Forsaken Blood

- HYSTERIA -

Layla was petrified, she wrapped her arms tight around her head, not knowing what to do. Everything was silent. She didn't dare move in fear that they would hear her.

Bang.. bang... bang...

The front door thumped and her heart raced. She tried to still herself as tears came unmercifully flowing from her eyes.

Bang... bang... bang...

"Layla!... It's Jeremiah."

She flew downstairs and found him looking at her from the outside of the window pane.

"They are gone," he said.

"Thank you so much, Jeremiah, quick come in." She said opening the door.

"What happened?" He asked.

She was hysterical and trembling, she couldn't answer.

"Remember how I told you to go home that night?" He said sternly, "this is why. They must have followed you."

Layla's head shook in disbelief as it dropped toward the floor, "what am I going to do? Who are these people? Why do they want to hurt me?"

"Calm down, Layla," he grabbed her hand and lead her to the black leather couch in the living room.

"Where are your parents?" He asked.

"I don't know, everything is a mess, I don't know what to do," she cried. "Those people were following me home yesterday, my friend is dead, and now all this happened, how did they find where I live?"

Layla could barely breathe, her mascara bled down her cheeks from the streams of tears, and she broke down on his shoulder.

He watched for a minute, trying to understand her emotions and embraced her in his arms until she settled down. He felt responsible for her troubles, after all, he was the one who took her to the docks. He knew it was a bad idea. She had such a childlike innocence to her. He needed to protect that... at any cost. Jeremiah was at war with himself of what to do, there was something he felt deep down that confused him. Knowing he should never have spoken to her in the first place, he took it upon himself to be her protector. He understood there would be repercussions, but he silently vowed to keep her safe.

"I want you to listen to me very carefully, Layla. You do not know the world you live in. There is a world within a world and you have just become a part of that." His face was stern when he spoke the words.

"I don't understand," Layla looked at him with a blank face.

"You will. I want you to watch your back, and if anything feels strange, or you feel you are being watched, call me. I'm never far away."

Jeremiah stood up and reassured her she was safe for tonight. She walked him to the door and thanked him a thousand times. When she opened it, Bear ran in, jumped up on Layla and growled.

"He's alive!" She squealed.

"Your dog is fine," he smiled, "but I have to leave now. Be careful, ok?"

Everything that happened made her feel more isolated than ever before. She wished she had parents that she could confide in.

But they would never understand...

It gave her comfort that Jeremiah was there for her. He gave her the sense of security she longed for. She sat at the dining table with all of the world's thoughts crossing her mind.

I can't believe Kendra is gone...

She picked up her phone, as she needed someone to talk to.

LAYLA: Hey Dean, are you ok? xx

DEAN: I don't know Lay, it's so hard to believe she's gone

LAYLA: I know, I miss her so much

DEAN: How did this even happen?

LAYLA: I don't know Dean, but I'm here if you need ok

DEAN: Thanks, Lay, me too xx

She thought about calling her Aunt but couldn't handle the thought of more lectures. Where was her Mom anyway? She was tired, but too much was happening. She started to think about the tarot reading and something came to her mind.

What does the Tower card even mean?...

She logged onto her laptop to research.

Woe to the bearer of the Tower. It bringeth destruction and desolation to all equally. Where once your life was a shining beacon of hope, now it collapses as the very foundation is shook by the hand of God. Prepare for the worst. Prepare to lose everything. But do not be dismayed. Through total destruction, rebirth may be claimed.

Holy crap, could Aunt Sophie be right...

She tried not to panic but it was too hard to dismiss. Her life was suddenly falling apart. She sat at her computer desk staring out the window, her hand covering her mouth in fear of what was fated.

--