Blood Wake

Prologue

As the man throw his blade to me I felt warmth go through my body and an invisible shield stopped it.

The man took a step back and I could see the shield wasn't invisible but transparent. It had the form of a sphere.

The bubble was shining lightly. I touched it and it bent under my hand.

I tried to understand what was happening. Suddenly I sniffed the air. A scent of steel filled the air, and strangely my mouth watered at the idea of finding the origin. When my eyes found it my belly ached. It was coming from Sam, one of my colleague. His nose was bleeding.

A second man was trying to sooth it.

— Damn Jessie. You could have been more careful when opening the door.

— I was a bit in a hurry, he answered.

His eyes get back to me.

I watched around me trying to make sense of what was happening.

The blades and guns. The blood. The shield. The way I felt and was still feeling.

My thought went back to last night. And the pieces of the puzzle fell in place in my head. I did not need to be a genius to understand what was happening to me. I was becoming a monster, the same sort that assaulted me less than 24 hours ago. And instinct told me the rest: I wanyed to do part of was done to me. To anybody.

Then I tried to make eye contact with my attacker.

— How much time? I asked with a hoarse voice. Before I let go of the shield and attempt to the lives of my friends. Before I die by yours hands.

— I'm surprised you even lift your shield. So you talking to us is a wonder, said Jessie.

— So short? Then I have a dying wish.

I paused.

— Find the true responsible of my death. The one than did that to me. Find him and make him go through the same fate as me. Kill him before he can say goodbye to his loved ones. And I want him to know it. That he is going to die in a short moment and can't escape it. I also want him to have a faint idea of who is behind this. A faint silhouette like he is for me or vivid memories if you can.

The boys starred back at me.

— How can I be sure he is the one? Asked Jessie. You don't seem to remember much.

— Yeah. But I suppose I won't be the sole victim of this monster. And there must be some hint of his presence. Ask my friends were I was last night. I met him on my way home.

— You keep saying "him", remarked the other man.

— He is a man. At least I know that.

— How?

— Because he kept crashing himself on me. And with the promiscuity I could feel it.

— Feel?

— He was hard.

— Oh.

I saw a few of my friend flinch. Alexia lifted her head to me.

— Did...

But I cut her off, turning to Jessie. I did not want to talk about a complete stranger rubbing against me while feeding on my blood.

— I have another question sir.

— Ask.

— Can I lower my shield to allow you to end my life before I lose control?

He looked surprised and hurt by my question.

— I'm not really fond of killing someone who still have a grip on its conscience. But anyway I doubt you'll be able to shatter the sphere when you are still ignoring your hunger.

— And why that?

— It appeared because a part of you want to live and took control when danger have arisen. This part of you know I'm the threat. It won't let you crush your little hope of surviving.

— I can always try.

— Fine. But not here. Your friends and colleagues don't need to witness this.

I followed him to the exit. Before passing the door I turned back and watched my classmates.

— I just wanted to say thank you for the time we spend together. Too bad it stopped here.

I smiled at Alexia and my others friends.

— Be happy, that's my last wish to you.

I paused feeling tears in my eyes.

— Goodbye.

I left the room and the second man closed the door behind the three of us.

— We will send someone who will erase their memories of today. For them you will have disappeared the night of the attack.

I nodded, understanding why they would do that. It saddened me but it was better for my friends.

We went to an isolated place. My body was trembling slowly and I cough.

I turned to the men.

— I think it's going to be soon.

My own voice sounded rasped. I did not felt right.

I closed my eyes. Then I tried to ignore the fuzzy feeling and put all my mind on the shield. As my fingers became numb I started to feel like I was under a cover.

Without opening my eyes, I asked:

— Can you touch the shield, I think I can feel it.

Seconds later I sensed a poke on the cover.

I opened my eyes and snapped my head to Jessie who had he point of his sword against the bubble. I smiled sadly.

— I think I can control it.

I concentered on the place where the sword was in contact with the shield and imagined the cover being removed.

Nothing happened.

I narrowed my eyes and this time I dream of the cover melting.

I heard Jessie cry as he fall because the wall against which he was getting support for his weapon disappeared. He plunged his sword in my body. I felt the stinging pain and the warmth of my blood on my side.

— Thank you, I muttered.

Black spot clouded my vision. I felt cold in my fingertips. My body crumbled. The darkness surrounded me.

Before passing away I heard a deep voice near me. Yet it felt like it was far away.

— We can't lose her!

— Jessie move! I can't inject her if you are in the way.

Then all went black.