3.80
We’ve been
driving around listening in on their radio and hiding out for the last few
hours, stopping to change cars every so often, just to hide our trail. It was
my idea, but Destiny says they can track our scents. It’s probably true, I
think that’s part of the reason I was able to find her so easily when she ran
off. I don’t know, I’m panicking right now, and for the first time in a really
long time, I can’t lean on her for help. I’m supposed to be strong right now,
and I’m on the verge of crumbling under the weight of protecting her right now.
I’ve gotten a few lucky wins, but I can’t fight off the entire squad. I’ve been
listening, there’s seven of them left. That means, Destiny and I managed to
kill a whole three of them. The odds are against us, in every way possible.
She’s done so much to protect me, and I can’t think of a single way to get us
out of this mess. She’s not even willing to help, just accepting that death is
the only fate for us. I refuse to accept it, I just need to think.
“Do you
really love me or was I just some play thing while you waited on the death you
call inevitable,” I ask the question in my head, but hear the words leave my mouth.
“I’m sorry, I’m just frustrated.”
“I really
do love you,” Destiny pokes at her bullet wound that still hasn’t healed.
The bullet
wounds are concerning, mine hasn’t healed either, and she’s got some cuts, that
aren’t healing either. It seems like they’ve got an edge on us, in every way possible.
I haven’t been a vampire long, so I’m not sure how long a bullet wound would
take to heal, but the cuts should be gone already. I’m just thinking of random
things to avoid asking the question on my mind, but I might night have much
time left to ask if we’re as doomed as she says.
“You never
told me why you love me, even during our vows you just said you hated me for
making me love you. I’m filled with anxiety, I spent almost 30 years of my life
being bullied. I’m socially awkward and I’ve got nothing for you.”
“Why are
you doing this,” Destiny asks, more tears welling into your eyes.
“Because if
you’re so sure we’re going to die, I need to know why you loved me before I
die.”
“You’ve had
this on your mind and choose now to ask?”
“I’ve asked
but you’ve never told, you’re still not telling.”
I feel bad,
we could be facing death and I’m watching her fight back tears. There are super
elite vampires chasing after us and I’m the bad guy. But I have to know, in the
event that we don’t make it. The longer we drive, the more I’m starting to
doubt we’ll escape. It seems like they’re always one step ahead of us on the
radio. Things, just aren’t looking good, and I need to know. I need to know why
she loved me, was it just pity? Am I familiar, a pet, or does she really love
me?
“I don’t
know why. I just do. I like it when you’re stupid enough to think you can
protect me. I like that you’re the only person who loved me with no conditions.
I love that your family treated me like I was already part of the family. I
love how you underestimate yourself and get so happy when you accomplish
something. I love how you’re always willing to see the good in other people even
when they don’t deserve it. I hate watching you get hurt, I hate when you’re
afraid, I hate you cry.”
“Then why do
you want to die?”
“I don’t
want to die, I have to die so you can live. It’s the only way they’ll stop chasing
us, because I know you won’t stop chasing me.”
“I need you
in my life, that’s why I can’t accept this.”
“You don’t
need me, not anymore. You’re braver, you stand up for yourself, and you know
you can do anything. I can’t do anything else for your but die.”
“Then why
not live for me?”
“Because I already
did. You showed me how to live. I’ve had more fun with you than I did the rest
of my life. I made some bad choices before I met you, and they’ve finally
caught up to me. I’m just glad I got to meet you and spend as much time as I
did with you.”
“We can fix
this.”
“We can’t,
it’s too late. There’s just some things that can’t be fixed.”
I don’t
speak anymore, I don’t want to drag out this conversation any longer. I just
want to enjoy the few moments we have left together. I just keep driving,
hoping they give up. Eventually, Destiny falls asleep and the radio goes
silent. I just keep driving, hoping they aren’t still following us. To my
surprise I make it out of the city without any more commotion. I don’t wake her
up, I just keep driving, speeding up, running as far as I can. The more
distance between New Orleans and us, the better things will be. Maybe we should
leave the United States, move to England and start a new life.
I settle on
LA 631, it’s not the main highway, or even a real highway anymore, but it’s
good enough. It lets me get to the destination without passing much traffic. I’m
still paranoid, driving with the lights off hoping nobody is out looking for
cars. The whole road seems eerie, no lights, houses separated by large overgrown
trees. I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s a dirt road linking up that I missed.
I slow down as I approach an old bridge crossing Bayou des Allemends. It’s
asphalt, but the railings are old and crumbling wood. To either side are
dilapidated docks and new houses, an odd sight. The fog tonight makes it the
perfect scene for a horror movie.
I’m forced
to slam on the brakes halfway through. Destiny jumps awake, confused by what’s
going on. The road is blocked. I hear one vampire radio in, and soon we’re
blocked on each side, a red beam flashing through the windshield from the main
highway. I guess they finally changed radio channels and caught us. I guess
Chloe would know where Destiny is from, probably had a pretty good guess to as to
where we’re going.
I move to
put the car in reverse but Destiny pulls my hand away from the gear shift and
tosses keys out the window. I don’t know what to do now, I want to keep fighting
but I don’t think there’s a way that I can.
“Sorry, but
my mind is made up on this. Just, get to Dulac, they’ll take care of you,” she
leans in to kiss me, but I pull away. “No poison this time.”
“We can fix
this,” I feel the tears roll my own cheek, but her face looks sure of
everything.
“You can’t
fix everything Maddox,” she uses my real name, a rare occurrence.
“I love
you.”
“I love you
too, and I’m sorry.”
“You don’t
have anything to be sorry about.”
“I’m sorry
this has to be your last memory of me.”
She kisses
me, deeper than she’s ever kissed me, leaning in towards me. It’s bliss, like
kissing her for the first time again. The taste of cream soda is still on her
lips, but no paralysis this time. Beneath the scent of blood and sweat there’s
cocoa butter and cinnamon, and below that, there’s the scent of Destiny. If
this was anywhere else it’d be perfect. I pull back and scream out in pain as
my shoulder falls numb.
“Sorry,
Bluebird, I have to clip your wings for a moment, you’ve got a lot more living
to do. I love you.”
“Why?”
“Because I
love you, and this is the only gift I can give you that’s worth anything.”
She pushes
me with enough force to send me out of the car, through the crumbling wood rail
and into the water. Swimming isn’t easy with just one arm, but I try to make my
way back to the top, back to the bridge. I can’t seem to make it up to the top,
but I hear the commotion. Gun shots, some banging and a few screams. Even
beneath the water I can tell they aren’t her screams. She’s giving them hell,
and I’m trying to get my head above the water.
My head
finally burst through the water, but I’m not able to see the fight. I find I
find myself calling her name, but I can’t hear myself as lights around the
community flicker on. I call out again and feel a bullet pierce my dislocated
shoulder. For a moment I lose control of my limbs and sink down again. I fight
back to the top, trying to reach the action.
A golden
light, brighter than anything I’ve ever seen shoots into the sky, seemingly without
end. Slowly it spreads out and I hear several vampires scream from the bridge.
As the light reaches me, the warmth covers my body, saves me from the cold
water that had shocked my lungs. In the silence brought by the light I know it
was her. I know she’s gone. She said it’s different for every vampire when they
go out. I’ve seen people turn to dust, burst into flames, or just fall over
flat, but I’ve never seen anything like that. Even in death, she’s the most
beautiful person I’ve ever seen.
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