If I Die By Sunrise

Heavy in Your Arms

I was running, running as fast as I could but still it felt like I was going nowhere. I could still feel their presence, closer now, like they were right behind me. It was like being stuck on a treadmill. I could curse my stupid human speed, knowing the bloodthirsty creatures coming after me were fresh on my tail. Yet, I couldn't stop. Stopping would mean failure and imminent death.

Screw fighting, I stood no chance. It was funny how long it took me to realize that and weird how liberating it felt.

In the distance I could see the sun igniting the clouds as it slowly rose. I knew if I could just make it over the hill, I'd be near human civilization and would finally be safe.

It puzzled me, I could feel the vampires were so close, yet I knew if I looked back I wouldn't see anything. Not as if I had time to look back anyways. I could feel freedom in my grasp; I could taste it even.

This would be my story, no more Jerry, no more captivation only mom, Peter, Amy and Ed. Yep, fighting wasn't for me it was easier to run.

Hours earlier

How could I betray my family like that? How could I feel anything other than revulsion for Jerry? Where had my self respect gone or did it leave with whatever shred of morality I had left? I pondered this in the early hours of the morning, unable to sleep for the disgust I had for myself blocked out my petty human needs. I couldn't- wouldn't believe that I had actually enjoyed what happened last night for the thought was as horrifying as it was terrible.

To think that for once Jerry's touch did anything else but alarm me was a notion I really couldn't entertain yet the thoughts simply wouldn't leave my head no matter how hard I tried to dispel them.

I was fed up of tossing and turning all night, so I crawled off the bed and took a seat on the floor as far away from the door as possible, curled into a ball and studying the ceiling.

And that was how Jerry found me the next morning.

He gave me his trademark grin in greeting and in return I gave him my worst scowl. He was always so god damned happy, no matter what time of day it was or whatever happened and that among the other things he did, annoyed me to no end.

Living with him for as long as I had there were things a simple human like me could notice. Like, the way he always whistled whenever he did something even something as mundane as ensuring every crevice of his house was darkened or the way his eyes would change color in different lighting; which was probably one of the things I detested the most about him for as hard to read as Jerry was, it was even trickier when his eyes lied too.

It was a ritual; he would check on me every morning, to check if I slashed my wrists I supposed. I could just imagine his disappointment or probable glee when he found me alive and breathing; hating him with all the senses I had left.

Today was no different except perhaps the grin he wore was wider than normal. A sign that should've maybe been a warning but instead just set my teeth on edge as angry fire boiled in my blood. I really didn't find myself even half as amusing as he did.

"I heard a sound last night, like a car pulling in. Who was that?" I asked, revealing way more of my curiosity than I planned.

Jerry closed the door behind him before slowly making his way over to me. He looked like a panther, walking with grace and majesty but also with a great ferocity. But I stood my ground, after all I was as stubborn as they said.

"The police, they're looking for a missing person; a certain Keith Leo. Sound familiar?" He raised an eyebrow but the flash of white across the murky depths of his eyes showed that he knew damn well that I had no idea who it was.