These Streaks of Blood

13

"Olivia, is it?"

Olivia turns as much as her collar allows and gazes at the woman who just spoke. She seems the most put-together of the four. Of course she's dirty and her clothes are in tatters, but she's still sitting up straight, a hint of defiance visible in her grim expression.

Olivia would nod, but the collar prevents her, so she just whimpers, "Yes," instead.

"My name is Amelie. The girl next to you is Patricia. The one next to me is Lucy, and the male is my twin brother, Amer," Amelie lists off in quick succession.

Olivia's only response is silence, so Amelie decides to just keep talking. "I know how you must be feeling right now; it's the same way we all felt when we got pushed in here. I don't want to sound harsh, but you're going to have to get over the feeling. Rise above it. Otherwise all hope will leave you and you'll be left with nothing. Patricia... she has lost everything. She cannot die, being a vampire, but she wishes more than anything that she could, just to be gone from this place."

Olivia sneaks a glance at Patricia and sees instantly that Amelie was telling the truth. The woman's eyes are closed. She's lying on the ground as if playing dead, the small smile on her lips proof that she's imagining the ultimate release. Olivia curls into a ball, the desire for death unsettling her.

"Why are you here, Olivia?" Amelie wonders. Olivia is conscious that Amer, Amelie's twin sibling, is watching her intently.

"I displeased him," Olivia murmurs.

Amelie laughs, a sound like the pealing of bells, so beautiful in such an ugly place. It seems to fill the room and lighten the mood, and Olivia is astonished that the girl can exhibit such genuine joy in a place and situation like this.

"What's so funny?" Olivia wonders.

"Well, we all displeased him, obviously. Likely some of us more than others," she responds. "I want to know what your story is."

Olivia doesn't really want to tell these strangers about her transgression, the act that nearly killed her. But what choice does she have? She's stuck with these four - practically three - people for eternity. They'll figure it out sooner or later.

"I killed somebody. Somebody that he didn't want killed."

A look of interest flashes across Amelie's face. "Ryffin wanted to keep someone alive? My, that doesn't sound like him at all."

Olivia smiles. "Well, he didn't care about the person I killed, really. He didn't want her dead because she was Natalee's sister."

Amelie and Amer glance at each other. A silent conversation occurs, but they both emerge from it looking equally confused. "Who is Natalee?" Amelie voices.

A bitter taste takes over Olivia's mouth. "I guess you could call her his girlfriend, though I don't believe they think of their relationship on the same terms."

"Girlfriend?" Amer finally speaks in place of his sister, sounding shocked.

Amelie's eyes glint with interest, curiosity, and something more. "Well now, Olivia... it seems like you have quite the tale to tell."

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Daniel flicks the news off with disgust. Two more killings in Rewich, a town just around a half-hour's drive from Leewood? Surely that can't be a coincidence of any kind, especially considering that the victims were drained of blood, left in a heap in their bedroom. The only change is that the man's blood was everywhere.