Hunter

XXXIII

Jade screamed, pain lancing through her body like lightening.
All she could see was red. Painfully bright red that scorched her shoulder and eyes until she felt numb.
She fell onto her side, clutching her right shoulder and panting in pain. The world was spinning,, closing in on her like a spiraling shell. Her eyelids flickered.
Aric growled, feeling his eyes widen in anger and shock. His teeth smashed against each other, like he was chewing on them. It sent jitters down his body as his muscles tensed.
He turned suddenly, catching a vampire by surprise, and stabbing it through the heart. Vile, syrup-y blood spurt from its chest like a waterfall, drenching its shirt with it.
The vampire that had attacked Jade had moved back into the group, and Aric lunged forward, his eyes hungrily watching for it. He hardly noticed all the vampires falling around him from the stab wounds in their chests.
Jade watched, detached, as Aric pounced on the vampire, his teeth bared and gnashed together like mismatched jigsaw pieces.
It hurt so bad. It felt like a million burning hot needles were being pressed into her shoulder and twisted around. She tried to take in a deep breath, but it went in like a rattle.
Finally, after trying to breathe for a bit, Aric came over.
Jade looked at him through blurry vision, and he cursed. A thought drifted through her head groggily. "Didn't the vampire say something?" She murmured again,"Something about someone ordering them? To come here?"

Aric ignored her, not remembering anything of the sort. He stroked her hair back, pushing it back from her moist face.

He ripped part of his shirt off, wrapping it around her shoulder tightly. He pressed down, trying to stop the bleeding.

Jade gasped at the flash of pain, her eyes fogging up with tears. She shivered. She told herself she wouldn't be scared. But, here she was, fearing that the wolves, or those vampires would come back. But, she could swear they said something. " ' You think this is this it? We are only the pawns of someone else.' " She glanced at Aric to see if he heard her, but he was too focused on stopping the bleeding.

Aric wrapped another piece of cloth around her arm, so her shoulder wouldn't jostle or move. He wrapped a final piece of cloth around her arm, pressing down one last time. Jade gasped, the burst of pain making the tears finally flow.

He cursed again, bending down to slide his hands under her torso, lifting her onto the motorcycle he had summoned. He gently squeezed her hips, rubbing circles with his rough hands.
Jade cried out as her shoulder pained. Aric slipped her arms around his waist loosely, careful in placing her behind here.
He planted a kiss on her forehead, murmuring words she couldn't hear through the haze of pain.
He started the motorcycle, and Jade couldn't take the pain anymore.
She passed out.

Aric stopped in front of the bar, hiding Jade and the cycle in an alley way he could see at this angle.
He walked in briskly, sprinting to where the man was waiting. He had no time for polite gestures. He needed to help Jade, before something drastic happened.
"Quick, hand me the stuff."
The man obliged, throwing a vial.
Aric caught it as it whizzed towards his forehead, running back outside.
He was so glad her phone still worked. He wouldn't have been able to get this for her of it hadn't. That phone was his main connection to the others, and if Aric wanted Jade to stay alive for him, he'd need that connection.
He snorted at the irony of having something as ordinary as a phone throughout all this.
It almost reminded him of Jade, who was blissfully ignorant to all things monster. At least, she was.
He regretted everything she had been through. No one should have to take that type of anguish on their own. She was scared all the time now, he could see it in her eyes. She tried to hide it, but he saw the way she jumped at every little sound.
She needed Aric, the way Aric needed his family. Too bad they weren't here anymore.
His family had died right in front of his eyes when he was only 7. Aric remembered when he was in foster care, and he would brag about being able to do whatever he wanted since he didn't have parents. But it was that fact that he cried himself to sleep over every night.
His foot snapped on a piece of glass, startling him.
Aric broke away from his thoughts, kneeling down next to Jade on the motorcycle.
He tipped her head back, and she groaned in her sleep. Her lips were parted, and Aric gently shifted her neck.
He positioned the vial over her mouth, the clear liquid slipping down her her throat.
Jade coughed, spitting. She fell off the bike, on her knees and cursing. Her hands batted at her throat as she tried to hack up the liquid she had just drank.
"What the hell did I just drink? That freaking tastes like shit, like legit, tastes like shit," she spat.
Aric clapped on her back softly. "They're some painkillers. They'll dull the pain. But, after a while, you'll be a little delirious." He rubbed her back as she rubbed her throat.
Jade tried shrugging, but her shoulder pained. She winced instead. "Ok. But don't make me drink that again, please." She stared at the wall across from her, batting her eyelashes.
Aric nodded, and Jade shook her head suddenly. "Whoa..... I don't feel so good...." She staggered to her feet, groaning. "Ugh....." She slipped onto the motorcycle.
Aric frowned, sitting in front of her. His brow furrowed deeply, as he pulled his hair back into a short ponytail.
He was about to say something, but Jade interrupted. "If we have a motorcycle, can't we like, have a car?" She drawled. "Like, like seriously though."
Aric's frown deepened.
Why is she delirious now? Did I give her too much? She'll be all numb and dumb now. Or.... Maybe she's just not taking it well.
Jade spoke up again. "Can we please get a car? Cuz I'm not feelin like going on a motorcycle for who knows how long."
Aric sighed, pulling her off beside him. He gripped her limp hand, feeling the pulse in her fingers. Or maybe that was his own?
"Gimme a car," he said to the motorcycle.
Nothing happened.
"Gimme a car. Please."
Still nothing happened.
"It's saying this is enough for us," Aric mused. "I think."
Jade groaned, blinking slowly. "Like, for realsies?"
Aric sighed again. "Yes."
He managed to get her back on the motorcycle, and he slipped on in front of her.
Jade wrapped her arms around him tightly, muttering something about how muscle-y his stomach was.
Aric started the cycle, turning around towards the plaza.