Chapter 11

Chapter 11: Blood Scream

Saturday 9:00 PM

Kat couldn't believe she fell for this. She couldn't believe she let him lure her. But, she thought as the ground quickened towards her, at least before she died she would live her dream to fly. Her back hit the ground, a snap echoed through the theatre, and her breath caught. She screamed, blood growing wings and flying from her mouth. She couldn't believe she'd been such a fool.

Saturday 10:00 AM

Alex walked out of the house, her bag clutched in her hand since it couldn't rest on her shoulders, the scars still not fully healed and painful to the touch from that demon's visit. She placed one stiff leg before the other, thinking of the coming concert. She had decided, she was going to tell Kat. She would make her believe. She couldn't live in fear like this of a man that wouldn't even know if she told Kat. She walked down the street and waited for the bus to come. She leaned against the pole and waited silently.

10:30 AM

Kat leaned against the brick wall that was infected with deep green moss and waited for the bus to arrive. She crossed her arms, plugged in her headphones, paced, till Alex hopped off the bus with a nervous weight and forewarning as she looked up to see Kat waiting there. Kat uncrossed her arms and placed them in her back pockets, smiling.
“Hey, Alex, right?” She breathed, trying to seem unsure. Alex nodded and walked forward, “Yep, that's what they call me. So where's this place we're going to? And..how exactly did you get here?”
“Bus, same as you. And waited for you to come to lead the way.” Kat murmured through her teeth. “Anyways, it's on Wilson and Doctor, and is like, some intesne building. It should have something like banners all over it saying 'Kutless, here tonight!'”
Alex smiled and nodded. Then, as if realizing that Kat couldn't see that, she told her “sound's good.”
They walked in silence for a time. Kat having to be lead by Alex, even if Alex almost got them lost. She had to bite her tongue from telling Alex where to go or how to get there so many times that only God knows how many times she actually did. When they finally did make it, Kat asked the time, one thing she still couldn't figure out even with a clock in her hands.
“Nearly time for the concert to start. C'mon, let's get our seats.”
They walked through large, wooden doors and into a massive building, one story packed upon another, filled with chairs and people filing in. Alex lead them to a man taking tickets then showed them to their seats.
“There's so many people here!” Alex screamed, though Kat strained to single out her voice.
“I can tell,” she shouted back, “I can barely hear anything!”
The screams roared louder, collected together instead of various conversations.
“The lights are going down! Kutless is coming on!”
As she finished her sentence a loud clang of the drums and beat of a guitar screamed out through the crowd. Kat's and Alex's screams followed the note along with the entire crod. Half way into the second song, Treason, they had found their way to the front.
“I love this song!” Kat screamed, dancing crazily.
“So do I!” Alex shouted. She paused for, Kat sensed, hesitating. Her mouth opened again, “Kat! I have something to tell you!”
“What?!” Kat screamed, being pulled away by the crowd ever so slowly.
“Something to tell you!”
Kat fought her way back to Alex and nodded, “What is it?”
Alex's mouth opened, a hand wrapped around it from behind, and she got no more than a squeak of panic out through the fingers. Before Kat could react, Alex had disappeared.

12:00 PM

The hand pulled away seconds later and Alex let out a scream that could burst ear drums. Her ears still rang from the roaring voices and the screaming music and her eyes fought to adjust to the new, natural light of the outside. A slap came from the back of her head and Alex stumbled forward, though as soon as the hit landed she whipped around to face the attacker. Her face went pale, stepping back.
“Did my servant not tell you not to let your mouth slip of a certain something you know?”
She couldn't respond. She swallowed several times, but still nothing came out. There was a wicked grin crossing the muzzle of a beast behind the man.
“Answer me, girl, did he not tell you not to tell the girl?” his voice was rougher now.
“H-how..?” she managed, eyes still fixed on the beast.
“Jerry was watching you the entire time. He has precise hearing, my girl.”
Alex was caught off guard and focused on this man's face. He was wearing a cloak, though his posture was stiff but confident, his arms crossed, and brunette hair lighting up the darkness of his hood along with a flash of white teeth. She then turned to the snickering horned wolf with deep blue fur and dark gray horns.
“Jerry?” she breathed, “Jerry? The one who-”
“The very same,” said the raspy voice, smirking his fanged grin. “You surprised beautiful?”
Alex coughed, “But-you and Kat! And-” then she trailed off, realization dawning on her. “Tonight..you two...you guys are going to some play...right?”
Jerry laughed, shook his furry head, and took a step forward, “Now now, aren't you a clever one, my dear? But it's time to silence you, as much as it pains me to see such beauty be thrown down the drain. Sleep well, Alex.” He pulled back, then leapt forward, jaws thrown open and claws stretching for her.

