Bound by blood

Bianca I walked through the quiet streets of Dedly Heights, my hometown, the place I had spent my entire life. Tonight was my mum’s birthday, and I was already running late for the little surprise I had planned. Not much of a surprise anymore, considering she was probably at home waiting for me instead of the other way around. “Hey, girl…” A gruff, grumpy voice called from behind me. I sighed. Great. If I had taken the other route, I wouldn’t have to deal with this. Now, I was stuck listening to some drunken old man looking for company for the night.“Come on now, don’t ignore me, girl,” the man slurred. I could hear the unsteady thud of his boots against the tarred road, I could feel him drawing closer to me so I quickened my steps to avoid any form of physical touch from him but the more I try to run away the closer he got.“You know you can’t run away from me, girl” he said again as the words rolled down his tongues sloppily. He got closer to me while I try my best to not look back or stop for any reason. One time at school, a girl had claimed to see a mystic like creature in one of the corners like this. She claimed that the only reason why she must have been alive was because of how fast her legs carried her and how resilient she was in not turning back after the first glimpse of it. Of course nobody at school believed her at first but later, a lot of girls started telling their tales of mystic creatures and some even claimed that it had a tendency to capture your soul if you let it. I cannot say I believe the tales but there was a ninety nine percent chance that this drunk man was just another of the mystic creatures those girls at school used to yap about.I quickened my steps, holding my jacket firmly so no part of me would be left behind when I finally decided to take off. “Stop right there” the man said again sloppily but this just made me increase the steps. My apartment building was no longer far ahead, I could see the roofing sheets from just where I was. All I needed to do was to increase the pace of my steps so I would get rid of the man. Just as I was about to take another turn, I feel his arms on my shoulder, my body froze. He had long scary nails, “I caught you now, didn’t I…” before he could pin me down or even grab me with his other arms I took on my heels and the only sound I heard from the man in return was his harsh laughter and then a faint sound of him cursing and kicking the walls. I finally got to the apartment building, I made my way to the top floor using the staircase because the elevator had been out of use for the longest time.“Owww..” I bumped my head into something hard, I looked up to see that it was the chest of a man who was currently staring me down “I am sorry, please excuse me” I quickly said.He nodded slowly, he had hard facial features with a little bit of scar close to his brows. I knew most of the tenants who lived here, not by name though and this guy did not look like one of the tenants. He looked too rugged and I doubted a building like this is one he would want to live in. He stepped aside and I hurriedly moved past him, heading straight to my apartment.The door was unlocked, I felt my inside twist. “Mum” I called out, stepping inside but I got no response. “Mum..” I called out again but the apartment was silent, too silent. I picked up my phone to call her, maybe she might have stepped out for a bit forgetting to lock the door.Just as I was about to dial her line, I saw her cellphone on the floor and then I hear the groaning sound of someone that sounded just like my mum. I made my way to where the sound came from, and then I found my mum on the kitchen floor with a knife pierced into her abdomen “mum” I screamed. My vision blurred with tears “I am going to take you to the hospital, just hang in there” I whispered trying to lift her in my arms. I held my mum in my arms, my body shaking as I tried to stop the blood, but it was everywhere. My hands, my clothes, the floor. it was spreading too fast.“Mum, stay with me. I’ll get you help, I promise,” I whispered, my voice barely holding together. Her breathing was shallow, each inhale weaker than the last. She reached up slowly, her fingers brushing against my cheek, leaving behind a smear of warm, sticky blood. Her lips moved, but no sound came out at first. Then, finally, a whisper.“Bianca…” “I’m right here. Don’t talk, just hold on,” I pleaded, my heart hammering so loudly it felt like the whole world could hear it. She grabbed my hands tightly “You have to go,” she choked out.I froze. “What? No! Mum, I will look for help and you’ll survive this” “There’s… no time.” Her voice was so weak now, it was barely above a whisper but I could hear her perfectly. “They’re… after you.” Her words slurred. I swallowed hard. “Who? Who’s after me?”She opened her mouth again, her lips shaping a word but before she could say it, a violent cough wracked her body, blood spilling from her mouth.“No, no, no stay with me, Mum! Just say it! Tell me who!” I begged, shaking her gently, as if that could keep her awake. Her eyes flickered, her body shuddered one last time… then nothing.My breath caught in my throat. “Mum?” My voice came out small, barely there.She didn’t answer.My fingers dug into her shoulders as I shook her again, my head shaking violently in denial.“Mum, please…” My words cracked, but she was already gone. A strangled sob tore through me as I clung to her lifeless body, rocking her like if I held on tight enough, she would come back. But she wouldn’t.