Keeping Human

Chapter Two

"I'm telling you exactly what twenty other people are telling you: the truth. A wolf came out of that car. The beast causing these attacks is a wolf." Nelly's right hand relaxed her head as she leaned over the table; opposite her was another Sheriff she had never seen nor met before. Most likely stepping in for the Sheriff that lost his life yesterday. Nelly thought sluggishly.

The middle-aged man rubbed his beard exaggeratedly and took a deep breath. "We recovered the bodies of the Sheriff and his Deputy from the crash; neither of them had any injury that related back to the recent attacks. There is no possible way such a beast could have been inside that car."

Nelly sat upright. "And what of Jared's body? You're telling me the wolf killed the officers and left him alone?"

"Jared?" The officer repeated with a scratch of his beard. "Who is Jared?"

"The man they arrested prior. The man in the backseat." She scoffed and rested her arms against the table.

The officer frowned, his bushy eyebrows almost shrouding his eyes. "There was no other victim, Miss Fox. When the car tragically overturned, there were only two people inside. Sheriff Oxton and Deputy Jasper. Are you informing me of a suspect of the attack?"

Nelly shook her head furiously. "No...that's not what I'm saying." She sighed and pushed the chair beneath her. "I've told you everything I know, Officer. May I leave?"

With an equally exasperated sigh, the Sheriff nodded. "If you've any further information you wish to share with me, please don't hesitate to contact the station."

She rolled her eyes as she moved towards the door, "I sure will."

As Nelly pulled on the door, she felt the sensation of somebody pushing from the other side, sure enough, as she stepped back a young man around the same age as her older brother entered the room. "Oh, I'm sorry Miss. I didn't mean to get in the way. I was hoping I could catch you on your way out. You are Nelly Fox?"

"It's okay, that's me. I'm Nelly." She confirmed hesitantly.

"Would you mind if I asked you a few questions?" He asked, his eyes a deep blue, stared gently into hers. They felt oddly soothing on her own, as if everything else in the room was like a harsh light piercing her vision.

"I just said she could leave, Detective."

The young man smiled, "I'll only be a few minutes, Sheriff."

"Very well." The Sheriff stood to his feet and gestured towards the young man. "This is Detective Thorne, I do hope it won't be a problem to ask you a few more questions, Nelly."

Nelly, who's eyes were still transfixed on said detective, nodded. "Not a problem." Her tone had soothed without realising; the officer left the room without another word and left the two alone.

"Take a seat, Miss Fox." Detective Thorne gestured towards the seat in front of her.

Nelly sat down as instructed and took a breath. "What can I do for you?"

The young man was no more than his twenties, his hair was a reddish-brown and his stubble was untidy, yet attractive. He had several scars across his face, but all of his imperfections were wiped out by the royal blue eyes that sat below his forehead.

"Well," he began, taking a seat ahead of her, "you're beginning to think you're insane, aren't you, Nelly?"

Nelly found her brows into a frown. "Insane?"

"Everybody is telling you there was no wolf inside the car, when in fact, there was indeed." He smiled gently and sat back in his chair.

"How do you know this?" She felt oddly relieved, yet cautious.

The detective smiled once more, rather slyly. "I have something to show you."

Detective Thorne stood up and headed towards the door at the other side of the room. "What is it..?" She said quickly, before getting ready to run out the door if needed. Her father used to warn her about predators.

"Don't be afraid." He reassured and opened the door. The little room was dark, but somebody's silhouette emerged from the shadows.

It was a girl, around Nelly's age. She had a light blonde hairstyle and pale skin. The red of her eyes correlated to the fine china of her skin. She smiled at Nelly, her demeanour friendly, yet somewhat threatening.

Nelly couldn't help feeling afraid when she moved closer; she stood up and took a step back. "Who is this?"

The girl sighed sympathetically and took another step forward. "Don't be like that, Nelly. Don't I look a tad familiar?"

Nelly wasn't sure why, but the girl did look extremely familiar. As though she knew her from somewhere. "What have you got to do with the wolf I saw?"

"They're a menace, aren't they?" She said quietly and glanced up at the detective. "I think you might have to spell it out for her, Seth."

The detective chuckled. "You're right." Turning to Nelly once more, he smiled deviously. "This is Ophelia Cricket, now does she sound familiar?"

