Who Said Vampires Don't Exist? Well, I Did, Until Now

Chapter 31: Guilt

~~~I'm sorry its been a while guys, I have been incredibly busy with school and work. I managed to find some time to write in between classes, homework, and work.  Finally, I was able to finish this chapter. It may be a while until I can post the next chapter, but I will try my best to make it fast. Please enjoy and tell me what you think! P.S. I'm posting the new Twenty One Pilots cover of Cancer by My Chemical Romance. It has been eating at my mind for the past couple of days, and the melody has been an inspiration to me. I just really want to share it!~~~

Chapter 31

I felt sick to the stomach at the realization of Ali being in the truck the whole time. Even though it was only my guess, I was sure of it. Ron wanted time to 'do maintenance on the truck.' He wanted to keep Ali sedated and silent. There was no way a squirrel would get trapped in the bed.

It was Ali.

All that time, he was only a few feet away from me. If I had only been more observant, if I hadn't trusted Ron so readily, I could have saved him.

I always felt like Ron was my moral compass. Since I believed he was the only other human, I trusted him to give me good advice and to have a clear conscience. As it turned out, Ron lied and manipulated me more than anyone here. Even though he was trying to save me, I couldn't forgive him. Kidnapping Ali was taking it too far.

As I was about to shake Reuban awake and tell him my realization, I hesitated. Reuban would be furious. He'd want to leave the house right away and go get Ali. As selfish as it was, I didn't want him to leave. I didn't want him to leave me and face danger. Ron had the potential to kill him.

I shook these selfish thoughts away. I had to tell him; for Ali's sake.

"Reuban." I called out as I sat up and shook his shoulder. His head popped up immediately, and he looked around with sleepy alarmed eyes.

"Are you okay?" He asked in concern.

"No... I just figured something out, and I'm not okay."

"What is it?" He rubbed his eyes and took my right hand.

"There was a noise in the back of Ron's truck. He said a squirrel got trapped there, but I don't think so. I think it was Ali."

"What do you mean?" His voice was dangerously low.

"I think he was keeping Ali in the truck the whole time! It's all my fault, and he was right there! If I had only known..." I trailed off as my outburst brought tears fast to my eyes. I couldn't hold them back. "Ron only did it for me. If Ali gets hurt, it's all my fault. Oh God, not again."

It was too much; I put my face in my hands and let out a big sob. Sam died because of me, and now Ali would die too. Everything I touched turned to ruin.

"Jaime." Reuban pried my hands away from my soggy face. He quickly replaced them with his own. Both his cool hands sat on either side of my face, holding me in place. I couldn't stop my tears, and they cascaded down my cheeks and onto his hands. "Jaime, it's not your fault."

"It is though! It was probably for the best I was taken from my mother before I killed her too." Another sob escaped my lips, and I closed my eyes shut tight. I didn't want to see Reuban's compassionate blue eyes. I didn't deserve them.

"Jaime, look at me." I didn't move. "Jaime! It's not your fault; it's Ron's. He decided to kidnap Alicibiades, and he lied to you in the process. You aren't responsible for other people's actions. And anyways, Alicibiades isn't going to die. I'll save him."

Finally, I opened my eyes. Reuban gazed at me with the same empathy, and there was something else in his expression. Something I didn't recognize.

Seeing that I was much calmer, Reuban removed his hands from my face. I instantly felt the loss of his touch. Before I could lament for too long, Reuban pulled me into a tight embrace. His arms circled my shoulders and his chin rested in the crook of my neck. I only hesitated a moment before I wrapped my arms around his waist.