12:30 PM

Katara paced the outside of the place, wishing she had a phone to call the girl. She had sent out her senses and walked to every corner of the building and found no sign of her. She had started to flip, what was so important that she would be stolen right before Kat? Kat paced back and forth before the door, trying to think of some logical reason she would be gone. Some reason why Alex would be stolen right before her, and thought of none. And what was she to tell the police? That Alex was suddenly taken from some concert and disappeared? What evidence would she have? She's supposed to be blind. She sighed and tucked her hands in her back pockets and headed back to her bus stop, hoping, by some random chance of fate, that Alex was back at her house.

12:50 PM

As Kat walked towards Alex's house a form caught her attention off to her right. She stopped and turned it's direction.
“Dr. Vain?”
He started, turning to her, his heart beating hard enough to feel through his feet. “Oh, hi Kat. You startled me. What are you doing here?”
“Well, going to check out my friend's house.”
“Oh. I see. Kat..there's something I need to tell you.”
“That sounds like bad news.” she said slowly as Silver walked closer. He came next to her and sighed, “Was this girl's name by chance Alex?”
“Yeeeaaah...why?”
“Kat,” he started, looking down at the ground, “She's been taken by the Darksiders. She's-she's not coming back..The organization found her body at her house..I wouldn't suggest going in while we're cleaning it up.”
“What!? That's not possible! C'mon, honestly, that's not funny. Why don't I sense them up ahead?”
“They must've finished cleaning up, my dear. Please, calm down and breathe.” he rested his arm around her shoulders and pulled her close, shock still racking Kat's body.
“It's not true, Silver. It can't be.”
“But it is, my dear, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry.” He breathed. Kat pulled away and shook her head, “I-I need to go home..I'm sorry.” She leapt up and ran. Ran fast and hard till her lungs burned and her feet hurt. Then she let herself fall upon the grass of the store she had ended up in front of and let uncountable, invisible, tears fall.

1:20 PM

“No, she didn't.” A voice whispered in the darkness.
“What do you mean, she didn't?” Hissed the other.
“She got away. I don't know how. But when I turned around to finish her off, she was running faster than I could catch her. And before I knew it, I was passed out on the ground.”
“Passed out. You let that girl go, while you were passed out on the ground!? Get out of my sight.”
“Sire, please, give me another chance. At nine tonight I'll get you the one you want. Please, Sire, give me this last chance.”
“Fine. Do not fail me, Jerry, or I swear to you, you won't wake up tomorrow.”

1:20 PM

Kat slumped down on her couch and reached for her guitar. She pulled the acoustic, wooden beauty into her lap and placed her fingers upon it. She closed her eyes and let out a breath, allowing the music to calm her down. She strummed the notes and let the sadness and pain whip through her guitar smoothly like a wave upon the shore. She sat there for a time, ignoring the hunger ripping her from inside and ignoring the pain in her fingers. She didn't pay attention as her fingers started to bleed. She was lost in memory, lost in the thought of how this happens to people like her. She contemplated what she's done wrong, contemplated on what she could change to stop this from happening again. She choked on tears that weren't there and thought of the day coming home. She was younger then, but not in body, in spirit and mind. It was two years before, she had come home to find the door kicked in, a note cut into the wall and covered in blood, and overturned furniture everywhere. There were bodies upstairs, but she did not go up there for days. She cleaned up the house but avoid their room. She ignored the smell, ignored the blood that covered her hands everywhere she went. But she could no longer ignore the blood on her hands. She could no longer stand the fact that she did this. She was this being who was a rare creature, and for whatever reason, whomever she comes in contact with finds some why to die off physically or mentally. Her grandparents went mad, her parents were massacred, and now Alex? All within five years? She gripped the neck of her guitar tightly, the strings slicing her already pain-filled fingers, and hunched her shoulders. Was there any stopping this?

