A Vampire Tale

Chapter 36

  Jason
Why are all these people crazy! Every person I passed called me "Taylor's pet" and asked if I lost him. The truth is that I really was lost. I have never been in a building this large before. The worst part is that I'm still bleeding. The smell of my blood has been filling the halls with each step I take. Hunters look at me as if I were prey, and I'm becoming extremely thirsty. I leaned against the wall, in pain. The smell of a hunter was coming closer as I looked up. The scent of another vampire let me know that I somehow managed to find Taylor. With every step I took, I began to hear more of his conversation with Parker.

"Taylor, we have a plan to lure him out. He's asking for one of our own in exchange for the rest of the humans, but our hunters have never given up one of us before," Parker said.

Taylor nodded before asking, "so what's the plan?"

They must have sensed me coming because they immediately dropped the subject. "Jason, why haven't you gone to the nurse?" Parker asked without glancing at me. I couldn't help but notice the way they stared at each other, almost as if they were silently speaking to each other.

"I can't find it in this huge place. I don't understand how you two have this entire building memorized," I complained. I have been walking in the same direction for what feels like hours, but in reality thirty minutes, and have not been able to solve this labyrinth of a building.

"We've lived here for years. Besides, your not staying here for very long either. your going on a field trip with Taylor. Isn't that exciting?" Taylor and I glanced at each other before shaking our heads no.

"He's just a newbie, so why should we risk his life? Isn't there another way to do this without him?" Taylor asked.

Before Parker could answer, I said, "I'm not even a hunter, so why do you need me?"

Just as he was about to answer again, Hailey walked over, looking beautiful in her hunters uniform. "Isn't it obvious, vampire boy? Your connected to him," she said as she met my gaze.

I couldn't help but notice how different Hailey was from Brenda. Brenda was sweet and fun to be around. She is also cute and sensitive. Hailey, on the other hand, was hot. She takes charge of anything and anyone.

"Even so, why would she need to come? The last thing I ever wanted to do was work with Ann-Marie," Taylor asked no one in particular.

"Suck it up, Taylor. You are a hunter and you have your assignment," Parker told him.

"When do we go?" I couldn't help but ask. "And what's in it for me?"

They all looked at me with an annoyed look. "How about we start by not killing you, and we even take you to get that injury fixed up," Hailey said as she glanced at my still bleeding arm.

Taylor gestured for us to stay quiet just as Brenda walked out of the room. She looked at Taylor angrily, letting us know she heard everything. "I know I'm not a vampire or a hunter, but I don't want to be left out either!"

Taylor didn't look surprised by her sudden outburst at him, nor did he look happy about it. "This isn't your business, Brenda. Go back inside," was all he said.

She shook her head no. "I was kidnapped by that man too! I'm already involved in this, so don't bother giving me that!" Taylor was clearly trying to hold back his anger with very little success.

"You don't need to know this. Your not even a hunter, so what help can you be?"

We all turned to Brenda, who was clearly pissed off with his comment. "I want to help. You don't know what it's like to see so many people die right in front of your eyes. To see their terrified faces as life was drained out of them."

That seemed to hit his sore spot. "I have seen many of my friends get killed! I have seen innocent people die because they got involved with us! Don't you dare say I don't know what it's like! You don't have the right to say that!" We all seemed to freeze as Taylor realized how frightened she became and took a breath. "Brenda, I just don't want to see you get hurt. What we do is dangerous."

She shook her head no. "I don't care what you say. I will find a way to help innocent people, even if it kills me." She turned to walk away and said, "I thought you of all people would understand." As she grew smaller in the distance, we all turned to Taylor who was staring after her.

"Taylor, aren't you going to go after her?" I asked him.

He shook his head no. "Let's just get this done now. Nothing else can go wrong from here on out."

I couldn't help but look back as Parker said "You kids and your drama. Why can't you leave it in your rooms like decent people." I noticed Hailey elbowed him just as Taylor rolled his eyes.

Nobody looks prepared to get this job done, nor do they seemed focused enough. For Brenda's sake, I have to watch over Taylor to make sure he doesn't do anything stupid. I'll do whatever I can to help them, even if it cost me my life.