Jesus, I sound bleak. Where the hell’s my optimism gone? Neil’s really done a number on me. I thought Sean and I might have softened him up a little. But then Hannah shows up and we’re back to square one.
Creaks from the stairs reach me, and I look over to find Hannah coming down to the kitchen. She’s wearing Rose’s white dressing gown, which is long and loose enough to conceal the pregnancy.
“Hello,” I say, my morning voice a little croaky. I cough to clear it and then stand up. “How did you sleep?”
“Okay,” she replies, but I doubt she’s telling the truth.
I walk over to the kitchen worktop. “Hungry?”
Reaching the foot of the stairs, she shakes her head.
“How about a slice of toast? It’s freshly baked bread.”
“I’m fine.”
I pull out a chair, gesturing for her to sit at the table. “Okay, then, how about a coffee?”
“I can’t.”
“Oh, right. You’re pregnant. No caffeine.”
Hannah sits down. “A glass of water would be great, though.”
I light up, relieved to be able to offer anything at all. “No problem.” I race to the sink and pour her a glass of water.
“Thank you.” Hannah takes the glass and sips it. “It’s Freya, isn’t it?”
I sit down next to her. “Yeah, that’s right.”
“It’s a pretty name.”
I smile. “So they say.”
Hannah’s eyes move around the room. “Is Rose your mother?”
“No. Sean and I are guests here, too. We came here about two months ago.”
“Sean’s the one who found me?”
I nod. “Yeah. He’s my boyfriend. We were living over in Copplefield. Ethan brought us here. He’s another friend of Rose’s.”
“I see.” She takes another sip. “Where’s Sean now? I’d really like to thank him.”
“He’s still asleep. He was on the nightshift with Ethan last night.”
“The nightshift? What’s that?”
I nibble a corner of my toast, not wanting to speak with a mouthful. “We take it in turns to guard the house during the night.”
Hannah’s breathing increases, her eyes dampening. “From blues?” she whispers, her voice trembling.
“Not just vampires. Anyone, really. But it’s just a precaution. We’re perfectly safe out here. We’re miles from the nearest town, and there are bars on every window.”
Hannah rubs her hand over her stomach.
“Where were you heading?” I ask, but it’s a stupid question. I should be changing the subject, not delving in deeper.
“Anywhere, really. Any safe place to have my baby. Gregg and I thought a small town might be the best option. The bigger cities are crawling with blues and HCA. It was only going to be a matter of time before we were caught.”
“The small towns are worse, especially where Sean and I were staying. Most of the shops have gone under. The police station is closed. And there isn’t a hospital for miles.”
“There was a hospital near our old house, but that was on its last legs.” Hannah finishes her water. “It’s a mess. Everything’s a mess.”
There’s another creak coming from the stairs. It’s Ellie, dressed in a pair of blue pyjamas, her red hair in disarray.
“Morning, El,” I say with a warm smile. “Sleep okay?”
She nods, fixated on the strange woman sitting at the table.
“This is Hannah,” I say. “She’s come to stay with us.”
“Hello.” Ellie stops by the banister, reluctant to enter the kitchen. “Dad told me you’re pregnant.”
“That’s right,” Hannah replies with warmth.
Nervously, Ellie glances at Hannah’s midriff. “I’ve never seen one before.”
“You’ve never seen a pregnant lady before?” I ask, trying to lighten the unusual atmosphere. “You must have.”
“Not since the virus,” Ellie replies, her words thickening the mood even more.
“Well, you’re perfectly safe,” I say, and I pull out a chair. “Come sit with us.”
Ellie plants herself next to me. “What’s it feel like?” she asks Hannah. “You know...to have one inside you?”
“Ellie! You can’t ask that,” I say, mortified. “That’s rude.”
“I’m sorry,” Ellie says, her cheeks turning pink. “I didn’t mean to offend you.”
Hannah smiles, but it’s wafer thin. “It’s okay. I suppose it feels like any other pregnancy. But then again, Sam is my first baby.”
“Sam?” Ellie asks. “How do you know it’s going to be a boy?”
“It doesn’t matter. Sam can be any gender. It’s after my brother. Samuel. He died when he was a child.”
“It’s a nice name,” Ellie says. “Does it hurt?”
“Only sometimes, when it moves and kicks. But it’s growing so fast. I can feel it change every day. It’s more uncomfortable than painful.”
“Can I touch your belly?” Ellie asks. “I’ve never felt a baby move before.”
“Okay.” Hannah unties her dressing gown, revealing her stretched white vest.
With cheeks glowing with amazement, Ellie cautiously places a hand on her stomach. “I don’t feel anything.”
“It won’t happen all the time, El,” I point out. “You have to be patient.”
Thirty-seconds pass, but still no movement.
“Can I try again later?” Ellie asks.
“Of course. Sometimes there’ll be a few kicks in a row.”
