Page 17 of Bite of Sin

“No,” Tim answered. “She can’t stand the sight of blood. She fainted.”

“Stop fighting or you’ll get us all killed,” Jill whispered desperately.

Her words shook me out of my growing hysteria. She was right. If I looked guilty, she and Tim would suffer right along with me now. For trying to save me.

“I think I might get sick,” I mumbled loudly, not needing to pretend much. Pain was invading every cell in my body.

“We need to get her to a doctor,” Jill said, her voice full of nerves.

When I began gagging and heaving, people parted to the side to let us pass. It didn’t take long for us to make it to the edge of the city center, and two guards stepped in our way. Warner’s yells cut through the muttering crowd, and it took everything in me not to go back to him. How could I leave while he was stuck here? I was a terrible fucking person.

“You’re needed on the platform.”

Another guard came out of the shadows, and Jill let out a sigh of relief. This particular guard was with us. His name was Collin, and he was saving our asses. The two men glanced at each other before nodding at Collin and walking away.

“Hurry,” Collin urged, moving to the side. “What the hell happened?”

“We’ll talk about it later,” Tim replied tightly, pulling me onto the side street. “Thanks.”

Collin nodded before turning his attention back to the city center. Tim and Jill stayed on either side of me, holding my arms to force me to run with them.

“We need to go back for him,” I cried, glancing behind me. But we were far from the area now.

“We will,” Tim said. “You need to go. Remember what I said. Two weeks and go to the tree. I’ll bring you more supplies.”

“Why?” I asked hoarsely. “Why are you saving me?”

“We take care of our own, Kali,” he said gently as we stopped at the entrance of the tunnel.

“Stay safe,” Jill whispered, giving me a tight hug.

I hugged her back, my body on autopilot. For the first time in my life, I was leaving Project Hope with a plan to never return. And I was going to be alone. I’d never been by myself. I’d always had Helena and Warner.

“Get in.” Tim lifted the grate. “Hurry, before someone sees us.”

I couldn’t stop the tears as I jumped into the tunnel. I barely felt the pain when I landed hard on my feet. Looking up, I watched Tim place the grate over the hole before they ran off. Slowly, I wandered through the dark, not sure what to do after this. I’d had enough training to survive on my own. But right now, I wasn’t sure I wanted to.

Chapter6

Kali

The chirping of birds woke me from my troubled sleep, and I blinked a couple of times, my eyes adjusting to the late afternoon sunlight. The old boards creaked under me when I turned on my side, and I slowly stretched, my body stiff from the uncomfortable position. I’d been using the backpack as a pillow, and luckily, it was nearly summer, making it warm enough that I hadn’t frozen without a blanket.

My mind was hazy, and I silently counted how many sunrises there had been since I’d left Project Hope. Three. I’d been gone three days, and I hadn’t moved from this spot. Which was stupid of me.

My stomach panged with hunger, and I realized I really hadn’t eaten much. I’d been numb, not feeling anything. Uncaring. Helena’s last moments had been replaying over and over. I had no idea if Warner was alive or not. The thought of him possibly still being alive was the only thing I was clinging to so I didn’t fully give up.

I hadn’t even taken any precautions to ward off vampires since being here. It was fortunate one hadn’t stumbled into my hiding spot. It wasn’t much, and I knew I couldn’t stay here much longer. PARA would be searching the woods for me, and it was only a matter of time before they came here. Yet I was not motivated to move on.

I was high up in a tree in an old hunting spot. Some of the wood was rotting, and there was no ceiling. Just four walls that were a couple of feet high. Warner and I had found it about a year ago when we were searching for food. Pain slashed my heart as memories of our adventures popped into my head.

When we left the city, we were always on edge, but at the same time, they were the only times I’d felt free. There were no high walls cutting off the outside world. No guards strolling the streets. No rules. The first time I ever went through the tunnel, I decided I would not live the rest of my life in Project Hope. I just never foresaw being forced out by myself.

“Shit,” I breathed out, rolling out the kink in my neck. My body was protesting from not moving for so long.

But I still didn’t get up. I lay there, peering at the clouds as they slowly moved across the sky. I wasn’t sure how much time passed, but for the first time since everything had happened, feelings began stirring within me. And the longer I focused, the more it all spiraled into one thing.

Rage.

---