7:00 PM

Kat was leaning against the door frame when he came. She sensed him long before in her state of totally emptiness and awareness. She had her guitar still in her lap, but now pushed it aside and stood up.
“Hey.” she said as she opened the door before he even knocked. He smiled and nodded, “Hey. Everything okay?”
She took a breath, and nodded, smiling. “Yep. Of course. You're early.”
“Well, I was thinking, maybe we could go get something to eat?”
“Sure, why not? Where to?”
“Do you like pasta?”
She grinned, “Course. Let me get some things and I'll be right down.”
She ran upstairs, scoured her room, gathered a bag and threw in mace along with an assortment of other needed items. When she came downstairs he gave her his hand and lead her to his car.

8:30 PM

“So all of those are from playing guitar?”
“Yep, all of em.”
He whistled in slight shock, smiling, touching her hands again and running his fingers over her callouses. “How long have you played?”
“Mmm, not long, just long enough to know a few tricks and that's it.” Kat responded, fighting off a blush that tried to leap upon her cheeks as she felt his soft hands against hers. He laughed, nodding, “Well, that's always good.”
She nodded, “Yep. So where, exactly, are we headed?”
“There's a large theatre downtown. We're headed there now. We'll be there soon.”
She smiled at him, “Sounds good.”
They shortly approached said theatre, and he stopped them and looked at her, smiling.
“Kat, you're beautiful, you know that?”
Kat grew tense, predicting where this was going. She smiled and kissed his cheek, “C'mon, we don't want to miss the show.”
He hesitated, grinned, and nodded. “You're right. It would be a shame if we did.”
As soon as they walked in Kat knew something was wrong. She opened her mouth to express such feelings, but then he grabbed her arm so forcefully that all thoughts were washed out of her, replaced with a wave of shock. He pulled her to the balcony, and as they came to the top, she gripped her mace and sprayed it in his eyes and mouth with such precision, she prayed to God he would choke to death. Cause she could feel the waves of wind hit the ground from the creatures above. She could not see them herself, but she knew they were there.
Jerry screamed, stumbling back and whipping his eyes. It was a quite unmanly scream, Kat noticed with the quickest hint of pride as the winged beasts from above attacked. She threw blind punches and was awarded with a few good crunches and snaps. But more often than not she ended up cut over the face and arms. She stumbled back as the monsters attacked her. Then she could not stumble anymore. She found herself falling from the balcony, and when the ground opened it's embrace for her again, it took it's vengeance upon her back, snapping it completely in half. Kat gasped then let out the cry of an angel.

(hope yall enjoyed! i tried something diff in this chapter :D as yall can see!)

