Barely An Angel (Completed)

11~ Not An Easy Road

When it came down to it, I couldn't bring myself to actually hunt anyone down for my next meal, so I told Demitri I could just wait until I got home. But as soon as the thought of actually going home and facing my mom hit me, I hesitated.

I can't let her see me like this, I thought. She'd be so disappointed in me. Even if I explained how it happened, I feared that she would only beat herself up for not doing more to protect me. And I couldn't bare to be yet another reason for my mother's suffering. There was a part of me that wanted to just stop by and see if she was home, and after much debate with myself, that part eventually won. After saying my goodbyes to Demitri, I started on my way.

The whole time I walked home, I only felt a raging fire in my throat, and I only saw the blackness of the night. The occasional street light lit my path for the few seconds I'd be in its vicinity, and then it would be dark again. I couldn't run home with my supernatural speed because I felt too weak; I was only able to take short, small steps as I clutched my throat with my hands. Never had I ever resented my whole being more than in that moment. And in that moment, the knowledge of what I had become really sank in for the first time, and I felt like screaming. Only, I couldn't, because my throat already felt as raw as if I had been screaming.

I had reached a point where I felt like giving up because the thirst was just too strong, and I almost collapsed to the ground. But the sight of my house only half a block away gave me the will to keep going. I didn't know what I'd say if my mom did turn out to be home, but as I got closer to the house and saw that her car wasn't there, I breathed a sigh of relief.

It took every last ounce of my energy to unlock the door with the key I had to fish out of my pockets, but when I finally entered, I still glanced around cautiously to make sure that I was, in fact, alone. When my gaze found its way to the kitchen counter, I saw a note that my mom must've left.

Out on the town ; ) be home soon.

My pulse quickened. I didn't know how soon soon was, so I'd have to be quick. I rushed down to the basement and opened my mom's freezer, where she keeps her blood bags. I threw in my hand and picked the first one it touched, before I bit a hole into it and drank. The fire in my throat subsided gradually, but didn't go away completely until I was finished. Wiping my lips clean with my hand, I realized what I had done and buried the now-empty plastic pouch in the nearest trash can. Not that I had to; the only contents it held were other blood bags that my mom had finished off, so the difference was indiscernible; but the shame I felt overwhelmed me.

I felt tears sting my eyes. I don't even know who I am anymore. I sat against the wall, my head facing the ceiling, as the tears fell down my cheeks. I raked my hands through my hair, groaning in frustration. Frustration with myself for being so stupid, and frustration with Demeille and Adrien for doing this to me. My sobs became increasingly more audible until I heard the front door open, followed by my mom's muffled voice.

"Ramona? Are you home, sweetie? The door was unlocked."

My heart stopped. My eyes widened. I wiped the tears from my cheeks.

When I didn't answer, my mom called out again. "Ramona, are you there?"

Realizing I was trapped and didn't have another choice, I called out in response, "Yeah, I'm here." I then heard my mom's footsteps nearing the basement door, and then she opened it and came down the stairs. I hid my face in my knees, draping my hair around them for more cover.

"What are you doing down here? Are you okay?" She rushed to my side, laying her hand comfortingly on my back.

"No," I replied, a sob threatening to leave my throat. "You can't see me like this."

"Like...what? What do you mean?" My mom's worried tone just broke my heart more.

"It wasn't my choice," I mumbled, my voice cracking.

"What wasn't your choice, Ramona?" She gently laid her hand on the top of my head. "Let me see your beautiful face."

I lifted my head as slowly as I could manage, attempting to delay my mom's reaction to seeing what I now looked like; realizing what I had become. When my pitch-black eyes did meet hers, her mouth fell open in a gasp of disbelief. "I thought I told you...to never choose that lifestyle...you've seen what it's done to me," she whispered.

A stray tear slid down my cheek. "Like I said, it wasn't my choice. I would've never chosen this. Demeille and Adrien, they...they," I trailed off, sobbing freely. I couldn't bring myself to finish that sentence.

"Oh, honey," my mom pulled me into a tight hug. "We...we'll get through this together, okay?" She pulled away to look in my eyes. "Now, this isn't an easy road to travel, or pleasant. It's a one-way, no turning back. It's even worse that it wasn't your choice to begin with. But we've got this, you hear me?"

I nodded, swallowing my last tears. "I just...I can't believe they did this to me," I whispered. "I knew they were terrible people, but they're only juniors in high school. I never thought they'd stoop this low."

"I can't say I'm surprised, though," Mom admitted, her tone solemn. "I knew kids like them when I was your age that have done unspeakable things." A loud, rapid knocking on the front door upstairs startled us both. "Who could that be, at this hour?" She grabbed my hand and helped me to my feet. "I'm going to see who it is." She gave me a kiss on the forehead before she marched determinedly up the basement stairs.

I heard her talking to someone, but I couldn't make out what they were saying. Curious, I made my way out of the basement as well and went to stand behind my mom at the door.

"Would you like to come in?" She asked whoever was outside in a cheery tone. I heard a "Sure" in response before she stepped back to let them in. My brows furrowed in confusion when I saw who it was.

"Did you follow me home?"

~

What? I'm sticking to a schedule now? Who would've thought? XD But no, really, I'm going to be updating this story every day each weekend until it's finished. This story is being entered in the Wattys, that's for sure. That's what my plan is, anyway. So, what did you think of this chapter? I know it wasn't all that long but I'm going to work on making the chapters longer :)

~ R.J. <3