Free Blood Stream (A Short Story) by M.D. Bowden Page B

heart-melting.
    It is eerie walking in the pitch black , but Gemma’s presence by my side is comforting, her fragile hand mine to take care of.  The responsibility that brings not only scares me, it strengthens me too. 
    Now we are away from the camp , the sounds of the night have returned.  I can hear animals scuttling nearby, and a high pitched buzzing near my ear, which I bat away.  Our footsteps sound loud even though we are being careful, slow.  I walk with one arm extended, feeling my way past trees and bushes.
    ‘Ow,’ complains Gemma.  ‘Something’s caught my hair.’
    ‘Hang on.’  I get down on my knees and feel for the back of her head, until a prick pierces my skin.  ‘I think it’s a blackberry bush,’ I say, fiddling with her hair.  ‘There you go.’
    ‘Thanks Abbi.’
    ‘No prob.’
    And then back to the walking, or should I say senseless stumbling . 
    ‘ Abbi?’
    ‘M mmm?’
    ‘Are you scared?’
    ‘I’m not sure . . . kind of I guess.  But not as scared as I thought I’d be.’
    ‘I’m scared.’
    ‘What are you scared of?’
    ‘I’m scared they’ll catch us, that they’ll be angry.’
    ‘Shhh, we won’t let them catch us.  Deal?’  I know I can’t promise this, and I wish I didn’t have to deceive her, but I want to protect her.  I want her to be happy.
    She giggles.  ‘Deal.’
    As we walk on we stay quiet, focused on putting one foot in front of the other without tripping over roots and brambles.  A couple of times we each fall, but avoid any major injuries.
    After a while Gemma says, ‘ Abbi, I’m so tired, please can we stop?’
    ‘OK little one.’
    I don’t know these woods at all, I don’t even have any idea what part of the country we are in.  Every time our camp has moved, I’ve been blindfolded.
    I feel around with my feet, seeing if our current spot is t horn free.  ‘Let’s sleep here,’ I say, not convinced I’m going to find a better option.  We’ll have to trust the darkness to protect us.
    I lie down on my side, using my bag as a pillow, and Gemma lies next to me.  I pull her against my chest and wrap my coat around her when I notice she’s shivering.
    ‘Gemma?’
    ‘Yes?’
    ‘Do you remember when you were taken?’
    ‘No.  I’ve told you that before.’
    ‘I’m sorry.’  I’d hoped getting away from the vampires might trigger her to open up.  It would be so good to know what the world was like after I was taken.  To know what we’re in for now.  ‘Night night,’ I whisper.  ‘Sweet dreams.’
    ‘Night Abbi.’  For a moment she’s quiet, but then she says, ‘Thank you for bringing me with you.’
    ‘I couldn’t leave you behind, you’re my sister now.’
    Her breathing quickly slows and becomes rhythmic, but my mind is racing.  I keep thinking about a conversation I had with Mitchel in the early days, before he repulsed me.  Before he started to feed off me.
    ‘Why did you take me?’ I remember challenging him.  That was before the hopelessness kicked in, when I still had my zest.
    He studied me thoughtfully, his eyes a glossy ember.  ‘I wanted to protect you.’
    ‘But protect me from what ?’
    ‘The world.  You had no-one.’
    ‘But I did!  What about my mum and dad and brother?’
    ‘They were dead.’  He said that with no sympathy.  To him it was a simple fact.
    ‘But they weren’t, if they were dead it was because you killed them!’
    ‘No, that’s not true.  We were searching the town for survivors.  You were the only one we found. ’
    ‘You’re lying.’
    His eyes flashed at me, but at no point did he deny what he said.
    I open my eyes, almost believing I’ll find him watching me now, but he’s not here, or if he is I can’t see him.  It’s creepy sleeping outside, no knowledge as to where we are or what might be nearby.  I’m used to hearing animals at night, as I’ve been sleeping in a tent for so many years now, but it’s different with no protection