“You know what Jess? I think moving in here was a bad idea.”
I left. They tried to follow, tried to stop me, but I’m much faster than they are. I ran, not caring much about where. Tears don’t really run down your face when run that fast, the wind dries them.
I sat in the woods, alone, except for a fox that was watching me from the safety of a bush. If I can’t trust them to be honest with me, how can I stay with them? Teresa I kind of understand, she hasn’t known me long enough to know what this would mean to me. How hurt I would be. But Jess knows. Jess has known about everything for long enough to know that I do feel responsible, and I do have to do something, and hiding things from me just makes things worse.
The really sad thing is that I have to go back. For Jenna, if for no other reason. I’ve never left her behind. Not since I got her. She’s the only consistent thing in my life. So I guess I’ll just wait until everyone is gone sometime and go in and get her. I could leave a note for the Sloans, too. Let them know how much I appreciate what they’ve done for me. Let them know I’ll miss them and will always think of them as family.
They are my family. It’s horrible. So I’m just going to run away from them? Run, like I always do. Leave them here, vulnerable to those monsters to come after. I mean if they were watching that night that Jessica saved me then they know where the Sloans live. They’re in danger. I’m just going to take off and let them die?
The map in my head didn’t match with reality, and I had no idea where I was. It took me a little while to find a road I recognized. Once I did, I made my way back to the house.
“Brynne!” Jessica shouted when I walked through the front door.
“Thank God.” Peggy said.
Jess bear-hugged me, the others were immediately surrounding me. Peggy and Jess were crying, Ted looked very happy to see me, and Barney looked like he was about two seconds away from crying, too.
“Um, hi.” I mumbled.
“Don’t ever run off like that again!” Peggy scolded. “Sorry.”
Okay, so they got this upset that I took off? Come on, really? Why would these people even care about me? I put them in danger. I invade their privacy, I invade their home. I don’t get it.
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about the attack right away.” “Jess, no, it’s okay.” Wait, I’m supposed to be mad. “Just don’t do that again. It’s really important.” We all sat down in the living room, and I sat on the sofa with Jess and looked around. And started crying. These people love me. For whatever reason, they do. They really are my family. I’m so scared for them.
“I have to stop them.” I said.
“You can’t.” Ted told me. “You’re just a little girl.” “They’re killing people, and nobody else is even close to being
prepared to deal with it.”
“There has to be someone else.” Barney said.
“What about the people from the Vatican you said were
looking for you?” Jess asked. “Surely they’re looking for them, too.” “The Venator immortuorom.Jess, I’m not even sure they really
exist.”
“You could try to contact them.” Peggy said.
“And tell them what? I’m sure they know about this, if they
really exist. What can I add?”
“Then you just need to wait and hope they take care of it.” Ted
said.
“While those monsters continue killing?”
“You can’t be responsible for everyone else, Brynne, only
yourself.” Ted told me.
“I just... I don’t know. Look, I’m just... I’m going to go lay
down for a while, okay? I didn’t sleep well last night.” “We haven’t eaten yet.” Peggy said. What time... it’s really
almost eight? “We were too worried about you. Do you want us to
wake you when dinner is done?”
“Um, yeah, I guess. Thanks.”
I went up to lay down, and Jess followed. She’s getting another migraine. I’m really worried about her. They gave her some super strong pain killers, but they don’t help much. They just make her drowsy.
“Did the doctor have any idea why you’re getting these headaches?”
“No. He suggested stress, but that’s not it.” “You sure? I mean... is my stuff stressing you out, Jess?” “No, honey, that’s not it. Trust me.”
“But it’s not the tumor?”
“Nope. He said the scan was inconclusive, but he didn’t see anything. He wasn’t worried.”
“Good. Hey, I’m sorry for freaking out earlier.”
“Don’t worry about it.”
“Was Teresa mad?”
“Just worried. You should call her later.”
