Chapter 13: Necklace

Chapter 13

I was like back in high school, being asked by my strict teacher about a question. I knew the answer but I remembered how my classmates would stare at me. It would always get into my nerves and cause me to talk gibberish. That's how I was feeling when he asked me about his necklace. I know how to answer it but I knew I'd stutter as I looked at his cold translucent blue eyes.

"Fran, where the hell is the necklace!" he asked again with an urgent tone. "Why the hell isn't it around your neck?" He looked at me with a stern disciplinarian way. Xed is strict but loving. He would only do what would be right. He'd usually be a dick if I end up in trouble because of my stubbornness.

"I...I gave it to one of the kids." I answered blankly like it was my second nature to obey him. Why the heck was I feeling guilty as if losing that damn necklace is a sin? He already gave it to me, why the heck would he care.

"I told you that it'll make you safe!" I could feel all his pent up rage welling up inside. He looked frustrated that he started pacing, impatiently in front of me. "Why wouldn't you listen?! Look at you now! Look what they did to you without my scent! I'll kill the one who fucking broke your arm!" He was roaring his rage, I could hear whimpering and fleeing bats afraid of their Sire. That's what they call elders. But he is the first one, the source of the infection.

I fired one bullet near his feet, just to warn him. He was trying to distract me, I know. And it was never going to work. He was startled but then he grinned at me. "Shut up." I muttered, with a pain-laced voice wincing from it as well. My vision was getting hazzier by the minute. Judging by the rising sun, the kids are now safely at the Evac Camp being loaded to the last flight out of this dangerous area. "Why are you here? You should have died two year ago, Xed." Now it is my turn to distract him. I needed time for the kids to be safe.

He looked at me intensely, but then he sighed. "When I woke up there were only a few things that I remembered. Your smile was the most vivid of them all and it remained a mystery up until I found you yesterday. This country has been calling to me ever since. I was a moth and it was like a beckoning fire for me. I didn't know it was you who was longing for me." He said as a sincere smile crept in his handsome face. "Vampires are born with a mate. Clinging to a telepathic pull to the person who will complete you is rare, but you and I are proof of it."

I snorted. "And you believed the bullshit they told us in story books? Why believe a killing monster when you're left for dead? I know the consequences of being left behind. That's why I gave the necklace to that kid." I spoke with utter defiance of what he said. I was rejecting his truth because I am afraid for my humanity. "She has to give it to my mom. I am going to die here Xed, because whatever you say I am never going to be a monster like you." I have to die. That's the only way out, my sweet escape.

We were marching in the middle of the pitch black tunnel with some neon sticks held by the children serving as our source of illumination. "We need to walk a bit faster!" I ordered them. The kids nodded their heads, some even said 'Yes, teacher,' while I walked past them as I walked towards the back of the group. "Keep up!" I shoved Alfonse who was trying to play the hero in the orphanage. He had some bruises on his face but he'll survive at least. He can't even fire a rifle much more can he be the diversion. We barely escaped the orphanage on the way to the tunnels connected to the mountains.

And much more to our excitement the walk inside the tunnels towards the other end was long, winding and full of whining from the kids who were both tired and hungry. Well at least their dreams of eating unlimited chocolate bars were fulfilled and it made them shut up for a little bit. That was the only bright side.

Almost all the adults who were working in the orphanage ended up dead. We barely rescued a child whose mother was changed and was about to kill her. It made me irritated and annoyed at my friend. If only he dealt with those bats in a complacent manner, we could have at least saved some of the adults.

"Why couldn't we go to the Evac Camp much nearer?" Alfonse asked me. He was heavily bruised the time we got to them. He was brave enough to stand up for one of the kids who was going to get eaten by those bats. His efforts was not wasted cause we arrived just time to shoot the stupid thing dead. He was stupid though.

"Because," Queencie was dramatically rolling her eyes, "the last plane left two hours before we got you guys out the orphanage, and bringing you there would mean feeding those bats." she explained sarcastically. She was tugging at Alfonse's arm to follow her, she was our team's medic. She had to take care of his slowly swelling face.

We were in the middle of the tunnel and it'll be a few hours before dawn. After we get out of it, the forest would be our new obstacle. But it would be just a short walk towards the beach and the last EVAC CAMP.

Hopefully the bomb irritated those bats' senses letting us have our head start. And if they are still following us I am relying mostly on my luck! Those bats would attack us but never really get near us. They wouldn't try to take the kids. And honestly, maybe it's because my ex-boy friend is their elder. Typically he was the one who sired them all.

I haven't got the guts to tell them what actually happened to me during my mind rape. And I haven't told them that Xed was a bat--the leader of those bats. And how I hated him for mind raping me, some survivors stated that what most of them experienced was the worst torture of their lives. What I actually had wasn't torture right? But it freaked me out that I am no longer a virgin, at least in my subconscious I'm not. And I'd know how it'll feel if I'd do it with someone.

Well, that's gross, in an oddly erotic way. Remembering those moments with him makes me uncomfortable in certain places. Who knew he had that effect on me. Well, I know I still love him, the human part of him at least. How could it be possible to love and hate at the same time.