Why Dont You Just Drop Dead?

13

The clothes they give me are black and tight, like from a movie. Black leggings with silvery pannels and a vest top that is quite thick with the same silvery pannels down the side. Its like Im about to go to another scene in a movie and become a new person. I feel the material, pushing my hands down my sides.

"Here, also this. Or you will get cold." Pete pushes through the door and trips to a stop.

He remains expressionless but his eyes search me before he hand over a leather jacket.

"Here... That... Suits you."

He flees out the door, mumbling something.

I put on the jacket and turn sideways to look at myself. I dont look bad but my body proportions are not in my favour. I sigh, turning away from the mirror, I can deal.

I pick up my paisley dress, scrunched inbetween my fingers, and walk outside, back to the others.

I dont expect a reaction, and I dont notice one, when I sit down on the sofa next to Patrick.

"So, take me seriously, tell me." I demand.

He looks up at me and gets thrown off. His tongue flicks over his lips and he blinks a few times. He makes some sounds of him trying to talk but the gives up, shutting his mouth. He takes a deep breath.

"What is the formula?"

"Its... Its..." Patrick struggles to convey what it is.

"Its keeping me from drinking your blood." Pete says, sitting down on one of the sofas.

"Or my blood. Or Andys. Or Joes..."

I bite down on my lip and think. What could be in the solution?

"You shouldnt care whats in there." Joe sits down on the table in front of the sofa.

I feel intimidated, they are surrounding me. I shrink in on myself.

"You guys are being... Hostile?" I say quietly. "Is it really that special?"

They all share looks around me.

"Okay, fine, dont tell me. Ill find out."

That night, when everyone is out or asleep, I sneek to the kitchen. I pick up one of Petes many bottles and start testing on it, working out what is inside.

I heat it and disolve some of it, I add other things to it, I dilute it. Theres nothing that could help me.

"Its holy water." Someone says from behind me.

I spin around quickly and cling onto the work top behind me.

"It was blessed. They think it could cure me." Pete closes the door behind him.

I swallow, "I wasnt-"

"Yeah, yeah. I can see you holding the bottle and I can smell it." He smirks.

I place the bottle on the table and he sighs, stepping over towards me. He sits on the counter top, facing me, like when he threw stakes at me.

I quietly clean up the mess I made and he watches.

"It could reverse... This" He gestures to himself.

I sit on the sofa and he follows after me, sitting opposite me on the table.

"And that maybe I could go back to how I was before... This."

"Why would you want to go back. You are who you are. Everything happens for a reason?" I say, blasé.

"No." His face painted with a sour expression, "I would never want to stay like this. Look at me, Im a monster. Im not a human any more, I cant be with my friends and be a human. I kind of took being alive for granted. Wow, that sounds lame."

I shrug, pulling my feet onto the sofa. I can see his passion and hurt. He shakes his head. By his lips there is blood.

"Pete. Th-theres... Urm. On..." I try to not freak out. Was it a human? Is he still hungry? I dont like the sight of blood. I feel dizzy thinking about it. "Bl-blood and you-Pete." There are stars.

"Hey! Hey. Calm down. Tell me?" Petes eyes flick between mine and he leans over me.

I spot of blood lands on my cheek and I scream. Pete clamps his hand over my mouth, looking around.

"What is it?" Pete whispers.

I feel his breath on my face. I reach my hand up to my face, lifting his hand from my lips. I use my other hand to point on my face where blood is.

"Oh, shit." He mumbles, stepping back.

"Who is it?" I ask, my voice trembling.

"Hospital blood bag. I sometimes take them. The formula wasnt doing its thing."

He is now far enough away that I cant make out what his eyes are telling me.

"Do you think I would eat a human? I still think I am one."

He punches his hand with a grunt, walking out the door. The door shuts after him.

Hes gone.