I laid there, trying to rest and unable. Teresa is probably really mad, despite what Jess thinks. I’m really going to have to do something to make it up to her. But what? I could get her some flowers or something, but that seems so cliche. Still, she may enjoy it. I don’t know.
At dinner, We had mashed potatoes, gravy, fried chicken, corn on the cob, and rolls for dinner. It’s great. Peggy makes the best gravy ever!
“So I’m thinking you’re all right, I will have to call and try to tell these secret hunters, whoever they are, as much as I can. Maybe they can deal with them.”
“That’s the best plan, I think.” Ted agree.
“But...”
“There’s a but?” Jess asked.
“Yeah. I’m going to go take a look around. Maybe I can find
something to help them. I need to make sure they’re staying in the same area I saw them before, anyway.”
“No.” Barney told me.
“I, um, wasn’t asking you if I could.”
“Honey, don’t.” Jess said. “Just call them now.”
“I can’t. I don’t even know who to call, anyway. And then there’s the other problem, anyway. I mean if I call them from here they’ll probably be on your doorstep in less than a day.”
“I can get you an untraceable phone.” Barney said. Everyone looked over at him. “What?” he said, mostly to Ted. “I know people.”
“Your gaming buddies?” Jessica asked.
“Yeah. In fact, Dan’s just across town, I’m sure I can have it for you tomorrow.”
“And how does Dan...” Peggy started. She shook her head. “Never mind, I’d rather not know.”
“Go ahead and get the phone.” I told him. “I’ll have to figure out who to call, I guess.”
After dinner I sat on the bed and tried to think. Of anything. Except I couldn’t. My brain went completely blank. This doesn’t happen to me very often. I haven’t slept, which I guess is why I can’t think.
Finally I got my brain to work well enough to call Teresa up and apologize for my behavior. Even though I still think I was right to be angry at them for trying to hide things from me. Anyway, it took like an hour of groveling to get her to forgive me. I think she actually had forgiven me after less than a minute, and the rest of the time she was just dragging it on so she could enjoy it. That’s okay.
Jess was still complaining about her head when we went to sleep. I felt bad for her, but there wasn’t much I could do. I pulled Jenna tightly against me and went to sleep. And I had dreams about Julius and Joanna attacking and killing Teresa, then torturing Jessica. I woke up crying, and couldn't get back to sleep for two hours.
Saturday, June 18 I woke about eight in the morning, actually feeling more rested than I had in days. There was sausage cooking downstairs, and my stomach was screaming for some. I got up and headed that way, noticing Jessica’s absence from bed. When I got to the kitchen I saw that she was the one cooking the sausage.
“Make enough for me?” “I did, actually.” she said. “I knew you would smell it and wake up.”
“It smells wonderful.”
“Here you go, hon.”
Halfway through the meal Barney came in. He whined about her not making enough for him, then sta
rted cooking his own. We were about done eating before he even got a chance to start.
“Phone’s ready whenever you need.” he said. “We just have to go to Dan’s house to pick it up.”
“Thanks. Maybe tomorrow. I think I’m going to run up there and check the place, see if they’re still around first.”
“Brynne!” Jess shouted. “You can’t do that. I thought you said you would just call.”
“No, I said I’d call. I didn’t say I wouldn’t go look also.”
“Are you trying to get yourself killed?” Barney asked. “You were pretty close last time, and I’m sure they’ll complete the job next time.”
“I’ll be fine. Look, I think they stay in during the day usually anyway, so I’ll be fine. I’m not actually going to confront them, I’m just snooping around to see if I can find out where they are.”
“No.” Jess said.
“Jess, I have to.”
“Then I’m coming along.”
“No, it’s too dangerous.” I told her.
“Either it’s dangerous or it’s not.” Barney told me. “You can’t have it both ways.”
“Dangerous for you. I’m fast.”
“So are they.” Jess said.
“And we have guns.” Barney added.
“Guys,” I said.
