Dead in the Water

(Nonnie’s POV)

I stood there as the dust from Gerard settled on the floor around me. I wanted to just stand there and digest what I had just done, but his left over men didn't want to give me the chance. They started attacking me. I could see in the front that a couple of Gerard's men were headed toward Frank, who was still tied to the table. I couldn't let them get to him. I quickly swept the feet from under the two vampires I was fighting and then headed toward the front. I could kill them after I saved Frank.

I made it just in time. The two were picking up a stake to stab him. The one with the stake smiled at me. I confused him by smiling back giving me the time to kick the stake from his hand. Soon the two I had left caught up with me. I was now fighting four vampires at once and Frank was still tied to the table. I smiled thinking of how the tables had changed. Here I was saving Frank. It was usually him saving me. I blocked a jab and jumped as someone tried to sweep my feet from under me. So many arms and legs flying all over the place. I wasn't sure who I was hitting. Finally Patrick and Jenny came and started helping. They took out two and I took out two. Then I rushed to Frank's side. I wasn't sure how much of the night we had, and I could tell that Gerard had more than the ten men we just took out.

"Non, are you okay?" Frank asked. I vaguely remember him calling me while I was fighting, but I had tuned most everything out already. I simply nodded and kept untying his ropes. Once I was done, he engulfed me in a hug. I pushed him away and he gave me a puzzled look.

"We can do that later. There are more of Gerard's men here and its almost sunrise." He nodded his understanding and we all headed to the back. Jenny and Patrick opened the door first to check if we were already too late.

"Okay from the looks of it, I think we got about an hour before sunrise." Patrick said. Frank and I didn't waste any time. As we came out I started looking around to see if there was anything familiar. We needed to find shelter and fast. I didn't recognize anything.

"Uh where are we?" Jenny asked. We all looked at Patrick for answers he just shrugged. I heard something bang against the staircase door. I knew it was Gerard's men. I ran over and stood holding the door closed.

"Patrick figure something out cause I won't be able to hold this for long."

"Uh...Oh...Okay stars. I can at least get us pointed toward home using the stars..."

"Light pollution. We are in LA there's no way you can see the stars." Frank said. One of Gerard's men threw his body against the door moving me only a couple of inches.

"Guys think of something that might work." I said. Frank ran over to the right and came back with a metal poll. He took the poll and threaded the door handles with it effectively securing the door closed.

"That better?" He said grabbing my hand and pulling me away from the door.

"Much," I said as he started walking in the opposite direction.

"Wait," Patrick said. "If we leave we might just be moving away from the safest place for you guys."

"If we find a pay phone I can get my friends to come and get us. I know they are probably out hunting right now. We don't have much time. So you can stand there and try to navigate by the stars if you want. I’m trying to save Nonnie’s and my life." Frank said never once missing a step.

"Frank how will you tell them where you are?" Patrick asked.

"You and Jenny will be just fine if you get caught in the sun, Nonnie and I will die a painful death again." He said still pulling me along behind him. I decided that I wouldn't say anything to either of them. I just needed to get into a nice hot bath and that would make everything better. We walked a good two blocks before we saw something we recognized. It was the doctors office I worked in as a receptionist when I still lived with Frank.

"Frank our old apartment." I said. "You think anyone's living there?"

"Well there's only one way to find out," he said. We took off running for the apartment building. I couldn't for the life of me understand why I couldn't tell where we were before. We went around back to the fire escape and pulled it down so that Jenny and Patrick could climb up. I went up in front of Frank. I could feel the temperature getting hotter. It was very slight, but it let me know we were running out of time. I rushed in front of Patrick and Jenny; they didn't even really know which floor to stop on.

We made it to the fourth floor and I got to what used to be Frank’s and my bedroom. It was a fully furnished place. That's why we loved it so much since we were planning on being on the road a lot. I didn't have to take the time to pick out furniture and stuff. I put my hand through the window and almost stepped in but thought better of it.

"You have to go first and invite us in," I said looking at Patrick. He quickly scrambled into the window. "I invite you both in," he said. That same moment I smelled it. He must have cut his hand on the window going in. I shook my head and climbed into the window hoping that once inside I wouldn't smell it as strongly, but I was wrong. Inside the smell only got stronger. I felt my fangs slide out of my gum against my will. "Patrick run," I said trying to keep myself in one place. Frank came in after me.

"Nonnie?" Patrick questioned.

"Run Patrick." Frank warned. “You and Jenny go to the hospital and get some packets for us from Sisky. Hurry,” He stood there waiting for Jenny. She climbed in cutting herself also, causing the smell to get stronger. Frank grabbed my arms tightly holding me in place. I closed my eyes trying to forget my sudden hunger, but it wasn't working. I started struggling to get away from Frank. He held me tighter than before. Patrick and Jenny had run out of the room, but I could still smell them in the apartment. Suddenly I felt like I was on fire, Frank lifted me off the ground that rushed the two of us to the closet closing the door behind him. He turned on the small over headlight. "Are you okay?" he asked. I could tell he was in pain just like I was.

"Are you okay?" I asked. He smiled.

"I asked you first," I looked at my shoulder there was a nasty looking burn there.

"I think I’m fine. How bout you?" I asked. He winked.

"I'll be fine,"

"Let me see," he shook his head no.

"Let's just rest until the sun goes down, then we'll go get some packets and..."

"Let me see," I knew he had to be worse off than me, he was blocking me with his body from the sun. If I only got my shoulder burned.

"No," he said stubbornly. "I'm fine," I stood up from where I was on the floor and pushed his shoulder. I saw him grimace in pain. "Okay so I’m a little hurt," I rolled my eyes and before he could protest I spun him around and looked at his back. It was like my shoulder but from his neck right to above his jeans.

"Oh Frankie," I said putting my hand to my mouth.

"It'll heal," he said turning to look at me. "We should rest now though." he wrapped his arms around me and we both sat back down. he leaned against the wall and grimaced until the pain settled then made me lay my head in his lap. "I'm proud of you,"

"Don't be, I just killed one of our best friends. My best friend next to you." he brushed his fingers through my hair.

“Gerard died a long time ago, and Mikey died the same night he was changed.”

“So where does that leave me?”

“I don’t know Non, I don’t know what you want me to say,”

“That’s funny cause I don’t either.”
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