Blood Lust
Chapter Twelve

"What's the last thing you remember?" Dee was the first to open his mouth. My eyes darted to him. Did he have all the answers?

I exasperated. "Thad and Anton had dragged us all outside to the shores..." I started my sentence with all the confidence. I was sure that there was nothing I was missing, but I was wrong.

I remembered. Dee had tumbled down the rocks with a mouthful of Anton's shoulder.

I remember that monster calling me his pet and then... Teeth digging into me. One of the Guards had bitten me.

"Who bit me?" I looked up. Anger filled up in my mouth. Everyone kept their mouth closed as I scoured the room for the guilty party. My eyes finally landed on R.

"It was to protect you. Our Elder Aldrich has had his eye on you for some time now." Dee broke the silence.

None of this was making any sense, "Why pretend I'm dead?"

"Christi, how did it feel to be bitten by an Elder compared to being bitten by R?" Doctor Toulouse asked, "Any difference?"

I paused, "Ye- What does that have to do with anything?" I wasn't ready to say what I had felt when R had bitten me. I was too embarrassed to admit that what I felt was pleasure.

"R has marked you. It's like when you replace your soulmate." She made it sound like it was an everyday occurrence.

A headache was forming just behind my eyes, "I'm human though..." I rubbed my temples, "And I don't feel anything for him?"

Martin had chimed in, "We don't understand it either, but once you're marked, it's like nothing else matters. R isn't going to share you with anyone...Including an Elder. All of us are here to help any way we can. We will do anything for you two." His loyalty was foreign to me. I didn't understand it at all. Why me?

"Me too. I'll do anything. I could go for another adventure!" The Guard that stood next to Martin laughed.

I didn't know what to say. I started to say something, but I was cut off by the doctor. "Alright, then it's settled. Christi I hereby pronounce you dead until the Elder leaves!"

I threw her a puzzled look, "How long will I have to play dead for?"

"Maybe a few days?" Dee offered. "You can stay with us until it all blows over."

Everyone stood there mindless chatting about a plan, like it was another day at the job. I stood there, watching them. I couldn't help but feel like I didn't belong. I didn't belong in their grand plan.

"Let's get you settled in then?" Dee suggested. The feelings of not fitting in had been shrugged off...for now.

I followed the four of them to the bunkhouse. It was where all the staff for the Island slept. It was a night and day experience. I was used to seeing the Guards in their black uniforms and always on duty, but I had forgotten they were just people.

The room I had followed them into catered to every whim. Two large TV's were not hard to spot when I walked in. The couch already held gamers that were a button away from death. There was a card table behind them with people drinking and playing cards. It all looked so normal.

One of them, who had been seated on the couch had looked up at me, "Aw no. Don't bring your pet here man! Come on!" He whined. He continued to bark at me like a dog as I passed him.

Dee had shot him a look, "Darren, enough. It won't be for long."

Dee had shown me through the long line of bunks, at the very end. "This is where we normally sleep. You can take the bunk under R." He scratched his head. I could tell he was uncomfortable with the situation. He was trying not to make this awkward. He handed me an extra blanket and a pillow. "I'm gonna leave you two to talk." He quickly turned and disappeared to sit with the others at the card table.

"He doesn't talk!" I blurted. "How are we supposed to talk?!"

"Oh, he talks. Just not much, but he CAN." Martin blurted as he sat on the bunk facing us. "I'm just going to stay here to translate." He was all too giddy to participate.

"No, WE'RE leaving." The Guards name I didn't catch had grabbed Martin and left. They followed suit of Dee and joined the card game. R and I were as alone as we could get in a room full of people.

I exhaled sharply and took a seat on the bottom bunk. R chose to sit as far away as possible on the same bed. We sat there, our eyes glued to the floor. We were both avoiding eye contact.

"So...are we gunna...talk?" I bit the bullet and tried to start the conversation. No answer. "Do you actually feel something for me other than possessiveness?" There was a pause, then a slight nod.

Do you?

His voice hummed through my head. "Don't do that. That's weird." I shook the strange feeling out of my head.

R placed his hand on mine, "Do you feel this?" His voice cracked. I sat there and stared at his hand on mine, but felt nothing. I shook my head. He looked hurt by my answer.

"Why can't I feel...whatever that is?" I asked, allowing him to still hold my hand. He shrugged.

You won't accept me.

The hum was low, along with it was an emotion that was filled with sadness and rejection.

"I'm human. I don't believe in love at first sight. I don't have feelings for you like that and I don't plan to replace love as long as I'm locked up in this prison." I was honest. Maybe too honest.

R cleared his throat. He nodded as if he understood and left abruptly. I felt like a kid who had just been put in the corner and left to think about my actions.

"What the hell..." I murmured and threw myself back onto the bed. If I was going to get anything out of this, I was going to get a uninterrupted night of sleep.

Hours later, I had finally woken from my coma. I had curled myself up into a ball under the blanket. "Ugh what time is it?" I groaned as I sat up. I was able to spot a clock on the wall. I had to smile for a second, as this was the first time I was able to just glance at a clock nonchalantly.

Stay in the bunkroom. We are on shift, I will bring you food when I get off.

R's voice hummed. I looked around, the bunkroom was empty. It must be night.

You talk better in my head than out loud.

I kicked back. Strangely enough, I could feel the smile forming on his face.