“Tell me when it—” Ellie retracts her hand in fright. “I felt something!” She puts her hand back on. “And again!”
Even after everything Hannah’s been through, she still manages to beam.
“Wow,” Hannah says, “I think Sam likes you.”
Like lightning, Ellie retracts her hand again when she spots Neil standing in the living room.
Hannah quickly reties her dressing gown cord, and her smile instantly dissolves.
“Haven’t you got chores to do, Ellie?” Neil asks with stern authority.
“Okay, Dad.” Flustered, she grabs her coat from the wall hook and leaves through the back door.
Neil stares for a moment, some hurtful comment clearly on the tip of his tongue. But he holds it in, swallows the jagged pill, and then follows his daughter outside.
Through the bars of the kitchen window, I can see him mouthing something to Ellie, and judging by the volcano-deep frown across his forehead, I’m guessing it’s something harsh.
“He doesn’t want me here, does he?” Hannah asks.
“Don’t worry about Neil. He’s harmless. He was like that when Sean and I arrived.”
“Yes, but you didn’t bring a vampire into the house.”
I struggle to think of a response, but my mind turns to putty.
“Do you think he’s going to call the HCA?” she asks, nervously playing with the edges of the table cloth.
“Absolutely not,” I reply with conviction. “He’d never do something like that.”
“How can you be so sure?”
“Because I wouldn’t let him. My mother was killed by a HCA officer. Shot down in our own home.”
Hannah’s eyes widen in shock. “Oh, my God. I’m so sorry.”
“She was protecting my brother. His name is Ben.” I point to her stomach. “He’s a vampire, too.”
“Really? What happened to him?”
“We were on the run together. No money. Living on scraps of food. Staying in the shittiest flat imaginable.” My stomach revolves with sadness, remembering the last time I saw him. “But then we got separated. He ran off somewhere with his own kind.”
“That’s awful,” Hannah whispers. “With other vampires?”
I nod, tears distorting my vision. “I tried to chase after him, but he was too fast.” I click my fingers. “Just like that. Gone.”
“I’m sorry, Freya. That must have been tough.” She puts her hand over m
ine. “Do you think you’ll ever find him?”
“I don’t know,” I reply, my throat catching, the guilt resurfacing. “We stopped searching to come here. It was getting too dangerous. Too hard to find him.”
“Where do you think he might be?”
I shrug. “That’s the problem,” I throw back a mouthful of coffee, “he could be anywhere.”
But I know he’s out there. I feel it in my heart. In my bones. We’re connected. And we’re family. My only family.
I’ll find you one day. I promise.
When all this is over. When it’s safe for us to live our lives.
When there’s a real home to go to.
When the world accepts you.
Be happy.
Be good.
Stay safe...
Part VII
BEN LAWSON
26
My body aches and the light hurts my eyes.
I’m tired.
So tired.
In my hand, I squeeze the key-card. Must not drop it.
Another body on the floor. Lots of blood. My hunger will have to wait.
I have work to do.
When I reach the door, I look back. Freya is not following. Sean is not following.
I grab the handle. The door is locked. There is a white box next to the handle. A small red light on the side. I push the key-card against it.
The door is still locked.
I pull and pull.
Nothing.
I kick the door in anger.
Remember.
The man slid the key along the lock. The door opened.
I slide the key down the centre.
The red light becomes green.
A click!
The door unlocks.
I’m coming…
27
A prison. A place to hurt us. A place for us to die.
In my head, I hear voices. So many voices. They’re screaming. They’re calling for help.
I slam my fist against the door. The sound echoes.
I hate this place. Everything here is bad.
Freedom is coming. I promise.
I slide the card along the lock and the door opens.
Chains rattle as I step inside. The noise hurts my ears.
I forgot about the chains.
Remember.
Outside the prison door, there is a machine. Lots of buttons.
Numbers. Lots of numbers.
Each number has a button.
I push one. A click!
Inside, I see a vampire running towards me.
She’s free!
I push another button.
Another free!
With both hands, I press them all.
Chains drop to the floor.
Footsteps rush towards me.
Freedom is coming.
Follow me...
28
I unlock the doors with the key-card and my brothers and sisters run with me. A stampede of animals.
In the distance, I see Freya and Sean.
I should have told her the truth. I should have said I was leaving.
She runs from us.
In the garage, there is freedom. The night. The air.
Through the endless blue bodies, I search for her.
Where has she gone?
I stop at the entrance and her face appears in the lorry. She looks sad. Confused.
‘I’m sorry,’ my voice whispers in her head.
My stomach feels hot with sadness, but I can’t stay here. Not with all the suffering. Not with Sean.
‘Better without me.’
She leaps out of the lorry, but she’s too late. I drop the key-card on the floor, and I’m gone.
“No! Come back!” Freya screams as I follow my brothers and sisters over the wall.
