Last Lives (Watty Awards 2012)

I cradled my brother until he had cried himself to sleep. I could still hear small whimpers escape from his mouth as he dreamed.

Dusk was approaching and the sun would be setting soon. I wanted to be back home before night fell, especially since I had my brother with me now.

My legs were stiff as I got up from the dirt encrusted ground. Jake stirred in my arms. I held him close to my chest, whispering reassurances into his ear.

I found the trail that lead to the house instead of walking through the dense forest.

Even with me being extra vigilant now, something could creep up on me in there. I wound my way through the bends in the trail as the darkness grew and the moon surfaced.

Everything grew quiet at night except for the occasional moan of a flesh-eater. The animals even staked hideouts at night, fearing the worst of both inhabitants of the forest.

I heard the crickets now, rubbing their legs together making a creepy melody. It was the melody of the world now. Fear, Death and Nothingness forever in it's tune.

Coming up to the house, I noticed that there was no sign of anyone there. Looks like Nathan hadn't come back after all. Not wanting to worry about two things at once, I forced him out of my mind.

I laid my brother on the same soft couch that Amy was on just hours before and covered him with a blanket.

Now that he seemed to be sleeping, I let my frustration out. I clumped my hair in my hands and rocked back and forth on the carpeted floor. My breathing came in short, panicked gasps. Angry and relieved tears both stung my eyes and rolled down my face.

All of my family were supposed to be dead. I was told that after I became a vampire. Parker told me. He said he had killed them. He was lying. I could have been there for them, to protect them, if I'd only knew that they were alive. This wouldn't have happened to Jake. I could have protected him. But, I wasn't there. I let this happen. It's all my fault.

My silent cries soon became heaving, body shaking sobs.

Why would he do that, change, a four year old child?

Anger coursed through my veins and filled my whole body.

Then the front door opened.

Nathan strided into the living room, uninjured and without a care in the world. "Don't tell me we have another kid."

I sprung up from the ground and lunged at him, pounding his chest with both my fists. Tears still fell from my eyes. My attack had been a pathetic one of frustration.

"Woah." He said gently, seeing my tears. "What happened?"

"Where the hell did you go?" I shouted at him. I was taking it all out on him.

"Crimson, what happened?" He asked more forcefully.

I fell to the floor as more sobs racked my body. He knelt down and wrapped his arms around me. Just like I had done with my brother, he whispered sweet nothings into my ear. I already knew that everything would not be alright, there was no point in telling me otherwise, but, I still longed with everything that I had, that it would be ok.

"He's my brother, Nathan." I hiccuped through tears.

"Ok." He replied, not understanding what I was getting at.

I unwrapped his arms from around me and got up. I went and sat on the edge on the couch beside Jake. I ran my fingers slowly through his hair, running my thumb in circles on his cheek, as I looked down at his frail sleeping body.

"Parker bit him." I tried to control my voice, so he wouldn't know just how angry I was.

He looked at me with both shock and confusion on his face. "What?, Why?"

I started to shake. My hand turned to trembling fists. "Because he's a sick, twisted-"

"I get it." Nathan interrupted me.

He looked at Jake questionly.

"What?" I asked, half afraid of what he might say.

My brother had only two options. Either Parker bit him and he'll turn into a flesh-eater or Parker had created him into a vampire. Honestly, I prefered the latter if it had to come to it.

"There's something-"

A bang on the front door interrupted him.