Death Row

Chapter 3

Sven laughed in delight, removing an unopened and undamaged can of food from the splintering cupboard.

“We’re gonna be eating tonight Clayton!” he called out.

His voice echoed and bounced off the empty hallways of the small house. Clayton sprinted into what would have been a kitchen, in a state of pure joy

“Is it real?” he asked Sven hurriedly, anxious for the can.

“Yeah, its real all right. And it’s a really big can” Sven replied, with an air of superiority about his tone, as if finding the can earned him a gold star.

“Well, make sure you get an even portion this time; last time you gave me more than half, and look at you, you’re wasting away.” Clayton replied.

“We need to make sure this place is safe first Clayton”

“Righto”

He left swiftly, and in his absence Sven opened the can with his sharp nails, tomato sauce dripped out onto his skin and he started to shake, it looked like blood.

 He hadn’t had human blood for a very long time, and although Clayton was willing to give up his blood at any time, it was human blood that Sven really needed. In comparison of the different types of blood, Demon blood was a drug; edible, and makes you high, but cannot actually be used as a food source: and Human blood was a meal. It could be anything ranging from a salad to a deep fried feast depending on the diet of the human. Clayton didn’t know about this, he didn’t want his friend to worry for his wellbeing. Or realise the real reason behind the smaller food portions on Sven’s end of the rope.

Sven dropped the can, the chair beneath him wobbled. The beans hit the floor and spilt across the cracked tiles. He felt himself falling slowly off the chair, the world around him slowly deteriorated into darkness.

“The house is safe, I had to board the front doorway though, and if we knock out the staircase we may be able to- Oh God, Sven!? Are you okay?”

His stomach seemed to tie itself in knots, and it was a hopeless feeling, seeing the crack in Sven’s head, and not being able to tell the difference between the tomato sauce and his blood.

Sven could feel someone shaking him, pulling him out of the peaceful void he was floating through, and he didn’t want to leave. The voice sounded distressed though, and familiar. He floated towards that voice, and felt his eyes flutter open.

 

“You’re okay!” A loud voice cried. He immediately recognised that voice as Claytons, and he smiled.

“You idiot!” Clayton cursed. “Why didn’t you tell me you were sick?”

“I didn’t want to worry you Clay” he decided that he should tell him anyway, considering how worried Clayton was when he fainted.

“I need blood” he said, Clayton lifted a hand to his collar, and Sven lowered it. “No, Human blood, I can’t survive off of yours” he revealed, scared of how his companion would react.

“You could have told me sooner” he replied, smiling. “There is a hospital a little way away, they are bound to still have human blood there. It wouldn’t have gone bad over a few weeks would it?”

“No, and even so I can still drink stale blood, it wont hurt me.”

“Wait here then, I’ll be back soon.”

“Don’t get into trouble, watch out for Slayers, and humans with guns”

“No problem, I’ll be back soon. I’ll probably bring food back if I can find anymore, in the meantime, can you handle reinforcing the place? Knock out the second and third floor stairs if you can, we will have to spend the night in the attic.”