Until Dawn: Last Light

by Simas, Jennifer Nicole

  “I apologize for the inconvenience,” he continued. “I’ll do everything I can to make this as quick and painless as possible.” Interesting choice of words. “Now, you have a visitor. I’ll have the nurse bring him in.”

  “A visitor?” I asked an empty hospital room.

  “She’s in here, sir.” A petite nurse opened the door and stepped aside.

  A man stood in the doorway, ice-blue eyes glued to my face. I knew those eyes like the back of my hand. The man was tall, around six foot three, with a toned body and bronzed skin. His jaw line was flawless, strong and well shaven. He had on a white t-shirt, wet from the rain; it clung to his body as if he wore nothing at all. Messy brown locks covered his forehead and ears, droplets of rain falling from the tips. My mouth watered as I feasted upon him, taking in as much as I possibly could before coming back down to Earth.

  Josh rushed across the room, kneeling beside me. He stroked my forehead with long fingers, giving me that look, the same one he’d given me six years ago. “Are you trying to give me a heart attack?” he demanded, his voice still warm and comforting. “They wouldn’t let me come in until you woke up, if you woke up. No one will tell me anything, just that you were involved in some type of wreck. What’s going on?”

  “I’m fine, Josh,” I tried to assure him. Maybe if I said it enough times, I’d start to believe it.

  “You’re not fine,” he practically shouted. “Look at you, you’re covered in blood.”

  “It’s dried blood,” I corrected, as if that should explained everything.

  “Why do I get the feeling that you’re hiding something from me?”

  Because I am, I wanted to say.

  “Zo,” he sighed, running his hands over his face. It was coming. I could see it on his face. “How did you know? How did you know about the earthquake?”

  “So, it’s already happened,” I said, relieved to see he’d made it out when he did.

  “Yeah,” Josh started, “the earthquake here was just an aftershock compared to the damage done in Southern California; that is, what used to be Southern California. If you hadn’t called me when you did,” his voice cracked. “Zoë, how did you know?”

  “Look, I can’t–”

  Josh pressed his lips together, struggling to control himself. “Yes, you can. When we were growing up, you could tell me anything. I know things have been harder, different even, after what happened to you. Maybe you blame me because I wasn’t there or because I haven’t been around as much lately, or maybe it’s because you don’t think we’ve been as close since you left. I understand all of that, but I need you to be honest with me right now. You knew something was going to happen, Zoë. Tell me.”

  All of a sudden, I felt unnaturally human. It wasn’t how I wanted it to be, how I wanted him to see me after so many months; me in some hideous hospital gown, covered in blood and strapped to machines like a lab rat. Josh was right. We were close once. There wasn’t anything I couldn’t tell him. Things had changed over the past six years. I’d changed. I wasn’t the same girl he knew growing up. What would he think if he saw me for the monster I was? Emotion washed over me as I lost myself in his eyes. But, as quickly as it came, the life in me was gone.

  “There are things you can’t understand, things that I can’t tell you. I’m sorry,” I said, turning away from him. It almost sounded like something straight out of William’s mouth.

  “Yeah,” he exhaled, “I’m sorry too.”

  Ouch.

  After a few minutes, I heard him shift beside me. “Who sent you those?” he asked, his voice slightly distant.

  I followed his gaze to the counter, where a vase held bouquet of white orchids. I hadn’t noticed them before. Curious, I held out my hands as Josh fetched them for me. The cold glass made contact with my skin, sending a chill down my naked spine. The flowers were intoxicating; a million times better than the sterile smell of the hospital room. I fumbled with the tag, flipping it over to read the handwritten message.

  “Get well soon. I’ll find you…”

  “Who are they from?” Josh asked.

  “Um, a friend,” I said under my breath. “Just a friend.”

  “Must be a pretty good friend to spend that much money on you. They’re nice,” he said flatly. Josh took the flowers away and set them back on the counter.

  Before I could start to overanalyze his jealous tone, the door swung open and another man stepped into the room. He chuckled when he saw me. “Always getting into trouble, aren’t you, Fido?”

  Tony strolled across the room. “What’s up, dude?” he nodded to Josh.

