Bite

I cackled. It was just too good. I wiped a little bit of premature saliva from my mouth and army-crawled about two feet over, close enough to smell Hailey's breath.

Her breath didn't smell bad, or anything, but her shoulder smelled even better. I licked my dry lips, smiled, and opened my jaws. My mind screamed at me to see reason—what are you doing? You're being an IDIOT! They'll kick you out! They'll shoot you! But I was driven by my desire to do something horrible, just this once.

I bit down in the soft flesh of her shoulder, as hard as I could. My teeth pierced her skin, and I gnawed agitatedly, feeling dissatisfied with my own effort. It was as if I wasn't doing a very good job and needed to be better.

She was stirring uncomfortably, and then her eyes popped open.

Oh, shit, I thought, I need to do this right before she screams. I bit down, even harder, shaking my head back and forth the way I've seen a dog do it with a chew toy. Then I clenched my teeth, and ripped skin right of the shoulder. That should do it, I thought, though I still felt as if I wasn't quite finished.

Hailey was screaming. Screaming in pain, bewilderment, fear.

Helen's blanket and cushion was right by our barricaded door (we had shoved the empty couch in front of it). She sat up, instantly alert, and smashed her palm into the light switch.

The white, florescent light burst over the scene, and everyone was awake, seeking the source. I must have looked a sight—awkward, I know—bent over Hailey's sleeping frame, my mouth bloodied, tendrils of skin and muscle hanging out of my teeth. But once they understood—they'd know—it wouldn't make much difference.

I hadn't even noticed the taste. It was surprising to me that I didn't feel repulsed. I expected it to taste gross—after all, she was raw. This was not a barbecue.

Everyone jumped to their feet, and with eerie speed, had backed away and put several feet of distance between us. My mouth was full of Hailey, otherwise, I would have tried to explain. But I knew they'd get it. They would. I just had to give them time.