Thea II

Chapter 6

6

There’s a tap on my bedroom window. I try to move off the bed, but I can’t. There’s something wrong with me. The pain in my stomach is getting worse.

There’s another tap on the window, this time a little louder. I manage to sit up in bed, clutching my stomach like an alien is about to burst out.

I hear a voice—it’s coming from outside the window.

“Thea,” the voice whispers. “It’s me.”

“s**t,” I mutter to myself. I forgot about him.

I roll off the bed and walk, hunched in agony, over to the window. Pulling the curtains open, I see Jared behind the glass, fingers gripping the rim of the window, one foot on the drainpipe, and the other on the sill. Letting go of my abdomen, I unlock the window and let him in.

“You took your time,” he whispers as he climbs inside. “I’ve been out there for ten minutes. Thought you’d had a change of heart.”

The pain worsening, I sit on the edge of the bed, struggling to keep my focus on his face. “What are you talking about?”

Jared sits next to me, placing his hand on my thigh. “About running away together.”

I grimace at him, still in the dark about any plans we supposedly made.

“What’s wrong with your belly?” he asks.

“I don’t know. Hungry I think.” I wince as a sharp tremor shunts my insides. “Starving.”

“Then we’ll grab something on the way to the station.” His eyes scan the room. “Have you packed yet?”

“Packed what?” I reply, my words coming out a little slurred.

“Your clothes. The bus is leaving in less than an hour.”

I shake my head, eyes watering. “So hungry.”

A deep scowl forms on his forehead. “What the hell’s the matter with you? If you don’t want to go, then just say.”

My vision distorts as the room starts to spin. “Why are we going to the bus station?”

“Are you kidding me, Thea? We’re going to my brother’s house in London. Have you been swigging down your mother’s wine or something?”

I don’t respond; the pain is too much, running up and down my spine. It’s agony. Now it’s in my legs, too.

I can’t bear it.

Jared gets up and pulls a sports bag out from under my bed. “I’ll pack for you.”

“Pack what?” I mumble.

“b****y hell, babe. Is this a wind-up?”

“I need to eat something.” I’ve forgotten who this is standing in front of me, stuffing clothes into a pink bag.

What’s he doing in my bedroom?

Who the hell is he?

Where am I?

I wake to the sound of a man screaming.

Did I dream it?

Jared.

I can’t believe I forgot he existed.

My heart aches when I picture his gorgeous face, his light green eyes, and his thick blond hair. Is he back home, waiting for me, wondering why I left?

What would he think of me now?

I don’t remember the last thing I told him. ‘I love you’, maybe?

Frustration washes over me as I search my mind for the answer, but come up empty-handed.

“s**t!” I blurt out, slamming my fist against the dusty floor.

I stare up at the plaster that’s hanging from the ceiling, just moments away from falling off. The room seems different from yesterday, clearer. More gross.

No, it’s not the house that’s different—it’s me.

I hear another scream, sending an electric shock into my eardrum. It belongs to a man. And that strange, coppery smell infects my nostrils again.

Blood.

Racing out through the door, I follow the noise across the landing and into the other bedroom. Kate is kneeling beside the man, her teeth locked around the side of his neck. His eyes closed tight as he shrieks out in agony, his pink gag somehow hanging by his chin. Kate spots me straight away, retracts her head, and then moves away from him. “Your turn,” she says, wiping the blood from her dripping mouth.

Stomach growling like a wild dog, I step over to him and drop to my knees. Even though the pain is quickly working its way up to my back, I stop for a moment, staring down at the bite mark on his neck.

I glance at her. She motions with her head to drink. Flashes of my dream invade my mind, but then quickly crumble as I sink my teeth into his skin, making a fresh hole. I close my eyes as each bead of blood washes away the pain. I lose myself for a moment, uncaring as to whether this man lives or dies, or where our next meal will come from.

All that matters is now.

“Stop, Thea!” I hear Kate snap from what seems like a million miles away.

I can’t stop.

I can barely feel her hand on my shoulder, prising me away from him.

I won’t stop.

“You’ll kill him!” Kate shouts.

I don’t care

Suddenly I feel her shoe connect with my ribs. My body skids across the room, slamming into the wall; white plaster and dust spraying over me like snow. Wincing in pain, I brush off the particles and then sit up, staring at the man; his eyes are closed, and his skin is pale.

Kate hovers her ear over his mouth and checks his neck for a pulse.

Is he dead?

Standing up, she shakes her head; her face scrunched up in anger. “You could have killed him. We need him alive. I told you!”

“I’m sorry,” I reply, chin quivering, body tensed with fear. “I couldn’t help myself. I tried to stop, I really did, but—”

Kate lets out a long sigh, purses her lips, and then sits down next to me. “It’s okay, Thea,” she says, putting her arm around me. “I’m sorry. It’s not your fault—it’s mine. I should have known how difficult it is to stop. It takes a lot of willpower—but you’ll get there. I promise.”

I wipe my mouth and stare at the man. He’s stirring. For a moment I lost control. I don’t think I’ve ever had such an urge before.

Have I? How would I know? My memory is screwed.

And then I see Jared’s face again, as he lies next to me on my bed; with that cheeky smile so hard to resist.

My heart begins to ache when I think of him so far away.

I’ll be home soon.

Wait for me, Jared…