they came rushing down the hall and were by my side in a matter of seconds.

"What's wrong, sweetie?" My mother asked in a concerned, yet confused, voice, rubbing my back tenderly with one hand and stroking my long hair with the other. My father was standing next to her, also seeming confused, but saying nothing.

They have no idea what's going on.

I got a hold of myself, and, after taking a deep, choked breath inwards, managed, "It's nothing, mom. Just a bad dream. Can't get it out of my head."

My mother looked at me with her probing eyes, those eyes that have done this so many times when I was a small girl, and accepted my explanation. "Alright, honey. It's only a dream. Want to talk about it?"

"No, mom. I'm fine. I'll just...get ready for school."

With that, I got up, sliding out from my chair and lightly shrugging off my mother's touch, and dragged myself back to my room without another word. Then I remembered:

I can't go to school today. I'm stuck with Derrick, and Hana told me that I can't let him out in public. So I can't go out in public.

I brought my hand to my face, trying to think about what to do now. I guess I'll have to stay home...but for how long? How long is this going to go on?

A little voice in my head is saying Give in.

But I know that I can't give in. It's true- it would be easier to do that, but...I just can't.

As soon as my parents had left for work, not without checking in on me one last time to make sure that I had calmed down, I started for my door, rushed down the hallway, threw open the door to the basement, and tromped down the stairs to Derrick's bedside.

"Get up. You're taking me to Lance. NOW." I ordered to the sleeping monster.

He woke up, and a grin creeped upon his face. "Good-morning to you, too, honey."

"Did you hear what I just said?"

"Of course I did. And I'm glad you've come to your senses."

What does he mean, I've come to my senses?

"Just get up. We're leaving."

I followed behind Derrick as he made his way down a worn-down path winding through a forest. It's overgrown with weeds, and the canopy is full of bare branches, twisting like fingers around us. There's something very eerie about this place- no wonder, it's the home of vampires.