“We’re going, even if you don’t want us to.” Jess said. “Either you can be with us, or we can go alone.”
“You guys, this is not your responsibility.”
“It is now.” she said.
“Yeah, you’re family.” Barney added.
So yeah, I’m stuck. Either I go along with them, so I can keep an eye on everything and maybe warn them before anything happens, or I don’t go, and I really need to be able to tell those Vatican hunters, the Venator immortuorom if there is such a thing, where they can find these horrible monsters.
We loaded up into the new, bright red car, with snacks and were just pulling away when Teresa showed up. Yay. I tried to figure out a way to tell her she couldn’t come without hurting her feelings. I failed. So she came along too.
I was nervous when we started nearing Wichita. My friends, my family, were going to be in danger. This was a bad, bad idea. Plus Jess was getting a headache, Teresa was trying to talk us into going to the mall, and Barney was complaining he was hungry.
“Stop.” I said. We were at a park that I had passed that night when I found them.
“What are you going to do, anyway?” Teresa asked.
“Try to find anything to show me they’re still around. I mean... I don’t know, exactly.”
“Great, let’s get cracking.” Barney said. He pulled a gun from his pocket and chambered a round.
“No.” I told him. All of them, really. “And we’re not arguing that one. You just stay in the car, and if anything happens you step on the gas and don’t slow down until you’re back home.” I kissed Teresa. “I mean it!”
“Yeah, yeah.” Barney said.
I got out and walked through the park. I could smell something, decay or something. It wasn’t really strong, but it was there. Like maybe they killed people nearby and then dragged them off. I heard a car door, and when I looked around, Jess was coming my way. Great.
When I turned back away from her, he was there. Julius. He punched me. I stumbled backwards and almost fell. He kicked out, catching me in the shins, knocking me to the ground. And when I looked around, I saw Jessica. Joanna was approaching her.
I tried to yell out to her, tried to warn her, but I couldn’t. Julius was back on top of me. And it would do no good to warn her anyway, Joanna was way stronger and faster. There was no way for Jess to defend herself. I wasn’t having much luck against Julius myself.
And then I heard gunshots. And screaming. And then Julius let go of me and was gone. When I rolled over and looked toward Jess, she was crumpled on the ground and Barney and Teresa were screaming and running toward her. Damn it!
“Jess!” I was there by her side almost immediately. “Oh my gosh, Jess. Oh Jess,”
“Are they gone?” Teresa asked, looking around. Her face was covered with tears.
“I think I scared them off.” Barney said.
“Jess, talk to me. Jess!”
She was out. She was bloody and torn up. She looked bad. There were bruises all over. There had to be a lot of damage. I couldn’t tell how bad it was, but it was bad. I put my arms under her.
“You shouldn’t move her.” Teresa said. “We have to get her to the hospital. And you guys have to get out of here.”
“Jessica,” Barney said. He slapped her face lightly. “Jessica, wake up.”
“Get in the car, Barney.” I ordered.
At the hospital, we sat around, waiting for word on Jess's condition. Mr. And Mrs. Sloan arrived after a while. The police had been and gone, listened to our story- mostly my story- of being attacked by some gang dressed like vampires. I figured that would be as close to the truth as we could get.
“How could you do this, Brynne?” Peggy asked me. “I’m sorry.” I mumbled.
“We insisted on coming.” Barney told her.
“Nobody is to blame except those that attacked.” Ted said.
“Let’s just pray for the best.” Except the best wasn’t to happen. When the doctors came in to talk to the Sloans, he told them Jess has a broken back. She may never walk again. They won’t know until after swelling goes down some and they can do surgery, but he said the chances weren’t good for her. But she’s stable.
Peggy sobbed for half an hour. Barney and Ted held it in pretty well, but I guess I was sobbing too. Teresa was doing her best to make me feel better. It wasn’t working. I got my best friend paralyzed.
