Chapter 24

David was on the brink of death. Jon’s body coiled tightly as he listened to the labored breaths, slow, irregular heartbeat.

Staring at the pale face of his friend he felt misery well up in dark waves. Was he turning? Was he dying? Kneeling down to the bed he decided to get him out of there, they could all panic later.

As his hand rested on the sweaty forehead, David cringed, a pitiful moan rushed from his purple lips.

“Please…no more….get this over with ….” His weaken strength prevented him to plea any further.

“Dave…it’s me ..Jon. I found you buddy…” Jon haven’t realized his fangs were still visible until David’s opened his eyes.

“Please God ..no more!” he was hauling himself closer to the wall, his hands tangled in the bloody sheets as he tried to keep himself up and away from the fanged creature.

He was hallucinating…Jon was sure he didn’t even recognize him.

“Joker! Its me…lets get you out of here ok buddy?”

There was no recognition flickering in those huge, terrified eyes. Scooping him up, Jon made his way towards the window. He might be putting up a show but he could feel David’s body weaken every ticking second.

As the cool breeze of the night air brushed up to them he thankfully felt David’s body slack against him. His breathing was shallow but it was there, the slow thrum in his chest was a sluggish motion…but it was going at least.

Jon set foot on their private patio a while later. Tico was wearing out the carpet inside and as Jon knocked ever so courteously he almost snapped his back.

“What the fuuu….Joker! Oh my God! Is he alive? Jon I can’t feel a pulse! Oh Jesus!” Tico was all over them.

Jon sidestepped him and stalked towards the bed, lying him down.

“He is alive Tico…weak as a newborn baby…but the ticker is still going…barely.”

Silence stretched out like sandy dunes in a desert. They were waiting…for what they didn’t have a clue, maybe a miraculous recovery or Joker jumping up shouting “April fools!”. There was none of that, only a deathly ill man and two idiots gaping at him not sure what the hell to do.

Flashes of blood dripping into David’s mouth invaded his mind and Jon felt raw fury clawing at him. Maybe if he was more attuned to his visions…quicker to get to that house…he could have saved him from this life…a life of darkness, killing and blood…human blood.

Tico came back with a warm cloth, he caught Jon’s white knuckles and blazing eyes and asked softly.

“Something I need to know Jon?”

Tico fought from flinching as Jon’s murderous, flashing orbs turned his way.

“They made him drink Tic….they forced him to drink! FUCK!” He pivoted, pacing up and down, his eyes resting on David’s unresponsive frame.

“So he is going to be like you?” His voice lacked any reproach only regret…aching regret.

“I dunno Tic. He hasn’t shown any signs yet…maybe it was too late…shit.” He sagged onto the bed, his hand hovering above his friend’s forehead.

“He is burning up. I don’t know what to expect Tic.”

“Wouldn’t Chimala know?”

Relief quieted the harshness in his eyes. She had slipped his mind!

“Call her Jon. Maybe she will help.”

He punched the numbers and a few rings later, her feminine voice purred in his ears.

Jon turned and stalked out, what he wanted to say wasn’t for Tico’s ears.

She listened quietly, waiting for Jon to finish.

“I think I should come over.”

“How long you gonna take? He needs help now!” he growled at her.

“I’ll be quick enough…”

“It better be cause as God is my witness. If he turns, I’ll kill him.” Jon reared back on the balls of his feet. Did he just say it out loud? What had he become? Killing friends now? God Almighty!

He expected a shocked gasp, there was none, then he remembered who…what he was talking to.

“He is your friend Jon.”

“That’s why I won’t put him through this hell.”

“Is it really that bad for you? You must be doing something wrong sweetheart.”

“Fuck you Chimala. You don’t walk in my shoes everyday. Now get your ass here.” He hated her constant taunting, he wasn’t a damn child!

“I’m already on my way. Sit tight.” Click…..

~~~

Richie stretched languorously in bed. Damn! He dug his nose underneath the warm blankets. His room was freezing! The previous night came flooding back and he shot up, gasping as the icy fingers of winter brushed against his nipples, puckering them into tight nubs.

Slipping from the bed he pushed the curtain aside and felt his stomach drop.

“FUCK!”

It was snowing like crazy! There was no way he would be able to leave here today.

Flipping the bag open with a little more violence that necessary, he yanked out a pair of jeans and a warm sweater.

Armed with a warm jacket a mountain of courage he reached for the door. Surprisingly the knob turned under his palm and the door swung open. Ksenia must have unlocked it somewhere during the night.

The welcoming smell of freshly brewed coffee teased his nose and he followed it, knowing it would end in the dining room.

“Aaahh Richie. Good morning! Did you have a goodnight’s rest?” the professor folded his newspaper into a near pile.

He glued on a smile, telling himself to ease when he felt his lips curled in a sneer.

“Yes thank you. I slept like a baby.”

Ksenia walked in. Dark circles tarnished her flawless beauty, her huge eyes focused on him.

“Good morning sir. Would you like some bacon and eggs?” her tiny smile was forced, her lower lip wobbly as nerves plucked at it.

“That would be great thank you Ksenia.” She whooshed out of the door.

Richie sipped at the sweet warm heaven in his hands.

“I see we had quite a heavy snowfall during the night.”

“Oh yes quite a bit. I hope you weren’t planning on leaving today?” Richie hated his creepy eyes as they stared at him.

“Actually I was but now that the weather decided for me, I can just as well get to learn more about what you do.”

A glimmer of malice lit the old eyes.

“But of course and you can tell me more about your friend.”

You wish! You fucking sick bastard.

Ksenia walked in and with her the divine smell of crispy bacon and fresh toast.

Her eyes fluttered nervously at him.

“I hope it’s to your liking sir. If you need anything…”

“Everything will be just fine. Thank you.” He wasn’t just referring to the breakfast and she knew it and she wanted to believe..oh God how she would have loved to believe him! But he didn’t know the professor…not at all.

She nodded and walked out, feeling her insides jerk as she met the dark, cold eyes of the old man on her.

Folding the napkin and throwing in onto the table, he scraped his chair back.

“I hate to be so rude but if you excuse me? I have some urgent errands to run. Would you meet me in my study after you’ve had your breakfast?”

“Sure thing.” He crunched into the crispy piece of meat, hoping he didn’t appear as jumpy as he felt.

He was about half way into his hearty meal, when he reared back as a tiny hand rested on his arm.

“Does everyone tiptoe around here? Dan girl I almost swallowed my fork!”

She blushed, her head turning towards the door, praying that the professor won’t find her here talking to him.

“You won’t be able to leave today. Please don’t go wandering off! Hopefully we’ll be able to get you out of here soon. Promise me!”

Tiny little thing with the heart of a lion, he itched to brush the tiny bangs from her face.

Her eyes kept swinging back towards the door, her hand squeezing his arm urgently.

Richie smiled lazily at her.

“I promise..BUT then you have to come to my room tonight and finish your story…..” why he did that he didn’t know…he wanted to know her sad story…wanted to understand what she was doing here, maybe he wanted company in this God forsaken place.

She bit her lip, her face swept up to meet his.

“Ok…I promise. I have to go.”

For a moment he thought she might kiss him but the cold rush of air as she hurried out told him otherwise.