Why Dont You Just Drop Dead?

14

In the morning I look at myself in the mirror. My ratty blonde hair lands low and my face looks warn. I sigh. Theres still the drop of blood on my cheek.

I scrub the dark red mark off my face until its red from scratching.

"Lacey! Andy! Joe! Go go go!" Patrick yells.

I rush out, tying my hair in a pony tail on the way.

"Same vampire trouble." Patrick doesnt look warn but he looks worried.

I pick up a couple dozen stakes and put the into my pockets and small satchel. Its hard to hide them all and still be able to walk.

We are in the black car and quickly out the area.

"Theres hundreds of them apparently. Other vampire hunters are there too." Patrick fills everyone in.

I stare out the window, the anticipation tearing at me.

"You know what I fear sometimes?" Joe leans towards me. "That one day they get us. One day they drink all our blood and kill us all. Im scared that we will lose."

"Oh. Is it likely?" I ask.

He shrugs. I thought it would be easier than that.

We jump out the car and split up. There are more vampires than usual, but not 100 of them.

I fight like I normally do, full of adrenaline. I duck and dive and ignore the screams.

"Lacey! Lacey!" Andy is yelling.

I turn and he is beckoning me violently. I sprint at him.

"We need to stick together, theres too many. I think they have Joe!"

So, Im no hero, but with the adrenaline and all I though I was. So, clever little me runs away from the group and at the others. I run at the vampire holding Joe and engage in a full on fight.

I throw punches like stakes but so does the vampire, more powerful ones. Joe was dropped though, he is slumped on the floor.

I kick at his crotch, forcing him to grab at it. I start pulling Joes limp arms away but soon others notice and run at us. I scream as someones full body slams into me, throwing me off into the air. Everything is fuzzy on the floor and I groan, pulling myself up.

I stagger back over but its too late. Several vampires have sucked Joe dry. He wont even be a vampire. He is just... Dead.

I fall to my knees. Those are the only four vampires left here, and they have just drunk Joes blood. They smirk at me, on my knees, and flee, on a full stomach.

Joe isnt even bleeding, he has been sucked dry.

My breath hitches and I choke back tears. Its started, Joes been killed.

Andy drops at Joes side and the adrenaline slows down. Suddenly I realise the hits Ive taken, falling onto my side. I feel horribly light. I bet the black eye is back.

I pull my knees to my side and watch as they all surround Joe.

"Im sorry." I whisper.

"You almost saved him. We are the wimps." Patrick turns to me.

I drag myself across the cobbles, towards Joe. I collapse about a meter away from him.

"Vampires can... Urm... They can really throw hits." I groan. "Im gonna give you a moment and just... Sleep here."

I give a giddy laugh before collapsing and passing out.

There are only three people on the sofa when I can sit up again. Joes dead, thats why. I sigh, yanking myself into sitting position. They all look devastated.

"Im sorry." I mumble.

"Shut up. Its not your fault." Pete says with more force than he probably wanted to portray.

Theres less of them now.

"That was shambles." Patrick shrugs, "I need to practice more. Right now, even."

Patricks gone, next door. 2 people sitting here now, and me.

Pete doesnt even explain where he is going.

"So, Lacey, take my mind off all this, eh?"

I shrug. "What do I say?"

He pauses, twisting his beard between his fingers.

"Joe foreshadowed his d-"

"Not that." He interrupts.

"Sorry."

Theres silence.

I look at Andy and at his beard twisting.

"You know," He says, "no matter how much you love someone, you still step back when the pool of blood gets too close. If there was blood."

I stare at him. He doesnt cry.

"Im going to deal with myself."

I let him go and deal with himself.