The Damned, A New Blood

The previous installment of teenage Chloe Bradshaw’s dark tale is here.

I bring out my sword. The metal of the blade reflects light into my companion’s eyes. I give him a malicious smile before plunging the weapon into his stomach. He falls to his knees, blood spilling out of the neatly made hole. I hear him take in his last breath before he lies still. Goodbye, Neo. You asked for this.

“Why did you do that?” Marius asks without much curiosity.

“He was annoying me; I should never have turned him.” I take one last look at Neo’s body and turn away.

“We should get out of this city,” I say.

“You’re right.”

The sun is soon at its highest, shining down on the ordinary people of the world. We have made it far, leaving behind the police. Dark thoughts swim around in my head.

If I can only prevent the Hunters winning, then all will be fine. However if they defeat us in battle – I already know that it will come down to a battle – then I shall have to spend the rest of my condemned life in hell, knowing that the Hunters, my worst enemies, have won. I spit at the ground, wishing that it was a damned Hunter’s face, wishing I could spit acid and watch their face melt away.

“Where shall we go?” Marius finally asks.

“We stay here and find a new base. After that I suggest we make ourselves a few more Demons.” I flash him a smile.

Eventually, I turn into a dark alley; even though the sun is still high no light penetrates the area. I can tell right away, this is a perfect place. Sure enough, we soon find the right sort of house.

It looks as though it is covered in a dark cloak. A window is broken and a cobweb hangs from the jagged edges of the glass. The door does not offer much resistance.

“I don’t think anybody is in there.”

“Yeah, I doubt it,” Marius agrees.

Together we step inside. The floorboards creak underfoot. It is an eerie place, and it is just right.

“What do you think?” I ask.

“Perfect.”

A sound of movement reaches my ears. I turn around swiftly, as does Marius. I try to work out where the noise had came from, but I cannot see anything. I look back over at Marius wondering if he had seen something, but he is as bewildered as I am.

I finally notice a large chair laced with cobwebs like veils. This is when I see a flicker of light.

The sound of strained breathing reaches my ears and that’s all I need to know. I leap at the chair and sling it across the room.

What I uncover appears to be a small figure clothed in all black, crouching down like a cat. The stranger stands up, and although I cannot quite make out their features, I can immediately tell that it’s just a small lad I have before me.

“What are you doing here?” I question.

“I live here,” I can tell by his voice that he isn’t too scared.

“What do you mean you live here?” Marius asks, stepping forward.

“I mean I live here, how hard is that to understand?”

“Don’t get cheeky with me boy!” Marius snaps. I can see the white of the lad’s eyes roll and have to smile at the boy’s nerve.

“How old are you?” I ask.

“How old are you?” He shoots back.

“You wouldn’t believe me even if I told you. Now tell me how old you are.”

“Sixteen.”

“Why are you living alone?”

“You don’t want to know.” The question makes him clearly uncomfortable, much more uncomfortable than the idea of two strangers happening upon his hiding place.

“I do want to know. You should be home with your parents.”

He just grimaces.

“Are you the police?”

“Do we look like the police?” I find the idea particularly amusing.

“I have to be cautious,” he is not joking. “What are you doing here?”

“We were looking for a place to stay, but it looks like we are going to have to find another one.”

“No, you can stay if you want.”

“We don’t want to intrude.” I say, surprising myself with my own pleasant demeanour.

“I insist. Please stay. I have waited for years to talk to somebody.”

“Why is that? Have you been hiding here?” I ask.

“You could call it that.”

“Why? What have you done?”

“If I told you, you would think of me as a monster.”

I have to laugh at the suggestion.

“If I tell you, will you stay? I have become lonely.”

I nod at him. Let him spill his secrets, and maybe I won’t spill his blood.

“I… I killed my parents.” At this, I must prevent myself from smirking.

“Are you telling me the truth, lad?”

“Yes.”

“And now, how do you feel about killing your parents?”

“This is where the monster part comes into it. I wouldn’t have done anything differently if I had the chance.”

This time, I simply can’t help grinning. This is far too perfect.

“Why do you find that so funny?” He asks.

“Funny is not quite the right word. You know, I don’t even know your name.”

“My name is Travis. And yours is?”

“Lilith, and this is Marius.” I glance toward the demon by my side. It’s a good thing too, because I can see the blood already welling up in his eyes.

“No, Marius,” I say forcefully. Marius shakes his head as though he had just came out of a trance and darkness fills his eyes again. I look back at Travis who has obviously seen this transformation. He looks rather pale.

“What was that?” He asks, trying to pretend as though he isn’t utterly terrified. Good lad.

“Never mind,” I have already made my decision.

“Travis,” I ask. “How would you like an everlasting life? How would you like to never have to worry about the police or guilt?”

To be continued…