Falling

Chapter 11

The house was quiet, and shadows stretched out towards me. The lights were off and I got a horrible feeling like something bad would happen soon. The smell of blood was coming from the kitchen and I couldn't help, but worry that Zack's mother had been caught by the vampires while making dinner and killed.

As I walked towards the kitchen, I felt like I was being watched. Chills went up and down my spine as I walked inside. Laying on the ground was Zack's mother, covered in blood and bite marks. Her eyes were brown, and her black hair hung around her face. I stared at her as my stomached flipped in my stomach. I struggled to turn away. How would I tell Zack his mother died?

"Zack!" I screamed as I ran down the halls trying to find him.

A door opened and Zack popped his head out seeming to be aggravated and had that sleepy look on his face. I stopped and caught my breath while he stared at me.

"What are you looking at?" I asked my alert placed on full power.

"You. You came charging down the hall like hell had taken over this world. Why were you screaming my name?" Zack asked his voice sounding...Is that annoyed and jealous?

Seriously, Zack Prowler was annoyed with me and jealous of Luke? I thought I had made it clear to him earlier that Luke and I are nothing more than best friends. Sometimes, boys can be so damn frustrating and confusing! I stared into his brown eyes really frustrated with myself for not trying to help my species and protect him and his.

"The vampires are here. I have no idea how many, but they...they killed your mother, Zack..." I mumbled looking down sadly.

Zack's hand fell from the door frame as he just stared at the ground. I reached my hand out to him trying to comfort him like he does with me before he pulled me into a hug. I stood there as he burst out crying as he hugged me. I could smell anger wielding up inside of him and I gently rubbed his back. I could faintly relate to him. I lost my father before I became this and even still, I refuse to admit Rick and Peter killed my father.

"We should go find Austin and Emily." I spoke up as I felt as if someone was behind me watching us.

"Well you found them." Austin said his tone grief stricken.

"What happened?" I asked him as I pulled out of Zack's hug to see him holding Emily's body. "No..."

H-How could this happen? That's right, it's my fault Emily is dead! I caused her to die by just existing in their lives! I was worthless and pathetic! I couldn't lead anyone or stop anything! Why must the people I come to love have to die? What if the whole reason vampires are here because they're trying to find me? I am the first one of the Tiger-human experiments to actually survive. If I gave myself up voluntarily, I bet they'd leave Luke and everyone else alone.

I turned and walked for the door as Zack grabbed my hand looking at me confused. I shook my head as I felt tears rimming my eyes and smiled weakly to him.

"I'll be fine...I promise. J-Just watch over them and train them for me. Get everyone out before I carry the blood of more people on my hands..." I said as my voiced cracked.

"April..." Zack breathed before yanking me into a bear hug.

Oh god, I forgot how hard it is to breath in a bear hug. That's at least one thing I won't forget while I'm in a cage being experimented on in exchange for everyone's freedom...Zack leaned down and kissed me catching me completely off guard. I surely didn't expect him to kiss me and not while we were both crying. His tears rolled down his face as he pulled away from the kiss.

"B-Be careful, please, April..." Zack whispered.

"I will." I promised before turning and walking out of the house to see Kelly pinned to the ground still.