Nelly suddenly felt numb. "Ophelia is dead...why are you saying these things?"

"Do I look dead?" The girl scoffed and hopped onto the side of the table. "I even left a note for you, didn't you get it?"

"I..." The lump in her throat stopped her from using more words, her eyes welled up with tears and her hands began shaking in fear and confusion. "You're not funny. None of you are funny teasing me like this!" As though a spring jump-started her legs, Nelly darted for the door in a state of panic and frustration.

Much to Nelly's surprise, the detective was at the door before she could even move two feet. He stood in front of it, guarding her escape. Now she really was afraid.

Detective Thorne growled in the girl's direction. "I told you, didn't I tell you that she would be a liability!"

The girl sighed and rolled her eyes, "She isn't a liability. Just give her some time. She has been thinking I've been dead this whole time." She moved towards Nelly and gently touched her arm, with freezing cold fingers. "I want to explain to you where I've been, and how I'm alive. I want to, but I need you to calm down and not go out that door, because if you do go out that door and tell people you saw me, I could actually die."

The girl's touch felt icy cold, and the sensation travelled up her arm like snowflakes sprinkling across Nelly's skin. Not seeing much of a choice, Nelly slowly sat back in her seat; almost as if on cue, the detective moved away from the door.

"Thank you." The girl said gently and took a deep breath. "It is me. I'm Ophelia."

Nelly fumbled for words, forcing herself to take the truth in the girl's words. "How...how are you alive?"

Ophelia took a deep breath and sat opposite Nelly. "They needed me, you see. The vampire clan in this area is by Lake Enara; and Seth here is one of its faction leaders. He saw the spark in me, and found me." She glanced up at him for a moment, then turned to Nelly and moved her hair away from her collar bone to reveal a nasty, purple scar. It was two puncture marks across the bone, as though somebody had taken a huge bite out of her neck and left it to bleed.

It looks exactly like the mark on each of the victims from the attacks. Nelly thought.

"It wasn't as painful as it looks. In fact, after the burning, it was rather enjoyable." Ophelia giggled a little and pushed her hair back.

Seth cleared his throat. "Do you have any idea how many vampires rule this area?"

Nelly shook her head slightly. How on earth should I know? Nelly thought.

"Almost everybody you speak to in this town fights for a side - us, or those dogs you all worship so much." Seth chuckled. "You've met a few already."

Nelly furrowed her brows. "Jared..?"

Ophelia made a soft growling noise. "Stupid mutt letting himself get seen like that."

Nelly quickly turned to Ophelia in shock and denial. "You're telling me that Jared is a werewolf?"

A chuckle escaped Ophelia's lips. "You saw him. Why are you asking me?"

The detective took a menacing step forward, "Alright, enough of the theatrics. Listen, Nelly, you've been chosen by my superior to come and visit our lair. She wants you to evaluate the possibility of joining us and our cause."

Nelly didn't notice Ophelia's scrunched up face beside her, she had quickly become paralysed by fear.

Join them? They mean for me to become one of them...to be...turned into one of them? Yesterday I believed them to be a myth, today I contemplate becoming a vampire.

Nelly knew the answer was no of course, the very thought made her shudder. The only other thought that rattled around in her mind was that of escape. Back to safety, back to Caleb.

"I know it's a bit much to take in all at once, Nelly, and if there was another way, I'd take it." Ophelia said sympathetically. Something about her eyes averted her words.

"Another way?" Nelly stammered, feeling sweat bulk in her palms.

Ophelia furrowed her brows and turned to Seth with a lowered head.

Seth sighed. "If you don't join us, we're going to kill you. You know about us now, there's not many people in this town you can tell that won't already know, but they'll kill you slow...and very painfully."

"We'll be...q-quick." Ophelia chipped in, her face quickly dropping and her gaze averting Nelly's shamefully.

Nelly gulped down her fear and slowly shuffled towards the door.

"Get away from me, both of you...I am going home to my brother and my sister. There are policemen right outside this door and I will scream the station down if you come any closer." Nelly threatened, she tried to seem serious, but her shaking voice and trembling body said otherwise.

"Who do you think knows we're here?" Seth threatened. "The majority of the staff in that room are with us, you wouldn't get very far."

"Nelly please," Ophelia pleaded, "come with us, see what it's like, think about it for a little while. You have to trust me."

