Green Eyes

The creature in front of me stood in a crouch, his shaggy brown hair hanging over his now blood-red eyes. My eyes took in his face, his pale skin, his old-fashioned clothes.

My body began to shake rapidly as I continued my observations, with each one confirming who I thought was standing in front of me.

‘Liam?’ I whispered, just loud enough for him to hear me. The creature looked across, his eyes softening when he saw me. They began to turn their normal brown colour, and I shook my head in disbelief.

‘Kayla’ he said, and I recognised his voice. This was my friend standing in front of me, with sharp fangs and blood-red eyes. What had I missed?

I felt Zacky tense beside me, and he leapt in front of me, crouching low. Liam’s eyes flicked to Zacky, immediately turning a deep red. Letting out a menacing growl, Liam stepped forward, fangs beared.

‘Liam stop it!’ I yelled, and his eyes flicked to me. ‘It’s Zacky – he’s my friend!’

Liam’s eyes turned black, and I stepped back in fear. ‘Friend?’ he growled, in a voice unlike his own. ‘Friends don’t kiss. Friends don’t hold hands. At least you never did that with me.’

By now I was beyond confused. I didn’t understand why he was angry, why he wouldn’t back down. Zacky pulled me behind him, holding onto me as if to make sure I was there. ‘Boyfriend.’

If anything, Zacky saying this word made Liam’s eyes look more human. Instead of just swirls of darkness, his eyes showed pain, hurt, anger and jealousy.

His eyes flicked to me and he smirked widely, showing his pearly white fangs. ‘Well let’s see what sort of boyfriend he is once I’m finished with him.’

With that said Liam leapt forwards, his long pale arms extended to reach Zacky’s neck. Zacky let out a strangled howl as Liam ripped at his face, sending him flying onto the floor with blood running down his neck.

I screamed and ran over to Zacky but before I could reach him he was up, charging at Liam with phenomenal speed and skill. Liam smirked and dodged, turning to wink briefly at me before punching Zacky forcefully in the head.

I heard a crack and Zacky fell to the floor, his eyes closed. ‘How useful is your little boyfriend now Kayla?’ he growled, kicking Zacky in the side.

‘Liam stop!’ I screamed, running towards him in a desperate attempt to hold him back. Liam just shook his head sadistically and wagged his finger. ‘Now now Kayla, it’s a little too late to come running to me for help.’

I heard a growl as Zacky’s hand shot up, grabbing Liam around the stomach and pulling him to the ground with a shriek. Zacky’s hands found their way around Liam’s neck as he hissed, holding him down with his legs.

Zacky punched Liam in the face repeatedly, and Liam’s body jerked continuously, trying to get away from his blows. With one burst of strength Liam used his legs to hurl Zacky across the room, and Zacky howled as he hit a rock.

I felt his pain. I felt his fear. I felt every blow Liam gave him, every scar he received, every drop of blood that fell down his face. And it was killing me.

Running to Zacky’s side, I ignored Liam’s laughter and made my way to the mangled piece that was the man I loved. Zacky’s eyes were half-closed and there were streams of blood running down his face, but I took no notice as I took his face in my hands. ‘Zacky?’ I whispered, running my hands along his dirty cheeks. Tears began to fall from my eyes and dropped carelessly onto Zacky’s torn face, trickling down along his pale skin and into the pools of blood below.

Liam’s laughter stopped as I turned to him, my face completely distorted by anger and disbelief. The tears dropped onto the cold hard floor as I glared, so overcome by emotions that I could no longer sense my presence.

This man before me was a friend, a friend who I believed to be loyal, loving and forgiving. But here he was, disguised by jealousy and rage into a creature so powerful that even the strongest couldn’t stop him. This was no longer my friend; this was a stranger with cold red eyes and murderous fangs, a creature so lost even he could not find himself.

Part of me felt sorry for him. Part of me wanted to be the one who rescued this man, the one who made him back into the friend I missed. But that part of me was lost the minute I saw the person I loved lying on the floor, blood at his side, all because of who this man had become. A monster.

I heard a bang as two figures landed in front of me, falling down upon the soft grass that was now splattered with blood. One let out a growl and I saw Liam’s face contort with fear, and he took a step back. The two in front of me stepped forwards, and with one last growl Liam took off running.

As I stared at his retreating figure, I couldn’t help but feel said. Had I lost a friend? I couldn’t deny that I cared about Liam, even if it wasn’t in the way he wanted. Was all that now lost?

I looked up from my dazed state and met a pair of hazel eyes, staring at me in concern. ‘You ok?’ he asked, touching me on the shoulder with his cool hand.

Nodding slowly, I allowed him to pick me up and carry me over to where Jimmy was now standing with Zacky in his arms. With one last look at the blood stained ground, I felt myself being lifted up, and being carried away at a dizzying pace.