Closing my eyes because I can’t see anyway, I decide to just walk straight ahead, figuring that’s naturally where the door to the outside would be.
I end up walking face-first into a wall, and it hurts like a bitch, but it gives me something to work with.
Running the hand that’s not gripping Charity along the wall, I slide to the right then back to the left until I touch what feels like a seam.
Nails scratching against wood, my hand fumbles around until I finally find a handle.
Squeezing the handle tight, I pull so hard I nearly break the door off the hinges.
Stepping out into the night air, I take a deep breath, my mouth tasting relief.
I made it out.
And I have Charity with me.
God must truly be listening to my prayers.
I send up a quick, silent thanks and glance around.
All the humans that were waiting to enter are gone, and so is the bouncer that was at the door. The street in front of the den is completely empty.
It’s strange, but not my problem. I don’t really care why everyone has disappeared. All I care about is making it home in one piece.
Looking to the left then to the right, I try to get an idea of where we are in the city. Unfortunately nothing around me looks familiar. I’ve done very little traveling outside of going to church once a week.
We could be uptown, downtown, in a suburb…
I just don’t know.
Worried I’m wasting time trying to pick a direction yet again, I think hard and fast. The buildings around me tell me we’re not in a suburb. There would be more houses, not businesses.
Saint Benedict’s is downtown. It’s doubtful the vampires would be bold enough to have a club downtown.
We must be uptown somewhere, and if we’re uptown I need to go south.
Glancing up at the sky and ignoring the blood red moon looming over me, my eyes seek out the brightest star. Finding the North Star in the sky to my right, I grip Charity’s arm harder and tug her left.
I know the North Star doesn’t always point north, but at this point I’m desperate and all out of other ideas.
Charity walks obediently beside me as I lead her down the street, and it’s more than a little unnerving to have her so close to me, not saying mean things.
It’s downright freaky.
But the growing throb coming from thigh is even more worrying. No longer faint, it seems to thunder to life.
My monster is in pursuit of me.
Panicking, I quicken my steps, but the throb doesn’t lessen.
It increases.
The walk home from here is probably a few miles, at least. There’s no way I can outrun him. Not while dragging Charity with me.
Unless…
Yanking Charity into me, I wrap my arms around her and look far down the street ahead of me, focusing on a streetlight.
I have no idea how or why it happens, but I pretty much teleport down the street, ending up right next to the streetlight.
Like earlier, I’ve covered a great distance without actually doing anything.
The throbbing becomes a little fainter, so I do it again. Looking far down the street, I focus on an object and think I want to be there.
Then I’m there.
I do it five or six more times, covering at least a mile or two with ease. But after the seventh time, I start to feel a bit fatigued.
Pausing beside an overflowing garbage can, I have to stop and take breath. My lungs and heart working like I’ve just run a marathon.
The steady thrumming coming from my mark, however, doesn’t let me rest for long.
Pushing on, I manage to teleport three more times, fighting past the pain and fatigue until it finally gets the best of me.
Letting go of Charity and nearly dropping to my knees next to a beeping crosswalk light, my head spins and sparks dance in front of my eyes.
When the dizziness passes after a few deep breaths, dread fills me.
I’m never going to outrun him and make it home if I have to physically move the whole way.
Grabbing Charity again, I stare hard into her face then give her a little shake. “Wake up.”
Eyes vacant, expression blank, she doesn’t acknowledge me.
Shaking her harder, I shout, “Wake up,” in her face.
She doesn’t even blink.
On the verge of bursting into tears, I desperately try to think of a way to save us both.
But there isn’t a way.
I can either wear myself down to the point of exhaustion trying to teleport us both home and still get caught…
Or I can choose to save one of us.
Spinning around in a small circle, I take in my new surroundings carefully.
Noticing a small alley between two buildings, I grab Charity’s hand and lead her that way.
The alley is only wide enough to fit a single car or truck and there’s only one dim light. Trash litters the ground and I can hear rats scurrying about. Their little nails tapping against the cracked, broken concrete.