Page 135 of Afflicted

He heats enough water for us to have a bath together, and he listens to me intently as I lie in his arms, talking about art and discussing my favorite books.

We spend our last night in our sweet little farmhouse in bed, fucking with such fervor and ferocity it’s as though the world is going to end.

The voice that tells me our time together is running out gets louder and louder.

My eyes open to the smell of food cooking, and more cruel sunshine washing through the window. The curtain waves gently in the soft breeze. It would be such an idyllic scene if we didn’t have to leave.

I finally relent, climbing out of the bed and pulling on my clothes. I pad down the stairs to find a shirtless Silas standing over the stove, one foot tucked behind the other as he leans on the counter. I walk up behind him and wrap my arms around his waist, laying my cheek against his warm back. His fingers brush along my arms.

“Good morning, angel.”

“You made me breakfast?”

“You need to eat before we go.” His voice falls flat on the last word. Maybe he’s having the same fears I am. Or maybe he knows something he isn’t telling me.

We could stay here.We could keep living our lives out here and never going anywhere else. I open my mouth to say the words, to speak that thought out loud, but quickly snap it shut again. Just because this place has been untouched doesn’t mean it will never be discovered. Silas is strong, and he’d protect me. But even he can be overpowered. And sooner or later he’d have to leave me alone, and then…

Silas is staring at me, his hand paused on the spoon he’s using to stir the contents of the pan. His eyes search my face for a second, and then he smiles warmly.

“Come on, eat, angel. I’ll go get the truck.”

“No.” I take a few hurried steps towards him. “Please stay with me. I don’t want to eat alone.”

He nods, looking back down at the stove. “Ok, come on then, let’s sit.” He sits opposite me at the table, smiling wistfully as I eat. “You’ve gained weight since we’ve been here. Your cheeks, they’re all round and rosy now.”

I smirk at him. “Shoulda seen me when I was a swimmer. My back was a wall of muscle.”

One of his eyebrows lifts, and he grins. “I’ll bet you looked incredible.”

I shrug, pushing my food around the pan. “The freckles usually put folks off.”

“Well, those folks were idiots. They were the first thing I noticed about you.”

Now it’s my turn to raise an eyebrow. “Are you serious?”

He nods, then tilts his head thoughtfully. “Well, that and how good you smell getting yourself off.”

I grunt out a laugh. “Well, at least you’re honest.”

“With you, always.”

“Do you really think this colony in Roanoke is genuine?”

The question hangs thickly in the air between us, and Silas lets out a sigh, rubbing his hands along his thighs.

“Juliet, listen, I swore to keep you safe, and that means what it means, alright? Now, the vamps in Savannah said there were vamps living in this colony as well, and I’ve got no reason to doubt that.” He gives me a weary smile that doesn’t quite reach his eyes. “You're going to have to trust me, and we’re just going to have to hope.”

Before I can respond, his eyes flood with violent crimson, and he gets to his feet.

“Juliet, we have to go.”

I scramble off the bench, the muscles in my legs tight as bowstrings. “What is it?”

“Now.” Silas grabs my wrist and pulls me along behind him, scooping up the bags by the front door before we push out onto the porch. He pauses, tilting his head, as though listening intently, before bursting into motion again, dragging me across the yard towards the truck.

“Get in.” He commands as he pulls open the barn doors, shoving the bags at me. “And keep your head down!”

I scurry to the truck, pulling the door open just as I hear it - the sound of engines approaching. I hug the bags to my chest as I curl up in the seat, keeping my head low. I jerk my arms tighter around the parcels in my arms as Silas tears open the driver’s side door, climbing in and gunning the engine. He throws the truck into reverse, backing out at an almost alarming speed, turning the wheel before shifting to drive. The truck shoots forward on the bumpy road, and I stay huddled down, holding my breath as I wait for us to hit another truck or for the pinging of bullets to start hitting us.

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