Rescue - Zach
1921 Words
A/N: I guess I was just having trouble writing Prank Night because now I've got them down. These two are so real to me it's not even funny anymore.
I've decided I'm definitely cutting the story off at eight chapters because I want to leave something for the next installment, which is also why it's jumping around quite a bit.
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March 17th
Alpha Marcus had thought he was punishing me by sentencing me to an extra 1,000 hours of community service. Whatever his plan was for my personal growth was either about to beautifully backfire, or increase tenfold. I stood tall and straight in my nicest pair of slacks and a button-down, climbing the stairs solidly as though I weren't completely terrified.
One, two,
Okay.
I stepped up to the door, knocking twice and stepping back. Inside, I could hear the sudden cutoff of conversation and resisted the urge to bounce on my heels in anticipation. "Zach. Come in." Alpha Marcus stepped aside and let me into his office, and I saw Tyler already sitting there, waiting on me. His eyes asked me where I'd been, but I wasn't about to tell him that I was having a mild panic attack in the basement and planning for what I would do if Alpha Marcus said no.
I still didn't know what I'd do if he said no.
"Is there something you boys wish to discuss?" he sat behind his desk, fingers locked together and eyebrows raised. "Yes, sir. I've encountered a situation and I'm not... certain, how I should proceed." I started, looking to Tyler for approval. "Well, what is the situation? I'll see if I can help, but I need to know what's going on first." Alpha Marcus' cool tone shook me slightly, so I took another breath to keep going.
"Sir, I... I've found my Mate. He is a, a patient. At Twilight Woods. And after doing some research, and seeing his chart, I believe that he is not Mortal and does not belong there." At the mention of finding my Mate, his eyebrows raised even further, his eyes taking on a knowing sparkle. "Let me get this straight. You've found your Mate, who is a patient where I've sent you to serve your extra community service hours."
"Yes, sir." I swallowed around the lump in my throat. "And, it's quite clear that he isn't a wolf. If he were, I believe that we wouldn't be having this conversation. He was put into Twilight Woods at age 10 when he began to hear a voice in his head and his father caught him staring at a cut he'd gotten, but not crying or showing any kind of pain. Given this, and the fact that he's never Shifted... Sir, I believe that he could be a Vampire."
I gave the rest of my speech in a rush. "We all know the dangers of an untrained Vampire running around, especially one that's been starving for as long as his has. All Vampires need to begin switching from a diet of solid foods back to blood at 18, and Ryan is almost 19 already- it could lead to Corruption and I'm not only afraid for his life but for those that surround him- they're all Mortal." I slowed to a stop as his hand came up. "I applaud your research, and I believe that you are correct. What is your plan? We can't just remove him from the hospital without his parents being alerted."
I blanked. "Sir, that's where I've... come to you for help. I don't- I'm not sure... How would I even..?" He sighed. "Zach, I want to know. Are you certain he is your Mate?"
"Without a single doubt, sir."
"Okay. I have a new project for you then."
March 20th
I stood back, admiring what I'd accomplished in three days. I'd fixed up and cleaned out an old cabin, far away from the roads and any mapped hiking trails, one that used to be used as one of the holding cabins for Rogues awaiting execution, before the Rogue Trial was implemented. It now held purified blood for Ryan to begin supplementing into his diet, from a mix of animals and even a couple of- willingly given- samples from wolves and humans.
So gross.
Watch it, Shay.
I can love him and be mildly nauseated at the thought of drinking blood.
... That's fair.
I'd come back to turn on the heater and stock the fridge with fresh groceries. The food at Twilight Woods was, admittedly, quite delicious, but still lacking in the essential vitamins Ryan would need. I kept my ears perked, waiting on Alpha Marcus' car to pull up so we could go pick him up. I don't know how he did it, but he pulled enough strings to get Ryan out.
I'd be thanking him for the rest of my life because of it.
Whew, okay. I'm dressed, the food is unpacked, the heater is going, the... blood is ready, and Ryan should be ready to-
Zachariah. There's been an emergency. Please come outside immediately- we are running there.
Sir, what's happened?
I stripped as fast as I could while opening the door slightly. Using my fear and anger, I managed to Shift almost instantly, pawing the door open and running outside in Shay's sandy coat.
There was an accident, and they can't get Ryan to settle.
He needs you.
Yes, sir.
Stretching Shay's body to its absolute limits, I ran faster than even the Alpha and we traveled over forty miles in less than twenty minutes.
They've left you a set of scrubs out here.