  “What’re you doing here?” Josh asked, trying to keep his voice low.

  A blind man could see the tension between them. It looked like some things would never change.

  “Same thing you are, checking on Zo. I got a call that she was in the hospital and came right over. Besides, I don’t live as far away as you do, remember? It’s only right that I should be here.” Tony smiled over his shoulder at me. The smile seemed somewhat forced.

  It was true, he’d always stayed close. I saw him often over the years. In fact, when he found out where I’d moved to, he put in a transfer and packed his bags, bound for the Sunshine State. It was strange. William wasn’t nearly as suspicious of Tony as he was of others in my life. Like Josh, for example.

  Tony stood an inch shorter than Josh with wiry blond hair that fell past his shoulders. His skin was overcooked from years of sun worship and he always reeked of salt water. It wasn’t hard to tell that he was a surfer, he screamed of the California cliché. Think of a slightly less muscular Matthew MacConaughey and you’ve practically pegged Tony. Sometimes I thought he’d be the perfect hippie, living out of his van on the beach. Oh wait – he’d done that sophomore year of college.

  Tony sat at the foot of my bed, running his hands over my ankles. He flashed me a devilish grin. “Kinky,” he said, lifting the sheet and tugging on the cuffs.

  “What’s with the restraints?”

  I turned to Josh and shrugged half-heartedly. “I don’t know. I guess I’ve been a bad girl.”

  Josh didn’t find this nearly as entertaining as Tony, who doubled over with laughter, but not before purring at me in a suave, debonair sort of way. He did that rather well, maybe a little too well.

  “Make yourself useful,” Josh said in Tony’s direction, “maybe you can get it out of her. She won’t tell me a thing.” He ran his fingers through his hair. The pain was all over his face. He had this constant need to protect me. I hated lying to him, but he’d never understand.

  “I was getting a ride home on a friend’s motorcycle,” I started.

  “A motorcycle?” Tony looked amused. Josh, not so much.

  “Yes, a motorcycle. A truck lost control during the earthquake and crashed into us. But, I’m fine now,” I added quickly, leaving out minor details of broken bones and road rash.

  Tony’s face fell. Apparently it wasn’t funny any more.

  “A motorcycle accident,” Josh echoed. “And you walked away from it? A motorcycle and a truck?” I watched his eyes as they scanned over my body. I suddenly felt hot.

  “I’m fine,” I insisted. “I was really lucky.” I hoped they wouldn’t see my words for what they really were: lies. It wasn’t completely untrue. After all, Doctor Maxwell did tell me that I appeared to have escaped unscathed and that I was lucky to have survived. I was just relaying the information.

  “If you’re fine, when can you leave?” Josh’s voice was tight.

  “Now,” I motioned for Josh to get my clothes from a corner chair before pulling needles and suction cups from my flesh without as much as a flinch. “I can leave right now. Doctor Maxwell just gave me the okay.”

  More lies. Always lies.

  Josh froze in front of the pile of clothing. I saw his hands clench into fists at his side. “This,” he paused, “this is ‘fine’?” He picked up the clothes and tossed them on my bed with disgust.

&nb
sp; They were covered in blood, some mine and some Alec’s. I set the tattered cloth beside me, keeping my eyes down. There was nothing to say.

  Josh stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind him. Tony stood, taking his jacket off and handing it to me. “Don’t worry about Josh, he’ll get over it.”

  “Yeah,” I sighed.

  “Need help with those?” he asked, pointing in the direction of my feet.

  I pulled the sheet aside and pursed my lips. “No, I think I can manage. Thanks.”

  Tony shrugged. “See you in a bit, Fido.”

  I gripped the jacket with both hands, watching Tony slip out of the room. One quick flick of my wrist and the cuffs around my ankles broke loose. I rose from the bed and tied the back of the gown as tightly as I could before pulling on Tony’s oversized jacket and exiting the room. When I walked into the waiting room, Josh was leaning over the front desk with his face in the palm of his hands, Tony beside him, flirting with one of the nurses.