Nelly made a face. "Trust you? Why in the world would I ever trust you? You left me, Ophelia. You left me all alone, without saying a word! I don't care about your note, what was I supposed to think? That you were coming back? I saw your dead body!" She screamed, her chest raised and fell rapidly as she panted in fear.

Ophelia sunk in her seat. "I know, and I'm sorry. If I could take it back, I would-" her eyes quickly drifted towards Seth, "-but, where I am now is contributing to a cause, a noble cause. And I need your help, because I can't do it alone."

Nelly started crying, tears fell from her eyes and flooded down her cheeks. She was terrified, and running out of options.

"If I...if I don't come with you, how will you do it? How will you...kill me?" She muttered beneath her breath.

Ophelia took a deep breath, "The only way we can-"

"-It will be quick," Seth piped in, "as quick as we can make it. But we're not shooting you...if that's what you mean."

Nelly looked up, her eyes practically wobbling from their sockets. "You'll drink my blood."

Seth smirked deviously as Ophelia moved away and towards the window. "Yes." She replied, her voice broke in two as she spoke.

Seth grinned to reveal two long fangs. "Better to get a full meal out of you, it would be such a waste otherwise."

Nelly thought for a moment. If I can find out more information, perhaps I could escape with my life.

"How will it happen?" She asked.

Seth raised a brow. "The change?"

"Yes," she replied, "how will you turn me?"

Seth laughed and crossed his arms as he leaned against the wall. "It's rather simple. We only have to merge our venom with your blood. AKA, we will bite you, hard."  He said matter-of-fact-ly.

"After you've seen the lair, you may return to your brother and sister to say goodbye, because the day after - you'll have to 'die'." Ophelia added sadly.

Perfect! Nelly thought. I can escape the minute they let me free, and get back to Caleb. He'll protect me.

"Okay," Nelly breathed, "I'll come with you."

Seth glared at her, "Will you now?" His tone was disbelief and he tapped his fingers against his folded arm impatiently.

"Thank you, Nelly," Ophelia smiled and moved closer, "you're making everything so much easier for me."

She pulled her in for a hug and Nelly gasped at the lack of heat coming from Ophelia's body. It was as though a corpse was cuddling her, and there was no beating heart coming from her chest either, or no breath from her mouth.

Moments later, the three of them were walking through the police-station; every possible set of eyes were staring at her and Nelly suddenly felt extremely uncomfortable.

The street was practically empty, with the odd few people walking to and from the square. The detective and Ophelia led her to the nearest car park. It was full to the brim of police cars and undercover coursers, with a few pedestrian cars lined up at the outside.

In the centre, a red Mustang stuck out from the rest. Seth clicked the button on the set of keys he held and the doors opened for them.

As they approached, somehow, Nelly felt like she was walking towards the gates of Hell.

The backseat was separated from the driver's seat by a detailed division, with a glass pane in the middle that you could open and close as you pleased. The seats were made of a luxurious leather, which were embroiled with rhinestones.

Ophelia gave a deep sigh as she relaxed in the backseat beside Nelly and opened the window a crack.

Seth started up the engine, and they were off.

At the first traffic light, Nelly turned to her dead-alive best friend. "Was it actually you then," Nelly asked with a frown, "inside the body-bag, I mean."

Ophelia smirked and breathed a laugh. "Yes, it was me. I always was a good actress, wasn't I?"

"Yes, you were. But that doesn't explain how you got out of the hospital, or the morgue." She asked curiously.

Ophelia smiled. "Quite a few of our doctors work there, they're usually in charge of when somebody turns. We're extremely ravenous when we change, it would be an uncontrollable bloodbath if any humans were in the way." She shrugged.

Nelly chuffed. "You have doctors? What do vampires need doctors for?"

"Of course we have doctors, silly! They deal with the serious injuries that vampires can't heal themselves. And the new-borns of course."

"New-borns?" Nelly repeated.

"Yeah," she moved to sit cross-legged in her seat, "it's what we call somebody who has just turned - the first days of the change are always the worst. The jaw-ache, the hunger pangs, the anger and the whole rest of it."

Seth smirked and glanced at Nelly in the rear-view mirror. "You have a lot to learn, little bird."

Nelly gulped down her rational fear and and turned to stare out of the window as it began pouring down with rain.

"I suppose I do."

CHAPTER TWO, END.