The Second Chance (Blood Of Eden Fanfiction)

Chapter 5: Abigail

I awake a few hours before dusk. I peer out the window in my small room and note that it isn't snowing. The sun is shining and I could feel it's somewhat warm rays venturing through the window.

Gathering my things, I decide to go outside. I had checked the house for food the night before and once again, I came up with nothing. I just hope I can make my rations last long enough to get to New Covington. And that's only with the small hope that they actually feed me.

Sighing, I decide to walk down the street for a bit. I have a couple hours until Jackal will be awake, so I might as well make the most of it. I stare at the empty houses around me, debating whether or not I should go in and check for food, but I already know that it will be a lost cause. I can tell because every door is broken down or wide open. Some porches are even smeared with blood. And judging by the amount of trash covering the road, this small town had been picked clean a very long time ago.

I keep walking until I make it out of the small neighborhood. My eyes are drawn to the large building that sits in the middle of the town and I make my way towards it. Large, white letters spell out something on the massive blue wall, but I don't know what they say. I can only read a little bit. I had been learning before the men had captured me, but I hadn't gotten very far. At least I can write a little. It comes in handy sometimes.

Empty husks of cars and baskets with wheels cover the lot, making it hard to navigate. Eventually, I make it to the entrance. Giant glass doors cover part of the wall and I peer through them. More of those wheel baskets litter the entrance and I notice several counters off to the side. One of the doors is smashed in, so I enter through there, making sure not to step on any of the glass, considering I am barefoot.

I squint in the darkness of the building, an eerie quiet causing me to almost turn around. But instead, my eyes are drawn to a strip of paper. On this strip of paper, there are several yellow circles with smiley faces drawn on them. I peel one off with a smile on my own face, but I am instantly confused with it sticks to my fingers.

I have a moment of panic as I swing my arm around, trying to get it off of me. Shaking my head, I decide to venture farther into the building. To one side there are several counters with old, moldy food. To the other side there seem to be racks of clothing and - thank God - shoes.

Smiling, I am instantly drawn to a pair of white shoes. Looking down at my bleeding and bruised feet, I grab a pair of socks and quickly put them and the shoes on. I stand up, already feeling a ton better about myself. I decide to walk around the clothing section for a bit. I find warmer clothing and even a larger backpack.

Once I'm finished grooming myself, I walk down some more isles. Soaps and other unidentifiable things cover shelves and I take my time to smell the soap bottles. I find a weird bottle and I smell it. What seems to be a button sits on the top so I decide to press it. When I do this, liquid sprays out of it, covering my face. I cough on the smell and it takes me a moment to be able to breathe again. When I'm done dying, I decide to spray some more - and by some, I mean a lot - on me. It's not really like taking a bath, but at least I don't smell anymore.

After wondering around the store for a few more minutes, I decide to make my way to the food section. I'm not really expecting to find much. If there is anything, it will most likely be like the front. Moldy and rotting fruits and vegetables. I take a few moments to travel through this area, and just as I was expecting, I was right. I do, however, notice the several rodents scurrying around. At least they don't mind the well over expired food.

Sighing, I turn to leave, but instantly stop when I hear a rustle behind me. I slowly turn and have to stop myself from shrieking when I notice the pale figure coming out of a side door. It hasn't seen me yet, but when it does - and it will - I'm as good as dead.

I take a deep breath to calm my pounding heart, knowing that it will probably take note of it at any moment. I start to slowly back up, but I curse as trip over an empty can. I fall to the ground, reaching out to catch myself. I grab onto some metal racks, but it's no use. They tumble down with me, crashing to the ground with several loud bangs.

I don't have much time to react when I hear the loud screech of the rabid. I grab for one the metal shelves and swing at the creature. It smacks its face with a loud cracking sound, but it instantly turns back to me with a snarl.

Next thing I know, it's on top of me, nothing between us but the metal rack. Its mouth is wide open, its large fangs inches from tearing my face apart. I scream, knowing that it was probably useless. Why did I have to venture so far away? Were some new clothes really worth it?

I scream again as the rabids sharp claws begin digging into my shoulders, piercing the flesh. I feel my own blood begin to pour out of my right shoulder and I lose all feeling. My vision is starting to go black and it won't be long before I can no longer fight this thing. But next thing I know, the rabid is being torn off of me, another vicious snarl echoing in the darkness. I look up to see Jackal with his ax out. He brings it down on the rabids neck, severing its head from its shoulders.

When it's over, I lay there in pain. I breath comes out in heavy gasps and I'm fighting to stay awake. Jackal's face appears over me and I notice that he almost looks concerned.

"You're bleeding," he murmurs and I can't help but laugh.

"No shit," I say. "Are we going to do anything about that?"

Before I know what is happening, Jackal is taking me into his arms and lifting me up. "The scent of your blood with cause more rabids to show up. I suggest we get leaving."

He continues talking after that, but I find it harder and harder to focus. I close my eyes, losing consciousness. The only feeling left is the cold, hard arms wrapped around my body.

***

I awake later that night. I'm stretched out on the ground and as I sit up, a sharp pain lanced through my shoulder. I wince and grab onto it, confused at the papery feeling. I look down to see that it's clean and bandaged. Jackal must have taken care of it while I was asleep.

I slowly stand up, my mind spinning. Had I really lost more blood than when Jackal had fed on me? Because I feel awful and dizzy.

I look around and stop when my eyes land on Jackal, his back to me. His dark silhouette looks out at the town behind us, unmoving. A statue in the night. I can't help but think how beautiful he is in that moment. Deep in thought, his entire being as quiet as the night.

I think about what it must like to be a vampire for not the first time since meeting Jackal. Not having to breathe or take breaks to constantly eat or drink water. Not to mention never feeling cold.

But I can't imagine myself as a vampire. Not having a heart beat or warm skin. It would just feel off to me. I hope I never become a monster.

I walk up to Jackal, his eyes never leaving the road. I stand next to him and look out at the town and notice a few figures moving around.

"There's a lot out there, huh?"

He nods slowly, his eyes in a glare. "It's completely infested."

I look down knowing that I had screwed up. "How is your shoulder?"

"It hurts but I'll live," I say, the pain reminding me of my mistake.

"You shouldn't have wandered off like that," he says. "You're lucky I woke in time."

I nod. "I know," I say, feeling guilty. "I'm sorry. It won't happen again."

"Good," he says. "Because next time I won't be so generous."

I glare at him now, his words offending me. "You keep saying things like that. Telling me how you'll leave me behind. But if you really wanted to, I feel like you would have by now. Instead, you stop when I ask to stop. You search for food with me. And I can see the bloodlust in your eyes, and yet, you have only fed from me once."

He looks away from me, obviously not wanting to meet my eyes. "I don't have time for this," he says. "New Covington isn't far."