Loving the enemy

Chapter 9

Tears stick to my face as I walk blindly through the forest. I have no idea where I am going, the only thing I know is that I am in agony and I am alone. It feels as if my insides are a rotting cage and I am trapped inside. I fall to the ground and let out a loud broken sob as I clutch my stomach. I hunch over in grieving agony. I crawl towards a tree and lean against the trunk. I drag my nails down my legs and let out a cry of brokenness, somewhere in the near distance birds flee from a tree at the sound of my yell.

I pull my crossbow onto my lap and load it, gently running my thumb over the sharp arrow tip.

How did I get here?

The arrow pierces my skin and a small drop of blood slides down my thumb. I scrunch up my nose and put it to my mouth, licking the blood away.

God, everything was going so well.

I slowly move the crossbow to my throat, my finger on the trigger. Maybe it's better this way. If I just give up the pain will go away. I'll see my parents, and within time my little brother. Sure, I'd be leaving Shane behind but maybe that's a good thing. I've spent my entire life trying to kill his father for fucks sake. We were in a ship destined to sink.

Crunch

I swing the crossbow around and point it at the person standing in front of me. A boy my age stands there, eyes wide in shock. His hands are raised and his mouth is parted slightly. We stare at each other for a moment in shock, unsure what to do.

Normally I would have instantly pulled the trigger. I guess Shane is getting to me.

"What's your name." I demand as I get to my feet, crossbow still aimed at him. His eyes widen more as if surprised that I am able to speak.

"Uh, Dan." We stand in an awkward silence for a moment, him shocked that I'm still holding a weapon to his head. "You can put that down, I won't hurt you."

"Are you a vampire?" I blurt out. I am more afraid than I can admit, I'm too exhausted to fight anyone off and I cant emotionally cope with the stress right now.

I dont want anyone else to die today.

He creases his eyebrows before shaking his head. "No. Vampires killed my little sister, they disgust me." he pauses "I mean, you aren't a vampire are you? It's just vampires don't usually need weapons?" I lower the crossbow and cock my head slightly. The little girl I out of her misery was a younger sibling to one of his friends. Maybe by some chance....

He cuts me off before I ask the question. "Wait...." he says, facial features sharpening. He steps towards me and slowly pulls the arrow from my bow, I am unable to move, terrified about the realisation he has come across. "This arrow....... you..... you.."

"It's not what it looks like" I blurt out pathetically.

"This is the same type of arrow that was found in my little sisters head. Exactly the same." His eyes lift from the arrow to meet mine. "You mother fucker. I'll make you pay for what you did to her." I step back and crash into the tree trunk, for some reason I'm stunned, unable to fight back like I normally wold have.

"Please, no you don't-"

"I'm going to do what you did to her.. but worse. I'm going to break your fucking legs...then your arms... then I'm going to cut your tongue out so you can't beg for mercy as I watch you slowly choke to death on your own blood." He stands over me, trapping me against the tree.

What's coming over me?

Why can't I fight back?

My fingers release on the crossbow and I drop it to the ground with a small thud.