Blood Bound

Chapter 38: Homebound

No.

I don't believe it. It can't be true.

I stare in complete disbelief at the place where Sophie had been. I keep thinking wildly that she's just buried under the sand and any second, she's gonna pop up and tear those guys to shreds.

But nothing happens. There's only a pile of ash in front of me.

Sophie's ash.

My stomach flips over and I vomit, spewing chunks through the gloved hand. The guy releases my mouth, exclaiming in disgust. I ignore it. Just like after the mugger incident, the stomach acid searing my throat unfortunately helps me make it real. I cough and retch, clutching my stomach. Tears are still cascading down my cheeks. But I refuse to close my eyes, staring at the spot Sophie had vacated.

"Nothing beats the smell of charred human flesh," Colby chortles through his helmet. "Though I can't say what you brought is helping with the smell," he adds in disdain, turning his head to me.

For the first time I look up, glaring at him. I can't say anything because my throat hurts from retching and sobbing but if I could, I would hurl curses at him.

"You know," Colby says, kneeling down in front of me. "You kind of have a similar look as her. At least right now."

Hatred bubbles within me, replacing my fear and anxiety. It's like I'm possessed by a very malicious spirit and I want nothing much than to lunge at him and pummel him to death. It makes me do the unthinkable and I spit at his helmet, the watery goo splattering his visor.

Colby laughs coldly, wiping the spit with his gloved hand. "You've got spirit, human," he acknowledges. "I can respect that. I dislike a prey that cowers in fear. It doesn't make the hunt worth it in the end. Plus the blood can go sour."

Pure fury fuelling my body, I get up on one knee, ready to strike but the vampire previously holding me is back behind me, grabbing me by the hair. I shriek, batting his hand away but I'm back on my knees, my arm tightly secured behind my back. My mind tells me that it's useless to try to fight against four vampires but my wrath doesn't care, pushing logic to the back. I writhe and snarl, like a hurt animal, doing anything to raise my hopes of escaping.

Colby soon grows tired of this and he smacks my cheek so hard, I'm flung sideways and hit the sand. I land on my injured shoulder and I cry out in pain. I feel something trickling down my arm and I notice to my horror that the wound has reopened.

At once, the vampires are surrounding me, sniffing wildly into the air.

"Blood," one wheezes hoarsely through his helmet.

Another one goes as far as going on all fours and crawls towards me, his breathing fast and frenzied. I kick back his reaching claws and scramble to my feet. Now's my chance, I think in desperation and begin to run towards the car. It's sluggish as I'm still a bit out of it after Colby's assault. Ears ringing and heart close to bursting, I concentrate on nothing else but reaching that car.

When I think I'm going to make it, he's there right in front of me. He wags his finger at me and I'm horribly reminded of Sophie's sassy attitude right before she ripped that mugger's throat.

"Play time is over," he says in a drawling voice. "We've given you enough false hope but it's time for another execution."

Even though my spirit is crushed, my will to live hasn't given up. I'm going to be like Sophie and fight till my dying breath. I try to sidestep him but it's like he's reading my mind as he steps at the exact spot I was aiming to go. With an irritated sigh, he seizes my arm and yanks me back to him. The smell of charred remains still lingers on his leather jacket and I clench my teeth, forcing myself not to throw up again. The stench is vile, though.