Once in a Red Moon

Chapter 2

CHAPTER 2

That place seemed very familiar. If I wasn’t mistaken, this was the old campsite our families used to come to every summer a long time ago… I never knew how we ended up abandoning it. I used to love this place. Family, that’s right… it reminded me of what Jake said. Once upon a time, Jake used to smile and laugh, like every other kid around, but all that changed four years ago. He completely forgot the meaning of happiness…and I was supposed to be his support, what did I end up doing? There was no substance in what I said anyway. He was right. As long as both humans and vampires existed, there would be no such thing as peace.

I checked my phone. There was no signal (why would there be? I was in a forest). It just made me realize that I was lost again. There was no way Jake was going to be able to find me in the dead of the night in a forest. Speaking of Jake, he would be worried sick, wouldn’t he? After all, all we have is each other just as he said. I wondered if I’d have to take shelter in a cabin for the night.

But, knowing Jake, I bet he wouldn’t stop looking for me.

There was a way to let him know where I was but it was only for emergency. I’d consider this an emergency. I’m sure there were wild animals prowling about around that place. I took out a blade. If I cut myself, Jake would know where I was by the smell of my blood but it may attract unwanted visitors. I decided to take the risk anyway.

I gripped the blade hard and released it. Blood was dripping from my palm. All I had to do then was wait.

With the scent of my blood in the air, it wouldn’t take long for him to find me.

I heard the crunching sound of someone’s footsteps on dried leaves. It was coming from behind me. I turned around with a smile “Jake?” but my smile faded. A guy no less than 20 turned up. He had crimson glowing eyes. He came into the light and his simple attire of a hoodie and jeans was visible. My whole body was trembling. It was a pure blood. Of all the vampires looming in the night, it had to be a pureblood. I had to get a hold of myself. I quickly pulled out my Glock-19 handgun and pointed it at him. He stared at me for a moment as if he had realized something and said casually “Oh. Now that is a very dangerous thing you have there.” My voice whimpered “St-Stay away pureblood.” I tugged at the trigger. In a flash, he was in front of me. He gently pulled out the gun as if it were butter and said “Someone might get hurt.” He looked at my bleeding palm “Hm. That’s not good.” He reached into his pocket and I took advantage of the situation by kicking him in the thorax “Don’t come near me.” He took something out from his pocket. A few strips of band-aid. He looked at me and said “You people can’t give any original reactions, can you? I just wanted to patch up that wound for you. You don’t need to be scared. Be thankful that it was just me who showed up.”

I didn’t understand this situation. A pureblood wanted to help me? I really didn’t understand, but I couldn’t let my guard down either. I pulled out my other gun and stepped back.

He face-palmed and said “You had another one of those on you?” I said “I’m a vampire hunter." For a moment I thought I saw sorrow in his eyes, but I snapped out of it. Vampires would do anything to deceive humans. He said in a serious tone “I’m not so low as to bite you as soon as I see you. There’s a reason I’m a pureblood.” I replied “And there’s a reason I’m a vampire hunter.” I heard footsteps and Jake emerged from the east of where I was standing. “Good thing you’re here, Jake. This guy’s a pure blood. Help me out here.” I didn’t hear an answer from him. “Jake?” I turned to see him, my gun still in place. He didn’t answer. He was slowly walking towards me. “Jake?” I was getting worried. “A morph?” asked the pureblood “I have a bad feeling.” Jake lifted his head a little. His eyes were different. They looked lifeless. What in the world?

Dropping my gun, I went and grabbed his collar “HEY! JAKE! Can you recognize me?!”

The pureblood said desperately “Hey! Get away from him!” I asked “What?”. Jake suddenly gripped my face tight looked at me with those emotionless eyes. What the hell happened to Jake?! Jake opened his mouth a little. His fangs were visible. No, he wouldn’t…he couldn’t! He lowered his head. I said “No… Jake stop…STOP IT!!!”

His fangs sunk into something, but not my neck. It was the hand of that pureblood. But if a morph drank the blood of a pureblood… there would a rejection reaction. Jake started coughing out blood. I could see that he was in a lot of pain and he finally passed out. The pureblood asked “Your friend?” I nodded. I knelt down to Jake and raised his head a little. Thank God, he was breathing .The pureblood said “His condition most likely escalated. He may have been provoked by your blood.”

I asked him “Why… did you save me?” He looked away “Don’t get me wrong. I don’t like unnecessary bloodshed. I don’t get violent unless I really have to.” That was really out of character especially for a pureblood. He was about to leave but I said “Wait!” He asked “What do you want?” The least I could do is dress his wound. I said pulling him down “I don’t want to be indebted to you. Let me bandage your wound.” He plopped down with an ‘Ow!’. I opened my first aid kit and started dressing his wound. He winced a lot when I put on the antiseptic. Honestly, even I could handle undiluted antiseptic. I asked for his name. He mumbled “Ethan.” I asked “Isn’t that an organic compound?” He said “That’s ethane. My name is Ethan.” I said “I was just kidding you know, you took it so seriously. I’m Sam.” He noticed something in my first aid kit and asked “Why do you have blood pills? You’re not a morph too are you?” I said “It’s for Jake. But he’s never taken them before. I carry them just to be sure.”

Ethan exclaimed “What?! Never taken them before? But he’s gone into serious morphing!” I tightened the gauze “I know.” He said looking at Jake “Wow, that guy has some control eh? Or is it his deep love for you?” To be honest I doubted it was either of those. I answered “It’s his deep hatred for Vampires.” Ethan asked me “What about you? Do you hate vampires?” I finished the dressing, so I didn’t have anything to do with this guy anymore. “Enough questions. I’m done here, you should get going.” He got up “Next time we meet, I hope you won’t be pointing guns at me.” I replied “I hope we never meet again, if we do, we’ll have no choice but to fight each other so I will be pointing guns at you.” He winked and said while leaving “Maybe we could get along, Sam.”

Now that he was gone, I got Jake into a cabin and covered him with my jacket. He really tried to bite me…
I leaned against the wall and unknowingly fell asleep.