Page 13 of Heathens

“You would have gotten halfway down the street, turned around and asked for my help anyway, Sof. You’re stubborn as hell but you always come crawling back.”

“Fuck you.”

“Fuck you back,” Ruby laughs.

She’s the person I feel the safest with, and the person I can lean on for pretty much everything, and I know she feels the same.

I met Ruby during the riots, back when this all started. I had just lost Charlie and Sam, and I was filled with nothing but rage. Something needed to be done, but I didn’t know what. I was angry at everyone for letting the plague get out of control, and at myself for being helpless to stop it.

I didn’t know what to do with it all, didn’t know who it was for or where to put it. So, I decided it was for everyone. I just wanted to smash something, so when I heard that a massive swarm of people were taking to the streets to protest what little government was left, I was all in.

First, we were just fighting cops, but they didn’t stay in the streets for long. I’m still not sure if they knew what was coming, or just gave up their posts, but that was the night the vamps came out looking for blood and power. These days they say they’ve been around for centuries, and who can say if it’s true, but what’s certain is they picked a perfect day to take the reins.

No one knew what was happening at first, but as member after member of the crowd got torn into, we scattered. I nearly died, cornered in a dark building after being chased for what felt like hours, before Ruby pulled me into her apartment and barricaded us in. With so much free food still in the wild, the vamps gave up pretty quickly, and we weathered the storm. We’ve been roommates ever since.

I found a family with Ruby, and then a new purpose when we finally opened Nox. In so many ways, the club gave me a reason to live again, but I’ll never forget or forgive the powers thatwerefor what we lost.

Ruby pulls around the back of the bar, the headlights cranked up all the way. We hop out of the van and she takes a step back, keeping watch for me while I grab the case of blood with a grunt. Most jobs in the old world “require” you to lift 50 pounds, but at this one you have to balance that along with a chambered pistol. Never a dull moment.

Ruby lets out a long breath as I slide my key into the lock.

“Hey, so you wanna keep moping in your office, or do you want to get out there and sling some drinks?”

We also serve alcohol at Nox. Turns out vampires like to get drunk and dance their asses off as much as humans do.

“I wasn’t moping, I was doing payroll.”

“You were moping.” Her expression suddenly becomes soft and serious. My heart drops to my stomach, knowing exactly what comes next. “Charlie’s birthday’s coming up, isn’t it? Next month?”

“I’ve been trying to forget,” I whisper.

He would have been eight this year.

Ruby wraps an arm around me, pulling me close and kissing my forehead.

“Let’s have a drink to take your mind off it. We’ll make some money, and then go home and eat macaroni and cheese right out of the pot.”

I smile sadly, my chest tight as she holds me. I watched my baby die behind a clear fucking shower curtain while I was in a full hazmat suit. Sam ripped his own suit off so that he could hold our son one last time.

I lost them both within three days.

My grief isn’t unique, I know that. Generations of parents before me have lived through it and continued on despite the dull ache. Still, parents shouldn’t have to bury their children. Hell, I didn’t even get that. They burned the infected bodies to slow the spread. Charlie doesn’t even have a proper resting place. I think that’s the part that cuts me up the most.

Ruby’s touch is calming, and I breathe in the smell of her cinnamon shampoo. These moments are rare, but she’s always been there for me. Tears form in my eyes and she squeezes me tighter. She’s all I have.

“You in there, babe?” She asks after a few minutes of silence.

“I’m here. And yeah, a drink sounds great right about now.”

She beams at me as she pulls away.

“Good. Let’s go make some money and get our asses home.”

DOMINIC

Duncan Towers

Ineedher.

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