Always Hate Me

5. Facing a Mystery

Devi couldn't sleep. When dawn broke and it was light enough outside, she snuck out of the Czerwony. It was drizzling outside and Devi pulled up the hood of her thick hoodie. She walked briskly – her face intent. Something had attacked her last night but if she went to her superiors with a rambling, hysterical tale then they would never listen. She needed to find the jeep and show them evidence of what had happened.

Her breathing was shaky and she was on high alert. She rounded a corner in the road and heard the snapping of twigs to her right. Her first instinct was to run but she stopped herself. No, she needed to be calm and rational. She needed to see what she'd be running from first. She peered into the foliage – her heart hammering.

"You again," grumbled a voice. Devi remained tense.

Ryder stepped out from the bushes. Seeing him in the daylight, her lips parted in concern. He was literally covered in vampire bites – they'd even nipped actual chunks out of his arm. She had no idea how he was still standing. She scrutinised his face. It was covered in so much filth that it was hard to find a resemblance to the grim sketches she'd seen of the monster Ryder. But she hadn't forgotten the magic he'd summoned last night... It had fitted every horror story she'd heard about what the monster could do. 

"What's your name?" She asked uneasily.

"Crevan," Ryder lied. Devi considered this, continuing to study him. She'd never seen the notorious Ezra Ryder in person and his death had been reported and confirmed to millions of people, on every channel and station in Resistance's Empire. It wasn't possible that this man was him risen from the dead...

"You're a warlock," she stated.

"A poor one. Flashing blue lights is about all I can manage." He slowly closed the gap between them, holding her gaze and trying to look as sincere as possible.

Devi bit her lip. Perhaps the temperature drop last night had been natural and hadn't been to do with him. She was still a little suspicious. "I'm sorry I scared you, kitten." 

She bristled at the endearment.

"You look like you can walk. Head up that road and knock at the outpost. My colleague will help you. You can file out a crime report there too. I've got to go."

She stormed off. She needed to get to the jeep she'd abandoned. If she found evidence of slavers then the city needed to be warned – fast. 

Ryder clicked his tongue. She didn't seem to suspect who he was anymore. That was good. Without his powers he needed to be sneaky. Rotating his stiff wrist, he followed after Devi and swiftly caught up, matching her stride.

"You're hurt. Go back up the road." She pointed behind them. Ryder stuffed his hands into the pockets of his filthy jeans.

"I can't report this."

"Why not?"

"The vampires that attacked me..." he let his voice trail and put on an act of nervousness. "I'm scared they'll kill me if I talk."

Devi's anger lessened a little.

"You still need to get treated. I'm not headed to anywhere that can treat you – and I do really need to go."

Ryder made no move to leave her. He was hungry and thirsty and needed to keep out of the attention of any officials who might be able to recapture him. That meant that currently, his option were limited.