Coming of Age

Chapter 10

Before you read: This chapter is quite pivotal but there are a few things I want to warn you about. There is a lot of blood again in this chapter and if you are squeamish about it, please do not read. There’s also a slight mention of self-harm but it’s not what you think… if you can’t read anything with self-harm, skip ahead to the "censored" chapter I tailored to fit you! There’s no trigger warnings at all so you can still enjoy it! Thanks for reading ^_^

“Philip, may I have a word?” Abraham asked, knocking gently on the door.

“I’ll be right back, Daniel. I promise,” Phil whispered carefully maneuvering out from behind Dan and lay him gently against the pillows.

He followed Abraham to one corner of his room by the refrigerator while Dan strained to turn his head to hear them, giving up because of the pain coming from his neck.

“He isn’t getting better. And I doubt he will,” he started making the atmosphere heavy with grief.

“Are—are you saying he’s going to die?” Phil choked not wanting to believe it.

“Yes, unfortunately I am. We’re doing what we can, but he’s gone through three blood bags already and he’s not getting better.”

“I can’t give up on him, Abraham. I can’t. I—I—he’s mine—and I love him—”

“You have a choice, Phil,” Abraham whispered. “You can put him to sleep and relax him putting him out of his pain. He’ll pass peacefully and in your arms. He won’t feel a thing.”

“What’s the other choice?” Phil asked taking a glance back at Dan willing to do almost anything to put him out of his pain. “Anything but that. I can’t—I need him—”

“The only other option is drastic, Philip. You’d have to change him. But you’re going to have to do it soon while he still has his own blood in him and enough strength to swallow yours. There is that chance he won’t make it through. Because Ruse bit him, his body might reject the change and he’ll die anyways, but he’ll be in tremendous pain every second until his heart stops beating.”

Phil looked down fighting back tears.

“This isn’t how I wanted it—I wanted him to be happy.”

“There’s still time to make him happy. Whatever you choose to do, you’re giving him that chance.”

“What would you do?”

“That’s not for me to decide. That’s entirely up to you, Philip.”

Phil nodded and walked back over to the bed, kneeling down on the side resting his hand over Dan’s forehead to push his hair back. How are you supposed to tell the person you love that you have to kill them?

“Daniel, I have to tell you something. I’m afraid it can’t wait until you’re better because—I’m so sorry,” Phil sighed hanging his head making Dan worried. “You’re hurt too badly. Your body can’t recover. I—I’m going to ask you something, and whatever choice you choose, know I’ll love you forever. I just want you to be happy.”

Dan stared at Phil waiting for him to continue wishing he could say something to him. He looked so distraught and after all he’s been through today, Dan would do anything to make him smile. Because of the pain, all he was able to do was look at Phil with tired eyes, hands balled into fists making his knuckles white while he tried his best to ride out the pain throbbing in his neck.

“I—There’s no good way to say this. You’re going to die, Dan. But it doesn’t have to be like this,” Phil motioned to the machines around him and rested his cold hand on Dan’s sweating forehead. “I can put you to sleep. You won’t feel a thing and you’ll drift off and it will feel so good for you.”