Fates (On Hold, Rewriting)

Chapter 15

Chapter 15

It's been nearly a week since I've had a decent conversation with my parents. I'm not going to be the first to apologize. It wasn't I that went over and tried to kill my daughter's boyfriend and his family. What I did, I did out of love to save them. And I don't regret it. Why would anyone regret something they did out of love?  

I ponder that haunting question alone in my room with low, soothing music playing. Now that we can't harm the Adams, Hannah has been kind of put out. I haven't spoken to her in the past week, either. In fact, I've made as little contact with all of them as possible. Get up. Breakfast. School. Lunch with Jason. Home. Go to my room to do homework. Supper. Room. Bed. That has been my basic routine for the past week. It's boring, repetitive. But, hey, it accomplishes my goal: to make it clear that I'm still upset.  

I've decided so many things in the past month or so. Who to be friends with, to become Jason's girlfriend, to not kill him when I found out he and his family are vampires, and to stand on his side when my own family tried to kill them.  

But with so many decisions also comes indecision. For instance, not talking to my parents is kind of getting to me. I feel isolated, like a caveman. There is always a nagging voice to apologize to my parents, but then there is a louder voice that- 

Ring! 

The phone rings down the hall, cutting off my train of thought. 

Ring! 

It's tempting to just let it ring, but the sound is irritably annoying. Sighing, I walk down the hall to answer. "Hello?" 

"Hello, sweetie." The deep voice chuckles, sending chills down my spine. It's the voice I know all too well-the mall vampire. He must like to play with his food, because he's not giving up. "Ah, you do remember me. One minute." 

I turn his words over in my head. One minute until what? 

Then I understand. 

He's like one of those sick ax murderers who likes to call his victims first to get them riled up. It makes the kill more thrilling.  

"Tick-tock, tick-tock," he chants.  

I drop the phone, leaving it hanging by the cord.  

"Fifty seconds!" the muffled voice sings gleefully from the phone.  

Finally, my reflexes come back.  

Run.  

Run, get the family and get them to safety. This is what my instincts tell me to do. 

I sprint down the stairs, going so fast I stumble and nearly fall. I find Mom and Dad in the kitchen talking in low voices until I come in. I pull them with me toward the cellar. "Where's Hannah?" I ask urgently.  

"In her room. Why?" Mom asks. 

"Lilly, what's going on?" Dad asks.  

"There's a vampire coming in about thirty seconds," I explain quickly. They stop, jerking me back. I know exactly what's on their minds. "No," I say, quickly swatting the idea down. "You don't want to mess with this guy. Now come on!" I pull them again and they follow me to Hannah's room.  

I waste no time yanking the rug off the trap door and running down the stairs. Hannah asks no questions and follows us. "Shut it behind you," I command. I toss Mom my phone. "Call Jason. Tell him to get his butt over here." Then I grab a flashlight and toss it to Dad. "Follow me." 

I yank the giant painting back and walk into the library. Hannah raises her eyebrows at this, but enters after my parents. I pull the door shut tight behind them and then go to open the door to the actual passage. "Follow the passage. It will lead into the woods," I direct.