Take My Hand

A few hours had passed since both my parents had found out about me and Brendon, now I knew that they were definitely asleep in their beds from the sounds of their soft snoring coming from down the hallway. I opened my window which, thankfully isn’t a struggle to open so did not make a noise. I escaped out of the window, not knowing at that time, that this would be the last escape from this house I’d make. I unintentionally speed walked to Brendon’s house, probably because I was still angry at my mother and father for what they had shouted at me for. For something stupid. They don’t know Brendon. How dare they judge him for something that he is not.

I was to busy boiling my blood with all these angry thoughts to realize that I had approached Brendon’s house. I reached my arm out to knock on his door as I walked down his path way, but I pulled it back when I saw that his door was opened slightly. Just like before, except this time I heard no loud music coming from inside. From what I could see and hear, his house was completely dead. I suddenly felt extremely edgy and nervous, don’t ask why. Not only was his house empty and quiet, but also the whole street was. No sound or sight of life at all. I tried swallowing the lump that had formed in my throat, not succeeding, instead I faced my nerves and opened the door wider.

“Brendon,” I called out into his house. “Are you here?” There was no answer, just more silence. I stepped into the pitch blackness within his home, trying to search for any sign of life or even a light switch to brighten the place up so then I would know where I walking. I gave up after awhile of stroking the wall. For once, I actually trusted my instincts and walked deeper into his home, to what I knew as his bedroom. Once again he wasn’t in there, so I decided to check his small en suite bathroom. Not in there. I went back out into his bedroom and stared at his wall mirror and couldn’t help but notice that there was a large crack at the bottom of it. If I hadn’t had been so fixated in the crack, I could have sworn that I saw something move behind me in the hallway, but then again it could just be my mind playing tricks on me. Nevertheless by heart rate had quickened a lot faster than it was before and my eyes were rapidly searching for someone in the hallway.

“Who’s there?” I asked, as if someone was going to answer me. I wasn’t surprised that I didn’t get an answer back, so I just returned to looking back in the mirror. I fixed my hair trying to make myself not look like crap, then I turned around away from the mirror.

I let out a piercing shriek, as my eyes almost popped out of their sockets at who was in front of me. I backed up to the wall and slid down it, continuing to scream, then crawled to the corner of the room to get away from, Brendon. He stood at the door frame, his mouth covered and dripping with blood. His once white t-shirt was now a deep blood red color. I covered my mouth with my shaky hand stopping myself from screaming. I stared into Brendon’s eyes expecting to see them filled with blood lust and murderous vibes, intimidating his next victim, but instead I saw an ashamed and regretful Brendon staring back at me. He started walking towards me and I couldn’t help but scream and try to get away from him, but I just couldn’t find the strength to get up onto my feet.

“Belle. Babe. Please, calm down,” He had cornered me in his room, even if I tried to escape now I wouldn’t be able to since he had blocked my escape. “Shh, just listen to me, okay?” He put his hand to my face and wiped some tears that I hadn’t acknowledged until just now. The touch of his hand stopped my continuous screaming.

“Oh my god,” I whispered shakily. Those were the only words that I could get out.

“I didn’t mean to. I swear. You don’t know what it’s like to be like me and I just lost it. There were some kids from our school. They said a few things that they shouldn’t have said. I lost it, Belle. I just couldn’t contain it anymore. I killed them, Belle! All three of them! I was so angry, with what happened and all and those kids made it worse for me.”

“What the fuck were you thinking?!” I screamed at him, voice breaking, tears now pouring from my eyes. “There were three of them!? You’re a fucking monster! You’re a monster! You’re a monster!” I repeated, as I hit his blood soaked chest constantly. I completely broke down and collapsed into his chest, his arms wrapping around me.

“Shh, shh. Calm down, babe,” Brendon soothed as he whispered into my ear. He began to stroke my hair and the violent shakes in my body stopped. “I’m leaving, Belle. I’m running away,” Brendon informed.

“What? You can’t. Where are you going to go?” I questioned him, breaking away from the hug and wiping the tears from my face.

“Any where’s better than here. People are going to find out about the murders and I don’t think I’m going to be able to cope with this conscience lingering around here,” Brendon explained as he pulled the shirt over his head, uncovering his bare chest. No matter how much of a serious situation this was, I couldn’t help but stare at him. He hurriedly walked into the bathroom and scrubbed off the blood from off of his face, then walked back into the bedroom and pulled on a clean shirt.

“I’m coming with you,” I said.

“No you’re not.”

“Yes I am. Don’t tell me what I can and can’t do.”

“Belle, I’m doing this for your safety. I’m frightened of what I might do to you or anyone else if you come with me. I don’t want to take you away from your perfect life her with you family. You don’t need me dragging you down into this mess that I created with me. I’m not letting you spoil everything you have to be with me.”

“My life isn’t perfect if you’re not in it.” Brendon stared down at me. I could tell that that had gotten to him. I saw it in his eyes.

“Belle,” Brendon sighed.

“Please, Brendon. Let me come with you. I don’t think I could live without you. I don’t think I could live with the conscience of knowing who killed those kids. I love being around you, you make me feel protected. I need your protection from the other vampires.”

“I think you’re more in danger from the other vampires when I’m around you.” Brendon looked at my pleading eyes. I knew he wouldn’t be able to resist. “Are you really sure you want to go through with this?”

“I’m as sure as deodorant,” I replied trying to crack a small joke. He smiled slightly and chuckled quietly, with a hint of hesitation and regret for agreeing on bringing me with him. He began to pack a duffel bag full of his necessities and clothes. “What about my stuff?”

“You can just borrow my stuff. I’m not risking going back to your house,” He informed continuing to pack.

Once he had finished he grabbed my hand and led me out of his house and into his car. He put the duffel bag in the boot, and then joined me in the front of the car. He started to drive away to god knows where. I had to admit I was scared. Not knowing what was going to happen. In fact I was absolutely terrified. But I didn’t let that show through.

I rested my head on the window, feeling drowsy all of a sudden. My eyes slowly started to close.

“Oh, Brendon,” I mumbled.

“Yeah, babe?”

“I’m sorry for calling you a monster…you’re not a monster,” I continued to mumble not really concentrating on what I was saying, since I was falling asleep.

“It’s okay, Belle. Everything’s going to be okay. Just dandy.”

“Mhmm.”

“Don’t worry about a thing, Belle.”

“Uhuh.”

“I’m with you. I’ll take care of you,” Brendon assured. There was a long pause. “I love you, Belle.”

“Love you,” I sighed. That’s all I could remember before drifting off into a deep uncomfortable sleep.