  It was time to check out of Hell. I stepped up to the receptionist, tapping my fingers on the counter until she acknowledged me. “I need to pick up my things,” I said when she finally looked up. “It should be under the name Zoë Marks.”

  The woman nodded and ducked out of the lobby to retrieve my purse and cell phone.

  “Miss Marks?”

  I spun on my heels, coming face to face with my doctor. He looked worried and I didn’t blame him. I could only imagine the torture he’d go through if he let me get away. It seemed to me that the General wasn’t one to accept failure. “What do you think you’re doing?” Doctor Maxwell asked, shifting his glasses further up his nose.

  “I’m leaving,” I stated the obvious.

  “Sir,” he said, directing his attention to Josh. Apparently he appeared to be the more rational of my two male companions. “I cannot permit you to take this woman out of our care.”

  “She said you released her,” Josh replied, scowling at the doctor. He wrapped his arm around my waist and, although his grip was firm, it was comforting still. “She doesn’t seem to have any major injuries,” he continued. “I’m taking her home. She’ll be fine with us.”

  “Is that what she told you? Well, I’m sorry, son, but she has been in no way ‘released’ yet.” The doctor took a step toward me, reaching for my hand. “Come on now, child.”

  “Don’t touch her,” Tony snarled, stepping between us, shoving the older man’s hand away.

  “Like I said, boys, I can’t allow Miss Marks to be removed from hospital grounds,” Doctor Maxwell insisted. “Security! Take this patient down to intensive care immediately!”

  Two large men stormed down the corridor. They came at me from either side, snatching me up by my arms like a rag doll until only my toes touched the ground. I didn’t think for a second that they were actually security guards. Their skin was too cold and their eyes too hollow. I glowered at the doctor as he flashed me a wicked grin, the jagged tips of fangs peaking out from under his wrinkled lips.

  “Get her out of here,” he growled.

  Tony jumped one of the men from behind, grabbing him by the throat and hurling him to the ground. For a brief moment, we locked eyes; his had changed from his normal brown to an intense yellow, unnaturally so. Maybe it was the medication – a hallucination, perhaps. A second later, Tony and Josh had the security guard pinned down. We were becoming quite the spectacle, the overfilled waiting room gaping at us. The beefy man still holding me grabbed my other arm and tightened his grip, trying to prove who was in control. He was funny. I almost laughed.

  “Do you really think I can be contained?” I asked, lowering my voice as I turned my attention Doctor Maxwell. “Are you really that stupid? You know what I am and you know what I’m capable of. I wonder if this man has a family, because in about three seconds they’ll be planning his funeral, collecting the pieces in a body bag. And, when I finish with him, I’ll come for you. I’ll cut off your head with that fancy pen of yours. I’ve already seen it happen and, Doc, it’s not pretty.”

  I freed one of my arms with little effort, grabbing the security guard’s hand in mine and squeezing until I felt the bones snap. He howled in pain but didn’t dare let me go.

  Doctor Maxwell took a step back, stumbling over a waiting room chair.

  “That’s right. Now, tell him to let me go.” I squeezed again. Another howl.

  “You heard her. Let go!” he barked, taking three more steps away from me, his hand covering the pen in his coat pocket. As if that would protect him.

  The security guard gladly let me go, cradling his shattered hand as he backed away.

  “Smart move. Let’s get out of here,” I said, turning my attention to the boys.

  I pried my things from the shocked receptionist’s trembling fingers and darted toward the exit. We had about five minutes until backup arrived, maybe less.

  The air felt good on my face. It was refreshing. We walked to Josh’s car, his beat-up little Honda a sight for sore eyes. A few new dents and scratches across the bumper told me he’d been in a little accident of his own during the earthquake. I didn’t ask him about it. He was fine and that was all that mattered.

  Tony jumped into the back seat while Josh stood at the passenger side door, holding it open for me.

  “Are you going to tell me what the hell that was all about?” he asked as I got into the car.

  “Probably not.”

  Chapter Six

  Josh slammed my apartment door so hard that picture frames would have fallen from the walls if I’d had any. He was already pacing back and forth across my living room. “What's going on, Zoë? Threatening a doctor? What the hell is wrong with you?”

  “Keep your damn voice down, dude,” Tony hissed.