Even being mostly colorblind, I was able to spot the flaming red scrubs among the growing grass. Taking them in my teeth, I found a patch of thick brush and Shifted back as quickly as I could, ignoring the searing pain in my bones and muscles from Shifting so quickly. Stumbling as I ran in the slide on shoes, I raked a few leaves from my hair and brushed past the front desk, and a bewildered nurse.
Stalking my way past everyone, I heard a commotion in the recreation room but knew he wouldn't be in there. Ryan would have closed himself off as soon as anything bad happened. Finding him was easy, I followed his scent through the building to the farthest corner of the library, where I found my Mate curled into a tight ball.
I could smell the blood on him from where I was standing.
"Ryan!" I whispered, mindful of Madam Sayana watching us with a close eye. He moved away from me curling further into the corner. I came closer, kneeling so my knees were pressed against his ankles, and he shivered at my touch. "Ryan?" I spoke quietly still, wanting to grab him and drag him from here but knowing I had to move slowly.
He moved his hands, just enough so I could see the dried red in the lines, and more smeared under his eyes- eyes glowing darkly.
I'm not talking to Ryan.
"What's your name?"
"Salem."
"What happened, Salem?"
"I don't know. Ryan's scared. I'm scared."
"Salem, can I talk to Ryan?"
"I don't... I... Not right now."
"Can you tell me what you do know?"
"Blaire... It was an accident, I swear. She, uh, she um she cut her... her..." Salem trailed off, looking unsure of what he knew and what he didn't. I'd read that it was common when a Vampire came forward, especially when they were hungry, for confusion to reign over so neither the person or their Vampire knows what really happened. "Okay, Blaire cut herself. What happened next?"
I was hoping that if I could keep Salem talking, I'd find out what happened and I'd be able to get Ryan back in control. "I, I think I just. I kinda shoved Ryan and I-I grabbed her... and we, we were in the hall... and she, she was trying to scream, I think... but she couldn't. And, and then I don't know. I don't know, I don't know, stop asking I don't know!" Salem started to shake, and I couldn't lose him yet. If Salem locked down, I wouldn't be able to get Ryan back for at least a day.
"Salem, hey, hey, it's okay, breathe. Breathe." I took his hands and intertwined our fingers to keep him from hurting Ryan. I took two deep breaths, and he copied me, Ryan's hazel eyes shining. "Okay, okay, it's okay. Salem, is Ryan okay? Is Ryan hurt?" Salem shook his head, closing his eyes tightly and jumping with a gasp of pain. "Ryan's okay. I'm scared, he wants to come back. He'll be mad at me. I'm sorry, I-I didn't I don't know what's going on."
"Salem, Salem, hey, watch me, okay. Okay? Are you watching me?" I asked, trying to stay calm. Salem squirmed against the wall again, uncomfortable. I waited for him to settle down and turn his attention back to me. "Okay, you're going to take a really really deep breath, now. Okay, breathe in..." I took a breath so deep- one filled with Salem's scent, a mix of Ryan's rosemary, chocolate, book scent, and ink and blood- my ribs were aching. Holding his gaze, I said, "Hold it in, hold it, and when you start to breathe out- don't do it yet, wait for another second- imagine that you're diving down, okay? Like when you go to sit on the bottom of a swimming pool, close your eyes and let all the air out of your lungs."
Replacing the air I'd lost, I breathed out with him, until I thought my chest would cave in. Taking in a small breath to clear the spots from my vision, I could tell the sharpness of the blood and ink mix was gone.
"Ryan?"
"Zach! Zach, I don't know-."
"It's okay, don't worry about it. I'll tell you later. Can you stand?" I asked, unfolding my legs with an uncomfortable sting as the blood flow returned. "I... I think so. Are your friends here? Already?" I kept his hands in mine, and slowly pulled him up to his feet, catching his elbow when he started to stagger. Ignoring the zings and pings and pull of the Mate Bond, I wrapped my arm around his waist, placing his arm around my neck.
He curled into me, and for once, I was glad that Shay was as strong as he was.
Alpha Marcus?
Yes, Zach?
The situation's been handled. How are we getting Ryan home? He can't Shift like we did.
I had Tyler drive the car up here. We're waiting in the parking lot.
Okay.
I chose to take the long way, not wanting him to see Blaire. Based on the amount of blood Ryan had on him, she'd hurt herself badly, and I didn't want Salem to try and protect him again. Once we were alone in a hallway, I whispered his name, to see if he was still awake. "Yeah, Zach?" his voice was rugged, and I guessed it was from the highs and lows of today. "... Don't worry about it." I pressed the side of my head to the top of his before we rounded the corner to get to the front door.
I saw Tyler in the lobby, and warned him with my eyes- don't ask, please don't ask why my Mate is smeared with blood and barely conscious.
It's a long story.
- Writer
