When the Blood Runs Dry

Chapter 1

"Hurry up Amelia!" Wolfgang yelled. It had been six years since the death of his parents. Six years of guilt. When Wolfgang turned 18 he became the legal guardian of Amelia. So far in their lives they've lived on their own in abandoned houses, in orphanages, and most recently, in the foster care system.

The year before Wolfgang had turned 18 they had been in the foster care system. They had lived in a decent home with a nice old couple, so Wolfgang thought it would be best if they stayed till he was 18. When the time came it was hard to say goodbye, they had given them a roof over their head, food in their stomachs and hot water, but Wolfgang knew what he needed to do.

So they packed up and were heading out. Amelia was taking a long time to come out of the house, but Wolfgang already knew it was going to be hard for her, she got really attached to Bertha, the old lady they stayed with. Amelia finally walked out with Bertha in tow, and they had one last hug before Amelia skipped down the stairs. Wolfgang hopped into the car and started the engine, while Amelia stood in front of the car door and sighed. She twirled her upper body and gave one last wave before getting in the car.

"Are you ready to go?" Wolfgang asked, worry lacing his tone. He rested his hand on the steering wheel and twisted his body toward Amelia, looking her in the eyes.

Lifting her head up to look Wolfgang in the eye, she nodded her head with determination.

"Ya," she sighed. "I'm ready."

Wolfgang pushed the gas pedal and the car sped off, leaving Bertha warily staring after them. Amelia's hair blowing in the wind, she leaned out the window. She then reached over and grabbed Wolfgang's hand, squeezing it, but not looking at him.

Wolfgang stared ahead and focused on the road. He thought about what they were going to do and where they were going to go, he had a couple hundred dollars saved up that was sitting in his pocket, and that might last a while.

It had been about an hour of driving when Wolfgang noticed he needed gas; he let out a slow breath that slightly whistled through his lips and his head lolled back. They had just passed one 20 minutes ago and was not expecting one for a while.

He slowly pulled over to the side of the road and hopped out.

"Why are we stopping?" Amelia asked, while she sat in the car.

"We're out of gas." Wolfgang said, "I'm going to have to get some more. Now you stay here, I won't be long."

"Nah, I'm going with you." Amelia said while opening the car door. "Besides the last one we passed was, like, 20 minutes ago, and I'm not sitting in that smelly car."

Wolfgang chuckled and rolled his eyes, "Fine. But don't slow me down!" And with that he took off running down the road, wind blowing through his hair. He smelled the fresh air and looked behind him to see Amelia running. She was catching up, quick.

She was always the speedy one, Wolfgang thought while he tried to push himself faster, but it was no use, Amelia smiled as she ran beside him.

"Now YOU don't slow me down!" She laughed, a smile plastered on her face. Her smile was captivating, and Wolfgang thought about all the boys he would eventually have to fight off throughout the ensuing years. With every step, Amelia got ahead of him more and more.

Finally, all exhausted, they made it to the gas station. Wolfgang bent over and fell to the ground, breathing heavily.

"Looks like I got my workout for the week," Wolfgang said as he sat up, "or the month."

Amelia laughed and started inside. Once they were in Amelia look at him and said, "How are we going to carry it back? I don't have any money to buy a tank thingy!"

Wolfgang laughed at her choice of words, "Don't worry I've got the money."

Amelia gave him a questioning look, she had always wondered where he got his money from. He had been gone a lot, and she figured he had a job somewhere, and when he pulled out the big wad of cash she almost fainted. Questions flooded into her mind, where did he go? Where did he get that money? Why didn't he tell me? Oh, she was going to have a talk with him.

With gas bucket in hand Wolfgang paid for the gas and started filling up the tank. Amelia stared at him from the side, he had always been the mysterious one.

As they headed back it was silence, Wolfgang knew when his sister was deep in thought. When they made it to the car Amelia immediately opened up the door and got in. Wolfgang stayed behind to fill up the tank with the gas, he squinted at Amelia as she sat there.

That's when it happened; the unthinkable. It was almost as if it was in slow motion, she got out of the car and started to walk around. Halfway around the car a guy in a gray hoodie jumped out and stabbed her, right in the chest. Amelia looked at him then at Wolfgang, her face construed with pain and sorrow, she opened her mouth as if to say something but then closed it. The killer roughly pulled out the blade and started to run.

Wolfgang abruptly pulled out the gas can and ran after him, but he had to far of a head start, and that's when he remembered Amelia. Wolfgang turned around and ran as fast as he could, his heart pumping loudly in his ears, he thought about Amelia and he almost teared up, but he roughly wiped it away. She was going to live, she was going to LIVE. She had to.

Bent over his dying sister, Wolfgang held her hand, the killer had puncture a lung and now it was filling up with blood. Wolfgang felt helpless laying there, he had tried to put pressure on the cut but that just put her in more pain. Amelia coughed up blood then tried to speak.

"Shh," Wolfgang hushed, "don't speak." He patted her hand reassuringly. He sobbed and kissed her forehead.

"Remember..." She began, but she couldn't finish. She started coughing violently, blood spewed out and Wolfgang could hear her gurgling. Eyes wide Amelia squeezed his hand one last time before finally letting go. Her hand slipped out of his and she quietly closed her eyes.

"Remember what?!" Wolfgang yelled, shaking her, "Please!" He tried one last time, before throwing his head down onto her. Crying he sat there rocking back and forth.