  I struck the wall with my fists, drywall crumbling to the floor as I tore my hands free. It didn’t seem to help matters. Josh and Tony grew silent, staring at me with wide eyes.

  “I need to get out of this hospital gown,” I muttered, wiping the dust from my knuckles. Before they could say anything, I stormed out of the room. I stripped off the gown and hopped into the shower, scrubbing the dried blood off of my skin and out of my hair. I emerged ten minutes later in jeans and a tank top, still swimming in Tony’s oversized jacket.

  “Zoë,” Josh whispered, his hand finding my shoulder, “what’s going on? You’re not yourself.”

  Since my transformation I’d been kicked, punched, stabbed and shot, none of which hurt nearly as much as the wound Josh had inflicted on my heart, or lack thereof. “That’s because I’m not myself, not anymore,” I said under my breath. I didn’t get a chance to see if he’d heard me before someone pounded on my front door.

  “Who is it?” I called as I crouched beside the coffee table, freeing the dagger taped to its underbelly.

  “C.I.A.”

  “Go,” I mouthed to Josh and Tony, pointing to my bedroom with urgency. If the General’s men found anyone with me, they’d automatically suspect them as well.

  Josh glowered at me over his shoulder as he headed down the hall, Tony shoving him along. When I heard the bedroom door click shut, I stepped toward the front door, cracking it open a foot. Two men stood on my porch, both dressed in the cleanest suits I’d ever seen, dark sunglasses and crew cut hair. They could’ve been twins. It was something straight out of a scene from Men in Black.

  “Miss Marks?” twin number one asked “Miss Zoë Marks?”

  “I’m sorry, do I know you gentlemen?” I took each of them in: height, weight, ability to die easily. The usual.

  Twin number two glanced down at the folder in his hand and nodded. “That’s her.”

  “Miss Marks,” twin number one flashed me his most professional smile, “I am Agent Willard from the C.I.A., this is my partner, Agent Sanchez. We need you to come with us. We have a few questions for you. It seems you were involved in an auto accident last night?”

  “Is that a crime?”

  “Of course not,” Agent W
illard started.

  “Then what seems to be the problem here?”

  “A paramedic at the scene listed you as,” he took Agent Sanchez’ folder and flipped through it, “‘an absolute miracle’. Apparently, you escaped a fatal accident unscathed.” He furrowed his brow at me.

  “Sorry gentleman, I’m sure I don’t know what you’re talking about. You two have a good day.” A polished black dress shoe blocked the door as I tried to shut it. Agent Sanchez shoved his shoulder into the wood door, sending it crashing into the wall with a loud crack.

  Agent Willard barreled toward me. I jumped back, dodging his punches. I dropped to one knee and slashed at his gut with the dagger, kicking his feet out from under him. He groaned, face down on the entryway floor.

  “Bitch,” Agent Sanchez spat. He grabbed a fistful of hair and pulled me to my feet. I plowed my elbow into his ribcage and he huffed, releasing me. Before he could catch his breath, I sandwiched his head in my hands and snapped his neck. It’d be the last time he called someone a bitch.

  As I tossed his limp body aside, a shot rang out. Something pierced my shoulder. I spun on my heels to see Agent Willard back on his feet, one hand on his bleeding stomach, the other holding the pistol. He aimed it at my face, ready to fire a second round.

  Footsteps barreled down the hallway behind me, the ghastly sound of breaking bones filling my ears. An ominous growl erupted. Agent Willard turned just in time for the wolf to launch itself onto his chest, tackling him to the ground. It sank its jagged teeth into his flesh, ripping out his throat.

  It peered up at me, intense yellow eyes fixed on my face. I didn’t move, didn’t breathe. The wolf dropped its head with a whine. It sprawled out on its side, ribs cracking back into place. Fur melted into flesh as a human body emerged. A naked human body. Tony’s naked human body.

  Tony wiped the blood from his lips with the back of his hand, standing to his feet.

  I gaped at him, trying to keep my eyes from wandering south of the border. I failed.

  “Zoë, I can explain,” he said, his face turning five shades of red. He took a tentative step toward me.