Chapter 10

CHAPTER 10: THE WORLD KEEPS TURNING

*A week later*

“And he has like, dark, black spiky hair..and-”
“Ssh! He's coming.” Kat murmured, turning her head away to her supposed work, fumbling “blindly” with something in her hands. Alex followed her example, looking down, taking her statement as legit, for Kat had extremely good hearing.
“Hey, do you guys know what homework we're supposed to be working on?” Jerry leaned against Kat's table, a grin tugging at his lips, though she noticed it never would have registered in a human eye.
“Um-” Alex started, looking at the paper before her. Kat guessed it was blank, and cut in for her, “Page twenty, problems four through ten.”
“Okay, cool.” He pulled up a chair, pulled out and placed a notebook and a book on the table. “So, what page again?”
Well, that ended Alex's description on Jerry's looks. Nonetheless, Kat had to bite her lip, as Alex did next to her, attempting to pull down their blushes. The only thing Alex had missed about Jerry's features was how ripped he was under his shirt. That's what got Kat.
“Uh, page-um, twenty.” Alex stumbled over her words, stepping in when Kat didn't answer.
Jerry looked at the two idiots, laughed and went to flipping through his book. As he did so, Alex glanced at Kat while Kat tapped her finger on the table twice. Alex did so as well and they grinned sheepishly.
“So, how exactly do you do your work, Kat?” Jerry asked, looking at her.
“Braille.” She pulled out her book, opened it up, and, as she had said, the book was all in braille. Though she could sense the words on the page, they were all piled on top of each other, so, like a normal blindy, she ran her fingers over it. She sighed, “This is the wrong book, isn't it?”
“Yes hun,” Alex said, stifling a laughter. Katara shook her head, “I would be rolling my eyes, Alex, you jerk.”
Alex stiffened, smiled faintly as Jerry cocked an eyebrow, “You can't move em?”
“No. I will soon though.”
“That's good,” Jerry smiled, then suggested to read aloud.
“Sure,” the girls answered at the same time. They laughed but Kat coughed abruptly, and started asking questions about physics, which Jerry answered, confused, as Alex started writing something down. The teacher walked by, glanced at them, then continued on.
Alex snickered as Kat grinned evilly, proudly. “Stick with me, lads,” she said in a british accent, “and you'll get on through life without a problem!”
“How did you do that!?” Jerry asked, eyes wide.
“She's like a bat.” Alex cut in, grinning.
“Yeah, sure, bat. And Alex is like a jerk.” Kat growled, “Next time, I won't warn you!”
“Oh suurrre, cause you're just a horrible person like that.” Alex grinned, knowing she won as Kat sighed, “Oh shudup.”
“Are you working kids?” The teacher said, coming up next to them. As the other two nodded hurriedly, Kat proceeded to ask a question to distract the teacher. One confusing explanation later and Kat, Alex, and Jerry were back to goofing off onto subjects that didn't matter. Going from laughing loudly that earned a glare from the teacher, to whispering when she was nearby. When the bell rung, Kat started to gather her things, and Alex approached her.
“Hey, um..I don't mean to pry or anything, I was just wondering, if like-well, what was up between you and Sammy. You two don't hang out as much anymore.”
Kat stiffened, unprepared. She hadn't really thought about it, but it was true. She avoided Sammy at all costs. She couldn't be with him, couldn't even say hi.
“Nothing. It's fine.”
She pulled her pack onto her shoulder and started to head out.
“Kat, really, I know something's wrong.”
“Alex, it'll be fine. Don't worry so much, alright?” Kat flashed her a reassuring smile, then slipped out of the room.
“Hey, Katara!” Jerry called, coming to catch up with her. She smiled kindly and turned to look at him. She sensed Sammy making his way towards her and headed down the opposite way.
“Yeah?”
“I was thinking,” his weight changed to that of nervousness, his back tensing, his weight on his feet lighter and his chest tightening, “If you, well, wanted to-”
“Kat!” Kat sighed, smiled apologetically, then turned her face in the general way Sammy was coming. “Kat-good God, stop speed walking!” He was gasping. He must have come from Captain's class.
“What's up.” Kat said, slowing her walk.
“There's something up with us. We need to talk.”
“You sound like my parents,” and as soon as she said those words a pain cut through her heart.
Sammy laughed slightly, then continued, “There's a hill out by my house, isolated. We could talk there.”
Kat heard Jerry sigh, smile at them slightly bitterly, for the tightness in his jaw was more than needed, then he waved a goodbye and strode off.
“He left. Sorry Kat.”
“It's fine.”
“So, how bout it? Weee'vveee got snaaacks!”
Kat laughed, then it cut short as remembrance hit her. She shrugged. “Sure, sounds good. I have to get to class.”
His throat tightened and Kat could tell she hurt him. Good, better him before he hurt her. “Right..So do I. Tomorrow?”
“After school. Yeah.”
“Okay.” he hesitated and when he didn't turn to leave, Kat looked over at him then said, “Catch ya later.” She took the nearest turn and dived into the safety of the next classroom.

