The Second Mate

SIXTEEN

Marianne groaned as she woke up. She stopped as an aching pain from her feet made her arch her back and settle back on the mattress. Opening her eyes, she panicked after waking up in an unfamiliar room. She motioned to move but the searing pain from her ankles stopped her.

Then, the bedroom door opened. Once the woman saw Marianne was awake, a smile of relief painted her face as she approached her. Marianne recoiled as she studied the woman.

"Are you okay? I'm so glad you're finally awake." The woman began.

"Don't come any closer." Marianne gestured her to stop.

The woman did. "Honey, I'm not gonna hurt you. In fact, I'm the one who brought you here."

Marianne still gave her a look of indifference.

"Why here? Why not the hospital? Seeing as I am injured."

The woman's facial features fell. "Hear me out. I know I'm gonna sound crazy but you have to believe me."

The woman paused and took a seat on the couch that was pushed against the wall. Marianne looked at her and saw fear and disbelief graze her face. She seemed to recall something as she looked at the floor.

"Wh-when..." Her voice trembled.

She cleared her throat and lifted her eyes so they met Marianne's. "When I came back from the town, I did my usual routine. I went around the farm to gather the flock with my boy, Rufus. When I was done locking up the shed, I heard Rufus barking at forest. I didn't bother, at first, because I've had an encounter before with a psychopath in the woods. I called for my dog so we could enter the house and lock up but when I got closer to the trees I saw two men and you."

She looked at Marianne with concern.

"I thought you were being sexually assaulted so I ran back to grab my rifle and threaten the men. They didn't listen so I gave them a warning shot, two feet away. They both lifted their heads and..."

The woman dipped her face to her hands as she shook her head. It took her a moment to regain her composure before continuing.

"Blood was trickling down their chin. Fear consumed me and before I knew it, I shot them in the head but their body didn't drop. They fucking turned to ash! Shit! I know it sounds crazy. I didn't want to bring you to the hospital because." She pointed at Marianne's neck to which Marianne touched and felt gauze plastered on it.

"Fuck! I swear, I'm clean. I haven't hit pot for three years." The woman dug her fingers to her hair, trying to calm her wits.

"It's okay. It's okay. I believe you." Marianne assured.

The woman gave her a hesitant look. "You do?"

"Yes. The ones that attacked me they were...." Marianne paused as she let the woman say the thoughts that have been bothering her mind.

"Vampires?" The woman spoke in disbelief.

Marianne nodded her head. "I know it's a lot to take in--"

"Grandpa was right." The woman mumbled.

Marianne gave her a confused look.

The woman glanced at Marianne before running out of the room. There were shuffling noises, cabinet doors opening, drawers slumming shut, then hurried footsteps. The woman came back with a notebook in hand. She kept a respectable distance from Marianne as she handed her the old notebook. Marianne opened the notebook and found numerous newspaper article cut and pasted on the pages of the notebook. It was about vampires.

Marianne looked at the woman who was waiting for her reaction.

"My family and I believed that my grandfather was being paranoid and we ignored his crazy assumptions." The woman sat back on the sofa and buried her face on her hands. She was internalizing everything and Marianne wanted to give her time.