Ted and Peggy were allowed back to see her after a while. I wish I could die. Except that would leave them all unprotected, since I’m the only one that has an outside chance of standing up to those... things.
“This is not your fault.” Teresa told me.
“Yes it is.”
“It’s not.” She held my hand and cried with me. “I need to go
home.” she whispered.
“Wait until Mom and Dad come back so I can get a status
report.” Barney told her. “I’ll run you home after that.”
“Okay, thanks.” she told him. “Brynne, can we go outside to
talk?”
“I need to stay here in case something comes up with Jess.” I
told her.
“Brynne,” She sighed and glanced at Barney, then around the
waiting room. We were alone, the three of us. “I can’t do this.” she
said, her voice cracking. “I love you, you know that, but I can’t...” “Do what?” I asked.
“Be... with you. Be around you. I’m sorry, I love you, but this...
it’s too much. I can’t deal with this.” She was shaking now. “I’m
sorry.”
“I know.” I told her. “You just go back home, we’ll talk later.” “No, you don’t... I mean... I hate this.”
“Oh. You’re... you’re breaking up with me?”
“I’m so sorry.” she said.
I was stunned. She is breaking up with me. I mean once I told her what I am and she seemed mostly unfazed, I figured she’d be okay. But now this. And I can’t blame her. But this sucks big time.
“It’s okay.” I told her. I leaned forward and hugged her. “I love you. I’ll miss you so incredibly much.”
“Me too.” she said, sniffling.
“I understand, though. This sucks.”
“I’m sorry.” she told me.
“No, Teresa, don’t be. You shouldn’t be around all this. Nobody should.”
“I’m so sorry.”
“Listen,” I took her face in my hands and forced her to focus on me. “I’m not mad at you. I don’t blame you. I still love you, no matter what. This is for the best, because I want better than this for you. So you just go home, and go on with your life. Try to fo
rget about me.”
“No! I’m not doing that. I don’t want that. I’m sorry.”
We got a status update from Peggy and Ted, then Barney took Teresa home. I had calmed down some, but when she walked out that door with him, I couldn’t stop from crying again. I’m going to miss her more than I would ever have imagined. The first time in my life I fall in love, and it ends this way. Now I really do want to die.
“You could fix her.” Peggy said softly. “Couldn’t you?” “What? No, I... can’t do that.” I told her.
“You could try.”
“And kill her in the process. I won’t.”
“This is your fault, dammit!”
“Peg, stop it.” Ted said, pulling her against him. “She wants to see you, Brynne.”
“Yes, go look at the damage you’ve caused.” Peggy spat at me. I couldn't disagree with her. It is my fault, and I did get my best friend paralyzed. I got the best person in the world hurt in such a horrible way. Why did I ever let the others come along?
I made my way back toward the ICU room that Jess was in. I thought they’d only let family in, but nobody stopped me or asked me. And there she laid, broken, tubes running out of her.
“Are you awake?” I asked. “No thanks to you.” she mumbled, still groggy from the medication.
“I’m sorry.”
“Yeah. You being sorry helps me walk again.” she said.
“Jess,”
“Why couldn’t you just call, Brynne? Huh?” now seeming more alert... and angry.
“I don’t know.”
“Great. Thanks.” she said.
“I wish I could go back and undo this. Just call. First you get attacked, and then Teresa leaves me, and... this whole day is the worst day of my life.”
“How do you think I feel?”
“Jess,”
“Look,” Her focus on me intensified. “Would this happen to you-- would you be paralyzed? Or would you heal?”
“I don’t... know.”
“We could find out.” she said.
“Jess, no.”
“You do this and you won’t even do what you can to fix it? Great.”
“Jess,”
“Great friend you are. You’re no good to me.”
“I am your friend. I’d do anything to fix you, I’d die if I had to, but I won’t do that for you.”
“Coward.”
Brynne, Non-Vampire (The Non-Vampire Series) Page 19