“So, Kat, I didn't get to finish last time.”
“Yeah, sorry about that.”
“It's not big deal,” he said, helping her get her books in her bag. “I was just, well, wondering-” here, once again, he became nervous. “Well..I was...I dunno. Wondering...if maybe...you wanted to come to a play with me.” He paused, and as Kat opened her mouth to respond, he quickly added, “It-it's okay if you say no. I completely understand.”
Kat laughed, “Well, give me times, what play, and I'll see if I can fit you in.” she smirked at him, then slung her bag over her shoulder and headed into the hall with Jerry following her.
“Really? I mean...sweet. What plays are you in to?”
“Pretty much anything.”
Jerry laughed, “Agreed.”
“What's out?”
“Well, there's this play bout people like us.”
“Oh, really?”
“Yeah. It's been playin' over every radio and T.V.”
“I'm rolling my eyes, Jerry.”
“Right. Sorry, anyways, it sounds interesting. I'll call you later, alright?”
“Sure.” then something hit her. A play. Didn't that require sight?
“Uh, Jerry-”
“Hey, don't worry, you won't need to be able to see. All you need is to listen to them. If there is something vitally important I'll tell you, alright?”
She nodded, a smile playing on her lips. “Cool, sounds good. Thanks.”
“No prob. Hey, want to catch lunch?”
“Eating would be good.”
“C'mon. There's this place down the street I know.” He grabbed her hand and started pulling her towards the open doors.
“Wait-we aren't allowed off campus, member bright one?” She fought off the blush that was creeping onto her cheeks.
“Don't worry. We'll be back before they miss us.”
“But-we have cameras up everywhere!”
A smile tugged on the edges of his lips, “Let me worry about that. C'mon, let's go.” He pulled her out of the front doors along with the few others who dared to dart out with them, ducking and hiding behind random trees, bushes, even some of the other students who were with them. And Kat let him.

She laughed hard, shaking her head, nearly coughing up the shake she had just swallowed. “You can't be serious!”
“But I am!” He laughed, waving his arms in the air, “I was simply making the Latin joke and he thought it was a dirty joke!”
She laughed harder, “That's so great!”
He smiled at her, watching as she took another sip of her shake, her brown hair falling over the sash before her eyes. She really was quite beautiful, and he could understand why that Sammy kid liked her so much. He fought of the snarl that attempted to crawl on his face; she was blind. She was an experiment.
She was a monster.
He let his smirk cross his face; so was he. They had a lot in common.
“What?” she asked, breaking his thoughts. His eyes focused on her, “Nothing. C'mon, we should get back to class.”
“Alright.” she stood slowly, gripping the table as if for support and feeling out for her bag. He walked to her side and helped her, his eyes cold as he looked at her. Who was she fooling?
“Thanks.” she smiled at him, a small blush dancing on her cheeks. He couldn't help but smiling and taking her hand that was waiting for him. He pulled her along, out of the fast food seating area and into the sun. He squinted at the sudden change, glanced over at Kat and-despite knowing she was blind-was shocked at how she didn't even flinch. He shook his head and lead them back towards the school.

“Thank you for finally joining us, miss Katara.” She said coldly as Kat scrambled in-late. She smiled sheepishly, feeling the wall till she reached her seat and sat down in it. She rested her bag on the floor and sat back to listen to the lecture.
“Very well. As I was saying, what was the disadvantages of this tactic, class?”
“Psst!” Kat sighed and looked over in Alex's direction.
“What?” she breathed.
Alex glanced at the teacher, then leaned closer, “I heard you two snuck out.”
“What-how did you hear that!?”
“Ssh! Some other kids got caught. They were ticked off you two didn't.”
“Did they say-”
“No, they didn't tell. Don't worry. They told some of their friends and that's it. You're safe. But how'd you pull it off-”
“Alex and Katara stop blabbering and listen up.” Hissed the agitated teacher at the front of the room. The two retreated back to their positions and Kat nodded towards the door when she sensed Alex was watching. Alex smiled and nodded. Later, they had decided, when we're out of this room.
“Did he kiss you?”
“No he did not kiss me! What are you, insane!?” Kat hissed back, shaking her head, “I'd be rolling my eyes, jerk.”
“Hey, hey,” Alex said, palms out defensively, “It's a legit question.”
“Sure.”
“Hey, there's hotty right now. Why don't you talk to him?”
“Cause I've got to head home.”
“Why?”
“Got to get ready for work.”
“Work!? Seriously, don't your parents work?”
Kat shrugged, avoiding the question, “It's always good for me to get some experience early on.”
Alex laughed, rolling her eyes. “Suurre.” she punched her lightly in the shoulder. “This weekend, right?”
“Course. Later.”
Kat plowed her way out of the school, heading home by the usual route, stopping only for a few seconds to make sure she had the right homework. When she made it home she gripped the handle and opened it up; it was unlocked. She had started working on simple things with her power outside her shifted form. First one, manipulating her hand the fit quickly into the lock of the door and unlocking it to let her inside without a key. It felt odd, but it worked and she was getting better at it. She closed and locked the door, along with the deadbolts and a few other locks her parents had insisted on adding. She threw her bag down, awarded with a loud thump. She headed up to her room, fished around for the maid dress she had bought, and by the feeling of the one in her hand it was right. Putting it on cautiously, gathering her supplies and heading out into the world again, she got ready for the work that kept her house hers.

