Off With His Head

38. You're going to kill me? Turn me? Eat me?

We continue on the way we were heading before we were so rudely interrupted by the vampire. Caleb stops by the exit, pointing to a few drops of crimson that lead outwards. It doesn't help us much. We had always known that we would be going through the other side of the tunnel, but at least we now have proof that we are heading in the right direction.

The tunnel opens up into an empty street and the trail of blood leads us towards a dark and dense forest. It looms over us, dark and foreboding, unbelievably eerie in the moonlight. Zach is somewhere in there, but so are the seven vampires who are holding him captive.

"Jennings," Caleb says as we look at the mass of trees in front of us. He lowers his gun until its pointing at the floor, his shoulders slumped in defeat. "What are we doing? This is beyond dangerous. We don't even have a plan."

I gulp, knowing his right. Seven vampires sounds like a small number, but when I actually consider what they are, it seems impossible. I've been blinded by my determination to save Zach, too focussed on the rescue mission to properly consider the ramifications of this. The truth is, that the chances of us walking out of this are slim to none.

Zach and Caleb are far more experienced than I am and they couldn't do this, what makes me think that I can?

I try to keep my voice from trembling as I answer, but it betrays me, shaking slightly with each word. "We do have a plan. Get in. Save Zach. Get out."

"That's not a plan." Caleb shakes his head quickly. "That's a death wish."

His words sting, mostly because they are the truth, laid bare between us. I'm asking too much of him, and I know it. "Caleb, I told you before, you can still back out."

Is Zach's life worth Caleb's as well as your own?

"And let you face this alone?" He looks at me incredulously, his eyes wide with disbelief. "Are you insane?"

It's not too late to turn around. Caleb and I can go back to headquarters and forget about this. We will mourn Zach and miss him terribly, but we will live. For a moment, I allow myself to think about the possibility of giving up. I know that if I suggested it, Caleb would follow me and we could pretend this whole night ever happened, maybe continue taking the vampires down one by one, minus a teammate.

But then, we would never know what happened to Zach, if he was turned or simply killed. We would never get to see his rare smiles, or watch his ocean eyes fill with mirth. I would never get to call him Zacharias again or tease him about his jokes. Caleb would lose his best friend and Lideri his successor who he has come to view as his own child. And I would lose the person that brings out the best in me, the man whose touch somehow makes my fear melt away.

We can't give up on him. My heart won't allow it.

Mind made up, I turn to Caleb, raising my bow in the air, ready for another sneak attack. "Let's go then."

We traipse into the forest, taking care to step over fallen branches, following a winding pathway. Every so often, Caleb points out a drop of blood that lets us know we are going the right way. The only sounds are of crickets chirping somewhere in the distance, twigs crackling beneath our feet and the occasional rustling of leaves.

The pathway narrows and Caleb and I have to walk single file, with him in front and me bringing up the rear. I try to keep my breathing even, my ears peeled for any signs of life apart from those of the forest. The walk seems endless, punctuated with the occasional stop to search for tell-tale crimson spots.

Finally, the path opens up to a clearing. The canopy of leaves only letting in small slivers of moonlight. My heart lurches and my breath catches in my throat as I take in the sight in front of me. Zach, tied to a tree, bleeding profusely. He's not moving, his head lolling against his chest.