Fresh air.
Freedom.
I look back at the gates. One last look.
I run into the forest until the prison disappears.
Goodbye, Freya.
I will never forget you.
I love you...
29
My chest hurts as I fight for breath.
The sun burns my skin.
The forest is endless. No shelter.
I panic. Desperate to stay alive. Desperate not to burn to death.
Not now. Not here.
Not after everything I’ve fought for.
There is a purebred beside me. He rips the dirt up with his hands and makes a hole in the ground.
I do the same.
Others follow.
The pain is unbearable. My skin is smoking.
My hands blacken as the hole gets deeper.
Dig faster. Dig deeper.
I lie in the hole and push the dirt over my body like a blanket.
The last thing I see before the darkness is the bright orange sun.
I’ve never seen it before. Only dreamed of it.
It’s beautiful...
30
The forest ends. There is a house in the distance.
My brothers and sisters follow me.
Before the house, there is another building. Metal bars covering the front.
My mouth waters when I see the animals inside.
Blood. I smell it
We pull at the bars, but nothing happens. There is a heavy lock that keeps the animals from us.
I try to break it. Nothing happens.
Others try. Kicks. Punches.
It’s too strong.
Another way inside?
A loud boom fills the air.
A gunshot!
Our eyes follow the sound to the house.
There is a man standing at the front door. He’s frightened. I can hear his heart beating. Smell his blood.
He has a gun.
He fires another shot into the air.
A purebred runs to the man. Others follow behind.
The purebred throws the man to the ground. The gun flies from his hands.
‘No!’ I shout inside the vampire’s head, before his teeth reach the man’s neck.
The purebred growls at me because he’s hungry. We all are.
‘Not humans.’
He snaps his teeth, but he spares the man’s life.
‘Never humans.’
The man is shaking. His eyes run with tears.
I pick up his gun and walk over to the animal prison. My ears hurt when the gun fires.
The lock is destroyed. The cage is open.
The animals are free.
I look at my hungry brothers and sisters. Half breeds. Purebreds. Together.
Now we feed...
31
They follow me through the forest. More trees. Bushes. But the hunger has vanished. I feel strong again. Myself again.
There is another building ahead. Old. Broken windows.
A shelter before the sun comes.
The doors are locked. I kick them hard and they swing open.
It’s dark. There’s a smell in the air.
It’s disgusting.
Flies everywhere. The buzzing sound, the stink, leads me to the humans.
All dead. Rotten meat. Bones. Women. Men.
Children.
A hiss fills my ear.
We’re not alone.
Out of the darkness, a pack of vampires appear. Purebreds.
There is a leader. He pushes his way to the front.
Their hiss is a warning, but they’re too weak to fight us. Their bodies are thin. Their flesh is almost grey.
They’re starving.
My brothers and sisters stand behind me. Strong.
I take the animal body from my half-breed brother and throw it to the grey vampires.
They fight over it, tearing it apart, so I throw another.
Blood drains from the animals.
The grey leader looks at me. His hunger gone. His anger gone.
Stronger together. Food. Shelter. I point to the rotting bodies. ‘Not humans. Never humans.’
He steps back. His grey pack follows.
The sun will be here soon.
For now, we are safe...
32
There are many of us now. A family.
A new family.
The forest has gone, but the town is silent. No cars. No lorries.
No people.
We need somewhere to shield us. A real shelter. A place to stay together. To store food. To be safe from danger.
A home.
I think of Freya.
I miss her so much.
But my world is not for her. And her world is not for me.
There are too many of us to hide. An army of blue.
Our home will have to be big.
Bigger than any house.
Bigger than any nest.
Hidden. Protected.
My brothers and sisters, half and pure. There is a place for us.
Somewhere.
A perfect place.
Trust me and I’ll take us there.
No more running. No more fighting.
No more fear.
Just peace.
Just love.
Just home...
Part VIII
FREYA LAWSON
33
Is it too late to say that I’m not hungry?
There’s music on in the background, but it’s quiet. Neil doesn’t like it too loud this time of night, just in case it attracts any unwanted guests.
Although, according to Neil, there’s already one standing by the worktop, preparing a lentil curry.
And her name is Hannah Smith.
Ethan and Sean are outside, just beginning their nightshift, and Ellie is in her bedroom, either reading or fast asleep. It’s just Rose, Neil and me sitting at the kitchen table, waiting to be fed by the stranger. For me, she’s not a stranger. Not anymore. Even though she’s only been here two days, already she feels part of the group.
I catch a glimpse of Rose as she nibbles the crust of her bread. I can tell by her stiff posture that she’s just as uncomfortable as the rest of us. This is what Neil Forrester does best: he creates an impenetrable atmosphere. I know he’s been through hell—but so have the rest of us.
Blue Skin (Book 4): Blue Skin Page 10