I Don't Believe In Vampires

IX.

Brian

I couldn’t get Able’s words out of my mind.

“When you find her.” My mind was lost in a trance. Who is she? What does she have to do with any of this? 

I felt a hand behind the back of my head. “Hey are you even listening?” Mark snapped.

“What?” I shook my head.

“Able put you on patrol duty with us. He said it’s your punishment for being an asshole. It will be just like old times! You know before he took you off patrols after moving here.” Mark said, rolling his eyes.

We walked to school everyday. Able owned most of the land between the house and the schools so we took full advantage of it. We parted ways at the end of the property. Zen and Mark went to the school I would have gone to if they had enough room. I reached the school grounds just in time and strolled through to my first class of the day. 

I’ve been deep in my mind ever since my talk with Able. Ever since then, nothing has felt right. Everything feels...off. 

I took a seat in Mr. Mountain’s class. Avoiding any confrontation about what had happened previously. I promised Able I would keep my head low to the ground and make sure not to cause more scenes. 

“Class please open your books to Introduction to Cells on page 32.” Mr. Mountain said, turning on the overhead projector and slideshow. I opened my notebook and copied the notes from the slideshow. I didn’t understand why we had to copy notes in today’s day and age. We have computers for that but Mr. Mountain was against typing on a computer. Claiming that our minds didn’t obtain the information the same way as if we were to hand write it. 

My mind kept wandering back to Able’s words. Trying to stay focused, I pushed the thoughts back out of my mind. Stay focused, Brian. I told myself. Before I knew it the bell rang signaling class change and I found myself still at my desk and the other students long gone. I gathered my things and made my way to my next class. I caught the same unfamiliar scent again. This time in the hallway and it was strong. 

I fought with keeping the promise I told Able and the curiosity I strongly felt. I decided I would track it halfway and come right back. I rounded the corner of the school hallway. Blue lockers lining the walls. The scent engulfed me pulling me closer. Making me want to go closer, but I snapped out of it. I peeked around the corner to find two girls chatting to each other. I zoned in on their conversation. 

“Officer Jones called back.”

“What did he say?” 

“Said that they investigated it and found nothing. They found a group of kids but nothing that matched the description we gave.” 

“So what do we do?” 

“We do nothing. You stay away from the park and we pretend like we saw nothing.” 

I remember these girls. They dropped off my homework to me the other day.  Then Zen and I ran into them at night. 

Ash and Cali. 

Her

Her 

Her 

My mind repeated over and over. Her who? I snarled at myself but not low enough because the girls went quiet. I gathered myself and turned the corner towards them so it didn’t seem like I was eavesdropping. I’m not sure what I expected to find but being hit in the stomach with a flashlight was definitely not one of them. 

“Get back!” Cali said. 

I stumbled back not from the pain exactly but more of the boldness to attempt this in broad daylight at school. 

“Have you lost your mind?” I heard Ash say. 

“He heard us. He was probably going to kill us!” 

“Whoa whoa whoa! How would you think that one up?” I say. Holding back the urge to rip her to shreds. 

“We saw you the other night at the park. “ Then it dawned on me. They were at the park.. They were the ones who made the complaint at the police station. 

Which means they probably saw us. 

“I don’t recall.” I tried to diffuse the situation. 

“Save it Brian. We know what you are. We saw the whole thing.” Cali said pointing her flashlight at me. 

I smirked knowing that no one would probably believe them. 

“Oh yeah? What are you going to do about it?” Narrowing my eyes down on her. 

She took a few steps towards me with her flashlight in her hand up above her head like she was going to strike me a second time. Her hand came down but before it struck me she stopped. Her eyes grew wide and locked on me. She was in shock almost as if she didn’t have the authority to attack me.