"What do you mean, Luke isn't coming back?"
"He's dead," John said, looking away from Quentin. "D. E. A. D." He emphasized each letter before turning away and exiting the cave.
Did I make any mistakes? He found himself saying this every so often, worried that one time he was going to, and he would be responsible for everyone's deaths.
He shot the vampire twice. Left the vampire there. He didn't care whatever paranormal creature it was, it wasn't going to get up after that. John had to put that out of his mind before it drove him insane.
The running sound. He remembered the sound of someone fleeing, as if they didn't want to get caught. He wished he had a glimpse of the person, because there was a possibility they were together. Maybe Carmen and him are together.
He would have to ask her later. There was a lot of things he would have to do later, including the task of telling the whole group that there may be a pack of vampire after their blood.
A rustle caught his attention, and his left hand reached automatically to his pistol, but it never grabbed it. "Jesus, Sundae, don't—"
He stopped as he realized it wasn't Sundae, and in fact someone else. His hand stayed hovering over the pistol. "Who are you?" he asked hesitantly. This person could have used surprise to catch him off guard, so he decided he wasn't an immediate threat.
"Oh, thank God I found someone else," the boy said, rubbing his hair. His voice sounded strained, as if he hadn't had water for awhile. "Sometimes I thought I wasn't going to find anyone at all."
John decided to let his hand rest at his side. "Well, it's not just me. There are others."
At that prospect, the boy seemed to brighten. "The more, the better," he said. John couldn't help but to agree. It was surprising how much they had done over a single day.
"I want to join you guys," he finally finished. "Who's your leader?" His red animal hoodie went down to reveal shaggy brown hair.
"You're talking to him right now," John said.
<> <> <>
Nobody had really questioned him joining the group. That's what the message in the lighthouse was all about, anyway. John kept reaching into his pocket and rubbing the surface of the two pocket watches while he had told them how they found Carmen and Jake. Why did he even bother keeping the pocket watches, anyway? They couldn't tell time, and they were bound to fall out at some point, and the danger of someone asking about it was too high.
The group of now seven was settling into bed. Whoever gathered enough resourced for their own had one, when everyone else got the floor. Sundae being Sundae had made her own, and had invited Carmen on top since she was the only other girl.
John tossed once again, but knew sleep was far off. His sweater was discarded beside him, two pocket watches inside. He thought of taking one last check inside, and he shook his head with the thought of how ridiculous that was.
But he did it anyway.
Inside, the pockets were empty.
