Forsaken Blood

- HUNTED -

"Ahhh... look at what?" Dean seemed confused.

"The guy and girl across the street! Can't you see them!?" Layla's heart was thumping in panic and desperation.

"There's no one there, Lay." He took his eye away from the door and looked back to her puzzled.

She was panicking, she knew she sounded crazy, "Dean, I swear to God, they had  blood-red eyes!"

"Are you sure Lay? Cos I didn't see anyone."

"Oh my God, Dean, yes I'm sure! They were following me all the way here!" She was panting.

"Okay, okay, calm down."

"Calm down!? Dean, did you see their eyes?"

"Layla, there is no one there."

"What am I going to do..." She could tell Dean didn't believe her.

He looked at her sympathetically, "You're here now, no one can touch you. I'll drive you home later in case, okay?"

Layla followed Dean upstairs to his bedroom. The dim light of his computer screen lit up the room and she knew he had been gaming on a Saturday night alone. She felt bad for him and tried to calm herself. She didn't want to make the night all about her. They sat for hours talking and laughing until she fell asleep. He tucked her into his bed, texted her Mom to let her know she was staying over and crashed out on his sofa couch.

The next morning they woke suddenly to the shrill cries of Dean's parents. They were screaming and yelling.

"Dean!! Layla!!" His Mom cried, "get down here, quickly!"

Layla snapped her head at Dean and their horrified eyes locked in the same questioning expression. They sprang up and darted downstairs.

"What's wrong, Mom?" Dean asked breathlessly.

"Quick, watch the news..." Her face was white as she turned up the volume.

Images of Charleston Hill ran across the screen with blue and red lights flashing in the night footage. The presenter continued speaking.

... teenager, Kendra Miller, just 18 years old from Charleston Hill High, has been killed on Summerton Boulevard late last night. Investigations are now underway. Police have confirmed that the victim may have been attacked by an animal of some kind but will not rule out the possibility of murder...

"Oh my God, Kendra!" Layla shrieked, falling to her knees as her eyes wept pools of tears.

"Oh my sweet, Layla, I am so so sorry," Dean's Mom came and held Layla and pulled Dean into the group hug.

"I know you were all so close, this is just horrible." Dean's mom said.

She held her like a lost child stroking her silky hair.
Dean was shocked, he didn't know what to do or say, he held Layla tight and caressed her in his arms, but his mind was vacant, he couldn't find his thoughts.

"This is all my fault," Layla screamed. "I asked her to meet me at the café, if only I..."

"No, Lay." Dean cut her off softly, "you couldn't have known something like this was going to happen."

"I'm sorry." Layla whispered, "I need to go home."

"Let me drive you, Layla. It's not good for you to be alone at a time like this." Dean offered.

"No, Dean. Please, I need to walk, it's only a few minutes and I need to clear my head."

She hugged them goodbye and thanked them for letting her stay. The few minutes it took to walk home felt like an eternity. Her heart was breaking as she remembered Kendra laughing with her just the night before. She couldn't let that scene go, it was like it was set to replay in her mind over and over again. Kendra was such a close friend and now... now she was gone. Layla wept so much that her eyes dried and grew heavy. It felt like she had been awake for weeks.