***
When Kat made it through another day of school she headed out the the place Sammy had told her he'd pick her up. She was somewhat reluctant to get into the truck with him, but she had promised. Well, kinda. As she approached the truck he came around the other side to open the door for her. She smiled faintly at him, a small “thank you” escaping her lips as he helped her up into the truck and closed the door for her as she fumbled with her seat belt and latched it over her body. He climbed in on the other side, started the truck, and they tumbled on down the road. It wasn't long till they reached the country side, their school already on the edge of the city. The rolling hills and rocky road gave Kat a headache, blurriness hitting her with random images of the landscape. Soon the truck slowed, the rolling hills becoming flowing fields of flowers, moving every so slightly with the breeze that galloped through them. With the car in park and Sammy jumping out of the truck Kat took the opportunity to wonder why she had agreed to come with him. She's alone. She's pretty dang defenseless, after all, she had no idea what fire could do to her other form. The door next to her swung open and she quickly unlatched her seatbelt and climbed down without taking Sammy's outstretched hand. He looked down, sighed, and closed the door after her. He gathered the basket from the trunk, slung the blanket over his shoulder, took her reluctant hand, and lead her up the small hill to a tree. Kat sensed a river below them, a willow above them, shading them from the harsh sun, and dancing flowers everywhere in between. She couldn't help but smile, to remember the times that her and Sammy had been close. Then she slipped her hand out of his; it would never be the same again.
Sammy looked at her, then frowned, spreading out the blankets. He set the basket down, then he himself sat, looking up at her. She sat down slowly, looking over the landscape, not facing him.
“Kat-”
“Sammy, this has to stop.”
He leaned back on his hands, looking at her, brow furrowed, taken aback with shock. “What?” he managed to say.
“I know what you are.”
“Okay, honestly, I don't know what you're talking about.”
She faced him, furious, “I know what you are! A Darksider, Sammy! You've been toying with me this entire time! I trusted you, Sammy!” she felt her throat close up, and knew she should be crying right now.
She should be.
“Kat, breathe. I'm not a Darksider. I don't even know what that is.”
“Yes you do! Stop playing games with me!”
“Katara! Please, listen to yourself. You honestly think I would seek to hurt you? You honestly think I would play you?”
She turned her head away and looked down, “I don't know anymore.”
He moved closer to her and wrapped his arms around her shoulders. “Kat. Listen. I would never, ever, hurt you. Alright? I'm not this Darksider thing. Alright? I'm not.”
She rested her head on his shoulder, “Never is such a strong word, Sammy.” she breathed, wishing that she could cry instead of being some unemotional freak.
“But it's true Kat.” he paused, tensing next to her. She pulled away, looking at his face the best she could. “What?”
“Kat,” he took her hand, “I love you.”
She coughed, “W-what?”
“I love you, Kat. I would run away with you in a blink of an eye. You are the most beautiful person I've ever seen. You're funny, kind, smart-everything. You are everything a guy could ever want.”
She went red, her hand going limp in his. “Y-you-w-what?” she gasped, “Sammy,” she looked down. “I don't..I don't know what to say.”
He took her chin in his hand, “Kat. You don't have to say a thing.”
Fearfully, sensing he might make a move, she embraced him tightly, shaking. “Sammy..W-why now?”
He held her close, “Because you should know. I can't stand it anymore, my love.” He stroked her hair, and pulled back to look at her. A smile played on both their lips, and Kat brought her finger to hers, kissed it, then placed it on his.
“Sammy..?”
“Yes?” He held her hand and kissed it.
“There is something I need to tell you.” She said slowly, the pressed on, her heart to high to bring it down to earth again. “I can see you.”