Alive

Chapter 5

Two full moons had passed since my conversation with Scarlet, and I couldn't help but feel worse and worse as I passed her, and didn't say a word. We now had many vampires who came to join our cause, including Mel, who helped us out with healing and food sources. We had a few vampires who were trained as nurses, including Crystal, who was the only mortal flesh in the camp.

Today was a sunny day, about as peaceful as a butterfly's wing moving in a slow motion. I sat at the entrance of the camp while Scarlet was training the young vampires how to fight in the training pit. I glance out at the sunny horizon, having a gross, tingling sort of feeling that haunted me. Were the mortals planning an ambush? I listened closely to the outside world, only to hear silence beyond the horizon, where the sun would set at dusk. This made me sure there was to be an ambush. After a moment of thought I look back outside to see the grass was painted bright, lush colors, forgetting the devastation that had hit a few days ago when fire had rained from the sky, which still confused my mind to it's limits. I could feel the sunshine reflect off of my deathly pale skin like a mirror would reflect an objects shape as I stared off into the distance, ignoring my surroundings until I felt a strange presence.

I looked behind me to see the blonde mortal, Crystal, standing behind me and studying me, as if I were a strange animal. I look away from her quickly, hoping she didn't notice me. But my thoughts were answered grimly when I felt her warm hand on my shoulder. I could feel the warmth her blood flow gave off, and instantly I tensed under her hand.

"Yes?" I said, trying to hide my uneasiness as I looked up at her fit figure. She smiled at me kindly before speaking with a soft, gentle tone.

"I wanted to see if you were ok... You seem worried." She replied, her eyes darkening with worry as well. I could tell she noticed my face that was flushed of emotion as I turned to face her by the way she retracted her hand.

"I'm fine... but thanks." I say and turn back to the sun. Crystal just sits beside me and looks forward as I did, almost as if she was mocking me. I got annoyed at first at her presence and move away from her soon enough as I felt an awkward sensation come over me. I walked over to where Scarlet was training the young vampires, feeling more comfortable I watched as Scarlet instructed the training vampires in weaponry. In the far corner of the training pit Chris had chosen a sludge hammer as his weapon of choice, he lifted the iron head with such strength that even I was impressed by his lack of effort. He surprised me with his uncharted strength as I watched him lunge the hammer at a target near him, hitting the figure straight on. To his right his sister May glared at her brother with an envious hatred, as if an evil plot had gone wrong. Scarlet walked up to May and said something inaudible to my ear, putting a gentle hand on the young vampire's shoulder. I walked down to where Scarlet spoke gently to the new arrival.

"Hey Scar." I said awkwardly, knowing that this was the first time I had spoken to her in a month.

"What do you want Luka?" Scarlet asked, her voice catching a hostile glimpse as she spoke, sending May back to training.

"I wanted to know if you wanted a break." I said honestly, seeing the pull that lack of sleep and continued effort of training and frustration had put on her slender face.

"I guess I could use a small break..." Scarlet considered, looking down at the ground with an awkward silence. "Perhaps you can train them while I take a small nap." She said, looking at me with a small smile.

"Good, I'll take over from here." I say, pushing Scarlet gently out of the training hollow. I watched her leave before turning to the trainees, who looked at me with a curious gaze.

"Hello everyone." I greet as I step forward, the long, uttering silence wafting over the hollow like a dead night. "My name is Arrow, and I'll be your instructor for now." I say, stepping forward to the trainees. They instantly got into a straight line, as if Scarlet were teaching them to be an army. I studied each of the trainees carefully as they awaited my instruction. To my right, I saw a table that had weapons lain on the wooden surface, each a blade. Soon an idea to test the trainees came to my mind like a brilliant stride of a stead.